Isaac also practiced his shapeshifting and found that he could begin to take specific forms, and even better, with practice he could change those around him, too. He began to master the art of disappearing at will. All of this would be invaluable to them as Artifact Hunters, and work on that important task began right away.

*   *   *

Isaac took careful inventory of the items in the Vault, and he and Leo also made a study of the diaries of the Guardians that were collected in the small library.

“My father knew these diaries were here,” Isaac said one evening.

“That’s why your parents sent you to Rookskill,” said Leo. “There’s another thing. Look at this.” He fetched another huge volume with faint lettering. History of Rookskill Castle, From the Oldest Times Until the Present, the “present” turning out to be the middle of the seventeenth century. Leo read, “‘The rocks upon which Rookskill Castle stands today held the ancestral home of one of the Order’s early communities, later to become known as the Order of the Artifact Hunters. Rookskill contains deep magic.’” Leo added, “I’m sure your father knew that.”

As all five children studied the roles of Artifact Hunters, they learned that many artifacts had fallen into the wrong hands in the past and caused havoc. Apollo’s Arrow could cause either famine or good health, and had done both. The Shirt of Nessus was poison and responsible for several unexpected deaths.

“Heaven forbid that the Nazis should get their hands on any of these,” said Kat.

“Or the fae,” said Amelie. “Listen to this.”

The fae lost magical artifacts when humans created the Vault. Humans did so to prevent mischief and misuse of the artifacts, whether by human or fae. Of course, the fae, being fae, are lazy and prone to give up rather than pursue a task, for they dearly love to party.

Isaac sat up straight, and said in his most serious voice, “I must have much more human blood than fae blood.” He paused. “Don’t you think?”

“I think,” said Amelie with a big smile, “that we’re all going to like being Artifact Hunters with you, and that you’ll be a brilliant Guardian of the Vault.”

Isaac blushed right to his toes.

*   *   *

The power of the Death’s Head watch continued to haunt Isaac. He and Leo searched the library for information about it, trying to determine whether Isaac had unleashed any of the curse. They did find one scrap that related to his travel to the circle of stones, which he now knew was the Ring of Brodgar.

The user of the watch may envision, through time travel, the end of a civilization. Blessing or curse?

“That’s cheerful,” said Leo.

“Yes, but maybe that’s it,” Isaac said. “In the Ring of Brodgar I witnessed people fighting one another and then the Unseelie fae came to take them. It was the end of their world.”