Alpha Omega 02 - Hunting Ground

thing to say that wouldn’t make the situation even worse.
    Charles came to the rescue. “Anna’s first pack was . . . troubled and very poor. We’ve been married less than a month, and she’s had a lot to adjust to.”
    â€œLiving a long time doesn’t mean that you’ll be rich,” said Arthur with an understanding look. “But it doesn’t hurt.”
    â€œLong-term investments give a whole new meaning to the term ‘compound interest,’ ” added Sunny.
    â€œTell me about your collection,” said Anna a little desperately. And then, because she couldn’t help her interest, “About Excalibur.”
    â€œI used to be an archaeologist,” explained Arthur. “Strictly amateur—which was acceptable to my father in a way that a profession wouldn’t have been. Digs weren’t as well regulated then, and I was excavating the grounds of an old Cornish settlement conveniently situated on a school-mate’s parents’ estate when I found her, just dug her up.”
    He didn’t seem crazy—nor did he seem to mind the questions. If they weren’t talking about . . . about Excalibur , for Heaven’s sake, she would be fascinated by the story.
    â€œHow do you know it was Excalibur you found?”
    He smiled at her. “Tell me, my dear, do you believe in reincarnation?”
    No. But that wasn’t the polite answer. “I’ve never heard a convincing argument for it.”
    His smile widened. “I suppose it suffices to say that I do, and that I believe I am the Once and Future King, who will return in the time of greatest need.” Then he winked at her. “I don’t insist that others buy into my eccentricities.”
    If people remembered once being kitchen maids, or farmers who died of nothing more interesting than old age, I might reconsider my stance on reincarnation, Anna thought as she returned the British wolf’s smile. She remembered her father once observing dryly, If fourteen people believe they were Cleopatra in a former life, does that mean that Cleopatra had split personality disorder?
    Then Arthur led them into his treasure hall—probably it had been intended to be an office, or a small bedroom. Three tapestries, flattened between clear sheets of something that might have been glass or Plexiglas, were hung on the wall. There were a couple of display cabinets along the wall itself.
    â€œThis is not a proper display,” he said. “These stay here all year long, so I can’t risk anything of real value. My more valuable artifacts don’t leave my home in Cornwall. I acquired all of these in the U.S. This tapestry is fifteenth century, and like many, it has a religious theme. You can see St. Stephen being crucified—upside down, as tradition holds.”
    Anne looked at the stilted figure, a halo on his upside-down head and blood pouring from his hands.
    â€œCheery,” she observed.
    He smiled. “It isn’t my favorite, either.”
    The second one showed a woman sitting on a bench under a tree, sewing, with a large bird perched just over her head. The colors were faded, but brightened as the threads dipped below the surface. Once, thought Anna, this one was a lot more colorful than it is now.
    â€œThis one is Scots.” Arthur sounded disapproving. “Thirteenth century or thereabouts.”
    â€œBarbarians, those Scots,” said Charles with amusement. “My father the Welshman says it exactly the same way.”
    Arthur laughed. “All right, you caught me. I suppose that no matter how long I live, I’ll still, in some aspects, be a man of my time, eh? Just as you are, old friend. It is in unusually good shape, as it has been in and out of museums and collections for about two hundred years, and was well taken care of even before that.”
    He walked on and made a flamboyant gesture at the final, and smallest tapestry.
    â€œThe third is my favorite of the three. It is also probably fifteenth century—I bought it in California from a private collection. It is in rough shape, and has been sewn onto an acid-free muslin to stabilize it. They are all hermetically sealed to protect them from the climate.”
    Arthur was right, it wasn’t in very good shape. Only a section about two feet square had survived. A knight riding a horse who was galloping with all four feet off the ground, its mouth opened around the bit. He