The two men sitting across the desk from Dinah did not appear surprised by her question. The archaeologist lifted his hands behind his neck, unclasped the chain, and brought the charm away from his body, placing it easily into Dinah’s waiting hand. Within her grasp, the object had an earthy warmth to it, though she wasn’t perceptive enough to discern its true function within the Symphony.<br/><br/>“It is a stone from an ancient burial site,” the man explained. “It has little useful power. It’s really nothing more than a charm.” The archaeologist’s heretofore silent companion cleared his throat at the remark. “It is bound to the tribe to which it belonged,” the archaeologist elaborated. “It acts as a beacon to the past, illuminating that to which it once belonged.” The silent companion nodded his assent.<br/><br/>Two names appeared on the application, a Professor Bradford Daugherty, and a co-applicant simply listed as Trystaniel. The second name seemed perfectly ordinary…for a Celestial.<br/><br/>“We believe the site my hold some impressive cultural finds,” the archaeologist continued. “As you can see, the proposal calls for a systematic excavation over a six month period. It’s really nothing more substantial than if the County developed the land itself and performed the requisite ground survey.”<br/><br/>It was clear the two were connected somehow. Were they business partners? More than business partners? The Artifact added another ripple. Why was it being worn out in the open? Something about the visitors make her Dominican senses twinge. They were a potentially dangerous pair, but hell, who isn’t?<br/>