The bird’s shadow left, and the group started to rise from their defensive positions until Emily pointed over her father’s shoulder. “Daddy! She’s coming back!” As one entity, the six bewildered people sank again into a tight knot, sheltering against the tent canvas.
Two more times the golden eagle harried them, descending close enough to have been able to harm before pulling up just inches from their heads. At last Athena did not turn back on them, but soared over the tent tops and away.
After staying crouched under Ian’s arms for a few minutes, Annie drew in a shuddering breath. “Do you think it will come back?”
“Mercy, I hope not!” Alice exclaimed. “This is more excitement than I bargained for on my semi-vacation.” Her eyes scanned the sky for any signs of the raptor.
Ian had remained stalwart during the attack, and his voice reflected a calm the others did not share. “Athena could have attacked at any time instead of simply passing over us. I don’t think she will harm us, even if she does come back.”
“Well, let’s not make it easy for her, if she does,” inserted Wally. “I say it’s time to move on to somewhere else.”
Peggy nodded her agreement with her husband’s suggestion. “The singer is surely long gone by now, so why don’t we go watch some dancing.” She glanced at her daughter still clasped in Wally’s arms. “How does that sound, Em?”
Emily’s eyes darted around them. “OK—as long as Athena doesn’t follow us.”
Wally’s arms tightened around her. “I won’t let her near you, Princess.”
“There’s something else I think we need to consider,” said Ian. “But let’s find a tent in which to talk for just a minute before we head to the dance venue.” The sound of a different band could be heard in the tent where they had eaten lunch, so the mayor looked around at the other nearby tents. “The one over there sounds pretty quiet.”
The others followed him into the tent and gathered around an empty table. “What’s on your mind?” Alice asked once they were settled.
Ian looked at Annie apologetically. “With the events of the last hour or so, I’m beginning to suspect you have stumbled onto a secret that is potentially dangerous. I’m concerned for your safety, Annie.”
“Do you think Hep threw the hammer at Annie on purpose?” asked Peggy.
Ian considered her question for a moment. “I don’t know. He certainly seemed sincere when he apologized, but I admit I’m rather stunned by everything that’s happened.”
“He seemed awfully embarrassed,” said Annie. “I really don’t see how he could have faked it so well.”
“But then again, we didn’t stick around to see his other throws,” pondered Alice.
Annie admitted, “That’s true. And even if Hep’s throw was truly unintentional, there’s no way the singer’s actions—or the eagle’s for that matter—were random.”
“That’s obvious to all of us,” said Wally. “Annie, you sure do have a way about you for finding mischief!”
Annie sat up straight, a wry grin spreading across her face. “I don’t find the mischief, Wally. It finds me!”
“Be that as it may, I think we need to consider whether it might not be safer for you if we leave,” Ian gently suggested. “You can still research the sporran and ferrule, just at a distance from the people who seem to be shaken up by your presence.”
Annie dug into her bag, pulling out her notebook and pen. “And who are those people?” She flipped open the notebook and began scribbling names. “Apparently, the falconer, Finley. But we never even talked to him.”
“Maybe Brooke told him about Ian’s questions,” suggested Peggy.
“Maybe,” Annie agreed. Annie wrote “singer” below “Finley—falconer.” “I wish the falconers had given their full names,” she said, “and I don’t remember the name of the singer. Does anyone?”
The adults looked at each other, shaking their heads. “I don’t think they ever introduced themselves,” said Alice. “Or maybe I was too distracted by all the food when they first started.”
“Now that you mention it, I’m certain the individual band members were never introduced,” said Ian. “The band name was … ” His voice trailed off.
Peggy drummed her manicured nails on the table before remembering. “Celtic Mist!”
“Yes!” Annie jotted down the band name. “Now we just need to find out the name of the lead singer.”