Sacred Ground. Alex Archer

hungry, then?” Derek asked. “Dinner’s on me.”

      Annja glanced at the counterman, but he was engrossed in the television behind the counter. “Not on the company?” she asked.

      Derek frowned. “We think it’s best if we don’t advertise the fact that we’re interested in this particular area.”

      “But isn’t the deal at least somewhat known?”

      “Only by those who need to know,” Derek said. “And at this point, it’s probably better that we don’t let anyone else in on our work. People in these parts are naturally suspicious of outsiders.”

      Annja glanced at Godwin. “Is that true?”

      He actually smiled. “Don’t know. I’m an outsider myself.”

      When they left the inn the wind showed no signs of losing strength, and they walked quickly across the street to the steak house.

      Another burst of heat greeted them inside. Annja took stock and while the restaurant was really not much more than a glorified bar, the tables and chairs looked comfortable enough.

      A burly waitress ushered them into a booth and handed them each a menu. Derek glanced at his.

      “I’d like your porterhouse cooked medium rare and a beer.”

      Annja ordered the same thing and Godwin asked if there was any fish on the menu. When the waitress informed him there wasn’t, he settled for the sirloin.

      Annja watched her walk away and then glanced at Godwin. “She didn’t exactly seem friendly.”

      “Maybe she can see my mixed heritage. A lot of folks up here don’t trust the Inuit. And if she can figure out I’m Araktak, then she’ll have even more reason to be suspicious.”

      “Why so?”

      Derek cleared his throat. “Like I mentioned earlier, the Araktak are secretive. They’ve kept to themselves for hundreds of years. No one knows this land like they do, but they don’t often grant an audience to outsiders.”

      “So how did your company ever get inroads with them?”

      “Perseverance,” Derek said. “And Godwin.”

      Annja looked at him. “I thought you said they wouldn’t accept you as one of their own.”

      “They don’t. But since I carry my father’s name, they had to at least hear me out of respect for his lineage. I acted as the official go-between and got things settled for the company.”

      “And it’s one of the reasons why he’ll be your constant companion on this venture,” Derek said. “The company wants one of its own on the inside while you work. It’s not that we don’t trust you. It’s that we don’t fully trust the Araktak.”

      “Why not?”

      “There have been some power shifts in the tribe. Some of the Araktak want to do away with the old traditions and embrace the new millennium. Others want nothing to do with the modern world and wish to retreat back into even more secrecy.”

      “And how does everyone feel about the agreement with the company?”

      “There’s been some…unpleasantness,” Derek said.

      “What kind of unpleasantness?” Annja asked.

      “The last representative we sent had a tough time gaining any type of relationship with the Araktak. They sent him back with a broken arm.”

      Annja frowned. “And here I thought this wouldn’t be dangerous.”

      Derek shrugged. “It’s yet another reason we wanted to work with you, Annja. Our information tells us that you are more than capable of holding your own in the event of…unpleasantness.”

      “I suppose you could say that,” Annja said. “Although I would much prefer avoiding conflict if possible.”

      “As would we. But given the tenuous nature of the situation, it would be wise if you were well prepared for any eventuality.”

      Annja glanced at Godwin. “Is that another reason why you’re along on this?”

      “Godwin is here to protect the interests of the company. And in this case, you are most definitely an ‘interest.’”

      “How nice,” Annja said. “I hope you won’t have to do anything to protect me.”

      Godwin shrugged. “It’s my job to be ready just in case.”

      “What if you need protecting?”

      He smirked. “That seems unlikely.”

      “Been known to happen, though.”

      Godwin shrugged. “If it happens, then I’ll deal with it. But I am much more interested in making sure nothing happens to you. Or the company’s position. It’s vital that this go through.”

      Annja watched him for another minute before turning her attention to the beer the waitress had just set down in front of her. She took a sip and as she brought the glass down, something tickled her subconscious. Across from them, she could see two men at the bar taking more than a passing interest in their table.

      Godwin might just get a chance to show his skills sooner than he’d thought. Annja smiled and took a sip of her beer. At least some action would get her blood moving.

      4

      Annja took another sip of her beer. The two men at the bar were growing impatient judging by the way they jostled against the counter. Annja glanced at Godwin. “I think we might be attracting some interest.”

      Godwin’s dark eyes flashed over to the bar and he nodded once. “Sure seem to be.”

      “Friends of yours?” she asked.

      He shook his head. “Nope. But it doesn’t matter. They apparently think they know me or know of me. Either way, it could get messy in here.”

      Derek struggled to hear them over the din. “What are you two babbling about over there?”

      Annja smiled. “It seems as though some of Godwin’s friends might be looking to join us.”

      “Friends?”

      “It’s a loose term.” Annja shrugged. “Really depends on how you feel about people who want to break your bones.”

      Godwin glanced at Derek. “Mr. Wainman, there’s a chance we might have some trouble here very shortly. Whether we want it or not.”

      Derek frowned. “We haven’t even eaten dinner yet.”

      Annja grinned some more. “I’ve found these types rarely have a good sense of timing.”

      Derek looked at Godwin. “Can you handle it?”

      “Most certainly.”

      Annja stretched her arms overhead. “Well, I’m not missing out on the fun.”

      Godwin shook his head. “It’s not your fight.”

      “It is my prerogative, however,” Annja said. “And I need a bit of activity to keep my muscles in shape.”

      The bigger of the two men came off the bar then, his eyes narrowing as he stared at Godwin. Annja figured he must have weighed over two hundred pounds, given that even the thick shirt he wore couldn’t disguise the mass underneath. He had his huge hands tightly squeezed into fists.

      Behind him, the smaller man followed, but he was by no means the lesser of the two threats. Annja saw that he kept his right hand tucked in his back pocket. She frowned. A knife. It had to be a knife of some sort.

      Great.

      The big man managed ten steps before he stopped and pointed a finger at Godwin. “You there. You’re