The Guardian

Chapter 2

Jack found Ben in a barn on the property. The area Ben was in looked like some sort of workman's shop. Nora said it was Ben's laboratory, but Jack didn't know what that meant. He would learn though. He was determined to learn all that he could about the Philosopher's Stone. Ben had already loaned him books, which he devoured in the evenings. He wasn't a very good reader, as his education with the Indians was very informal, but in time, he was determined to become better.

Ben was frowning and studying maps of the Colonial territory. Jack made no effort to be quiet as he entered. He and Ben had spent hours together at night discussing the territory, finances, how they should travel.

"I still believe you should head to Europe," Ben muttered, moving his candle lamp above the map for better vision in the darkness.

"And I still say that I feel more comfortable out West."

"Nora is from England; a little village called Merrhein. She knows her way around there. She is from nobility there. She will have resources."

"Nora says she hasn't been there in a hundred years. And if you believe that then anyone that knows her is dead. And if Rogan is from there, as well, he will have contacts, a network. He doesn't have that in Indian territory."

"Neither does Eleanor," Ben countered.

"But I do, and it is my job to keep her safe, is it not?"

Ben shrugged, dropping the continuous argument for now with a sigh. "What is on your mind this evening, my boy?"

"Tell me more about the stone," Jack settled down on a barrel, crossed his arms over his chest, and stretched out his long legs. "Tell me what you know about the science of it."

Ben removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes, then sat on another barrel nearby. He was weary. Patriots were gathering more and more openly now. Tensions and expectations were running high. Boston was a tempest and a fire was being stoked that was about to burn out of control. Ben was not a supporter of the King, but Europe was looking more and more appealing. There was talk that maybe his gift of persuasion might help sway the French to the colonists' cause, and John Adams was not proving to be effective in that vein.

Ben was not a fighter. He was no warrior now or ever. He believed the pen was mightier than the sword. If he was in Europe and he could convince Jack that they should go as well, he could do more to aid them in their quest. Independence from the crown was important. But King George was no Lord Rogan, and keeping the stone from him was everything.

Ben looked over at Jack and studied him. He watched the man more and more when he was sure Jack was not aware of his attention. He saw that Jack moved with stealth and a certain kind of grace. Jack could see things in the shadows of the night and his hearing was keen. Jack was always thinking, always watching and always ready. Nora also watched Jack, but she was more obvious about her observations. She questioned everything Jack did, everything he said, and he clearly did not appreciate it. They were a very interesting match indeed.

"The concept originated in the 8th century with an Islamic alchemist named Gerber," Ben began. "He analyzed each element in terms of the four basic qualities of hotness, coldness, dryness and moistness. His theory was that fire was both hot and dry; earth, cold and dry; water, cold and moist; and air, hot and moist. He thought that every metal was a combination of these four principles—two of them on the inside and two on the outside.

"From this premise, it was theorized that the conversion of one metal into another could be achieved by rearranging its basic qualities. This change would result in the creation of a substance, which came to be called an 'elixir.' It was often imagined as a dry powder made from a mythical stone — the 'Philosopher's Stone' — but in this case, it is a liquid.