"Why were you dressed as a fireman when I saw you first?" I asked, staring into my cup.

"You have to understand that we're here to protect you but we're supposed to be incognito," he said. "We couldn't get near you at the fire, without sending up a helicopter, and by then it would have been too late. The only way to get closer was for me to hop on and dress in the gear as the engine pulled into the yard."

"So, you and the others have been tailing me ever since I arrived."

He sipped his tea. "Yep, pretty much."

"Do you know why you're even doing it? I mean, why me?"

"I'm just following orders. It's not my place to ask questions."

I sniggered. "What I can't get out of my head, is that the army don't offer protection to anyone. Not even the Prime Minister has army security; he has Secret Service, MI5 or some such."

"So?"

"Do you track Daisy when she's out?"

"No, just you."

"Have you had to intervene with anyone yet? Has anyone been a threat on my life?" I said cautiously, sipping my tea. I looked out the window, almost hoping he didn't answer.

"Yes, twice now."

I spun on my stool to see if he was joking but his face was stoic.

I held my hands up in defence. "I don't even want to know when."

"Just as well. But, Rose, maybe you could help us out?"

"How?"

"Tell us your movements so we can be in place before you get there." He threw a side glance at me and I saw from his creased brow that he was completely serious.

"Isn't the whole idea of tailing me, so that you can do just that?"

He chuckled. "Yeah, but if we knew where you were going we could be in place before you got there, instead of spending our time guessing which way you go."

I thought for a moment. "Okay, but how do we do it, without being obvious."

"Text me. The minute your plans change, text me. When you decide to visit somewhere else, text me again. We'll be following but it'll give us a chance to move a second unit in ahead of you. You won't even know we're there, I promise."

"But, Pritchard, what about my privacy?"

"You really think you have it here?" he flicked his head at the walls and the hallway. "There are cameras all over this place, at the gates, on the walls, even in some rooms."

"In my bedroom?"

"I don't know," he shrugged. "But if you mean, do we know McCaw visited your room last night, then we know."

"'Cause of the soldier outside Henry's room. He would have reported it."

"He didn't, but he told me. McCaw isn't a threat on your life. You just had bad dreams, and you have them a lot."

I stared open mouthed in shock at him. "Does Daisy know?"

"About your midnight visitor? No, Rose, she doesn't want to know your personal stuff. And it's only Collins and me who know about last night. It won't go any further, I promise."

I breathed out a fresh sigh of relief.

"Had it been the Deverill boy, though, things might have been different," his ice cold stare told me he didn't approve of Aiden. They must have seen how friendly Aiden was last night on the hill.

"You don't like him?"

"It's not that. There are good people who do bad things from time to time. And there are bad people who do good things occasionally. The thing is, your Aiden boy fit's into both categories. Kind of confuses things a little," he raised his shoulders and gulped down his drink.

"So who authorised all this tracking and tailing? Daisy?"

"Yes. She knows people in high places," he offered lightly.

My head shook again. "Unbelievable."

"But one thing, Rose."

"What?"

"Keep it to yourself. Don't look for us; don't make anyone else aware that we're out of there."

"What about Morgan?"

"McCaw knows everything. He has full clearance."

I guffawed. "Full clearance? What is he? A spy?"

"McCaw passes information to us, if he thinks it's important. But he's not a spy, and he doesn't spy on you."

"No, that's your job," I sarcastically replied.

"We don't give a damn what you do, Rose, or who with. It's not our objective," he said as he stood and cleaned his cup in the sink, and returned to his army unaffected demeanour. "Where's your phone?"

I pulled it from my pocket and handed it to him. He tapped the buttons, looking closely at the screen before handing it to me.

"The first number is mine. It's marked 'AAA'. Text a number, street address or your intended location. It will really help us."

I placed the phone on the side and nodded. "I hate this. I just want you to know. I'm mad as hell with Daisy. All because of my dad's job."

"I don't know anything about that, Rose. Just be careful, keep me informed," and with that he left the kitchen by the back door, his boots heavy on the concrete outside soon crisping the gravel of the front driveway.

I finished my tea alone. I wasn't in the mood for any breakfast so I went to the library. The door stood open and Daisy's desk remained messy as it had been before. I drew the curtains wide open letting light filter into the semi-dark room. The view of the back garden was beautiful from here. Daisy had planted some miniature roses in a rock bed near the window, in a variety of colours. My mood was only blunted slightly when I caught site of Morgan's cottage.

I started pulling books from the shelves consciously remembering where they all came from. I sat at her chair and started writing notes. If I was going to Jez's again I needed more information to help him with.

The first book I checked through had nothing of interest. Mainly just information about Wiltshire in general. No myths or stories. I even checked the pictures to see if any three pointed objects were depicted but there was nothing.

The next one had information about King Alfred and his battle at Edington but there was no alchemist or shield mentioned, or buried treasure or monks. I put them both back and tried another from my pile. The next one was more about Imber and the history, the usual stuff. Not much mentioned about the church and no pictures of murals. I put it back as well.

The last one I picked up showed promise. It was called "Treasures of Wiltshire," the cover beautifully displaying a picture of a diamond shaped jewel encased with gold. I looked at the inside cover and read "King Alfred's Jewel - One of four made. This jewel is currently located in Salisbury Museum."

The museum again, I remembered. The same one where the shield was being exhibited. Was it a coincidence that they were both related to King Alfred? I jotted the information down, there was always a chance it could be useful later.

I folded the corner of the page and flicked through to the section on the jewel and read through the paragraph.

The stone was a white crystal embedded with gold filigree which held in place a green emerald cut into the centre. It was said to be the head piece for a cane or staff. The rumours were that in times of need the crystal shone brilliant white and filled the bearer with the magic.

There were four made altogether, the other three were plain white crystals similar but with no central emerald. They were the conduit which gave the King Alfred Jewel its power. The article continued by saying that if the three stones surrounded the Jewel it would illuminate and its power would be initiated. What power exactly, it did not reveal. Probably just old age superstitious mumbo-jumbo, I thought.

I flicked through another couple of books but they held nothing of great importance. The next book was a soft cover much like a paper leaflet. The cover read "Halika Dacome and Nerido Xipile - The truth."

At last, I thought. However to my dismay, the entire volume was empty. The inner pages had been ripped out, and the back page featured only a small biography of the author. Paul Pemberton again, he had been the author of the web page I'd tried to read. The biography stated that he lived near Warminster in a place called Heytesbury. In pencil and written by Daisy's hand was an address.

I wrote it in my notes. Maybe I could persuade Hannah to take me there. The books that were of no further use I returned to the shelves, keeping back just two to take with me to Jez's.

I stowed it all back in my room before heading back down to tidy the kitchen before I left. As I put the stray plates in the sink I saw Morgan striding towards the house.

Oh pants, this was all I needed.

I should have bolted to my room while he was in the house. But I had a feeling I had already been seen. I kept my head down as I started to stack the dishwasher with glasses, then casually grabbed a tea towel and started drying the plates left on the draining board.

Morgan was through the door, and he paused, appraising me for what seemed like the longest awkward moment. I took a deep gulp of air, putting the last plate away in the cupboard and started walking away when his voice halted me in my steps.

"Rose, please stop."

I didn't turn. My hands shook with nerves. I was more afraid of what he'd say next than what he would do.

"Look at me," he whispered across the room.

I turned, unable to hide my pained expression of fear "Did you sleep okay?"

I nodded.

"You?" I croaked, my voice stuck in my throat.

"Yes, I did," he smiled faintly from one side of his mouth. "Thank you for asking."

I breathed. I had to get this over with, sooner or later, and then I could get away.

"Morgan, I'm sorry about last night. I have bad dreams sometimes," I whispered keeping my eyes to the floor, my fingers brushed through my hair in an embarrassed gesture. "I'll try not to disturb you again."

I caught his gaze and puckered my cheek in mock stupidity and he faintly smiled. His lovely face dropped as a show of concern furrowed his brow.

"You were screaming so loudly, I heard it from the cottage. I was afraid someone had got into the house and hurt you. I can't believe that soldier boy didn't look in to see what the racket was about."

"You mean my new found security? They're not allowed to interfere, apparently. It was just me being stupid."

I wrapped my arms protectively around my body.

"Rose, what did you dream that was so awful?" he asked kindly, moving closer, lessening our distance apart.

I frowned, remembering. My eyes flashed across the floor again as I saw, once more, the angry face of my nightmare, and heard the shouts ringing in my ears. It was still so fresh in my mind. It was too much, I couldn't bear it.

I stepped back, away from him as my fear broke out in goose-bumps on my arms. A chill swept over me like a wave. I wrapped my arms tighter.

Morgan saw my distress. "Okay, don't worry. But you must tell me soon. How's Henry?"

"I don't know. Still sleeping, I think. Collins is outside his room."

"Yeah, Daisy's seeing the Chief Super right now. She told me what happened when I got home. In the meantime, I have something to show you. Will you come with me? Just to the cottage," he flicked his fingers out, beckoning.

I nodded and followed, swallowing my fear.

Inside the cottage he motioned me towards his sofa and told me to sit. Something about his tone warned me to beware. What was coming wasn't going to be good, I was sure of that.

The cottage was unchanged apart from a small suitcase at the foot of the bed. Morgan disappeared for a moment and returned carrying a laptop computer. He placed it on the table in front and sat next to me.

"There's something I want you to see," he said quietly as he pressed a button on the keyboard.

I gave him a curious glance then watched the blank screen. It changed to a black and white picture showing the full expanse of this room from one corner. A picture from a hidden camera.

I froze, and then put my hands to my face to hide my shock.

"What is this?" I said gruffly through my fingers.

"Just watch," he answered. His frame was poised with calmness, and he continued to stare at the monitor. I looked again, watching his room from the camera viewpoint. Then to my horror I knew exactly what was going to happen.

The camera had picked up my first entrance. In the view, I saw myself look around the room, stopping for a moment. A strange whirl of circles, silvery grey, poured out from my entire body, and I sought the plant from the windowsill.

I shuffled uncomfortably on the settee, I could barely watch as I saw my arm rise up, almost disfigured, and my fingers poised downwards sinking grey silvery shoots into the plant pot.

I gulped. Oh boy, I was deader than the deadest man in dead-land.

Morgan was unperturbed in his seat, scarcely moving, only to flick stray glances in my direction. Once my form finished on the monitor, he closed the screen down and took my hands lightly in his.

"I'm not angry with you. I just wanted you to know that I knew about your gifts," he said calmly, peering into my eyes. "Before this, before last night and before you showed me the box."

I stayed silent, thinking, trying to understand his words. I looked down at his hands delicately holding my own.

"You said I could trust you," I whispered.

"You can, with anything."