Read Aegis: Catalyst Grove for Free Online Page B

together.  
    “I can see why you come out here. It is amazing!” said Damien.  
    Twenty minutes passed by before they came to the large stone arch.   It towered over Damien as he stood in its massive shadow, his mouth open in awe.
      “What in the world is that?”
    “I am not sure, exactly.   It looks like the remains of some sort of building.   I don’t know how long this has been here, but it looks ancient.   If I am not in Wellington, I am here.”  
    Damien walked over to the arch taking in the beauty of the structure.   It stood probably twenty feet tall with large stones stacked in random order.   The lush green moss hung over it like a shawl, and the sunlight gave it a life-like glow.  
    “Who in the world would have built this thing in the middle of the woods like this?” asked Damien.
    “I dunno.   Someone who wanted to have it to themselves, I guess,” replied Graham.  
    The two stared at the arch for a few minutes until Graham punched Damien’s shoulder again as he said, “Better get a move on.   We don’t have long.   This Chase guy said they would be there during lunch. I hope we haven’t missed him.”
    The two picked up their pace and made their way past more trees, down a bank, around a large cluster of rocks and over a small creek.   Every so often Damien would notice a small ragged piece of white cloth tied to a tree branch as they passed by.   After crossing a small creek and sidestepping a large cluster of rhododendron bushes, they found themselves on the edge of Wellington.  
    Standing at the backside of Building 14, Graham began to give the layout of the Market to Damien.   Pointing to the left, he began with Ms. McKay’s stand, then worked his way down the line.   Pointing slightly to the right, he said, “That is where we are going to start.   Collin’s Cafe.   There are only four places to eat here, and Collins is the most popular.”  
    Graham took hold of a metal rung and told Damien to follow.   “Usually I go all the way to the top of a good view, but we need to be able to get down fast, so let’s go to the first story balcony.”
    As they climbed the metal ladder and stepped out onto the balcony, Damien ran his hand up and down one of the gargoyles.  
    “Wow.   These look so real.”  
    “Come on!   We don’t have time to look at these,” Graham said, fully knowing how enthralled he was the first time he saw them.  
    Graham pointed across the street to the patio of Collin’s Cafe.  
    “Start looking over there.   You know what Chase looks like.   The only description I have of Cavaness is that he very large with a black goatee.”   Pulling his binoculars from his back pocket, Graham continued.   “I will check down here at O’Mally’s.”
    The two looked intently at the crowd of people eating lunch.   Many were almost finished and were taking a stroll up and down the cobblestone road to let their food settle.  
    “Come on, come on, come ON!” Graham mumbled.   “You’ve got top be around here somewhere.”
    “Graham, look!” yelled Damien.   A tall thin man in a long coat was walking into the Cafe.   “That looks like Chase!”  
    It was hard to see his face with all the umbrellas set up in the patio.  
    “Maybe,” said Graham.   “Let’s see if we can see his face as he walks out.”  
    The two waited for a few minutes in anticipation as they watched the man walk in through the line, order a drink, then make his way out to the patio.   He was just at the edge of the table, ready to take a seat.   Graham and Damien couldn’t keep still in their excitement.   Graham focused intently on the man through his binoculars.   Sitting down, his face was finally revealed.  
    “Ahhhhh! He has got to be at least 40 years old!   COME ON!   WHERE ARE YOU!” Graham shouted in frustration.  
    “ Calmate .   You are going to give us away.   I want to see this guy too, but you have got to cool the engines a