Chapter 3

Madison sat in her studio fervently carving out her design. The need to finish this before she left was overpowering. Why, she did not know. She just knew that it had gripped her and would not let go. The design was a step apart from what she usually created. It was larger with a bit more weight than any of her previous beads.

The quote that she carved was something from deep within her memory. Madison could not remember where it came from nor did she care. She only knew that it had to have a 'home'. She referred to her beads as 'homes' for the countless quotes that held so much meaning in a simple sentence. When the silver bead was cast, it served not only as a messenger but a mirror into her heart.

Pausing after a few hours, she leaned back in her chair and looked about her studio. Her eyes came to rest on the pendant. It was hanging from a glass knob she had attached to her bulletin board. She used to hunt for these little treasures with Micah on the weekends. Once, they had come across an old shoebox filled with glass knobs, mostly clear ones, a couple of amber colored ones and this; a single sapphire blue one.



"Mommy, look at this necklace, isn't it cool?"

"Where did you get that, Micah?"

"Mr. Tanaka gave it to me. He said it's special because it has a secret."

"Oh? And what's the secret?"

Micah shrugged. "I don't know, mom, but he said I can figure it out 'cause I'm the smartest boy he knows!"

"That you are, kiddo, and he's a smart man to recognize that."

"But, mom, you're going to help me solve the mystery, right?"

"Of course, honey. But until we have the time, we'll hang it on the bulletin board, okay?"

"On my crystal knob?"

"Yes, sweetie, on the blue one."



Taking the pendant down, she studied it closely. The inscription was rubbed smooth in a few places and she could not make out some of the words. Scratch that. She couldn't make out any of the words. They were in Latin. Or maybe Greek. Madison had no idea what it was.

She had taken the pendant up to Ravensdale last summer and had shown it to Katherine. "I'm pretty sure it's Latin, though it's so worn that it's hard to tell", she told Madison. She had also mentioned that she had seen another piece like that, although it wasn't a pendant.

"I'll let you know if I remember where I saw it or what is was", she had promised.

Suddenly Madison wished she was going to see Katherine instead. She wanted to explore ideas about the pendant with her after the classes, but she had already committed to going with Joanna. Joanie would be livid if she reneged now.

Sighing, booted up her computer. She had emailed Katherine about rescheduling her class and wanted to check for a reply. As she hoped, there was an email from her, but not the reply she was counting on.

To: madisonavenue@yahoo.com
From: katmuller@aol.com
Subject: Rescheduling Class

Hi Maddie!

Sorry you can't come to the retreat. I was looking forward to seeing you again.

I'm not sure about rescheduling as I have other engagements I cannot break, but since you have the whole summer we'll see if we can't maybe arrange something. Maybe.

Remember those photos I took of your pendant? Well, I showed it to an old friend of mine who's a language professor at our local college and he thought it was Latin, but he wants to study it a little further. Will let you know if he comes up with anything.

Oh! And by the way, I remembered where I saw something similar. Well, it's not exactly similar but somehow it reminded me of it. I'm sending it to you so you should receive it shortly.

I'll be in touch. Remember Ravensdale = no Internet access. : )

Have fun with the *rockstars* - LOL!

Kat


Madison looked at the pendant, again. Turning it over, she noticed that the inscription went right under the bail. That's odd. The pendant and the bail are made of two different metals. Someone had soldered it on.


It was not a pendant at all.

*****