The Map Maker's Quest by Matthew J. Krengel

Harbors,” Jacob said. “We managed to escape but they seemed to know we were coming.” Jacob looked suspiciously at Tasker but held his silence.
    â€œSomeone is feeding Cain information about our movements,” Jane said through tight lips. She gave Jackie a quick hug and then gave Jacob a much longer one. When she finally released her grip on him Jackie smiled at her and giggled into her hand. “What!”
    â€œNothing,” Jackie snickered.
    â€œLet’s get moving,” Jane grunted. She loved having her sister back but sometimes . . . well . . . no she loved having her back, Jane thought. They started up the long stairs, and she felt Bella settle onto her shoulder. The sudden reminder that the invisible fairy was present startled her and she paused.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Jacob asked. He put his hand on the opposite shoulder and looked by her up the stairs. Her heart beat a little faster and she looked back at him and smiled. His grip was strong and the wisp of a scent of his cologne reached her.
    â€œNothing,” Jane replied. She started up the steps again and by the time they reached the top, she was breathing heavily. Then she realized they had only finished climbing the first flight of the wooden steps. There was a platform and then the stairs continued up until they reached a gravel path framed by stone retaining walls. With a deep breath she followed her sister and Tasker up the next section of steps using the railing for support, adding strength in her legs.
    â€œIs it empty up there?” Jane asked quietly.
    â€œIt looks like the last few people just walked back to the entrance,” Jacob said. He was crouched at the end of a stone wall watching the empty grounds. They were all crouched down out of sight. Just beyond the wall sat three houses once the living spaces for the staff who stayed on grounds. Jacob watched as one of the guides exited the lighthouse and locked the door. They stayed out of sight until they heard the door close off to their left.
    â€œLet’s go,” Jacob hissed.
    The four of them hurried across the grassy grounds until they reached the stone steps leading up to the lighthouse. At the top of the steps a stone building to the left contained the remains of fuel tanks and generators. They were only for display now, but Jane could feel the presence of the massive hunks of iron.
    Just to their right was the white walled building that housed the lighthouse. They all gathered around the locked door.
    â€œHow do we get in?” Jane whispered. The door was locked shut and there was an iron padlock holding a secondary lock.
    â€œGive me a minute,” Tasker muttered. He pulled a pair of thin pieces of metal from an inner pocket on his shirt and leaned close to the lock. “I’m pretty good with locks, a legacy of my youth I’m afraid.” He slipped the lock picks into the lock and began turning the small tumblers inside.
    â€œI can just cut them off,” Jacob said. He pulled his sword out and motioned to the locks. His voice faltered as the iron padlock came off cleanly in Tasker’s hand. The dwarf looked back and raised an eyebrow at Jacob.
    â€œAlmost done,” Tasker said quietly. He slipped the lock pick into the next lock and lowered his face as close to it as possible. There was only a padlock and the lock built into the door handle, but the people working at the lighthouse had locked both of them.
    This one was a little harder, and Jane fidgeted from where she was kneeling down and watching for any sign of trouble. She glanced back at the dwarf and watched as he continued to fiddle with the lock. Jacob looked over at her and shrugged as if to say I told you so. When she looked back, her heart leapt in her chest. A man was crossing the grounds towards the steps.
    â€œHurry someone’s coming,” Jane hissed.
    â€œAlmost got it,” Tasker responded. A moment later the lock clicked open and