Imagine you have made a secret promise that can lead you to an incredible treasure and an ancient power. But in order to fulfill that promise, you must defeat an age-old sect determined to claim the treasure and power themselves.

REVIEW

I devoured Ms. Hines book in an hour and a half, could not put it down until I found out who the Grail keeper would be. It was a fun romp through the back woods, islands and rivers of Nova Scotia culminating of course with the dramatic moment on Oak Island when all was revealed. My thoughts were, "Wow, the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew meet Harry Potter on Nova Scotia's Oak Island where Hines gives us the answer to the mystery of Oak Island. What fun! It's magic, adventure and high drama in this high paced, action filled story."

Reviewed by: Danny Hennigar, Member, Oak Island Tourism Society

EXCERPT

"This is a secret meeting," Drew Newman whispered as he pulled his letterman's jacket close. He sat perched on a log beside the crackling fire at the edge of his backyard. His green eyes darted back and forth between his two friends. "You can't tell anyone what we're going to talk about."

"Dude, I'm a real man. Of course I can keep a secret." Javon Manson ground out an ember that popped from the fire and fiddled with his do-rag, shifting his muscular body as he tried to find a comfortable position on his log.

Mattie Royz shivered as a chill wind tossed her red hair into blue eyes. She pulled her windbreaker tight around her petite, slightly plump frame. "Oh my gosh, Javon, you are so lame. I'm not a 'real man,' but I can keep a secret, too."

"All right." Drew slid the marshmallow off his roasting stick and popped it in his mouth. Hearing a noise, he turned toward the trees that stood beyond the flickering light of the fire.

At that moment, a stranger carrying a sword stepped from the night's shadows and walked toward them. A dark hood hid his face and although large, his steps were light and graceful. The wind gusted, bringing with it the smell of rain. It tossed the black cloak aside, revealing a pristine white tunic and a red sash belted his waist.

Drew sucked in his breath as the man walked up to him, sword held at his side.

"Stand up," the man commanded, pointing his sword at Drew. Dripping perspiration and shaking, Drew gulped and stood. Who was this man, and what did he want?

"You are the one." The man lifted the tip of his sword to Drew's chin. "Where is it?"

"Where is what?" Drew sniffed. Before he thought, he said, "Gosh, you sure do stink."

The man tensed, hissed, and leaned toward Drew, and Drew thought he was a goner for sure. But after a tense moment, the man shrugged his shoulders, let out his breath, and considered the teen standing before him.

"Don't trifle with me. Where is the book?"

Drew was so nervous he couldn't think. "What book?"

"It's a very special book," the man prodded again. "You know which one."

Drew wiped his sweaty hands on his Levi's, inhaling the familiar, pungent odor of the campfire. Only one book was special. A journal. His mother's journal. He'd touched it, and when he'd done so, it had left a peculiar scar on the back of his left hand. She'd cautioned him not to tell anyone about the book or how he'd gotten the scar. What did this man know of her book?

"Are you referring to my mother's journal?" Drew asked.

"Your mother's, hmm. Yes, that would be it. Where is it?"

"I don't know. It must be lost because I haven't seen it in years."

"This book is not lost," the man said, his voice flat and hard.

A second man wearing a black leather jacket and jeans slid out from the night's shadows. His sword reflected the fire's flames. The first man withdrew his sword from beneath Drew's chin and the two whispered. The interrogator looked at Drew, who shivered in the damp wind. "You are fortunate, young man, that pressing matters require my attention elsewhere. I will see you again."

At that, he sheathed his sword, and the two men disappeared into the darkness. A soft rain began to fall as Javon hollered, "Run! Run!"