Scanning the room with the flashlight, he pointed it at the shore inside the cave.
“I mean, this would be a good place to put a body,” he said. “Who the fuck is looking here?” Michael asked.
Graham agreed.
“And better yet, this is an excellent escape route out of the castle. It’s a good place to hide. If someone came for Duncan and he had to escape, this might have led into the castle at one time.”
He had a point.
There was a suspicious wall not far away, and it was heading back toward the castle.
Well, that was what he believed.
At that moment, he couldn’t tell what was North, East, West, or South. There were no markers to use.
As they swam to the shore of the cave, the two men climbed out. Not far from the water, they found three boxes. They were up on rocks, so they didn’t get wet.
“Want to bet that those are coffins?” Michael asked.
He shook his head.
“No bet,” he said. “What is freaking me out is that small one. It’s baby-sized.”
Yeah, he was aware.
As he moved closer, one of the boxes had the family crest of Duncan Granndach. Blowing the dust and debris off of it, he touched the top. It was nailed in with old iron spikes.
Using all of his strength, he pulled it up, and the lid disintegrated in his hands.
Well, so much for that.
With the light, they shined it in the opening, and there were definitely bones.
And a bottle.
With delicate fingers, Michael pulled the bottle out, and uncorked it.
Inside, there was a rolled-up piece of paper.
As he opened it, it was in decent shape. It had been sealed away, safe.
“What does it say?” Michael asked since it wasn’t in English.
Graham read it.
‘Here lies my beloved Ciarán.
He was murdered, and we were betrayed. I placed him here so that one day, I could put him back with me. We live in a time where our love is a sin.
He died protecting me, and I will protect his bones until the end of time.
Never will I forget the love we shared here and how perfect our love was, until it wasn’t.
I still seek out the one who betrayed us, and one day, I will make it right. Ciarán, I love you, and I will join you soon. I have no desire to live without you.
When Callum is old enough to take over, I will join you. I will end my life to be with you. Forever was our vow, and at death we shall be reunited.
May God allow your soul rest.
