Lured to the Night (The Brotherhood 4)

Lachlan studied it for a time. “I think it precedes any Celtic language in use today.” He ran the tip of his finger along the page and stopped. “This word Talorc is a name. This spiral symbol means maiden or mother. The word Eithne is a female name, I believe. The fact the names are encompassed in twine would suggest a kinship of sorts.”

Isla stared at him. A rush of pride filled her chest. “Do you think Talliano is related to someone buried here?”

Ivana sighed. “Nikolai lied about many things. He could have lied about the scholars name too. We will never know for sure, and so anything is possible.”

Lachlan closed the book and handed it back to the marquess. “Could I use the lantern for a moment?”

Isla gave him the lamp, curious to know of his intention. She watched him walk around the perimeter of the room. Each wall housed four separate recesses, each one containing a rectangular shaped stone tomb. Lachlan ran his hand over the dusty lid on the first tomb, examined it briefly before moving on to the next one.

He stopped at the end of the row. “This might be what you’re looking for.”

They all hurried over to him.

The marquess examined the stone coffin. “How do you know this is the one we want?”

Lachlan pointed to the lid. “The original inscription is visible, but someone has carved a new inscription near the bottom of the slab. It carries the spiral symbol I mentioned earlier.” He handed Ivana the lantern and then turned to Leo. “Help me open the tomb.”

Isla gasped. “No, Lachlan. You should not disturb the dead.”

Lachlan’s questioning gaze scanned the group.

Ivana put her hand on Isla’s forearm. “Having lived with the affliction for so long, I welcome any information that helps me to make sense of it all. We will be respectful. I promise you.”

Isla sighed. She understood the need for answers. “Very well. But one look and then we must leave here.”

They all inclined their heads in agreement.

Lachlan and Leo pushed the lid of the tomb just far enough for them to peer inside.

“You’ll need this,” Ivana said offering the light to her husband.

Leo gazed inside, gestured for Lachlan to look, too.

“Dinnae ask me to look in there.” Douglas stepped back, his tone a little apprehensive.

“It is as I suspected,” Lachlan said. “There are the bones of two people in here. One of them still has a stake wedged between their ribs where it must have pierced their heart.”

Lachlan stepped back to allow Leo to glance inside once more. When he put his hand into the tomb, they gave a collective gasp.

Leo removed a metal object, examined it before putting it back inside the coffin. “Help me close it, Lachlan.”

The men pushed the slab back into place, brushed their hands and turned to face the group.

“Well?” Douglas asked. “The suspense is nae good for my heart.”

“The smaller skeleton appears to be that of a woman.” Leo raised a brow. “At school, I always paid attention in anatomy classes. The stake to her heart would suggest that was the cause of death. But more interestingly, she has been buried with a bracelet. The large circular piece of metal in the centre carries an engraving. A cross of twine encircled with the same design.”

“Is it similar to the branding mark?” Ivana asked eagerly.

“Yes.” Leo nodded sombrely. “It is the same mark.”

There was a moment of stunned silence. Isla suspected their minds were engaged in trying to piece together the relevant bits of information.

“We will never fully understand Talliano’s reason for coming here,” Ivana began. “The only logical explanation I can draw from it all is that the woman in the tomb was kin to him. The presence of the stake would suggest she also suffered from the affliction. Perhaps she brought shame on her family and was originally buried elsewhere.”

“And you think Talliano came here to restore her remains to the family tomb?” Leo asked.