discovery. Look at all the finds in the last, like, ten years: the Dome of the Loch Ness, the Carthaginian sand pits, Merlin’s castle, Excalibur’s principle forge, and let’s not forget the Dakota labyrinths. Even here at Coren with this Midday Darkness and God’s Garden business. Why are all these coming to light now?”
“Especially when many of the legends had been cast aside or just completely ignored for years,” added Marie.
Grayson cleared his throat. “What are you getting at here, Grey?”
“I’m not really sure. But the timing and outcomes don’t seem right. Think about it. With all these discoveries, a bunch of resources had to be dedicated—manpower, time, expertise. There was no way that someone found all this stuff by chance. Here at Coren, for example, Milary lived more than one hundred years ago but her journal was found just two years ago. Doesn’t that seem coincidental to anyone else? It’s like…it’s like…someone is looking for something specific.”
Banging at the door derailed Monson’s thought. Casey came crashing in, small leather book in hand.
He tossed it to Kylie, who caught it with relish. The sublime air of anticipation prickled them all as she opened the first page.
Kylie’s eyes widened instantly.
She flipped the page, then another, and another, and another and another. She dropped the book to the floor, obviously upset.
A tangible feeling had settled upon the onlookers while Kylie ripped from page to page. Monson picked up the discarded journal. He opened it slowly. Nothing was in it.
Casey’s voice was quiet. “I tried to tell you.”
He put out his hand. “This is the only thing that I found in the book.”
He flipped through the book to the very last page and started to read:
“To M.P. and G.D.P., if you’re reading this that means I’m gone. I don’t know if I’m dead or otherwise, but seeing as I’m not the one reading this I’m not going to dwell on it. I’m also not going to bore you with any long and lengthy declarations of the heart. I have no regrets, save one: that I never told him I loved him and it caused a rift with the one I cherish. That doesn’t make much sense, does it? Well, I’m not writing this part for you so it doesn’t matter anyway. This next part is for you, however, so pay attention.
Secrets. There are so many secrets. Secrets that should have remained buried away. I found what I should not have. Listen carefully: I have often said that history is just as much a weapon as any missile or gun. The strength, however, of any weapon is in the brilliance of its deployment and use. This is the very reason I’m writing this. I must warn you of the price of that which comes next—be careful what you give credence to, as what you believe will directly reflect what you are. Believe only that which is true as truth is pure. If you cannot believe the truth, then turn your belief into truth, as belief is power. No sentence ever had more meaning.
Remember—the shallow payment of discovery is much greater than the future price of ignorance.
The valley is the center of it all. The darkness runs unnaturally deep and only Gaji has a mind to heed, as he alone was created as such under the Shining Princess of the Great Betrayer. He and others like him give no allegiance to that princess or even the Betrayer, but instead to the queen of the Arch Angels who have forever forsaken this high place. She alone may command. Let that which was once high, and the stories of those who lived in the sky, remain untouched and unburdened. The Castle in the Sky!
The Shining Princess—avoid the inheritance of the Shining Princess; only then can you elude the wrath of the Great Betrayer.”
Casey finished his recitation only to have the book quickly snatched from him. Kylie read over the text, then spoke a postscript aloud.
“P.S. To understand, find that which is most important to me.”
Chapter 49 – Instinct
“Monson, what’s
“Especially when many of the legends had been cast aside or just completely ignored for years,” added Marie.
Grayson cleared his throat. “What are you getting at here, Grey?”
“I’m not really sure. But the timing and outcomes don’t seem right. Think about it. With all these discoveries, a bunch of resources had to be dedicated—manpower, time, expertise. There was no way that someone found all this stuff by chance. Here at Coren, for example, Milary lived more than one hundred years ago but her journal was found just two years ago. Doesn’t that seem coincidental to anyone else? It’s like…it’s like…someone is looking for something specific.”
Banging at the door derailed Monson’s thought. Casey came crashing in, small leather book in hand.
He tossed it to Kylie, who caught it with relish. The sublime air of anticipation prickled them all as she opened the first page.
Kylie’s eyes widened instantly.
She flipped the page, then another, and another, and another and another. She dropped the book to the floor, obviously upset.
A tangible feeling had settled upon the onlookers while Kylie ripped from page to page. Monson picked up the discarded journal. He opened it slowly. Nothing was in it.
Casey’s voice was quiet. “I tried to tell you.”
He put out his hand. “This is the only thing that I found in the book.”
He flipped through the book to the very last page and started to read:
“To M.P. and G.D.P., if you’re reading this that means I’m gone. I don’t know if I’m dead or otherwise, but seeing as I’m not the one reading this I’m not going to dwell on it. I’m also not going to bore you with any long and lengthy declarations of the heart. I have no regrets, save one: that I never told him I loved him and it caused a rift with the one I cherish. That doesn’t make much sense, does it? Well, I’m not writing this part for you so it doesn’t matter anyway. This next part is for you, however, so pay attention.
Secrets. There are so many secrets. Secrets that should have remained buried away. I found what I should not have. Listen carefully: I have often said that history is just as much a weapon as any missile or gun. The strength, however, of any weapon is in the brilliance of its deployment and use. This is the very reason I’m writing this. I must warn you of the price of that which comes next—be careful what you give credence to, as what you believe will directly reflect what you are. Believe only that which is true as truth is pure. If you cannot believe the truth, then turn your belief into truth, as belief is power. No sentence ever had more meaning.
Remember—the shallow payment of discovery is much greater than the future price of ignorance.
The valley is the center of it all. The darkness runs unnaturally deep and only Gaji has a mind to heed, as he alone was created as such under the Shining Princess of the Great Betrayer. He and others like him give no allegiance to that princess or even the Betrayer, but instead to the queen of the Arch Angels who have forever forsaken this high place. She alone may command. Let that which was once high, and the stories of those who lived in the sky, remain untouched and unburdened. The Castle in the Sky!
The Shining Princess—avoid the inheritance of the Shining Princess; only then can you elude the wrath of the Great Betrayer.”
Casey finished his recitation only to have the book quickly snatched from him. Kylie read over the text, then spoke a postscript aloud.
“P.S. To understand, find that which is most important to me.”
Chapter 49 – Instinct
“Monson, what’s
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