“Those who helped craft this sanctuary have long since died.”
Aiden nodded. In the future, if ever the need arose, ’twould be a perfect location for the king or the Templars tomeet in secret.
The roar of the falls faded to a muted rumble as they stepped insidea large cavern.
Beneath the shimmers of light, he scanned the chamber, amazed to find benches, a table, and several chests within. His gaze lingered on a bed centered along the back wall. His body tightened. Blast it; the last thing he needed to think about was her lush body pressed against his.
“The workmanship is impressive,”he forced out.
Pride shone in her eyes. “According to my father, it took more than five years to complete every detail in the original plans. Tunnels were dug to connect several natural chambers, including the passage weused to enter.”
My great-grandfather oversaw the buildingof this refuge.
Oversaw? Not, designed. Something niggled at him as Aiden glanced toward her. “Who devised this cavern?”
A frown wrinkled her brow. “I dinna know,which is odd.”
“How so?”
“Throughout the written history of Latharn Castle, the details of my family, every corner of the keep, and additions to our stronghold have been meticulously documented,” Gwendolyn explained. “But to my knowledge, there is nay record describing this place.”
“That this complex was built as an escape could explain why naught was ever recorded,” he suggested.
“I would agree, except that in a family ledger I keep hidden, the secret tunnels above the castle and the hidden chambers below are noted. I have always wondered, why those details andnone of this?”
“Hidden chambers?” he asked, remembering those constructed below Avalon Castle, the complex designed and built by the Brotherhood, one now under the control of his friend and fellow Templar, Stephan MacQuistan. He stilled. God’s sword, had the Templars played a role in the design of both strongholds? ’Twas unthinkable.
Or was it? Unease crawled up Aiden’s spine. Whoever had planned this secret complex had a proficiency held by few. The design was anything but simple, considering the quiet of the room so close to the thunder of the falls, and the intricate craftsmanship of the entry. He’d known several stonemasons accomplished enough to design something of such caliber, all Knights Templar.
The Grand Master was known for his complex planning within the Brotherhood. Nor could Aiden forget another fact known by few: Scotland’s king was secretly aKnight Templar.
Before France’s sovereign had disclosed his arrest order for the Brotherhood, word of King Philip’s nefarious plan had reached the Grand Master. A deed that had unsealed a secret pact, one drafted between Jacques de Molay and King Robert Bruce years before to serve as a haven if ever the Brotherhood wasforced to flee.
More important, ’twas Bruce who had ordered Stephan MacQuistan to seize Avalon Castle. Once captured, the stronghold had turned out to have important ties to the Brotherhood.
God’s sword, had King Robert sought the capture of Latharn Castle for the same reason? If so, ’twould explain why Robert Bruce had chosen him, Cailin, and Rónán, all Knights Templar, to scope out the fortress in preparationfor an attack.
He slanted a hard glance at Gwendolyn, noted she watched him with confused interest. She had stated that Latharn Castle had remained in her family, but she’d also mentioned documentation of every addition to the stronghold had been kept over the years, which was anotherTemplar habit.
Reeling from the prospect, Aiden again looked around. ’Twas not an artless chamber. The detail involved, the years necessary to construct this compound, hinted at more—ifone but looked.
He yearned to see whether Latin inscriptions were tucked into discreet locations within this room or passageways within the complex.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
“Nay,” he said, forcing lightness into his words. “Rest. I will make a pallet by the entry and keep guard.”
“There is nay need. They willna find us.”
If indeed this place had been designed by the Templars, he would agree. Still, with his thoughts in turmoil, his earlier fatigue had faded. He needed time to think, to explore the rest of the cavern alone.
“Through the break in the side of the waterfall,” he said, “there is still enough light to keep watch to see if the English have pickedup our tracks.”
She nodded, lit a second candle, then handed it to him. “Youmay need this.”
“My thanks.”
* * * *
