“What’s the passage?” Landyn asked. He was sure Willow would not be of any help, so he felt the burden of assisting Sage lay solely on his and Raven’s shoulders.
“Well, Marcus and I found the right tombstone. It was the one with the cross in the center. Then, we followed the tombstones with the crosses to the boulders.” She took a deep breath. “There are coffins inside the boulders.”
“Yes,” Brother Henry agreed. “Old coffins made of stone. Six of them, if I remember correctly.”
“Seven, actually,” Sage corrected the old monk.
He rubbed his head. “Yes. Yes. I always forget the one tucked into the back. It’s strange, that one.”
Sage furrowed her brow and asked, “Why?”
He tied Landyn’s cloth and rose, folding the remaining fabric with ease. “It’s different from the others.”
“It looked the same to me,” Sage said.
Brother Henry scratched his cheek and let out a deep sigh. “You’ll think I am mad. Part of the reason the cemetery is so overgrown is that I will not tend it.”
Landyn shrugged in understanding, ignoring the pain from his injury. “It’s hard work.”
“Hard work does not frighten me,” Brother Henry admitted with a smile. “But the dead do.”
“You take care of the other cemetery,” Raven said.
“Many of my friends are buried there. It is an honor tending it and saying prayers for them. But not so in the lion cemetery.”
Landyn pulled on his tunic.
“The men buried there are ancient. Some say they were knights. I don’t recognize any of the names.” Brother Henry turned away to put the cloth on a shelf. “Sometimes, I hear strange noises coming from the cemetery. Sometimes, I swear a haunting glow issues from those boulders late at night.” He chuckled half-heartedly. “Most likely the wild imaginings of a lonely old man.”
Sage rubbed her chin. “It’s getting late.”
Brother Henry nodded. “You are welcome to remain as long as you wish. The fire in the kitchen will keep you warm.”
Sage glanced at Raven. “I was thinking of exploring the lion cemetery.”
“I would recommend waiting for daylight to do so,” Brother Henry stated.
Sage grinned. “I happen to like mysteries.”
“Then God be with you,” Brother Henry said, walking across the room toward a separate door.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Sage stepped closer to them, whispering, “The next passage says, ‘the dead point the way.’ Maybe at night, we can find out what the passage means. I saw nothing during the day. Marcus and I thought we might have to remove the stone lids of one of the coffins.” She smiled. “I can’t wait to discover what the strange noises Brother Henry heard were and to see the glow.”
Landyn cupped his side, wincing at the slight pressure on his wound. He tensed and grimaced in pain as he attempted to stand.
Raven rushed to his side, grabbing his arm. “Are you well?”
Landyn nodded. “Well enough.” He wasn’t going to miss learning what the glow was or seeing Sage discover the dead pointing the way. “We can stay the rest of the night in the boulders.”
Sage whooped joyously and raced to the door.
Raven laughed softly and rolled her eyes fondly as she trailed her out.
He took his scabbard and strapped it on. He glanced one last time around the room before his gaze settled on Willow near the door. She stood motionless, her blue eyes filled with worry. “Come, Willow.”
She shook her head. “I’ll wait here. I don’t care about this.”
“He’ll be fine,” Landyn assured her.
