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‘But as you say,’ Iliana said, ‘there’s nothing left of the tomb or any bones now. Even if the key was buried with whoever’s body that really was, it doesn’t help us now, does it? Because it’s long gone sadly.’
‘But what if its whereabouts was told to someone?’ Celeste asked. ‘What if, somehow, the message was given to the St Clairs, and Titus passed that information on to Blaise in the form of a story? Because that’s the impression I got. That he was telling Blaise a story.’
‘It’s a possibility,’ Sirius said doubtfully. ‘But even if it’s true, it still doesn’t help us. Blaise isn’t here any more to tell us, remember? He’s gone back to 1673, and we can’t ask him what he remembers.’
Celeste shook her head. ‘He doesn’t remember any more than I saw. The memory is long gone. A wisp. A fragment. But don’t you see? If the story was passed from Titus to Blaise, maybe it was passed to other members of the St Clair family.’
‘What I don’t get is why Titus told Blaise,’ Raiden said. ‘Blaise was Rafe’s son. Why didn’t he tell his own son?’
‘Maybe he did,’ Celeste said patiently. ‘But remember, Titus didn’t have a son until quite late in life. Maybe he’d given up hope of having one of his own and decided to pass the information on to Rafe’s son instead. Or maybe Titus only told it as a fairy tale, not believing there was any truth in it. Maybe he’d been told it in the same fashion. Who knows?’
She looked round at us all. ‘It’s a possibility, isn’t it? And if it’s true, then it means that we have a chance of finding the Golden Chalice Key.’
‘How?’ Raiden shook his head. ‘I certainly don’t remember any such story being told to me. I would have passed it to Sirius if I had.’
‘No, but you’re Rafe’s descendant,’ Celeste said. ‘And when Titus had children, if there was any truth in the story, it would be Titus who passed the information on to his own line. Don’t you think?’
There was a silence and we all turned as one to look at Castor.
He spluttered with laughter. ‘Rubbish! Sorry, kiddo, but you’re barking up the wrong tree. I’d have remembered. ‘Course I’d have remembered if my dad had told me about some key.’
‘But would you?’ Celeste persisted. ‘It’s been hundreds of years since this story began. I expect your own father and even your grandfather believed it to be nothing but a charming fairy tale. If you attached no importance to it, and neither did they, would you really remember it all these years later?’
‘Well, even if they did tell me,’ Castor pointed out, ’I don’t remember, so that’s that. It’s gone, for good or bad.’
‘Not necessarily,’ Hector said quietly.
‘Celeste can memory-walk again,’ Jethro said excitedly. ‘She can go into your memories and see if that particular memory is lodged in there somewhere, Castor!’
‘She bloody well cannot!’ Castor spluttered indignantly. ‘Them memories are private. You keep out, thanks very much.’
‘Runa says Celeste might be onto something,’ Keely said excitedly. ‘She says I’ve got to make you agree, Castor.’
‘Does she indeed?’ Castor grunted.
‘Sid says the same!’ Harley’s eyes lit up. ‘He says if you don’t agree he’ll set Betty on you.’
‘Like I’m scared of a guinea pig!’ Castor snorted but I saw a distinct look of fear in his eyes which amused me.
‘Oh, Castor,’ Mrs Greenwood said, shaking her head. ‘Don’t be so silly. This could be important. Vital. If you let Celeste do this,’ she added, batting her eyelashes at him, ‘I’ll bake you a coffee and walnut cake. Your favourite.’
Castor scowled. ‘You fight dirty, don’t you?’
‘I promise,’ Celeste said, ‘that I won’t linger in there. I’m getting better at this all the time, and I’ll try my best to head straight for your childhood. See if I can find the memory I need and nothing else.’
‘You’d better,’ he said.
She beamed at him.
‘So you’ll let me do it?’
‘Like I’ve got any choice,’ he said grumpily. ‘You’ll never let me get a minute’s peace until you do. I know you lot. How do I get myself into these situations? Here I am, minding my own business and now I’m going to have someone walking round in my mind. I must want me head read.’
‘That,’ said Celeste with a smile, ‘is exactly what I’m about to do. Thank you, Castor. It might not work, and it might be a false lead, but it’s all we’ve got for now. Maybe your memories will change everything!’
Chapter 43
Trinity
