Chapter 17:
The ashes drifted silently to the stone floor.
Emily dropped to her knees, desperately trying to piece together the burnt fragments.
“No… no…”
“There has to be something left.”
But the paper had been completely destroyed.
The King’s name had vanished with it.
Zach knelt beside her and gently held her shaking hands.
“Emily.”
She looked at him, tears filling her eyes.
“We were so close.”
“I know.”
“We lost the only chance we had.”
Zach shook his head.
“No.”
“We’re still alive.”
“And as long as we’re alive…”
“…we still have a chance.”
⸻
Father Thomas picked up the faded photograph from the chest.
“The letter may be gone.”
“But this isn’t.”
Emily wiped her tears and looked at the photograph again.
Three men stood together.
William Hunter.
Michael Adams.
An
