Page 98 of Luthias

“Are these built from animal bones?” Emery murmured as she peered inside.

“Aye. Mostly deer, but some sheep, hare and vole as well,” Luthias said.

The smell of the cave drifted out, enveloping her in its unpleasant reek. Even that told her a little about the person who had used it; such an odor would be hard to tolerate by someone unaccustomed to or repelled by it. To remove the bones, clean the flesh from them and then assemble the constructs would have required the intruder to remain inside for many hours. The assemblages looked too delicate to have been first built and then transported over the rough terrain that led to the cave. She saw no signs that a fire had ever been built inside the cave, so the work would have been done by candlelight or during the day.

“This resembles an ossuary––a place where the bones of dead people are placed,” she told the laird as she took a step closer. “The bones are arranged by type, not by the individual animal, so it’s probably not a kill tally or hunt memorial.” She had seen pictures of buildings and rooms made from human bones that resembled the cave. “This reminds me of a trophy room...or a temple, maybe. One thing I can tell you, you’re probably right about him being mentally disturbed.”

Luthias caught her arm. “Dinnae step foot in there. ’Tis evil.”

Emery saw why when she spotted the cage made of antlers at the back.

“I’m getting the same feeling.” She peered at the strangest of the assemblages. “That looks like a gibbeting cage. Is that how executions are done in this time?”

The laird shook his head. “The courts here execute noblemen by beheading, and common men by hanging. They drown females.”

“Right, I remember reading about that. They thought drowning was kinder, the monsters.” She shuddered and turned away, allowing the light her body had blocked to illuminate the cave. Something sparkled on the dirt floor, and she bent down to scoop up a small handful. On closer inspection she was able to pick out a few grey-white crystals.

“I’ll have to test this with water, but I think this is salt.” She looked around at the rest of the floor. “It looks like it’s been scattered all over the cave. Could the intruder have been using salt to preserve the meat he took from the carcasses?”

“’Tis too precious,” Luthias said, and offered her a small pouch. As she put the crystals inside he looked around the cave. “’Twas also brought here, for we’ve no salt mines or springs in the highlands. We buy what we need from the brine houses by the sea. ’Tis so costly we lock away our supplies.”

“The scattering of salt may be for a spiritual reason.” Emery thought for a moment. “In ancient burials of many cultures salt at a grave site usually represents the soul. But in Scotland at this time it was thought to be used as a deterrent, to ward off evil spirits.”

“Some villagers strew salt over any place where someone dies,” he said, nodding. “Only they dinnae do thus for slaughtered animals.”

“Then we can assume that the person who did this was afraid of a dead person.” Her gaze shifted to the grotesque cage. “Maybe someone who died here.”

Luthias felt relieved only after he put some distance between Emery and the cave; his skin had crawled the entire time she had stood inspecting the ghastly things done in that wretched space. After talking over her theories with him she had also gone quiet. He considered continuing onto the farms, where he might distract her with the pastoral beauty of the pasturelands and the herds, but at last he decided to ride to the westernmost loch, where they could rest.

“I’m sorry,” Emery said as he guided his mount toward the trail leading down to the loch. “I should have told you more details about my work in the future. All that stuff I said must have sounded pretty gruesome to you, especially coming from a woman.”

So his opinion of her was what preyed on her thoughts, not what she had seen. Luthias felt a surge of relief.

“If you fear I reckon you less a lady, dinnae,” he assured her. “You saw much more in what ’twas left there than I might. What you said, I’m certain ’twill aid us in finding the madman.” He hesitated before he asked, “Seeing such terrible things, they never trouble your dreams?”

“For me my work is about solving old mysteries, and revealing the truth. Bones and artifacts can’t hurt anyone.” She glanced back toward the cave. “People are much scarier.”

“You’ve no’ told me all,” he guessed.

“I noticed some signs about the personality and habits of whoever used that cave,” Emery admitted. “I’m not an expert, so I don’t want to make you jump to any conclusions without more evidence.”

“I shallnae,” Luthias promised.

She blew out a breath, and then said, “The person who did this may be deeply disturbed, but they are aware that what they’re doing is wrong, or they wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to hide it. The artifacts they left behind also indicate that they have considerable experience working with bones in this manner, and felt comfortable in what had to be very unpleasant conditions. I think you may find other caves or burial sites where this intruder has been active in the past.”

“’Twasnae the first such for them?” he asked, and she nodded. “Gods.”

“The site feels important, almost ceremonial, so it may be connected to this person’s spiritual beliefs. The intruder is most likely an adult male, and...well, that’s all.” She ducked her head. “I don’t want to speculate too much.”

“You reckon ’twas a MacRoss,” Luthias said. “No’ an intruder.”

“I can’t be sure of that.” Emery glanced up at him. “From the location I don’t believe he just stumbled across that cave. Before that slide uncovered the place it would not have been visible to anyone passing by. He knew where it was, as well as the best way to reach it. He also spent a lot of time in there, so he either lived in it or kept returning to it for weeks or even months, yet he avoided being seen by your patrols the entire time. In order to do that, he would have to know when your men would be in that area. This was done by someone who knows the clan and your land very well.”

Everything she’d said made sense, and still Luthias didn’t want to believe it. How could any of his brothers had hidden away in that wretched place and sit in the reek of death for hours? Yet who would know the land and patrols better than a MacRoss?

As they reached the ledge above the loch he reined in the horse and dismounted, reaching up to help Emery down. As he put her on her feet he realized again how small and delicate she was. Any man who wished to harm her wouldn’t have to make much effort.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I knew it would upset you. That’s why I didn’t want to say anything.”