Rise of a Legend (Guardian of Scotland Book 1) Read Online Free

recognition. Not really. It’s about telling the story.” She took in a deep breath and met Walter’s pointed gaze, then stepped closer and squared her shoulders. By God, no one could change her mind about her single remaining passion. “I want to find something so intriguing…”
    “Go on,” he said.
    “…So intriguing, the entire world says wow .”
    Walter smiled. “A worthy ambition.” He pulled a leather thong from his pocket and threaded it through the pendant’s loop. “I want you to keep this for me over the summer. It is said this medallion has powers that will direct you toward the path you are to travel.”
    “You don’t believe in magic, do you, Professor?” she teased.
    He tied both ends and slipped it over her head. “Aye, lassie.” He inclined his chin toward the wall. “A wee bit o’ magic happens every time the sun shines through that window up there.”
    She grasped the medallion and read the inscription. Verum est quasi malis navis in nocte .
    “It means: truth is like a beacon .” Walter reached in and turned it over. “And on the reverse it reads: but few choose to follow .”
    With a couple years of college Latin under her belt, Eva read the inscription on the back. Sed pauci volunt sequi . “If you believe this, then yesterday why did you say one man’s truth is another man’s lie?”
    Walter shrugged. “I wanted to see how you’d respond. You see, I believe we need someone who has a fervent hunger for the truth—someone who’s willing to allow history to unravel so she can share her unfettered story with the world—the one that just might make people say wow .”
    Not quite sure what to say, Eva looked down at the bronze disk while another breeze tickled the back of her neck bringing on a swarm of tingling goosebumps. “Well, thank you. I’m honored you trust me with such a keepsake.”
    “Let us hope your sentiments don’t change after…”
    “After?”
    He glanced up at the window and stroked his chin. “The summer’s end.”
    She wrapped her fingers around the medallion, surprised that it felt warm after having been suspended in the cool air. “Where did you find this piece?”
    “A young monk gave it to me right before I tried to alter the past.” Walter made no sense at all.
    “What?” Eva asked.
    The professor batted his hand in front of his nose. “Never mind. That story’s for another time and I must be on my way. After your momentous find, there’ll be more reporters at the dig site today, mark me.”
    Eva started to follow him, but he stopped and held up his palm. “Stay here for a while. I wouldn’t want you to miss the serenity Fail Monastery brings to those who allow these crumbled walls to speak. I interrupted your moment of solace. Carry on.”
    Watching Walter head to his car, Eva puzzled. He’s a bit cryptic that one .
    After he drove off, the trees rustled above and a welcomed, woodsy scent fragranced the sanctuary. Suddenly heavy-lidded, Eva sat cross-legged and looked up at the window. “What have you seen in all the centuries you’ve stood there? Happy times and unfathomable desolation, I’d bet. You most certainly were built in a time of brutality—a time when human life was not valued as highly as it is today.”
    “ You must not change the past, ” Walter’s voice echoed in her head. But those hadn’t been his exact words. Regardless, Eva was too tired to rationalize any of the professor’s mysterious prattle.
    Placing her elbow on a fallen stone, she yawned. Overcome with sleepiness, she rested her head in the crook of her arm and closed her eyes.
    I want to find my wow .

Chapter Two
     
     
    Scottish borders, 1 st May, the year of our Lord, 1297
    William Wallace galloped his warhorse toward the village of Lochmaben, a score of men following in his wake. Unable to reach the town fast enough, he could not pull his gaze away from the black smoke billowing ahead—a sure sign the messenger had been right.
    He’d never