My dearest Emily,
I have hated these past days more than any I can recall. Being forced to leave your side, following the harrowing experience on the hilltop. I now fear for all of all of our safety and utterly despise the idea of not being close enough to offer you additional protection. Not that I think you need my protection of course, nor would ever ask for it, you are far more fierce and skilled than I, anyone who might attempt to cross your path in a negative fashion should certainly be pitied, as they clearly underestimate what a force they are dealing with! Perhaps it is more my own safety and that of our darling Audrey for which I fear, I wish that you, my dear and Bramble, our ferocious ball of fluff were here with us.
I have been trying exhaustively track down our evil assailants. I trust you have by now examined the damage they caused to the site? Thank goodness our excavation had reached completion before they took the opportunity to strike! One can only imagine the devastation had we lost the data, the archaeological record would have been obliterated. Thank goodness we had already transferred the artefacts safely to museum storage, could you imagine what might happen had they got their hands on that?
Speaking of which my darling, I remain in a complete fizz of emotion regarding that incredible discovery! You know of which I refer, I still have to pinch myself when I recall it, to think it lay undisturbed in the Devon countryside for millennia.
I have to believe that this is somehow connected to the Mariners message. To discover such intricate Iron Age artefacts is rare enough, but bound in that overly coined phrase, Celtic iconography, and to find it in a burial context, depicting precisely what it did, is just… well, there are no words. Imagine if it were accurate, imagine if it’s suggested story is real, now that would be something to hide from enemies, something that had to disappear!
If it should happen to be real, and Captain Drake was charged by Elizabeth with its concealment, then maybe, just maybe it remains in its carefully selected hiding place. It could be out there somewhere still, on the west coast of America.
There must be some way in which we can gain a clearer understanding of the American locales explored by our good Captain Drake.
Audrey and I shall return to the archives and I shall contact a few Drakeologists we are familiar with. Perhaps a fresh clue can be ascertained from the new information we have gathered?
In our other affairs, Audrey and I visited the quaint market town of Hexham. We explored the Abbey, founded by Wilfred in 674. It is a building of singular beauty today, and we found our way into the original crypts. It is exciting to witness stone reused from Roman ruins from the nearby epic construction of Hadrians Wall and its adjoining forts and Vicus. One particular block went for many years unnoticed as a floor slab, until it was discovered to be the facedown headstone of a Roman soldier, incredible reuse of elaborate masonry. Hexham was a target during William Wallace’s campaigns against the English and has a rich and turbulent history. The Gaol gives a unique portrait of this troublesome past. We were on the hunt for Saxon understandings and learnt that AElfward, King of the Northumbrians had been buried here in the Church after being slain by Sicga. It is a fascinating and pretty town, well worth the visit.
For now, I beg of you my love, stay safe, stay surrounded by those we know and trust completely. I will send you news of our progress and beg that you do the same should your avenues of investigation prove fruitful.
With all the love and care in the world, we remain as always,
Forever yours,
Craig and Audrey
XOXOXOXOX
