He thought it over. "A'right, Foyers it is. But promise ye'll keep a guid fire goin'."

"Done. True, before you go, there's one thing I need to ask you. The other day, I woke up early and ran into your father. He was wearing the tunic of a Templar Knight, only his uniform was black."

The expression on True's face changed. "I cannae discuss this wi' ye, Zack."

"Your father's sword was covered in blood."

True turned on me then, bulldozing me against the wall. "Are ye insinuatin' my auld man had somethin' tae dae wi' that woman's murder?"

"No, but I—"

"Now listen tae me, Zachary Wallace. One o' oor faithers might be a killer, but it isnae the auld man who saved yer life seventeen years ago, see?"

"Okay, okay, easy big fella."

He backed away, then slapped me playfully behind my ear. "Sorry, lad. There're things goin' on in the Highlands that ye cannae see, battles between traditionalists like my faither, who aim tae keep the Highlands pure, an' those like yours, who wish tae cash in on oor wild lands. Me? I'm a' for progress, but there's a fine line between economic benefits an' environmental ruin. As tae these Templar, from whit I ken, they operate independently ootside the Cooncil, an' the Black Knights, they dinnae like outsiders lookin' into their business."

"Black Knights?"

"Ne'er ye mind." He handed me his backpack. "Here, take my stuff, I'll meet ye in Foyers. Jist make sure ye keep that fire goin' tonight, I dinnae want tae read yer obituary in the Courier."

* * *

Barefoot, my wet boots hanging from True's backpack, I headed out of Fort Augustus, following General Wade's Military Road. It was late in the afternoon, but the Glen's summer days were growing longer, and my goal was to make it to the eastern bank of Loch Ness well before dusk.

As I walked, my mind wandered.

Two people were dead, and while their deaths were being blamed on a mythical creature, my mind told me the mystery had more to do with the political undercurrents surrounding the Highland Council than a water beast. Of the two major players involved, I knew I'd get nothing from Alban MacDonald, and only lies and deceit from my father.

But a new clue had emerged, one that had accidentally slipped out of my friend's mouth.

The Black Knights of the Templar.

What was this secret sect? What was their mission? And how were they tied to the goings-on at Loch Ness?

An hour passed before I found my way around the southeastern tip of the Loch to its eastern banks. From here, Loch Ness ran north another twenty-three miles, bordered by the Glendoe Forest, which hugged the base of the imposing Monadhliath Mountains.

The east side of the Loch was far less populated than the west, the country wilder, the forests denser, and much of the shoreline was inaccessible.