Uncle Bill's Note

Book

Uncle Bill's Note

When I pass and I meet my Rose again, I hope she will greet me with kindness. What I did was unforgivable. We had been chosen to be the Summertide Herald's, but the day before, I kissed her goodbye and told her and others I was going to gather offerings for Summertide. I actually went into faraway Toughwood and hid.

Everyone thought I had been lost to the monsters of Toughwood.

I returned two weeks later, covered in cuts and bruises inflicted by my own hand to give the impression I had been attacked by monsters.

What I didn't tell anyone though, was that I saw something disturbing in that cursed wood, something dark and dangerous slumbering in the shadow. My being pale and shaken was no act but added believability to my story.

Summertide had passed, and my Rose was, of course, the only choice, and my cowardice was plain to see.

Forgive me, my flower. Forgive me, everyone.

I shall lock this confession in a chest, half hoping that it will be found one day.

I also lay to rest the sword I used so many times to take so many lives in the woods.