This novel, while inspired by historical events, is entirely a work of fiction. All names, characters, and incidents portrayed are the product of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or localities is entirely coincidental.     

                           Prologue

 As Aberdeen sits at her desk fiddling with a small wooden puzzle box, She find’s herself distracted by the sound of her office wall clock ticking behind her she feels increasingly frustrated she pull’s herself up from her desk leaving the puzzle box on a silk cover in favor of looking out the window trying to find peace in the pleasant scenery of rivers gently calmness to quell her frustration.  

 “It seem’s like it was never opened after it’s construction and yet” She turn’s back looking at the edges of the wooden box, Slowly walking back to her desk she try’s to thoroughly examen its every edge. “Why does Louise want me to even open this frustrating little box!” Placing both hand’s on her desk she looms over the wooden box. “Usually the high end clients what these old specimens to be displayed just the way they where found,” Still looming over the box she looks at her computer, Taking off her gloves she place’s them next to the silk cover beside the box. “I can’t even find any similar to it online!” Looking back at the wooden box she notices a very faded carved marking on the wooden box, Walking over to a near by bookshelf reaching for a book with a somewhat eroded cover upon opening the book she quickly flip’s though the pages. “Let’s see here midlevel symbols, carvings, and markings..,” 

 Gliding her finger along the page she stop’s over an intreating image. “Pictish stones, Interesting..,” Looking back and forth between the Wooden puzzle box and the image in the book she try’s finding the similarities between them, Placing the book on her desk she puts her glove’s back on. “They look similar but,” She tilts her head. “I’m not yet convinced.” Bringing the wooden box closer to her face she examen’s it more closely, Pressing her finger’s gently against all of the edges she feel’s a slight wiggle in one of them. “Got you!” Gently twisting it toward her the center circle in the carved marking popped out, Pressing on it her she notices that it will not budge. “What are I missing!” Just as she is continuing to fiddle with the wooden puzzle box a bit more the door to her office swings open with a loud bang making her flinch slightly! “Have you opened it yet!!” Was loudly exclaimed by an unwanted visitor, Looking up already expecting to see a familiar face. “Ah it’s you my dear Boss,” She exclaimed sarcastically. “I told you that it would take some time before it would be ready for our client!” 

 The woman standing in front of her rolled her eyes, Moving closer to her desk she then placed her hand’s on her hips. “I know that, But you don’t know how demanding this client is!” Aberdeen looked back at the wooden box, As she did the woman in front of her slammed her phone on her desk with a email on the screen. “Louise!” Aberdeen looked at her with a very annoyed look, “We have to be careful with this!” Gently but quickly placing the wooden bock back down on the silk cover she the wrapped then placed it safely inside a protective glass case, She then finally removed her glove’s placing them beside it. “What are you they asking of us now?” She said as she motioned towered Louise phone. “They changed their date of arrival again!” Louise said while looking frustrated. “Oh, I See,” Aberdeen said while still gazing at the box. “Well.., I have almost completed is puzzle.” Louise crossed her arm’s looking down at Aberdeen. “Almost, Really!” Aberdeen looked at Louies with a displeased look then glanced back at the box she thought for a moment, “So we only have till tomorrow for when they arrive?” Louise looks at her with an annoyed look again. “So you figure that out didn’t you!” Rolling her eyes again Aberdeen continued to stare at box trying to think of how it will open, Getting up again taking with her the somewhat eroded book in hand she went back to her the bookshelf. “There is something that I did find that could lead us to its origins!” Louise lit up. “What is it!” She said excitedly. While rushing over to Aberdeen’s side. 

 “I found a very faded carved marking, symbol on it and I found similarities with some of the Pictish stone carvings, but they are quite different.” She said as she concluded her explanation placing the book back in its place on the shelf. “So does that mean it has ties to medieval Scotland?” Louise said as she look at the book on the shelf. “I believe so,” Aberdeen said while rubbing her forehead, “But I will still have to solve it before we jump to any conclusions!” Louise look slightly frustrated at Aberdeen, Before looking back to her phone. “Well, I guess you can try again in the morning,” Aberdeen looked at Louise. “I know that you are worried about this so I will try to finish it tonight!” Louise sighed. “I understand! But, Wait! You are going to finish it to night!” Aberdeen crossed her arm’s, “Yes I Am!” Aberdeen Said confidently. “But! I will require a cup of coffee!” Louise happily accepted. “Yes! I will get you one right now! ” Louise rushed out Aberdeen’s office, Aberdeen then went back to her desk putting her gloves back on she continued where she left off with the box. “Come on you stubborn little box open up!” She she once again started to fiddle with and try to adjust the edges of the box, As she did so she realized that the edge that she had been fiddling with before could be adjusted, “Would you look at that!” She proudly exclaimed as she twisted the very tip of the permeant like edge of the wooden box she heard a click, Pressing on the center of the carved marking as she did before it was now able to press in like a button as she did so all three of the other corners of the box popped out. “Yes! I’m one step closer to salving it!” Noticing that the edges were all facing away from the one she had just adjusted she gently adjusting each of the them to all match she heard three distinct clicks, With a confused look at quietly said. 

 “What? Why did nothing happen?!” Pondering for a moment she thought to try putting tip of the original edge back to where it was facing before, She once again twisted it returning it to its original place as she did so she heard a spring like noise then a line formed in the center of the box. “Is it open?” Gently pulling on the top of the puzzle box it finally revealed its secret!