A novel in The Silence Chronicles A forgotten vow. A hidden inheritance. A truth the world was never meant to find. When Alasdair MacRae begins researching the historical significance of the number forty, he expects a quiet academic pursuit—not encrypted symbols, ancient guardians, and a trail leading beneath some of the most contested ground on earth. What begins as research quickly becomes something more. A centuries-old covenant—sworn in silence—has been protecting a truth hidden deep within history. As Alasdair follows the trail from the mist-covered shores of Scotland to the shadowed corridors of Europe and into the heart of Jerusalem, he uncovers fragments of a legacy guarded by those who believe some discoveries are too powerful to reveal. But he is not the only one searching. As allies emerge and unseen adversaries move in the shadows, Alasdair is forced to confront a question far greater than his research: Should the truth be revealed… or protected? The Duty of Silence is a gripping historical thriller of faith, mystery, and legacy—the beginning of a story where the past is not forgotten… Only hidden. The Silence Chronicles is a sweeping series of historical and modern thrillers exploring the hidden legacy of faith, memory, and the cost of protecting truth.