At Duncan’s nod of agreement, Morgan took a lighted taper from the candelabrum Kelson had brought and handed it to the boy. Duncan took another and headed across the chamber to begin searching other sepulchers, and Kelson made his way to the wall niches to inspect their occupants. Morgan glanced again at the silk-shrouded form in Brion’s sarcophagus, then took a light with him to search the sepulchers on his side of the crypt.

It was not a pleasant task. As Morgan slid back the covers of casket after casket, only to find mouldering bones and rotted cloth, he was aware of Duncan’s progress in a similar manner. And around the periphery of the chamber, at the edge of the candlelight, he knew Kelson was finding his own search equally distasteful, as well.

A glance at the boy confirmed his belief. For Kelson, though he inspected each open niche conscientiously, was moving nervously, clutching his candle tightly in a moist hand, his eyes darting apprehensively around him with each flickering movement of candle-sprung shadow.

Morgan slid back another cover. He felt badly that the boy was having to do the most grisly task—that of peering into the open niches. But there had been no other choice. Kelson simply lacked the physical strength to master the heavy sarcophagus covers. Indeed, it was all Morgan could do to budge some of them.

A glance inside his latest possibility was enough to assure him that it was not Brion who lay within, and he eased the cover closed once more. They had opened nearly a third of the sarcophagi now, all without result. And indications were that the other two-thirds would prove no more fruitful than the first.

Could it be that someone had, indeed, managed to spirit the body away in the past week or so? Where else in this den of decay could one hide a body, if not in the obvious places? Perhaps Charissa had, in fact, been here. Yet, how could she have known of the importance of finding the body? Mere harassment, perhaps? And if so, perhaps the answer was more obvious than he’d thought. Indeed, what if Brion’s body had never been moved at all?

Suspicion dawning, he raced aside to the original sepulcher and pulled back the silken shroud.

“Duncan! Kelson!” he called urgently, peering shrewdly at the face of the stranger in the coffin. “Come here. I think I know where Brion is!”

Duncan and the boy joined him immediately.

“What are you talking about?” Duncan queried.

“I think he’s been under our noses all the time,” Morgan said, never taking his eyes from the body before him. “No one moved him. I think he’s right here.”

“But, that isn’t—” Kelson began.

“Hush, Kelson,” Duncan interrupted, skepticism draining away. “Alaric, do you think there’s been a shape-changing, an illusion?”

Morgan nodded. “See for yourself. I think this is Brion.”