The movement roused the stunned Kelson, who had watched dumbstruck, awed, horrified, throughout the shape-changing. A muffled sob escaped his lips as he reached down and touched his sire’s hand one last time, but then he swallowed hard and looked up at Duncan beseechingly.

“Is he truly free now, Father Duncan?” he whispered, searching for some reassurance. “She won’t be able to harm him anymore, will she?”

Duncan shook his head. “I think not, my prince. He is free now. You have my word on that. And no one can ever harm him again.”

Kelson glanced down at his father again, then said in a small voice, “Somehow, it doesn’t seem right to take the Eye of Rom and leave nothing in return. Could we . . . ?”

His voice trailed off uncertainly, and Duncan nodded.

“How about this?” the priest asked, reaching deep into the pocket of his cassock and producing a small, gilded silver crucifix.

Kelson smiled wanly and took the crucifix, kissed it, then placed it gently in his father’s hands. “Thank you,” he whispered, his eyes filling with unbidden tears. “I think he would have liked that.”

As the boy turned away, shoulders convulsing silently, Morgan looked across at his cousin and raised an eyebrow in question. Duncan nodded, then sketched the sign of the cross over the body. Then he and Morgan eased the cover of the sarcophagus back into place. Duncan snuffed out the additional candles they had lit and returned the candelabrum to its proper place. Then he and Morgan guided Kelson back out of the crypt and through the gate.

As the gate clicked shut behind them, Duncan stepped carefully over to where Rogier still slumped against the wall, and touched his forehead. Immediately, Rogier stood up, still under control, and Duncan replaced the man’s sword in its sheath. Another light touch sent the man on his way, and Duncan rejoined his companions. It was time to return to the study.

DUNCAN opened the compartment where he had hidden the Ring of Fire and other elements of the power ritual and transferred them to the table in the center of the study. As he took his seat beside Kelson, Morgan went to Duncan’s desk and rummaged in several shallow drawers until he found what he was looking for—a small surgical kit in a leather case. Returning to the table, he opened the kit and spread its contents on the tabletop, then dug in his belt pouch until he found the Eye of Rom.

Kelson eyed Morgan apprehensively, then gestured toward the surgical instruments with his chin. “What’re you going to do with those?”