As consciousness faded, he was dimly aware that Kelson still slept soundly, that all was as it should be in the still, dark chamber, that he would reawaken instantly if anything in that situation should change.

That settled, he slept.

FOR Lord Ian Howell, however, the long night had hardly begun. As he opened the door to his chambers, he beckoned the guard who had accompanied him to enter also.

“What is your name?” he inquired, pushing the door closed behind him.

“John of Elsworth, m’lord,” the guard replied crisply.

He was not like the first guard Ian had used for his evil purposes. John of Elsworth was short, stocky, hard, an older man with years of experience in the royal regiment.

He was also very strong, which was why Ian had chosen him.

Ian smiled to himself as he crossed to a table in the room and poured himself a glass of wine. “John of Elsworth: a good, solid name,” he said, turning back to face the man. “John, I have something I wish you to do for me.”

“Sir!” the guard said briskly, standing to attention.

Ian crossed languidly back to the guard and looked him in the eyes. “Look at me,” he commanded.

The guard’s gaze met Ian’s, slightly puzzled, as Ian held up a forefinger.

“Do you see my finger?” Ian questioned, slowly moving it toward the man’s face.

“M’lord?” the guard said hesitantly, though his eyes followed the finger.

As the finger touched the man’s forehead between his eyes, Ian whispered one word, “Sleep,” and the man’s eyes closed. It required but a moment more of concentration to establish rapport with his absent compatriot. The aura crackling around him and his unwitting medium cast ghostly shadow-shapes on the tapestried walls.

“Charissa, do you hear me?”

The man’s mouth moved and then spoke in another voice. “I hear.”

Ian smiled. “They have been to the crypt as you predicted. Kelson is now wearing the Eye of Rom. I don’t think anyone else even noticed in all the excitement. I couldn’t tell whether they’d been successful with the power transfer. The boy was deadly tired, but that’s to be expected.”

After a pause, the guard replied, his voice deep and resonant, but the tone and inflection were that of the Lady Charissa. “Well, he can’t have completed the whole power sequence yet. That’s always reserved for the coronation or some other important public ceremony. Which means there are several courses we can pursue to further undermine their morale. You know what to do in the cathedral?”

“Of course.”