Morgan looked at the boy, then back at his cousin, a faint smile on his face again. “I think it’s all right. If he hasn’t already suspected, he’s sure to find out by tomorrow, anyway. I think our secret will be safe.”

“Very well,” Duncan said with a reassuring nod at Kelson. “It’s nothing all that mysterious. The gryphon seal, when properly activated, will open a secret compartment in the high altar. Long ago, it was attuned to Alaric by your father, so that when the time came, he would be able to retrieve the things that have been put aside for you.

“You can see that the embedded inlay of the gryphon has a slight glow to it as Alaric holds it. This tells us that it’s still attuned to him. If anyone unattuned were to try to use it—like myself right now, or you—it wouldn’t work.”

He turned back to Morgan, though he still spoke for Kelson’s benefit. “I might add that only certain people can be attuned to such a device. I am . . . like Alaric.”

Before the impact of that statement could sink in with Kelson, Morgan held up the gryphon seal between himself and Duncan and raised an eyebrow. “Ready?”

Duncan nodded, and the two began to concentrate on the gryphon device in the center of the seal.

Kelson watched, spellbound, as the two stared at the ring and then closed their eyes. There was a long period of silence, when Kelson was certain the only sound in the room was that of his own harsh breathing, and then Duncan’s hand moved slowly toward the ring, his eyes still closed.

Just before he touched it, a faint spark arced across the short intervening space, and then Duncan held the ring also. At that, both men opened their eyes, and Morgan relinquished his hold on the ring. The gryphon still glowed faintly.

“It worked,” Kelson whispered, his words half statement, half question.

“Certainly,” Duncan replied. “Hold out your hand and see for yourself.”

Kelson extended his hand gingerly, flinching slightly as the ring dropped into his palm. It felt cold to the touch, even though it should have been warmed to body temperature. And when he looked at the gryphon seal in the center, he put the ring down quickly.

“It isn’t glowing! What did I do to it?”

Duncan snapped his fingers and smiled. “I forgot. You aren’t attuned.” As he picked up the ring and held it in front of Kelson, the gryphon resumed its pale glowing. Kelson grinned sheepishly.

Duncan got to his feet, tossed the ring lightly into the air, and caught it again.

“I’ll be back shortly.”

Kelson watched with awe until the priest had disappeared through the study door. Then he turned back to Morgan.

“Morgan, did I hear right, that Father Duncan is Deryni? You must be related on your mothers’ sides, then—not your fathers’.”