Duncan shook his head disapprovingly. “No, I’m afraid you’ve been misinformed. I can assure you that Morgan is not what you claim him to be. I saw him just this afternoon, and believe me, he has only Prince Kelson’s best interests at heart.”

Jerome’s eyes narrowed. “Can ye prove that, laddie?” “Not without violating my priestly vows,” Duncan replied calmly.

Sudden insight appeared on Jerome’s face. “Och, I see. Ye’re his confessor, then.” He paused, obviously in deep thought. “But, can ye be sure he’s telling ye the truth?”

Duncan smiled. “I think I can tell. I’ve known him for a very long time.”

Jerome shrugged, then began shuffling slowly toward the door. “Weel, ye should know, if any man does, laddie. But there must be sommat to the rumors. Anyway, we’ll not solve the dispute here, tonight. If ye don’t mind, I’ll be gettin’ on. The guards will let ye out when ye’re ready to leave.”

Duncan picked up the candle Brother Jerome had lit and followed him to the door. “That’s fine. There’s just one other thing.”

“Aye, Father?” The old monk paused at the door, his hand on the latch.

Duncan took the lighted candle and put it in Jerome’s other hand, put his own hand on Jerome’s.

“Do you see this candle, Brother?”

Jerome’s eyes darted to the candle and were held there.

“Aye,” he whispered.

Duncan’s voice became lower, softer, and his eyes glittered from within. “You’d better take this candle with you, Jerome. Because it’s dark out there. There’s been no one here but yourself, so you don’t want to leave a lighted candle here like this. Why, it might burn down the whole cathedral. And that would be terrible, wouldn’t it?”

“Och, aye,” Jerome whispered.

“And you didn’t see anyone here, either, did you, Jerome? There was no one else in the sacristy tonight besides yourself. You talked to no one. Do you understand?”

“No one,” the old monk echoed dazedly. Duncan dropped his hand.

“You’d better go, then, Jerome. Everything is as it should be. You’ve done your duty. And you didn’t see me here tonight. Go, now.”

Without a word, Jerome turned and opened the door, slipped out quietly, and closed the door behind him. There was no chance now that he would ever speak of what had happened here tonight.

Duncan nodded to himself and returned to the spot where he’d first materialized. He paused only long enough to collect his thoughts—and was suddenly back in his study.

AS Duncan appeared in the niche in his study, Kelson jerked his head around in amazement, then bounded from his chair to meet the young priest.

“Is everything all right? You were gone so long, we were certain something terrible had happened.”