Over to the left, a newer sepulcher was illuminated by the light of many candles, ranged in banks of twinkling red and blue on either side. Kelson paused and gazed in that direction for a long moment, then led Morgan and Duncan toward the place where his father lay.

When they had nearly reached the tomb, Morgan put out a restraining arm across Duncan’s chest, then continued alone as Duncan and Kelson looked on in silence.

Morgan stood silently by the sepulcher for several heartbeats, then reached out and placed a gentle hand on the cover of the sarcophagus. That the good and gentle Brion should end this way was not fitting. Life had been too short; the good done well, but not enough done, for lack of time. Why? Why had it been necessary for him to end this way?

You were father and brother to me, Morgan thought dully. If only I had been at your side that day, I might have spared you this indignity, this useless gasping out of your life’s breath! Now, with you gone . . .

He took himself in hand, removed his hand from the sarcophagus, gestured for Duncan and Kelson to join him. Once, there had been joy, comradeship, and—yes—love. Perhaps there would be again. But now, he must only get on with the task at hand.

Carefully, he and Duncan lifted the cover of the sarcophagus, rocking it gently to break the seal, then slid it toward the foot until perhaps a third of its interior was visible. Inside, the shrouded body lay cold and still.

Morgan waited until Kelson had moved a candelabrum closer, then reached down with steady fingers to withdraw the silken shroud that covered the face.

What he saw was enough to shake his universe, to clench an icy hand round his heart, to send a frigid chill over his entire body. As he stared into the coffin in shocked disbelief, Kelson leaned closer and finally got a good look. The boy swallowed with difficulty and murmured, “Oh, my God!” and the stunned Duncan finally regained enough power of movement to cross himself with a shudder.

For the body in the sarcophagus was not Brion’s!

CHAPTER SEVEN - “Things are not what they seem.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Things are not what they seem.”

UNBELIEVINGLY, Morgan leaned down to inspect the face of the corpse more closely. But even without closer scrutiny, it was obvious that it was not Brion. The face he had uncovered was that of a very old man, bearded and gray. Some long-dead king or relative, perhaps, but not Brion Haldane.

Considerably shaken, Morgan straightened and pulled the silk back into place, then leaned both hands against the edge of the sepulcher and shook his head uncomprehendingly. He still could not believe what he had seen.