Coming over, Farilane saw it was a lamp. Taking the candle out of the lantern, she ignited the oil. Then, while she studied the walls, statues, and coffins, Kile lit the other lamps, fully revealing the chamber.

“This is definitely a tomb,” Sheldon said, his eyes focused on the caskets, his tongue licking his lips. “Do you think it’s here? Which box is it in?”

Ignoring him, the princess approached the statues. “Do you think these are meant to be real people or representations of ideas?” she asked.

“Real people,” Kile said. “I would venture they are who lie in this tomb.”

“But who are they?” She moved to the statue of the man with the book. “This one could be either Brin or Bran.”

“Not Seymour?” Sheldon asked. “I thought we were looking for his tomb?”

Farilane shrugged. “Could be Seymour, I suppose.”

“You don’t recognize them?” Kile asked.

“You do?”

“Yes.” Kile approached the stone trio. Gently touching the statue of the woman, he said, “This is Roan of Rhen, daughter of Reanna, Persephone’s miracle worker.” Pointing at the man beside her holding the vase, he continued, “This is Gifford, her husband, renowned for his heroic ride to Perdif in the Battle of Grandford. And this fellow with the book is their son, Bran.”

“Wait . . . Gifford?” Farilane looked skeptical. “The Perdif ride was done by Griffin the Great. The founder of the Teshlor Knights.” Farilane looked again at the statue. “I’m sorry, but this doesn’t look like the greatest warrior who ever lived.”

“I thought the founder of the Teshlors was someone else. Wasn’t there a person named Tesh?” Sheldon asked.

Farilane chuckled. “You’re confusing the disciplines with a person. The Tesh is the original set of seven schools of martial arts. Two were added later and are known as the Lor. Hence, combined they comprise the skills of Tesh-lor, of which Lord Griffin was the greatest.”

Sheldon looked confused. “Lord Griffin? Who is that?”

“Emperor Nyphron bestowed the honorific on him at the close of the Great War for his many acts of heroism.”

“What acts were those?”

“Oh, there are countless tales of his adventures. He slew dragons, killed giants, dispatched a terrible witch, turned the tide of many battles with the elves, and saved an untouchable fairy queen who bestowed upon him the greatest sword the world has ever seen.”

“I think you have been misinformed.” Kile said.

The princess smiled. “Don’t worry, I haven’t lost my mind. It’s all havers and nonsense, but the Teshlor believe it despite not a bit of proof. And don’t try to argue with them. Griffin is too deeply ingrained in their creed. He, they believe, is also the founder of the Teshlor Code: the knightly virtues that demand proficiency, courage, honesty, integrity, faith, generosity, respect, and sincerity—with an obviously huge emphasis on faith.”