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〃Many people ask that of me； my son；〃 the pleasant voice replied； 〃but my name is not important。〃
〃Someone very like you said the same thing to a friend of mine a few years ago； on a road not very far from here。 Do you know Father Duncan McLain？〃
Again the shrug。 〃I know many priests； my son。〃
〃And do you know of Saint Camber？〃 Kelson dared to ask。 〃Can you tell us anything of him？〃
〃Ah； then； you seek the great Defender？〃 the man countered。
〃We do；〃 Kelson answered。 〃We went on a quest to find his relics this spring。 We found some of his Servants； but we never found any sign of him。〃
〃And what sign did you think to find？〃 came the next query。
〃Well； some…tangible evidence that this has all been real。 that the contacts we've had with him haven't just happened because we wanted so badly for them to be true；〃 He paused a beat。 〃I don't know why I'm telling you all of this。〃
〃Perhaps because an honest seeker always knows the teacher when he finds him；〃 the man replied； shifting his staff to begin idly tracing designs with the tip。 〃Are you bold enough； young seekers； to trust a stranger…teacher who would help you with what you seek？〃
The man was tracing a more intricate design now； in the wake of a wave that had e particularly high onto the sand； and Kelson felt himself beginning to slip into trance as his eyes caught and followed the pattern。 It was not…quite…familiar； but he did not feel at all afraid。 And Dhugal likewise was falling under the man's spell。
〃Let go and follow what I would show you； young seekers；〃 the man's voice urged； soothing； soft。 〃You will e to no harm。〃
It was against all logic； but Kelson sensed instinctively that he might trust the man。 Withholding nothing； he let himself slip into deeper trance。 After a few seconds； as the man's voice droned on； almost singsong now； in a language Kelson did not know； the wet sand seemed to take on a darker sheen； to deepen and then to clear。 Suddenly Kelson seemed to be floating in another time and place。
He looked upon a great； vaulted chamber with a bier occupying the place of honor underneath the center of the dome。 Upon that bier； covered by a network of scarlet silk cords； lay a body clad in robes very like those of the priestly elite at Saint Kyriell's。 but of dark blue rather than grey。 Like the nets Kelson and Dhugal had seen in the mountain burial chambers； this one was studded at its intersections with small shiral crystals； but all of these were polished very smooth and drilled to take the cord。 The net seemed to delineate a shimmer of power shrouding the body； and the sense of peace surrounding it was almost palpable。 A legend had been chiseled around the edge of the bier； and Kelson； in his vision； bent to read it。
Hic jacet Camber Kyriell MacRorie； es Culdi： carissimus pater； ministrator coronae Gwyneddi； Regum salvator sacerdos et episcopos； defensor hominum。 Natus est Anno Domini 846。 Non mortuus est。 Resurget。
He was still trying to make sense of it as a wave washed over the sigil and erased it； snapping him abruptly out of his trance He swayed a little on his feet as he dragged himself back to normal consciousness； catching his balance on Dhugal's arm and stupidly watching the wave eddy around their boots。
But the grey…clad man was gone。 Nor was there any sign of how he had contrived to disappear without leaving footprints。 Both Kelson and Dhugal glanced around wildly； trying to imagine how he had managed it； but then Kelson suddenly fell to his knees in the receding wave and began grubbing in the sand。
〃What're you doing？〃 Dhugal gasped。
〃I saw something…there！〃 Kelson pounced on it before the wave could carry it out； and scrambled a little closer to the water to rinse it。 What he held aloft triumphantly between thumb and forefinger was a small； well…polished shiral crystal； glinting wetly in the summer sun。
〃Sweet Jesu！〃 Dhugal whispered； also dropping to his knees beside the king and pulling his hand down for a closer look。 〃If you tell me it's got a hole drilled through it； I think I'll faint。〃
〃Prepare to get very wet； then； if you intend to do it right here；〃 Kelson said； helping Dhugal up with his free hand and glancing around again； 〃because it does。 Dhugal； you don't suppose this is from…you did see what I saw； I hope？ The body on the bier； with a net of these over it？〃
Dhugal nodded gravely。 〃A net of red silk cords； with shiral crystals knotted where they cross…just as in the tombs。 Kelson； do you suppose they know where he's buried？〃
〃Their ancestors may have known；〃 Kelson answered。 〃And I'd be willing to bet a lot that the fellow who was just here knows。〃
〃You don't think that he was Saint Camber； then？〃 Dhugal ventured。
〃No； but I'd be very surprised if he didn't turn out to be one of Camber's servants…in the broad sense； not a member of the group at Saint Kyriell's。 In fact； it wouldn't surprise me if he's the same chap that your father saw near here； several years ago。 The point is； we may finally have tangible proof that a tomb exists…or at least that it did exist…something physical that we can hold in our hands。 And…〃
He stopped talking as his eyes suddenly paused at the open throat of Dhugal's shirt； where the young border lord wore； along with his recovered Saint Camber medal； a small； honey…colored nugget of shiral on a leather thong…once the gift of his mother to his father； on their wedding night。 Dhugal's face went very still as he realized what Kelson was looking at； and his hand was trembling as he closed it around the crystal。
〃Kelson； you don't suppose that my mother knew about any of this？〃
〃I dunno；〃 Kelson whispered。 〃But suddenly a few more pieces begin to fit together。 Could there be more clues in Transha； do you think？〃
It was a question that neither of them could answer just then； but it was one that would continue to be asked in the future； along with many others。 Both young men were quiet as they rode back to Coroth a little later to tell the others； but Kelson was also more hopeful than he had been in months。
Perhaps joy might yet e out of sorrow。 Perhaps the quest for Saint Camber was not ended after all； but was just beginning。
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