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inherited
everything. The d-duke's wife was her s-sister."
    "I see. And the child, he died as well?"
    "Th- they said he did."
    "Who said he died?"
    Ordgar glanced nervously around him. "Th-the G-Grunhalls."
    "Did you know his name?"
    "Aedyn, sir," replied Ordgar, no trace of his stutter now.
"He was my friend."

    *

    "More tea, Master Kestan?" asked Mistress Merlia, the
teapot already in her hand and hovering over his cup. Kestan nodded
and accepted the second cup, even though the tea tasted like
dishwater. It gave him an excuse to linger in the kitchen once the
others had left to go about their duties. Kestan had very little to
do in the afternoons, as Grunhall took his son with him to visit his
place of business and so most of their lessons took place in the
mornings.
    "Do you remember the Duke and Duchess, Mistress Merlia?"
    "Aye, I was their cook before the Grunhalls came here. They kept
us all on, I think more to do with the fact that we knew how to run
the house, rather than they really wanted to. Garom was the only new
one." The cook glanced around as if to make sure they were
alone. "I don't think Syldas left of his own free will, if you
get me. And now with Misstress Jessamyn disappearing so soon after
him? There's something fishy going on here, Master Kestan, I don't
mind telling you. Maybe you can see it better than the others, with
you being new and all."
    "You suspect foul play?"
    "Well, I can't say for sure, but I do know what I've seen.
Syldas and Mistress Jessamyn were more than friends, if you get me. I
don't think he was the type to run out on her and I know she was
being ill in the mornings. Maybe she left before the Grunhalls found
out, or maybe they found out and did something to her. I wouldn't put
it past them, I really wouldn't. Any hint of scandal and you're out,
they are so afeared of what other people think of them."
    "Well, I do not know anything about Syldas fate, but I do know
that Mistress Jessamyn is safe, or was the last time I saw her. She
was returning to her parents and the Grunhalls hadn't yet found out
about her condition."
    "Oh, you've set my heart at rest, that you have. I was so
worried about that poor girl. Grunhall is a letch; I feared he might
have ill-used her. It wouldn't have been the first time; she was the
Mistress' fourth companion in two years. The others were turned out
when that boor… Well, you're a man of the world Master Kestan;
I don't need to go into details, do I?"
    "No, I understand."
    "Let's hope that Syldas had enough sense to leave too, maybe
he's gone to find Jessamyn?"
    "No, she was worried for him too. I think you are right,
Mistress Merlia. I don't think he ever left Grunhall Abbey."

    *

    Kestan lay wide awake in bed, just staring at the ceiling. He didn't
feel remotely tired. So his ghost had a name now. Aedyn. For Kestan
was sure the ghost and the boy in the photograph were one and the
same. He hadn't died at all; the Grunhalls had locked him away so
that they could claim the boy's rightful inheritance. There was only
one thing to be done; Kestan had to get the boy out of this house
before the Grunhalls could discover it. But how could he go to the
authorities with Grunhall's threat hanging over his head? Kestan
would be lucky if he survived any sort of interrogation.
    If only he knew a friendly guardsman... but Kestan didn't know any
guardsman, friendly or not. Then his mind went to Mistress Jessamyn
and her father, the earl. Dare Kestan write to him for help? The man
didn't know him very well. Would he even remember Kestan had been one
of the king's entourage at his frequent parties? Would the earl even
want to help?
    "You're still awake," came a voice from the foot of his
bed.
    Kestan's heart almost stuttered to a stop in his chest. He hadn't
heard Aedyn come in at all! One minute the room was empty and the
next Aedyn was there. Kestan glanced at his door, as he remembered;
it was still locked fast from the inside. How did Aedyn get in?
    "Do you think