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Ma from the hospital, and refused to leave her room the next day Dariya and her stepmother, Countess Zina, paid a call and asked if I&039;d like to visit the Vladiive your aunt et rid of this headache" I reiven me He had told me to take a dropperful, so I kneas perfectly safe for Ma coe to see the grand duchess

Dariya was furious withwas back on

"Are you mad?" she asked as we rode down theThe snoas al was just around the corner "What did George Alexandrovich have to say about this?"

I felt a stab of pain in ht of the tsar&039;s son "He thinks I&039;m foolish, just as you do But please believe rins&039; secrets in order to protect the tsar"

"There must be another way," she said "Perhaps Miechen will be able to help"

Grand Duchess Miechen tookher on each cheek "Welcome, Zina Have you told Katerina already?"

"No, Your Ihness I wanted to wait until ere here" They both turned to faceat two very hungry wolves I started to back away toward the door "Aunt Zina?" I asked Dariya grabbed my hand She looked as surprised as I was

The countess srand duchess has planned an aestured to the table, which held numerous candles and a heavy, ancient book "We want to speak with soyptian necromancer, Ankh-al-Sekhem"

"A necromancer?" I repeated softly "He would kno to defeat the undead soldiers?" I said

Miechen nodded "I believe so" She clasped my hand and added in a low voice, "Katerina, my husband is a member of the Order I fear for his life too"

Of course And the grand duchess&039;s sons would be expected to serve when they grew up as well She had very dear reasons for stopping the revenants

"Does the tsar know of this necroypt?"

My aunt laughed "My dear, Ankh-al-Sekheo We must hold a seance to channel his spirit Isn&039;t that delightful?"

This hat I had feared This hy Miechen needed me To make sure the seance was successful

A three-thousand-year-old necrohed "Are you certain this is the only way?"

"It may not be the only way, but it is the most expedient, Katerina," Miechen said as she drew the curtains shut My aunt began to light the candles

I glanced atwith excite forward to this I took a deep breath and glanced at the pages in the book They were not in hieroglyphics, as I&039;d half expected, but had been translated into Latin Wonderful

There was a knock on the door before we could begin The maid announced the arrival of the princess Cantacuzene

With a swift move, Miechen pinched out the candle and threw open the curtains If she was afraid, she did not show it She stood regally, waiting for the Rohness," the elderly wo raciously "Your Highness It is a pleasure to see you again We have missed you"

Princess Cantacuzene looked around at Aunt Zina andto her nephew He smiled at us pleasantly and, with a bow, left the room The princess did not wait for an invitation but sat down on one of the velvet cushioned chairs

"Strange things are happening in the city at night," she said

"Indeed," Miechen answered