"Tyrus pushed the mummy off him and rose, whisking sloughed bits of dried flesh from his tunic. "Well, that wasn't at all humiliating," he said. "Please tell me I didn't shriek. And if I did? Remember I am of imperial lineage. Lie to me." "You didn't shriek," Moria said. "Still, it is a shame Simeon wasn't here to record the encounter for posterity. Prince Tyrus, attacked by a mummified monk. Truly though, it looked more like a monkey. A crazed monkey, clinging to you -" "Enough," he said with a feigned scowl. "Speaking of monks, did they see ...?" He looked around. Ivo had sidled off as they opened the box. Now he huddled with the other two a hundred paces away. "Well, at least they didn't bear witness," Tyrus muttered. "You needn't worry," Ashyn said. "Two of them had taken vows of silence." "Though they might have been tempted to break them," Moria said. "To relay that particular story." "But I did not shriek, correct?" She smiled. "You did not shriek."