
In an imagined world where alchemy and enchantments supplanted the scientific breakthroughs we know, the stately Castle D’Evreux becomes the stage for a sudden, unsettling mystery. Sir Pierre Morlaix, a seasoned courtier, discovers his lord—always punctual, ever dignified—dead on a sun‑lit balcony, a bullet wound staining the Count’s regal attire. The scene is framed by strict ritual, ringing Angelus bells, and a rigid hierarchy that now trembles beneath an unspoken threat.
As the other guests stir, each bound by their roles and the looming Mass, the story follows Pierre’s quiet determination to uncover who could have dared such a breach within these fortified walls. Beneath the polished stone and gilded heraldry, whispers of forbidden magic and hidden ambitions begin to surface, promising a tangled web of politics, loyalty, and the uncanny. Listeners will be drawn into a suspenseful first act where honor meets intrigue, and every polished surface may conceal a darker purpose.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (86K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2010-01-02
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1927–1987
A prolific mid-20th-century science fiction and fantasy writer, he became especially known for witty, idea-rich stories and for creating the popular Lord Darcy mysteries. His work ranged from pulp-magazine adventures to clever alternate-history fantasy, often published under a variety of pen names.
View all books
by Randall Garrett

by Randall Garrett

by Randall Garrett

by Randall Garrett

by Randall Garrett, Laurence M. Janifer

by Randall Garrett, Laurence M. Janifer

by Randall Garrett

by Randall Garrett