"Some I donated to small museums," Alcuin said. "Some I sold to collectors. And some is in storage because I couldn't bear to part with it." He smiles. "There's more upstairs, come see."

He led Eric up the stairs where there were two rooms. The one where he led him first appeared to be an office but mostly a library - two walls filled floor to ceiling with books, and another one with more art. There were framed sketches here as well, an architectural drawing of Paris, and also a figure study of a naked young man lounging in bed with his back turned, head bent towards a book. To an observant eye it was clearly Alcuin. And also, above the desk there was a painted portrait of Anafiel Delaunay, handsome and regal.