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aid； 〃all these years have answered the charge of protecting the Sangreal documents and the tomb of Mary Magdalene？〃
〃Yes； but the brotherhood had another； more important duty as well—to protect the bloodline itself。 Christ's lineage was in perpetual danger。 The early Church feared that if the lineage were permitted to grow； the secret of Jesus and Magdalene would eventually surface and challenge the fundamental Catholic doctrine—that of a divine Messiah who did not consort with women or engage in sexual union。〃 He paused。 〃Nonetheless； Christ's line grew quietly under cover in France until making a bold move in the fifth century； when it intermarried with French royal blood and created a lineage known as the Merovingian bloodline。〃
This news surprised Sophie。 Merovingian was a term learned by every student in France。 〃The Merovingians founded Paris。〃
〃Yes。 That's one of the reasons the Grail legend is so rich in France。 Many of the Vatican's Grail quests here were in fact stealth missions to erase members of the royal bloodline。 Have you heard of King Dagobert？〃
Sophie vaguely recalled the name from a grisly tale in history class。 〃Dagobert was a Merovingian king； wasn't he？ Stabbed in the eye while sleeping？〃
〃Exactly。 Assassinated by the Vatican in collusion with Pepin d'Heristal。 Late seventh century。 With Dagobert's murder； the Merovingian bloodline was almost exterminated。 Fortunately； Dagobert's son； Sigisbert； secretly escaped the attack and carried on the lineage； which later included Godefroi de Bouillon—founder of the Priory of Sion。〃
〃The same man；〃 Langdon said； 〃who ordered the Knights Templar to recover the Sangreal documents from beneath Solomon's Temple and thus provide the Merovingians proof of their hereditary ties to Jesus Christ。〃
Teabing nodded； heaving a ponderous sigh。 〃The modern Priory of Sion has a momentous duty。 Theirs is a threefold charge。 The brotherhood must protect the Sangreal documents。 They must protect the tomb of Mary Magdalene。 And； of course； they must nurture and protect the bloodline of Christ—those few members of the royal Merovingian bloodline who have survived into modern times。〃
The words hung in the huge space； and Sophie felt an odd vibration； as if her bones were reverberating with some new kind of truth。 Descendants of Jesus who survived into modern times。 Her grandfather's voice again was whispering in her ear。 Princess； I must tell you the truth about your family。
A chill raked her flesh。
Royal blood。
She could not imagine。
Princess Sophie。
〃Sir Leigh？〃 The manservant's words crackled through the inter on the wall； and Sophie jumped。 〃If you could join me in the kitchen a moment？〃
Teabing scowled at the ill…timed intrusion。 He went over to the inter and pressed the button。 〃Rémy； as you know； I am busy with my guests。 If we need anything else from the kitchen tonight； we will help ourselves。 Thank you and good night。〃
〃A word with you before I retire； sir。 If you would。〃
Teabing grunted and pressed the button。 〃Make it quick； Rémy。〃
〃It is a household matter； sir； hardly fare for guests to endure。〃
Teabing looked incredulous。 〃And it cannot wait until morning？〃
〃No； sir。 My question won't take a minute。〃
Teabing rolled his eyes and looked at Langdon and Sophie。 〃Sometimes I wonder who is serving whom？〃 He pressed the button again。 〃I'll be right there； Rémy。 Can I bring you anything when I e？〃
〃Only freedom from oppression； sir。〃
〃Rémy； you realize your steak au poivre is the only reason you still work for me。〃
〃So you tell me； sir。 So you tell me。〃
CHAPTER 61
Princess Sophie。
Sophie felt hollow as she listened to the clicking of Teabing's crutches fade down the hallway。 Numb； she turned and faced Langdon in the deserted ballroom。 He was already shaking his head as if reading her mind。
〃No； Sophie；〃 he whispered； his eyes reassuring。 〃The same thought crossed my mind when I realized your grandfather was in the Priory； and you said he wanted to tell you a secret about your family。 But it's impossible。〃 Langdon paused。 〃Saunière is not a Merovingian name。〃
Sophie wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or disappointed。 Earlier； Langdon had asked an unusual passing question about Sophie's mother's maiden name。 Chauvel。 The question now made sense。 〃And Chauvel？〃 she asked； anxious。
Again he shook his head。 〃I'm sorry。 I know that would have answered some questions for you。 Only two direct lines of Merovingians remain。 Their family names are Plantard and Saint…Clair。 Both families live in hiding； probably protected by the Priory。〃
Sophie repeated the names silently in her mind and then shook her head。 There was no one in her family named Plantard or Saint…Clair。 A weary undertow was pulling at her now。 She realized she was no closer than she had been at the Louvre to understanding what truth her grandfather had wanted to reveal to her。 Sophie wished her grandfather had never mentioned her family this afternoon。 He had torn open old wounds that felt as painful now as ever。 They are dead； Sophie。 They are not ing back。 She thought of her mother singing her to sleep at night； of her father giving her rides on his shoulders； and of her grandmother and younger brother smiling at her with their fervent green eyes。 All that was stolen。 And all she had left was her grandfather。
And now he is gone too。 I am alone。
Sophie turned quietly back to The Last Supper and gazed at Mary Magdalene's long red hair and quiet eyes。 There was something in the woman's expression that echoed the loss of a loved one。 Sophie could feel it too。
〃Robert？〃 she said softly。
He stepped closer。
〃I know Leigh said the Grail story is all around us； but tonight is the first time I've ever heard any of this。〃
Langdon looked as if he wanted to put a forting hand on her shoulder； but he refrained。 〃You've heard her story before； Sophie。 Everyone has。 We just don't realize it when we hear it。〃
〃I don't understand。〃
〃The Grail story is everywhere； but it is hidden。 When the Church outlawed speaking of the shunned Mary Magdalene； her story and importance had to be passed on through more discreet channels。。。 channels that supported metaphor and symbolism。〃
〃Of course。 The