His whole
soul longed to cry out her name in passionate summons. . .but he dared
not. For though the walls were blind, surely there were ears within to
hear his desperation, and descend upon them like angry birds of prey.
Feeling utterly lost, he lifted the great coil from his shoulders, and
let it fall in a useless heap to the ground. And hung his head, unable
for a time to continue.
But when he raised it again, unvanquished, his eyes caught a gleam of
something bright and solid in the grass, as for a moment the moon
shone down clear and unobstructed. He moved closer, before the pale
light could hide itself once more. Was it possible.....
The ring! He lifted it gently, as if it were a thing of smoke which
might dissolve upon his touch. But the slender band remained.
"What is it?" asked Stephen.
"A sign," replied the Highlander.
And with these words all the hope and urgency of his task returned to
him. "It is my mother's. . .it is Mary's
ring, cast down as a marker from one of the cells above." He turned
again to face the Tower, careful to stand in the exact spot where he
had found it.
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