He Hid His Changing, Then His Doctor Became His Mate novel · Chapter 17 of 24
Chapter 17: The Hawk
Roddy did not open the satchel.
His fingers tightened on the strap, and his smile held.
"Father, this is a distraction," he said. "I came here for my brother's sake."
"Open it," Alex said. "Or a guard will."
Nobody in the hall breathed.
Roddy undid the buckle slowly.
He drew out a small cloth bundle, laid it on the dais, and folded the cloth back with a flourish.
It was a gold disc on a leather cord, etched with a sunburst.
"I had a second one made," he said, in his gentlest voice. "For Cavan. A replacement. He told me the first had cracked, and I thought it might comfort him."
Fenny stepped forward.
He took the linen from his coat and unrolled it on the boards beside the new charm.
Four curved gold pieces lay in a little heap of grey ash.
"This is the first," he said. "I raked it out of the hearth. It split in the fire."
He turned the thick piece over.
"And there is the maker's mark."
The old councillor came down from the dais, bent, and looked.
"A hawk with its wings half raised," he said clearly, for the hall to hear.
Roddy shrugged.
"It's a pretty emblem. A goldsmith might stamp anything."
"Then look at your own hand," the old councillor said.
Every head turned.
Roddy wore the signet ring on his right hand, a gold hawk, and he had not taken it off in front of the pack in his life.
"Give me the ring," said the old councillor.
"I will not."
"Alex."
The King had come across the floor.
He stood in front of his son, an old broad man in a plain coat, and held out one palm.
"Roddy," he said. "The ring."
For one long moment, Roddy did not move.
Then he pulled it off with a jerk and slapped it into his father's hand.
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