Once again, Ethan touched the bare spot on his finger, as if to twist the missing ring. “The ring was all I have left of my father, you know?” he said, “A Lord’s ring, the symbol of his title. My Dad, he… he sent it to Arthur, once he knew they were on to him. Told him to give it to his heir.” He shook his head. “Probably never thought that it would be me. I was always the big disappointment of the family, you know…”
“I’m sure that’s not true,” Holly said.
“Of course, it is. I’m not a warrior and I’m not into politics like my father and my brothers and even my sister. They were the great ones, the brave ones, while I’m just a lowly…” He broke off abruptly, as if he wasn’t even able to admit to himself whatever lowly thing he imagined he was.
“Well what?” Holly asked him, if only to assu
