Chapter 4

It was in the shower the next morning that Brayden noticed the change in the ring. Where there was only tarnished metal yesterday, there was the distinctive whiteness of pure silver today. He stared at the ring in amazement. Who knew that cum was a great tarnish remover? he thought.

The flat, oval bezel of the ring was engraved with a stylized image of a woman done with a few circles and curving lines. Above the woman was a circle that Brayden took to be the full moon. The figure seemed primitive but with a grace of form and energy that reminded him of some of the early Celtic or Scythian work. Perhaps he wouldn't have it cut off after all.

He spent the rest of the day at his workstation, taking a short break for lunch, then diving back in. He finally su