Guénolé

Suddenly, the door burst open, letting Tudy rush in, breathless, his face flushed with exertion. He moved quickly toward Budoc and Guénolé, his eyes shining with a strange light. With a trembling hand, he held out a small object to them.

— I found this… near Gurwan’s body… If you didn’t discover it straight away, Guénolé, it’s probably because the tides brought it back to the surface of the mud.

The silence grew heavier still. Guénolé stared at the object, turning pale. A crudely carved stone pendant lay in the palm of Tudy’s hand. There could be no doubt.

— By all the saints… he murmured.

Budoc frowned, watching the young man’s reaction.

— Do you recognize it? he asked.

Guénolé took a few seconds before answering. He looked at the object, then at Budoc, and finally at Tudy.

— Yes, of course. His voice trembled slightly. It is an ancient piece… a family heirloom…

He drew a deep breath before uttering the name that burned his lips.

— It is an ornament of Frankish origin. A kind of war trophy taken by my father, Fracan. He gave it to my brother Guéthénoc, who never parted with it. Later, he altered it, trying to erase the pagan symbols and give it a Christian meaning.