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Very well, said Grizel. I am satisfied.
She drifted over to the fireplace and stroked across the panelling in the opening with a
slender hand the texture of gossamer. The Crown is there, she declared. Though my
captors knew it not, this fireplace has never known afire, for it has no chimney breast. It
houses instead a secret compartment behind a screen of masonry. They thought to bring
me here, but they did not think to look far enough. All I had to do was hold my tongue& .
chapter twenty-three
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THE ghost of Grizel Seton shuddered slightly, as if at the memory of old pain.
Peregrine stooped to retrieve his spectacles, then edged closer to McLeod. That
panelling looks jolly solid, he muttered, not to mention any depth of masonry beyond.
How the devil are we going to get the Crown out of there without making a mess of the
whole wall?
Damned if I know, McLeod replied. But we re going to have to figure out a way.
Even as he spoke, Grizel Seton drifted closer to Adam.
Give me your hands, she instructed quietly.
She ducked beneath his shoulder as he raised his hands, rising again within the compass
of his arms, her hands outstretched to overlay and merge with his. The shared contact
gave Adam a cool butterfly sensation in his palms and fingertips. At the same time, he
understood that she required control of his body. Confident that she would do him no
harm, he relaxed and closed his eyes, allowing her the freedom to guide him.
The cool butterfly tingle in Adam s hands spread up his arms and down his legs.
Yielding passively to Grizel s gentle influence, he allowed himself to be propelled
forward three steps in the direction of the fireplace. Still responsive to her touch, he
crouched and reached out. Just before he touched the panelling, his extended hands
encountered an elastic area of resistance, as if he were pushing his fingers through a stiff
block of gelatin& . Grizel s guiding presence was investing the whole of Adam s body
with a soft shimmer. As his and Grizel s superimposed hands reached through the
panelling that covered the fireplace, McLeod breathed an incredulous Good God!
Peregrine could only nod by way of acknowledgement, watching in dumbstruck
astonishment. Adam himself appeared oblivious to what was happening, eyes closed, face
serenely intent. Shifting easily onto both knees, he leaned farther forward, his arms
disappearing almost to the shoulders as, for a breathless moment, he seemed to feel
around for something beyond. When he moved to withdraw, still guided by Grizel,
Peregrine could tell by the set of his shoulders that Adam now was carrying something.
His eyes opened abruptly as his hands emerged from the panelling, and widened in
wonder as light from the lamp by the door touched off a warm glint of precious metal
between his fingers. As soon as they were clear of the panelling, Grizel separated and
drew back. Adam drew a deep breath, then gathered himself to his feet and turned to
show Peregrine and McLeod the golden star diadem of six upturned points that he now
held.
Peregrine could not repress a gasp. McLeod looked a little pale. Adam smiled, his own
expression rapt with half-dreaming wonder as he turned the Crown over in his hands.
Beside him, the filmy presence of Grizel Seton resolved once more into womanly shape.
This is the Crown once guarded for the Temple by John Grahame of Claverhouse, she
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told them. Legend has it that Solomon the King invested it with his wisdom long ago.
Her words seemed to call Adam back to himself. Looking up, he said quietly, in his own
voice, Thank you, Grizel. Be sure I will guard this with my very life. If you fail in your
mission, she replied, you imperil not only your life but your soul as well. As keeper of the
Crown, you have the great King s leave to use it. But I am bound to warn you that to do
so, unless in the presence of both the Seal and the Sceptre, is to court gravest danger to
yourself. How so? Adam asked.
Solomon divided his potency among the three hallows, intending them to be used
together, Grizel informed him. If one or the other of these hallows is missing, the user
himself must compensate for the ensuing imbalance in power. Should you contemplate
donning the Crown, for whatever reason, I urge you first to examine your own mind and
conscience and see that you find yourself in no way lacking. To those already strong and
wise, the Crown brings even greater wisdom. But to those who are not, it brings
madness.
This warning shed further light on the dream Adam had had at Oakwood. It seemed that
Caitlin had been right in her supposition that the Crown by itself might not be enough to
see him through whatever perils lay ahead. You are not the first to warn me that the
hallows are dangerous, he said to Grizel. Two nights ago, I had a dream urging me to
recover the Sceptre as well as the Crown. Do you know where it is?
Grizel s response was a regretful shake of her head. If my Lord of Claverhouse knew, he
did not share that knowledge with me. I am sorry. Greatly daring, McLeod edged
forward. What about the casket, Lady? Can you tell us where it lies?
Grizel shook her head again. That knowledge was lost to the Masters of the Templar
Order long before my time.
Then we must proceed armed only with the knowledge that we - Adam stopped short
as a sudden idea occurred to him. McLeod was quick to catch the arrested expression on
his face.
You ve thought of something, haven t you?
Perhaps, Adam said. A stratagem worth trying, anyway.
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