It has the flying serpent wrapped around the handle, but also the Celtic knotwork engraved on the blade.

They looked like the Celtic knotwork designs in the margins of the Book of Kells-anancient script of magic.

Wrought of silver, it was all graceful lines that had no visible beginning or end, like Celtic knotwork made tactile.

Forged of thick silver, ornately embossed with Celtic knotwork, runes, and symbols, and lightly blackened, it looked ancient, like something out of a museum.