Page 143 of A Tale of Ice and Ash
He reloaded his pistol. “Get away from my daughter,” he growled.
Janus raised his hands to the roof and another chandelier came crashing down. Onyx dived out of the way, his forces scattering.
“Get her out!” he hissed at Cole.
Cole nodded, sweeping her into his arms. Janus raised another hand, and three guards swept across their path, weapons at the ready.
“You don’t need to fight us,” Cole said. “We are not the enemy. Do you really wantthatas your king over her?”
The guards hesitated, but Janus snapped his fingers, and their eyes went glassy. They lunged for Cole and he leapt out of the way, Eirwen skidding out of his arms. She crawled out of the wreckage, pulling herself up as he dodged their attacks. She wasn’t fighting. She could barely move.
Wren’s bolt hit one of them in the shoulder, and she, Merry and a handful of rebels raced over to cover them. Garnet made a beeline for the twins, still in their cages, fighting off anything that tried to stop her like a crazed animal. Cole tugged Eirwen back to her feet and pulled her into one of the side passages, slamming the door shut between them before sinking to the ground with her in his arms.
“We’re not really going to leave them, are we?” she whispered.
“Of course not,” he said. “We just need, er, some kind of plan…”
He pulled out his hand from under her, wincing.
“You’re hurt.”
“I er, may have broken my thumb getting out of those shackles.”
“What?”
“I read about it in a book–”
“Let me see–”
“Ouch! Be careful!”
“I’m trying to help you. Don’t be a baby.”
“I just broke my thumb for you, woman, andI’mthe baby?”
“If you don’t let me bind it, yes!” Tears studded her eyes as she examined the broken digit. “You’re an idiot,” she said softly. “Don’t hurt yourself for me.”
He raised his good hand to her cheek. “No such promises, I’m afraid.”
“Cole, I–”
There was a crash from outside. One of the pillars had been brought clean away from the ceiling. Cole peered through the gap in the concealed door, trying to ignore Eirwen stiffening beside him.
“Are they all right?” she asked.
Cole couldn’t see everyone. Merry was still weaving through the room. The cage with the twins in was empty. The crack of Onyx’s pistol echoed through the air. He could see his mother by the side of the room, standing statue still, flanked by only two guards, a look of horror etched into her face.
“I think so,” he said.
Eirwen tore the laced hem off her nightgown and started to bind it round Cole’s hand, strapping the broken digit to the rest of the limb.
“Got a plan yet?” he asked.
“No,” she said, “you?”
He shook his head.
“Let me see what’s happening.”
