Page 59 of A Tale of Ice and Ash
“Come!” she snapped.
Cole followed her, pulling Marie’s arm, fleeing through the streets into the dark. The sounds of the brawl were inescapable, permeating the stone, every once silent crevice stuffed with sound.
They did not stop until they were nearing the castle gates.
“No,” Niamh moaned.
“What is it?”
“They’ve locked the gates and changed the guard.”
“So?”
“They knew about the meeting. Somehow, the Queen knew. She’s changed the guard to one she trusts, one who’ll report any servants returning to the castle in a hurry after the meeting.”
Cole swallowed, catching her meaning. “Servants,” he said, “but not me.”
He swept off his cloak and placed it around Niamh’s shoulders, drawing up the hood. He draped his arms around both women. Marie was trembling.
“It’s all right,” he told her. “Just follow my lead.”
He pulled them out of the shadows and into the dim light.
“Halt!” a guard cried out. “Who goes there?”
“Calm down, old chap, it’s only me.”
“Prince… Prince Cole! What are you doing outside the grounds?”
“What do you think?” he said, gesturing to the two women by his side. “Collecting some halfway decent company. Forgive the mud, won’t you? We took a little tumble on our way back…”
“Where… where have you been, Your Highness?”
“Oh, some lovely little tavern on the outskirts of town. What was it called?The Hanging Duck? The Snowy Tiger?”
“The Why Knot,” said Niamh, presumably giving him the name of a pub in the right location that would be too rowdy to confirm their tale.
“The Why Knot!” Cole hooted. “Ever been? Lot of fun. Let us in, will you? I seem to have misplaced my cloak and it’s getting rather chilly.”
“Of course, Your Highness! At once!”
The gate swung open and the three of them marched inside, Cole swaying slightly to keep up the rouse. Not wanting to draw any more attention, they crept in through the kitchens.
Cole turned to the two women. “Are either of you hurt?”
They shook their heads.
“Marie? Are you all right?”
“Um, a bit shaken,” she replied, fidgeting with the end of her braid. Her cap had come loose in the struggle. “Wishing I’d stayed home and read instead. But I think I’ll be all right.”
“Go directly to your rooms,” Niamh insisted. “I’ll be up to collect your clothes in a bit. Go.”
Cole escorted Marie back to her chamber. “You’re very good at lying,” she said. “I’m not sure whether to be suspicious or impressed.”
“Years of putting on a mask,” he said.
“For who?”
