Page 62 of A Tale of Ice and Ash
“He is guilty of the same crime I executed a man for last month! Should I make an exception because of hiswealth? Would that befair,guardsman?”
The guard hung his head. “No, Your Majesty.”
“Then do as I say! And summon the Huntsman. He and I must speak.”
“At once, Your Majesty.”
The guards left the room, dragging the quivering Lord Hammersmith behind them.
Bianca wheeled back to the Mirror. His face rushed back to the surface.
“You told me she was dead!”
“I told you she had vanished from my sight. I could not tell if she was dead.”
“How could you not sense her?”
“I am… unsure. It is not easy to hide from my sight. It’s possible she was shielded by those around her.”
“What do you mean?”
“A large enough group of dwarves could mask her from me. They are so pristinely unmagical that they can sometimes act as barriers from magical vision. That seems the most likely explanation.”
The Queen stared at him.
“I cannot lie to you, My Queen.”
“Would you, if you could?”
The Mirror did not reply.
There was a knock on the door once again, and the Huntsman was shoved into the room. He bowed down before her.
“Leave us,” she said to the guards.
The guards vanished.
The Huntsman started to rise. “Stay down,” the Queen insisted.
He knelt again.
“Tonight, a group of rebels were intercepted in the city.”
“A great relief, Your Majesty.”
“Is it?”
“Well, that you found them.”
“For me, yes, I suppose it is.”
“I… I don’t follow, Your Majesty.”
“I just imagine you are rather disappointed that I found them at all.”
A pause. “Why would I be disappointed?”
“Because among their number was a girl claiming to be Princess Eirwen, and you must have some interest in keeping her alive, since it was you that was supposed to have killed her. I can’t imagine a child got the better of you, so tell me,loyalHuntsman… why did you let her go?”
