Page 67 of A Tale of Ice and Ash
Cole snorted, stuffing a small bite of bread into his mouth. “It amuses me how you can go from kind to cruel in such a short space of time.”
Eirwen glared. “It’s one of my finer talents.”
A short while later, Wren returned with Onyx, and they shared the news with him. He went very quiet for a long moment, staring intently at the table.
“If we’re breaking into the castle, I say we go after the Queen too,” Onyx declared.
Eirwen blinked. “Are you serious?”
“Why not? Two birds, one stone. If we er…” He glanced sharply at Cole, “If we remove her from power, all our problems are solved.”
“So… do you have a plan?”
Onyx stared at a knot in the table. “I’ll have one in a week. For now, we need allies. As many as we can get.”
“I imagine Lord Hammersmith’s family will be willing to lend support,” Cole said. “If they hear about Eirwen.”
“I imagine a lot of people will rally behind her, if they know about her,” said Onyx.
“Onyx?” Eirwen frowned.
“It’s time you came out, pet. Showed the kingdom you’re alive, and willing to fight for them.”
“And… how will we do that?”
“With a small but significant gesture,” he said. “Give me a few hours.”
“I should get back to the palace,” Cole said. “But please… anything I can do, let me know.”
“You may regret those words, boy.”
Cole swallowed. Eirwen got up when he did. “Let me walk you to your horse, at least.”
He did not stop her. Instead, he flashed her a grateful look, although he sank into silence that didn’t ease even as they readied his stead together.
“Something else is weighing on your mind, isn’t it?” she asked.
Cole’s dark eyes flitted away from her.
“My mother,” he said eventually. “Whatever Onyx has planned, I… if, if it’s at all possible, can you spare her?”
Eirwen stared at him. “You think I could kill your mother?”
“After all she’s done, I would be surprised if you didn’t want her dead.”
“That may be, but she is still your mother. I… How could you forgivemeif I killed her?”
“Because she deserves to die,” Cole said, his eyes glassy, his voice wound as tightly as wire. “I know this. But…”
“She’s your mother.”
“I don’t… I don’t want her to die.”
Eirwen reached across the saddle and found Cole’s hand. She laced her fingers into his. “I will do everything in my power to ensure she survives,” she said. “You have my word.”
Cole groaned, tearing his eyes away from her and leaning his head against the side of his sword. “You’re too good.”
Eirwen swallowed, not sure anyone could ever be too good, not sure she could be called that when all this was over.
