Page 84 of A Tale of Ice and Ash
Chapter Thirteen:
Mirror, Mirror
Cole stumbled down the corridors, the stone still ringing with the screams from the battle. The shades appeared to have vanished as easily as they’d arrived, slinking off into the darkness. Guards were still running about, searching for them, or the rebels, it was impossible to tell.
Maybe he should have gone with Eirwen. She could have used him as a hostage. If she didn’t get out–
No, no, shehadto get out. The mere thought of her capture sent his thoughts spiralling into dark, dangerous territory.
Be honest,said a voice at the back of his head,if it came down to it, what wouldn’t you do to save her?
He crushed the question, too afraid of the answer.
He reached the door to his mother’s chambers. He could hear her screaming inside. “Show me my son!” she screeched at someone.
Cole paused, waiting for another voice, wondering at her command. How was anyone supposed toshowhim to her?
He rapped faintly against the wood, his knuckles feeling loose inside his skin. His hands were coated in blood, red and black.
His mother flung open the door. For a split second, Cole thought he saw another face over her shoulder in the dim light, but a moment later all was cast into shadow.
“Cole,” she breathed, her eyes wide. Her hands went to his face, his shoulders, his blood drenched-tunic. “Cole–”
“It’s not mine,” Cole assured her, his knees shaking. It was a struggle to keep upright. How would Eirwen ever make it out? “Niamh, Niamh, she’s dead.”
“Who?”
Cole cringed. Niamh had served his mother for years. “One… one of the maids. She… she pulled me out of there.” He stopped just short of saying ‘us’.
“But you’re not hurt?”
“No, no, I’m not hurt.”
She pulled him into her arms, stroking the back of his head like she did when he was a child. It was almost enough to make him dissolve, but bitterness kept him upright.
You did this. Somehow, you did this. Niamh is dead because of you.
“Mother… what happened? Where did those things come from?”
“A… a failsafe,” she said. “A gift from an ally.”
“That’s not an answer! What were they? Where did they come from? How did you control them–”
“So many questions!” she half-laughed, steering him into a chair by the fire. “Sit down. Let me fetch you a drink.”
She turned to the table and lifted a bottle of wine.
“I deserve to know, Mother! I could have died tonight–”
“Those wretched insurgents will be found and punished, I assure you.”
“Did you catch any?”
“No,” she snarled. “The guards are chasing them down, but they appear to have slunk off. Tonight, at least. I’ll burn down the forest if I have to.”
Cole suppressed a shudder, taking the goblet his mother pressed into hishands.
“Drink, my darling.”
