Page 98 of A Tale of Ice and Ash
The ale held back the worst of the hunger for a while, and beat back the cold, but soon it was clawing at them again.
They headed into the back room and erected a tent of sorts over one of the beds. The cold permeated everything they touched. The stone felt like ice.
“I take it we’re, er, sharing the space?” Cole asked.
“It’s probably a good idea. For warmth,” she added. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep my hands to myself.
“I make no such promises.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“I mean, of course, my lady.”
They crawled into the space together, Eirwen placing the sunstone on the headboard and placing a cloth over it, enough to dim the light but not extinguish it. Their breath iced in the air. They curled up separately, hugging their limbs and disappearing under the furs they’d managed to salvage.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this cold,” Cole shivered, his teeth chattering. “How did dwarves survive down here?”
“They’re a hardy bunch, for starters, and these places used to be heated… and not open to the elements.”
“Of course.”
She trembled, trying to suck back a shiver. She was supposed to be tougher than this.
“Think it will take a while to sleep like this,” said Cole. “Can we talk a little?”
“Sure. What of?”
“Were you happy, with the dwarves?”
“Yes. Of course.” She was silent, wondering why he’d ask such a question. “Were you happy, at the castle?”
“I wasn’t unhappy,” he said.
She swallowed. “Cole?”
“Yes?”
“When was the last time you were really, truly happy?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I imagine a lot of wine and dancing were involved, though.”
She looked at him. “Please?”
“Dancing with you,” he said, “the night you snuck into the castle. I was happy then. And when we played music together. That was the happiest I’d been in a long, long time.”
“And... before that?”
“There... there were moments. There must have been. Riding in the woods–”
“Cole–”
“You chasing me through the castle gardens. With a sword. I think you started off angry but it turned into a game. It was the first time I’d ever felt at ease since arriving in the castle. And... and the first time I felt like I had a friend.”
“Since you arrived?”
“Since... since ever, really.”
“That can’t be true. You must have guards, valets–”
