Page 78 of Mountain of Mirrors and Starlight
“Too careful,” Bell whispered.
Luna stared at the floor. “Half the time he’s even scared to touch us, even though he knows we’re immune. Just a reaction, I think. Spends so long skirting around touching the living he’s forgotten how to embrace it.”
Aislinn had seen before the way he seemed to scoot around people, the way his hands stayed firmly by his sides… and the way he’d sometimes cling to the accidental touches of the dwarves, like he’d forgotten the feel of skin.
If nothing else changed whilst he was in Avalinth, she hoped that that did—that he grew used to touch again.
Although she couldn’t deny the tightness in her chest when she thought of who he might be touching.
A while later, they broke to rest. By Aislinn’s approximation, it was still the middle of the night, but the battle had left the party famished. Someone plucked a couple of giant, spiky, snail-like gastropods off the cave walls. They were edible once cooked, though even Luna’s magic did little to make them palatable.
“Lesser spotted tunnel slurg,” Diana explained, seeing Aislinn struggle to chew one down. “Not the tastiest critter, but it’ll keep you going.”
“I think I’d rather die,” Beau said, looking like he was going to be sick.
The dwarves chuckled at his discomfort.
Caer lay nearby on a bed they’d made for him, utterly still. He’d been still for hours, his face unnaturally pale, only the slight rise and fall of his chest to show he was alive. She’d given up asking the others if he was all right.
Watching him fall…
She had thought Cass’ death had been the worst thing that ever happened to her. She was sure that no matter how long she lived, that no moment would steal the edge from that one.
But this had come close.
It’s going to get worse.
It was scary enough to make her want to flee, to turn back up the tunnel and plunge into Winter once more, alone, exposed—but free of him and the growing spell he had her under. And yet… how could she? How could she turn away? She wasn’t a rabbit in a snare, but an animal welcomed to the hearth, staring into the fire, trying to work out if she was destined to roast above it or bask in its glow.
“What happens when we reach Avalinth?” Aislinn asked.How long will we be permitted to stay? Will they even let us in? Will Caer definitely be safe there? Will I get to say goodbye?
I need, I need, I need to say goodbye. I need to go.
I don’t want to.
The party went quiet for a little while. “We petition the Dwarven Queen to offer Caer sanctuary,” said Minerva, as if it were a simple matter.
“And if she doesn’t?”
“I’m fairly sure she will.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s my sister.”
Aislinn blinked.
“What?”said Beau.
“You’re a royal?”
Minerva scoffed. “I’m in somewhat of a self-imposed exile, but yes, I was.”
Beau took out his notebook. “How does the dwarven monarchy work?” he asked, pen in hand. “I understand that, much like ours, it’s an inherited thing, but I recall something about three trials?”
“Aye. There’s the de-facto heir of the firstborn, based solely on the fact that there can be decades or even centuries between children and it’s wise to train someone for the role in the meantime, but siblings and cousins can challenge the right to rule by defeating them in combat.”
“Dwarves duel for the throne? Ooh, I like that! Ais, maybe we should—”
