Iron of the Innocent: Mistress of Agony (Vol 2)

Chapter 21: Memory

254 I.C.
Sacren
Solorn Kingdom
Waydorn Province
Cor Wresgoth Home

"Come along Shydler," his nanny said as she gently guided him out of his mother's study. The boy of five years reluctantly took his eyes from the hilt of the visitor's blade with its screaming face. The boy felt fascination and a hint of fear looking at the wide, elongated mouth and white gems for eyes. The woman in the long, maroon cloak stared at him for a few moments from the shadows of her hood before he left the room. When the boy reached the staircase that curved upward to the second floor, he suddenly split in two, leaving a copy of himself behind.

The boy holding his nanny's hand carefully walked up the steps humming a soft song. "Can we have cake after evening meal?" he asked looking up at her.

"Of course," she said softly. Her neat, brown hair was braided and fixed into a bun on the back of her head. She wore a white blouse tucked into a long, dark blue skirt. Her fine shoes did not make much noise on the hard, stained wood as she walked with grace in her steps. When she glanced back down toward the door of the study, a distressed look touched her eyes. Yet, she did not see the perfect, ghostly image of the small boy standing at the foot of the stairs looking up at her.

"I miss daddy," the boy said to her, "a lot."

"I know," his nanny said caressing the back of his head.

"My heart still hurts," he whispered, a small hand going up and clutching at his clean, dark purple shirt.

"As it will for a while," she told him gently, "but, while time will lessen the pain, you will always remember him and the good moments you had together." The two disappeared down a hallway out of sight.

The translucent copy of the boy closed his eyes for a moment and slowly clenched his fists before looking over at the door to his mother's study. All childlike characteristics were gone, and when the boy opened his eyes, he began to change. Walking toward the doorway, the boy grew into the fully-grown man he would become. His hair grew, shoulders widened, and his clothing morphed into the black robes worn by the mage when he cast his spell to walk in memory. The translucent quality did not change, and he remained unseen to those around him.

"I agreed to see you," his mother was saying when he walked into the room, "but, I'm not sure what business we can do. My household and I will be departing soon on travel." In his eyes, she was beautiful. He could still remember the strength of her presence, and the softness of her hands. Her long, sandy blond hair was styled and decorated with emerald-encrusted clips. Her multilayered, expensive, blue gown hugged her waist and accented her form. Nobility surrounded her, and kindness dwelled in the aspect of her eyes. "Tea?" she asked politely.

"Yes, please," the visitor said having already taken a seat.

"Tea first. Then business," Shydler's mother said as she prepared a tray. Bringing it over she set it down on a small, wooden table next to the chair where the woman positioned herself on the edge of her seat. "Sugar?" she asked.

The visitor nodded and waited patiently as her cup of tea swirled with the movement of the silver spoon. Preparing her own cup, Shydler's mother placed it next to her chair across the table. She was about to sit down when she said, "My apologies. I almost forgot the biscuits."

"I would like a biscuit," the visitor said as Shydler's mother turned and walked back to the side table where the tray of soft bread waited. The visitor pulled out a small bottle, uncorked it, and poured its contents into her host's cup. She hid it away just as his mother turned and carried the biscuits back for them to enjoy on a silver tray.

"Those look and smell delicious," the visitor said sweetly as she pulled back her hood. The woman's blond hair fell about her face, and her blue eyes watched Shydler's mother lift her teacup and take a drink. The two sat in carved wooden chairs with thick cushions on the back and seat to make them more comfortable. He remembered playing as his nanny worked hard on sewing the covers for them.