The Icon Unbound

Chapter Fifteen, Part A -Saiph

Let us go to the place that they fear: underground. I have always been fascinated by the stories we tell ourselves about that the places we fear to go. Go off the map, and there be dragons. So in Waterwall the worst epoch of their history came from the underground, and for all that time since they just shut it away as if it didn't exist. But the world keeps on spinning, even if we shut our ears. Leave me comments and votes, my lovelies. As always, thank you for reading. --Elizabeth, UPDATED 06/05/2017 

Being swallowed up in darkness, taking steps deeper into it, did not disturb Saiph as much as the creeping idea of the consequences of today. He fingered the short blade on his left side, a long knife, a blade even more ceremonial than his sword because it was so seldom used in an official capacity. Sharpened to less the width of a hair, it was the weapon he would use to cut the heart out of a woman, or saw off the head of a man.

Now, he might have to use it to execute his mother.

The protocols made no provision for this. If the Arbiter called for her execution, he would have to do it.

Keeping the Icon in his view was automatic. Nadir ahead of her, and he behind. She would be safe even in this...this underground hell. As they moved farther into the darkness, he was glad that Rigel stayed fast at his side.

Honor stayed close, too. "What are we doing down here?" She whispered.

Saiph shivered, glad of the semidarkness. She killed a man, reduced him to parts. Without hesitation she had cut herself and bled to trade for the working of her will.

When he did not answer, she tried again. "Please, my son. Answer me."

"Meissa did run away. She came with us to the Fountain, and somehow, made contact with the people under the mountain. She claims they can lead us to the one who breached the wall."

"Stars..."

"You killed that man. You're Chosen."

"I have done many things I regret."

"You should have told us."

"It wasn't any of your business. I am your mother."

Not any of his business? Saiph swallowed against his suddenly itchy throat.

She had arrived here long before the Icon had been born. She had come here with the ability to replicate the basic workings of an Icon. That meant that technically, wouldn't she have been a better choice to replace She Who Was Sarah? Of course he was not privy to the workings of the Icon's, but if Honor had the training already, why had the She Who Was Sarah chosen such a young girl instead? Saiph wondered and worried over this, couldn't get the idea that she was about to die out of his head.

How much of her heart was left in the box?

If only it were alive and beating in her chest, warming her cheeks.

Saints, did that make him a monster?

Rigel nudged him in the back, bringing him back to reality. Was he so far gone that he would wish his own mother's heart torn out rather than the girl he loved? There seemed to be a great tear in him; between what he should feel and what he did.

"What happened will haunt us to the end of our days, brother," Saiph said.

He couldn't see his brother's eyes in the dark, but he could imagine the look. Rigel's voice, when he answered, was even softer. "I think we're going to leave Waterwall. All of us, today. Including the Icon."