Cinders

Chapter 4: The New Way

 I thought I knew cold, but the dungeon beneath the Dwell had come to serve as my own glacial palace. The thin blanket did little to protect me from the stones surrounding me, untouched by the sun, but at some point I had grown impervious to it. My mind in shock, I lay in solemn silence, not daring to move an inch, because moving would shatter my will, moving would acknowledge that I am here and that she is not. Her image comes to mind, but I am still and pain cannot touch me. I focus on my breathing as I stare, unseeing at a fixed point on the wall where a single speck of old blood remains. I don't know how long I've been staring at that dot.

I hear the guard posted at the base of the stairs his weight and sigh, muttering under his breath, "...having to freeze to death for one tiny girl."

A while later, a servant opens the door and heads down the steps, and guard verifies her number before escorting her to my cell. He opens it and allows her to replace the previous tray of untouched food with another of the same stale bread and gruel.

"You should eat, Lyla," Maria's voice reaches my ears, but I remain, staring at the blood.

"No talking to the prisoners. Hurry it up!" the guard spits.

Maria rises and exits the cell, "Of course, sir. I apologize."

The guard just grumbles and locks the gate, then escorts Maria out of the dungeon.

He takes his seat, I stare at my spot. My eyes burn, but I will not move, and pain cannot touch me.

~

I stir at the sound of the door to the dungeon swinging open violently.

"Why was I not informed of this?" a male voice demands angrily.

"Because it is a matter below your concern, Grey. She's a servant girl," another voice answered, their boots thudding down the steps.

"Unlock the cell," the first demanded. "Now."

The guard scrambles to his feet and goes to the cell door, unlocking it.

The man storms in, and lowers himself to my eye level, obscuring the blood drop.

The prince looks into vacant eyes, concerned. "Lyla?"

His hand moves to my shoulder, warmth seeping into my skin.

"By the seven," he gasps. "You're ice."

The officer who had saved me earlier enters the cell. "Grey?"

The prince lets out a heavy sigh. "I will not leave her in this abysmal place to rot when all she did was what? Defend herself from an abhorrent soldier that slew her friend right in front of her?" The prince turns to Officer Laurence. "Take her to the Way and get someone to care for her. She can continue her duties after she's regained her strength."

No. My mind is distraught at the prospect of going back there. How many more people will I have to watch die before it is finally cut down by the sword or consumed by the fire? How much longer must I wait until I see Mama's golden hair, Papa's knowing smile, or Charlie's sweet face?

"Of course, my lord," Officer Laurence says, bowing his head.

"Don't give me that right now, Charles. I won't have you patronizing me as punishment," the prince grumbles. After a few moments, the prince states in a threateningly low tone, just loud enough to be heard, "And I want that soldier gone, Charles."

"Alright, Grey. Consider it done," Officer Laurence promised.

The prince lowered himself to his haunches once more, studying my face. "Lyla? There's nothing to worry about anymore, I'm getting you out. I wish I could have come sooner."