Page 98 of The Death Wish
He kept his reply measured, but something in Pitch’s manner bothered him, and he certainly wasn’t happy with him being alone in the company of the angel and daemon: one of whom seemed barely sane, the other in a shockingly poor state. Silas would never fully trust Lucifer–he’d not be so foolish–but even if the king had fully sided with Pitch and sought to keep him from harm, he barely had the strength to lift his own eyelashes; let alone fend off a Seraph.
Edward swallowed his mouthful. ‘Simurgh? Ah, you mean the fire he carries.’ He nodded. ‘I felt something of it when I touched him as I recovered after the Fulbourn. If I recall, I ended up being thrown out of bed with the force. And nearly punched in the mouth by Tobias, because of it.’
‘Do you remember much of the Fulbourn, of all that followed?’ Silas asked. ‘You were so very unwell.’
Edward’s smile was grim. ‘Indeed, I was. I remember small things. Just fragments, really. Mostly there was light, just light. Golden, and not so terrible. But what struck me most was the loneliness.’ He glanced at Charlie. ‘I knew you all to be so close. I could hear you speaking to me, tending me, caring for me… but I was…well, I was truly a world away.’ He smiled, but it was rather downcast. He set down his fork. ‘Will he be all right, Silas? I know he is strong, but do they place too much upon his shoulders?’
Silas let his hand fall from his collar. He adjusted the set of the jerkin. ‘They have always done that, and he has always met their challenge. He will see this through. And I, with him.’
Charlie took Silas’s hand. ‘And what a formidable union it is. Now come, have something to eat with us. Whatever lays ahead, best it’s not done on an empty stomach.’
‘I’m not much hungry.’ He frowned. ‘Where is Scarlet?’
‘They insisted I open the window, and promptly flew off. I think they rather enjoy hiding in those enormous roses.’
Silas eyed the window, but they were several levels up, and there was no sign of the bountiful gardens. An odd irritation found him at Scarlet’s frivolity. This was hardly time for play. ‘Mr Mercer, will you stop with all that frowning?’ Charlie adopted the curt admonishment a nanny might give a protesting child. ‘Come on, quickly now and have some food before it cools further. I won’t hear another word said. Look at you, you are fairly fading away, skin and bone.’ He winked, letting it be known he thought his own words utter nonsense.
Edward joined in the charade of lightheartedness. ‘Trust me, my dear fellow, you are best to do as you’re told here. Charlie will make a frighteningly stern father one day.’
Silas had barely taken his seat when the door opened and Jacquetta entered, pushing a large trolley where something lay covered beneath a white cloth.
‘Everything to your liking?’ she asked.
‘Very much so,’ Charlie replied. ‘But I don’t suppose there shall be any dessert? Not for me, mind, but I have a friend who would cheer to see a strawberry tart or sponge cake with all the cream you can whip.’
‘The prince, you mean? Already underway. He’s always had a penchant for sweeter things.’ Jacquetta sent a sidelong look Silas’s way. ‘They’ll be ready for him as soon as he’s able.’
As soon as he’s able.
What a sour feeling those words pushed through Silas. He was one breath away from demanding to be taken to Pitch that instant, when Jacquetta pulled away the cloth, revealing an ornate dressing-table mirror beneath. It was triple-panelled, with the centrepiece largest, and smaller at the wings.
‘I thought this may help you while away the time, distract you, perhaps.’ She lifted it, and it was evident the piece was heavy, with its thick plasterwork edges that scrolled like faded gold parchment, and curled feet at the base of each panel. Theglass was onyx black. Silas’s thoughts went immediately to the obsidian in the ashmen’s eyes.
‘This is a scrying mirror?’ He abandoned the serving of food Charlie had just delivered and moved to assist.
‘Out of my way now.’ Jacquetta scowled until he stepped back. ‘Don’t think I’d be as levelheaded as I am, if I hadn’t been able to take a peek at how the world was living.’ She set the mirror down with a grunt, fussing at it until it was set to her satisfaction upon a sideboard of whitewashed wood and sparkling crystal handles.
The blackness of the glass seemed viscous. As though to touch it was to dip your finger into tar. Silas stared at his reflection. His beard needed trimming, and he looked as troubled as he felt.
‘Why have you brought it here? Has the angel found us?’ His stomach turned, the rich smells of the food now nauseating.
‘The one who killed your horse?’
Charlie let loose a brief cry. ‘Is there a need to be so blunt?’
But Silas gave the Child a steely glare. He could not afford the ache that came with thinking of Lalassu. The hurt was bottled up tight, for now. ‘Yes. That one.’
‘No. The Ferryman brings no word of his return. But we are watching.’ Jacquetta adjusted the side panel of the mirror, bringing the angle in sharper, so the display sat curved like a fire screen. ‘And your mare was a fine djinn. Her defence of the cave continues, even if she does not. The Red Horse grows herself strong from the White Horse’s roots. Noble steeds.’
It was a peace offering for her bluntness. ‘They are the noblest,’ he said, clearing the thickness from his throat. ‘Now what of this mirror?’
‘A distraction. Charlie tells me you both share a connection to the loch, and the residence on its shores. I thought perhapsyou may like to study them more closely.’ She kissed the tips of her fingers, then touched them to each of the panes of glass.
The surfaces swirled; like colours produced by the hint of oil in water.
Rossdhu House appeared in the distance, from a viewpoint out upon the loch. Charlie let out a choked cry.
‘Edward, come and see.’ But the scrape of chair legs was already underway, the quick thump of feet on floorboards as Edward joined them.