Page 104 of Heart Cradle
He swallowed another mouthful and looked at Nolenne. “You always made the soup when we were little, with mushrooms and too much pepper.”
Nolenne blinked fast. “You liked it that way.”
He gave a half-smile, bitter and soft all at once. “I did, I did like it that way.”
He licked a crumb from his lip, then went quiet for a beat. “I used to hate mushrooms. You told me they were lucky, said if I ate enough, I’d get bloody wings.”
Nolenne’s throat bobbed. “You were a nightmare about it, used to flick them at the poor cat.”
“She scratched me all the fucking time, little bitch deserved it.”
They both let out breathy, broken laughs. Davmon looked down at the bowl. “I dreamt about that house. Mother baking bread. The smell of the fire. Your humming. It’s the only thing that felt real. Of Mother and Father, with us three.”
“Then why did you stay?” Nolenne said, eyes glistening with unspent tears.
“Because I thought if I was loyal enough, if I climbed high enough, he’d let me leave.” He looked at her, hollow. “I thought I could take you home like a…prize.”
Nolenne let out a heavy sigh. “I didn’t need rescuing, Dav. I needed you to remember who we were.”
His voice cracked. “I missed you every day, even when you hated me.”
“You think I didn’t miss you too?”
Silence folded around them, thick and unforgiving, broken only by Maeve conjuring more brandy.
“Princess Maeve,” Cira said, as she raised the goblet to his mouth. “You’re becoming rather proficient, well done, dear girl.”
Maeve smiled faintly. The words should have comforted her but the pit in her stomach only deepened, she turned to Davmon fully. “I know what you did,” Maeve began, voice almost a whisper.
“I know you were forced to fight Varen. You were fifteen, he was thirteen and she was nine.” She pointed to Nolenne. “All three children lost that day.”
Something in his face flickered.
“I know what happened to your parents,” she continued. “They were executed for refusing to give you up. Your mother raped next to your dead father. I know who stood witness. I know what they made you do.”
He growled. “Lies. They’re all liars, they told you that to make me look weak. To make us all look weak!”
“No,” she said, stepping closer. “They told me because they remembered… because they regret. Maybe they wanted someone to forgive them.” She paused, smoothing her leathers. “Let me help you, Davmon.”
The Chain pulsed then, whispering only to Maeve. She cleared her throat as if in response to it before saying “The Chain wants me to see your memories.”
He stared at her, something trembling beneath the hate in his eyes. “Will it hurt?” he whispered.
“I don’t know,” Maeve said.
He turned to Nolenne. “Will you stay?”
Her voice cracked. “Of course.”
On instinct Maeve reached forwards and gently placed her palms on his temples. The Chain around her wrist shimmered, then blazed white-hot. There was a moment of clarity when Maeve could see everything he could, but Davmon gasped, spine arching violently. His mouth opened in a soundless scream and then he collapsed, limp and still. Cira was at his side in an instant, fingers pressing to his throat, then his chest. She looked up, eyes grave. “He’s gone.”
Nolenne let out a low, choked cry and lurched forwards and Maeve staggered back.
“I didn’t mean to,” she whispered. “The Chain told me. It whispered, I removed his memories. All of them, but… it… I killed him. I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry…”
Nolenne stumbled towards her, Calen moved on instinct to shield Maeve, but Nolenne didn’t strike. She fell into Maeve’s arms and clung to her, sobbing. “I know you didn’t, I know you wouldn’t. Thank you…thank you for making it fast, for letting him feel clean, fed and warm. With me. I am the only one left now.”
Maeve held her, frozen at first, then her arms tightened.
