But she turned away
to hide the tears
that fell silently.
When the Messenger Arrived
the sound of his broken wings echoed
across this dilapidated palace.
When she saw him,
my motherknew.
He wore my father’s sigil
and when we rushed to help him,
he put his hand up to stop us,
his body crumpling to the floor.
We reached him just as
his bloodied mouth opened,
as the ichor from his wounds
pooled at his feet.
‘All
is lost.
They are on their way.
You mustrun!’
In the Blink of an Eye
everything changed.
My mother,
who was usually serene,
was suddenly a mask of despair.
She ran into her chambers
and I followed her as she took
a bag and filled it with
herbs and simples, draughts and—
‘Mother, what are you doing?!