"It's not with the other personal things."
Aerys stopped to tighten her leather coat. Rowan stood blank-faced in the armory's entry hall doorway. War horns were still heard outside. Soon, she was on the field.
She asked flatly, "What isn't?"
"Mother's locket." He closed the door to keep off the soldiers' gathering."Dad had chest. A blanket, brushes, and notes were with her. Usually used for mourning. The chain and case were missing.
He regarded Aerys. He mentioned their mother for the first time in years. "How do you know what was in it?"
"Looked." Once. When I was 13. He leaned against a rack of toy spears without looking at her.I wanted... No idea. Her things. Something real. Chest was for display. Key was real. She kept it on.
Aerys recalled a faded memory. A voice that smelled li
