Lace is completely unaware of her surroundings; her pain too great to let her see or feel anything aside from what raged inside. Only the touch on her shoulder breaks her free from her mental prison, causing the young mare to raise her head enough to peer through her tear matted forelock and see Ironclad’s greying face. He does not weep like she thought he would be, though his face is not as it usually is. The strange mix of nothingness, and worry for her, leaves Lace confused. Does he not know? It is only then that Ironclad’s words register in her mind, and Lace drops her head again, struggling to find the words.


“He has left me.” she finally manages to croak out, her voice raspy with emotion. “He has left us.” Lace corrected as she raised her head, again letting her blue eyes find his face. The lines of Ironclad’s features were so much like Letavice’s that it was both comforting and broke her heart further. If only she could have gone with Letavice, to have faced the world by his side. Instead, she is here to face his brother and deliver the heart wrenching news. “Did I do something wrong?” the young mare cannot help but ask, but knew it wasn’t something that Ironclad could answer. It brought on a new set of tears, and although Lace tried to fight it and reign them back, they streamed down her face anyways.


“I am sorry, Ironclad.” Lace said, knowing that despite her broken heart, it must not be nearly as shattered as his own. To lose his father, mother and now to find out about his sibling leaving; he must feel just as abandoned. At least he would have Kvothe to bring him warmth and comfort.