Eris:
Kier was not as imperious as Rhysand. He didn't mind any of the times I had been late. That alone told me that he was desperate for something. All clues pointed to change in leadership. Though Kier had to the biggest fool if he thought that Rhysand and Feyre and all the others could be taken out. Could be replaced. It wasn't just a matter of could they be killed, there was also the nagging of should they be killed. Father had never liked the humans, but enslaving them was too much. I didn't remember a time where humans lived among fae, but there had to be a way to coexist. I knew Xaria had a long term to getting her people acustiomed to humans, and the only complaint I had was that it was likely to get her killed. So Rhysand and the rest of nightcourt needed to stay, if only to be another line of defense before Xaria.
Eris walked under the mountain, so different and so similar to the other mountain. Kier greeted him just inside and showed him around. The layout was almost identical. The only difference were the faces of the fae. And the noise, it was happier, lighter than the screams that had been a daily affair before.
"Eris, I hear that there will a new queen soon. How is your bride to be?" Kier's voice lifted him out of the memories.
"She is adjusting to her new role, and looks forwards to claiming her birthright."
"It is smart that they make her compete for the title, not just hand it over because she was born to it."
"Well, she only has to survive the tasks, there is no one else viying to be queen." Eris answered automatically.
"Still, I think titles should be earned, not gifted. Otherwise we get lords that don't represent how the people feel."
"If that was the case, Xaria would never become queen. She fought on our side in the final battle and she is working to turn ill feelings from humans." Eris thought it would be best to lay out his belifes with Xarias. A united front.
"Well, that is sad that her people dislike her, but im sure between you and the princess, Hybern will do better. Perhaps the country will finally prosper." Kier's voice turned rich, full of hidden meaning.
I slapped on a lazy smile. "Come now, Hybern only failed because the king wanted to stir the people into anger enough to go to war. Xaria wants all the lands to prosper and she has trade agreements already drawn up." He gestured to a bench in the main hall and I took a seat.
"And when should we expect those contracts to go out?" Kier pressed.
"After she is crowned."
"After you are king," Kier started, darkness swept into the hallway.
"My, my—look at these two business partners. Holding court in, well, my court."
"We are talking of trade, nothing more Rhys." Kier imedently explained. That was enough to convict us.
"Here I thought Eris already had two castles to sulk in. Why would he ever come here?" Mor asked with sarcasum dripping all over the hall.
"surely you know it's polite to come to those youre asking a favor of, I know you never listened to lessons on proeity, Morrigan." Kier hissed.
"And what favors could you possible be granting to Eris?" Rhys asked, ignoring the insult.
Mor's eyes slid out of focus and Kier and Rhysand engaged in a volley of threats. i listened half heartedly. I wondered if in time I would learn to ignore the insults, like Xaria did. As long as they were threating each other it really didn't matter to me.
"Eris," Rhysand prompted again. I raised an eyebrow, admitting my lack of knowledge about the situation. "What do you want?"
"I would like my mate not to die in the trials, I would like you approve the trade agreements from both Hybern and Autumn. I would like in roughly a year and half's time your support in being high lord of autumn, after my father is disposed of. And lastly, I would like assurances that you will never move against Xaria or myself in any capity." The words rolled right out of my mouth. I hadn't until this moment thought to ask of support for Xaria or Hybern at all, but now that I was here it seemed like I had to.
"A most reasonable list." Kier quipped.
"You should write that down in more forgiving terms." Rhysand said then disappeared in smoke and darkness.