Myrrh
It had been a very long time since I had been anywhere near the Court of Nightmares. I followed Feyre to the throne room and forced my face to become blank. I had to maintain this role. It would be crucial to our success with Belsar later. Mor was waiting near Rhys' throne and nodded when Feyre and I came in. I expected what happened next but it still threw me and I prayed that it didn't show on my face.
The room exploded with muttering and outright exclamations. People were trying to get a look at the High Lord's sister. I could tell that I was right about Keir having heard. He seemed unsurprised but many in the room looked shocked, as if they couldn't have believed it without seeing it. I ignored every single person in the room but still assessed every person, as Azriel had taught me. Know your enemy. Feyre and I walked up to the throne. Feyre sat down in the throne to Rhys' left and I stepped to the immediate right of the throne. And felt my brother's presence as he came into the Court.
Rhys had never scarred me because I always knew who he was but in that moment, I was in complete awe of the power that my brother wielded. He walked into the room and the entire room, including myself dropped to one knee. I stayed there, waiting for him to start this game.
He wandered over to his throne and sat down lazily before glancing over at me. I couldn't see Cass or Az from the way I was waiting but I could feel Azriel nearby, scanning the room and keeping an ear on me. The bond between us was almost palpable and yet nobody else in the room seemed to notice it. I suddenly realized that the reason why was the bond between Rhys and Feyre. I didn't know if they were deliberately using it to mask the bond between Az and I or not but it was hidden behind it.
"Myrrh, rise," said Rhys calmly.
I stood up and looked at my brother, scanning the room as I did. Keir was nearby, watching this closely.
"My sister," Rhys announced, "has returned to us. Surely, Keir, you have something to say to her?"
Keir looked at me and scowled. I didn't expect him to say anything but then he spoke. "Welcome back to the Court of Nightmares, Princess."
There was scorn in his voice. I decided to run with his game. "Why, Keir, I hardly feel as though you need to address me as princess. After all, my brother is High Lord and not a king but perhaps you view him as such?"
Keir scowled at my reply and I felt Rhys' pride at my retort. I very carefully allowed myself to yield control of the shadows behind Keir, which he didn't notice until they were halfway up his legs. He seemed taken aback.
"Do my shadows frighten you Keir?" I asked innocently. "I thought you enjoyed being amidst them."
I had achieved my desired effect and allowed the shadows to stay where they were. I didn't dare look towards Az but I felt sure that he was proud of my display.
"Enough playing," said Rhys abruptly. I promptly made the shadows retreat.
"Keir, we are here with two purposes and then we can address any concerns you may have," Rhys began. "One is that we will be having guests soon and I want them accommodated here. You will find the best accommodations we have and make them better. I want everything ready by this time next week."
Keir nodded, "Yes, of course."
Rhys ignored him and went on. "Obviously, now that my sister has returned to us, she is in need of a position in my Court. While Morrigan has served me well, I believe that I would prefer my own blood to be closer than yours. Therefore, Myrrh is now my third. You will treat her as such."
The gasp that went through the room was audible. I chanced a glance at Mor who looked like she must have been dreaming.
"You understand, of course, Morrigan," said Rhys simply.
Mor stared at me and I shivered inside. I didn't like her look and I sincerely hoped that Rhys knew what he was doing. I needed to keep playing along though and I needed to answer him.
"Thank you, my Lord. I hope to serve you well."
"No," said Mor abruptly.
Rhys and I both looked at her. Rhys looked composed but I knew that he had been expecting her to push back. He raised an eyebrow at Mor.
"No," she repeated. "I fight better than her. I'll prove it."
Rhys looked at me.
I nodded. "If you wish, Morrigan. But I warn you, I may have more skill than you anticipate." I tried to keep my voice even and strong but I didn't want to fight my cousin.
I glanced quickly at Keir who was grinning. I knew he expected Mor to win this fight. The crowd seemed to be split. I had no indication of my skill as Azriel and Cassian did but they could see the tattoos on my arms and they had no idea that some of them were faked. As far as they could tell, I was trained as an Illyrian fighter.
Rhys motioned for the crowd to make room. Suddenly I was nervous. I had no idea how any of the people in the crowd may try to interfere. I was used to sparring with Rhys. This was different. I marched down the steps to the floor, looking through the crowd quickly trying to see where Azriel was. I couldn't see him but I could feel him through our bond, telling me that he had my back. I had no clue how he was going to do that but I put all my faith in him and what Rhys had taught me.
Mor drew her sword and came at me. I barely had time to pull my own sword and move out of the way. Rhys was looking bored up at his throne. I spun around and got a firm stance on the ground. This time when Myrrh came at me, I parried her blade. We danced around one spot, taking turns at attempting to disarm each other. I knew I needed to keep my blade though because if Mor disarmed me, she wasn't going to walk away from this. I had to end this and quickly. I concentrated on my task. I was fighting as well as I could but I was starting to realize that Mor may well have been better in an actual fight.
Suddenly, Mor was surrounded in shadows. I tried not to look surprised and moved with surprising speed. I disarmed her quickly and the shadows retreated. There was a general murmur of foul play but most of the crowd seemed to think that magic was fair play. Mor was not convinced.
"You didn't do that," she shouted at me in anger.
"Of course I did," I told her, trying to look disinterested. I knew damn well that Azriel had done that and so did she.
"Enough," said Rhys. "Myrrh disarmed you. She proved herself a better fighter. Do you still question that she is worthy to be my third?"
Mor stared at Rhys like she had no idea who he was.
"Go to hell," she told him.
Cassian looked at Rhys, waiting. Nobody expected her to do that. She had forced Rhys' hand.
"Cassian, take Morrigan to learn some manners," he said.
Cass nodded and grabbed her arm. Someone in the crowd snickered.
"Who was that?" demanded Rhys.
A young male was brought forward as people in the crowd moved out of the way. Rhys glanced at Feyre, who suffocated the boy for several moments, before letting him collapse on the ground.
"Never do anything like that again," said Rhys viciously. "You will find that I rarely have time for simpering fools such as yourself."
The boy didn't move. Rhys nodded at Cass who dragged Mor with him. She was putting up as good of a fight as she could.
I knelt before Rhys again, waiting. He placed his hand on my head.
"Well done. Now we have guests to prepare for."
I nodded and headed out of the room, the crowd parting in front of me as I went. I kept my head held high and walked with a purpose, scanning as I went. Feyre was behind me, I realized after several steps. Rhys seemed to have turned to deal with some business that Keir had for him. We walked briskly down the tunnel to the outside, where the sun was starting to sink below the horizon.
Feyre winnowed me back to the townhouse. I looked at her when we got back and she looked as surprised as I did. I walked into the house and down the hall to the study. The noise coming out of the room was not surprising.
"Mor, listen," roared Cass trying to get her to calm down, "we had to make sure that Keir didn't question Myrrh at all. Rhys wanted it to look like she was powerful and had his ear."
"I don't care," came Mor's reply. "You tell that bastard to get back here and face me."
Feyre and I paused outside the study.
"Do I dare go in there?" I asked her.
She shrugged.
I turned around and pushed open the doors and walked into the room, hoping that Cass had at least disarmed her.
