Alayna
One by one the High lords and ladies winnowed back to their homes, readying their defenses, readying their armies to face whatever host Aaron had mustered to attack Prythian. My parents had returned to Velaris, leaving my cousins, Emilie, Connor, Alex and me in Dawn to finalize discussions with the solar courts. We were preparing to leave when Jacob burst into our chambers, my shield letting him through,
"Summer! Summer had fallen!" I immediately reached out to my father, concentrating hard to reach him so far away, relaying the information to him,
"What?" I didn't realize that everyone was staring at me, waiting for me to make a decision, "Do the others know?"
"We've dispatched messengers, and letters, but there's every chance that they're already under attack."
"Mobilize your armies, Alex go to Velaris, take Natty and," I paused for a moment, trying to think about the best person to send, I exhaled sharply as my mind found the only reasonable response, "Take Connor, get Cass and Az and gather the Illyrian legions." He nodded, taking Natty and Connor's hands,
I love you, keep in touch,
He knew there was no other choice, and kissed me quickly before Alex winnowed away. I heard my father's approving hum in my mind as he heard my orders,
I'll get the darkbringers, you check on Day, and get back here.
"Keep communication open with us, Jacob." He nodded, running out of the room as I winnowed out, Emilie and Bella in tow.
Day was in a state of alert, but unharmed, Helion insisted we return home, promising open communication, but pausing to make sure I was alright with everything going on, about Aaron,
"I have to be, it's not just me at risk any more." I evaded the questions, claiming to be fine, but conceded a little at the concern lighting his eyes,
"Ally," He stopped flipping through his military reports, "I don't know exactly what happened during those years but if it was anything like what your father went through, you're allowed to not be okay."
"It's been fifteen years, I am okay." He raised an eyebrow in silent questioning, "Lets just say that there's a reason that no one has ever gotten anywhere close to breaking through my defenses." I tapped my temple, wincing at the memory of the effort those shield took to maintain.
"Ten years?" His voice was a hushed whisper,
"Every day." I confirmed, "All day. It's okay. I'm getting there."
"Are you sure?"
"I can do this, Helion, I'm not falling for any tricks this time, if he attacks me, he'll be met by the power of seven High Lords. And armies." He nodded, finally sure that I wasn't lying, unaware that I had been putting on a bit of a show, I could do this, but not on my own, I needed my family by my side.
The wards around Velaris had been strengthened so much that even I couldn't winnow into the main city, we flew to the House of Wind after arriving, my parents, aunts, Amren, Varian and Mor present, anger radiating out from them.
"Keir refused." My father's voice was hollow as he spoke, "He's not coming." I couldn't quite believe it, "He said that this war was just," He broke off, unable to continue,
"What?" My voice was soft as I spoke, approaching the table,
"He said it was a 'Lover's spat between Lasaire and'," He paused again, only continuing when I gestured for him to do so, "He called you my 'whore of a daughter'." I tipped back my head and laughed, truly laughed,
"Is that it? You had me thinking it was actually something inventive or at least new." I chuckled again, "That one is neither, and untrue, so it doesn't matter." The boom of wings outside alerted us to the others' return.
I straightened, instantly moving towards the windows, throwing them open as Cassian swept in, followed closely by the others. As Connor's feet touched the floor I swept my gaze over him, checking for any injuries before he pulled me into his chest,
"You okay?" He murmured, sensing my agitation,
"Hmm." I hummed noncommittally, "No darkbringers." His eyes darkened as I spoke, "It's fine, I'll deal with Keir, but first we need to plan our next move," We joined everyone else around the table, Connor's arm still around my shoulders, I grinned as I traced the edge of his wing with a fingers, his shudder as he tried to remain silent making me chuckle a little, bringing questioning glances from most but a giggle from Emilie,
"Cruel female." She grinned again, "Leave his wings alone." I grinned, pulling my hand away as I sat down, laughter ringing out around us,
I'll you back for that, Stardust.
Sure you will, forgive me if I'm not terrified.
Natty cleared his throat, forcing me to concentrate on the task at hand, with Amren loudly complaining,
"You two are worse than Rhys and Feyre," I raised an eyebrow in surprise,
"Well," I grinned mischievously, "Have you seen my mate, Amren, be grateful I'm not even worse." Silence reigned for a moment, until Connor snorted with laughter and dropped into a chair, "Right, shall we get on with it? The legions?" I only had to wait a heartbeat before Cassian launched into a detailed report on the state of the Illyrians, pausing a second as he finished,
"I'm curious, Ally, why did you send us Connor, not Bella or Em?"
"I thought it was better to send males, or I would have come myself."
"I thought that was improving?" His voice was dangerously low as he narrowed his eyes, anger flickering in them,
"It is, but females calling the legion to war would not have been well received. It was better to avoid confrontation, especially since Kallon still doesn't want to train females at all."
"He doesn't?" Oh, right, I hadn't told them all,
"Yeah, half my visits to Skybright are not to Skybright, but to Ironcrest." I laughed at the surprise evident in everyone's faces,
"Why didn't you tell me?" Connor's worry was obvious in his tone,
"Because it's not a big deal, and I knew you'd try to stop me."
"Yeah I'd try to stop you, or at least come with you, it's dangerous alone, especially Ironcrest."
"Oh please, I don't show up, pick a fight and piss off. I show up, have a go about the girls not training, then train them myself for a couple of weeks, all while making sure my capabilities are on display, no one picks a fight with me. And the girls do get trained for a bit after I leave, that's why I have to go fairly regularly"
"No one?"
"Well no one wants to pick a fight they can't win. I suppose if they all decided to attack at once, I'd have to use some magic, but that is not an issue." At that point, before anyone else could start a lecture about how I should have told them all, my magic woke, and I turned to the window, seeing something int he sky, exactly where I had expected it, whoever it was was falling, fast. I sprinted to the window, spreading my wings and diving for the ground, just catching them before they struck the ground.
"Who are you?" Once we had landed back at the House of Wind, I placed them on a chair,
"I'm from Spring. I came to warn you, Lord Max told me to - which one of you is Alayna?"
"Me." I kept my tone, low and warning, and she stiffened slightly,
"He told me to warn you to prepare, my lady, Spring is under attack, it'll fall by morning."
"By morning? Even with,"
"High Lord Tamlin is not powerful enough alone, he will burn out by morning and the Spring Court will fall."
"Absolutely not." I turned to face the questioning glances greeting me. "Forget the legions, we're going." My tone was non-negotiable as we all joined hands and winnowed away.