Chapter 9

Moving through the snow of the Winter court trying to keep low as I needed to cross into the mutual lands around the mountain. I had spoken to a few yuki-onna's in the hills of the winter court, they would try to send messages to the other lesser fae part of the water spirits such as the selkies and kelpies wandering the coasts. Similar to the wind wraiths that I spoke to in the dawn court, they would send a message to any of us they could reach while surfing the wind currents. One thing the yuki-onna heard was a rumour of dark wanderers spotted in the spring court moving towards the north, and supposedly they had made it to the mutual lands. As I got to the border, I had to check my weapons, twins swords at my back, with several daggers hidden along my body; lastly, a carbon folded bo staff. Over these four weeks, I had travelled light, hunting for my food, creating my own shelter when needed, and only stopping when I really needed to. These weeks I only found a few of my people, none of my old group had been spotted in ages, whether they were still alive or not was uncertain. Those that I spoke were going to spread the word of the war and that Prythian calls for aid. All I could do was hope, and maybe the word would reach them in time, perhaps the arms can be called in. I had now fully crossed the border the cold, leaving my body though not entirely it was still winter after all.

Stalking through the light snow, I listened for any small crunch of snow, looking for any movement in the low light. I was losing daylight and fast, I had to make camp soon or else I would not be able to sleep dry or safe tonight. I spotted a light a longs way away from me, the weavers' cottage, it was still quite far away, but in the growing dark looking from the right angle a faint glow was visible. I moved westward towards the sea, not wanting to be anywhere near her. The snow was soft beneath me, not as crisp as it was in the winter court just a little melted after a day. The air, however, wasn't as clean as the winter court, it was heavy, remnants of Under the Mountain I thought shuddering at the memories. I found a small burrow where I could sit out of the wind.

I busied my hands with making a small fire, while my mind was occupied with listening to my surroundings. The forest was quiet, way too dead, and it had been since I entered. Whatever dark tribe is prowling these lands must really be bad. Just as I got my fire started, I heard a loud hissing behind me, and I was jumped by something. My left arm got burned slightly, but I didn't care rolling on my back and hitting the thing with my elbow as I jumped up. I drew my blades, observing my opponent, Naga, I hate those snakelike humanoids. The one who had jumped me hissed again trying to grab my ankle, though one swipe of my blade and the hand came off. I jumped back from the ledge into the opener area, the light of my fire illuminating the clearing in an orange glow. Three more Naga came strolling out of the woods, as I dropped in a fighting stance taking out a throwing dagger. I aimed for their leader, easily the bulkiest of the four as he took in his comrade on the floor. The cut-off hand laying near the fire; they hissed and pounced towards me, the dagger hit his shoulder yet it didn't slow them down whatsoever. They were all claws and fangs as they began swiping at me, I thrust my right blade to the side, blocking a front blow with the other. I couldn't let them surround me if they did, I would be dead. I swiped my leg underneath theirs, flooring one of them yet the other two remained standing striking at me again from above. This time I was able to block the two of them with the right sword and hitting the middle one with my left sword. As it cried out, the fallen Naga struck my leg with his claws. Pain erupted from my lower leg, but I had to keep going, adrenaline flooded my system as I noticed that the fourth had now also gotten up stumbling towards us.

I pushed the two Naga back using my right sword, swiping back over their stomachs as I brought my left sword up in defence. All four were now standing, yet they made one vital mistake, my glimmer of magic. As weak as it was, I was able to boost me up, twisting over them and beheading one of them with the right sword. The fourth Naga now lay head- and handless on the forest floor just behind his tribe. Their screeches got to louder ''You will pay for this'' The leader yelled clutching his stomach. He pounced on my back as I landed ripping the dark blue coat I had on, only just cutting the skin as I thrust my left sword into his belly before I took off running. It was a cowardly move, but the other two had already moved to grab my arms, one even cutting pretty deep. I sheeted my swords taking out a knife and throwing it to the one on my right, hitting him in the leg, slowing him down enough. Though the other took his chance and hit the side of my head, cutting my cheek. I twirled around swiping his legs from underneath him. This move bought me enough time to gather the magical energy I had left to winnow. I didn't know where to go, but something in my gut guided me.

Azriel's POV (this will be shortish)

''Welcome'' I said to Feyre extending my hand, she took it once the shock of my burns had passed. ''Brothers?'' She asked. Rhysand clarified it by saying '' In the broadest sense that all bastards are brothers''. The conversation moved to Cassian and his job, I piped up that he also ''excels at pissing off everyone, especially friends so good luck''. Here we go I thought as Cassian asked about the trials of Under the Mountain. Feyre's come back to Cassians insensitive questions was witty, she will definitely fit in with us. Cassian just laughed at it, then Mor walked in looking fabulous as always, my shadows no doubt reacting to it. The usual banter began, though I would generally enjoy this, we had company, so it had to stop before they started a fight. We needed an excellent impression Feyre had to decide whether she would join us or not. ''We have company'' I said trying to herd them inside to the food.

Several minutes later, we were all seated and eating, we had just discussed the syphons Cassian, and I wear. A crash sounded outside, all of us were on high alert this has never happened before. ''She's hurt'' my shadows whispered as all of us moved to the platform. A small heap laid there as if it fell from the sky. Well if they winnowed they must have dropped the last part. The pile groaned, wait, that sound. ''Briar'' I breathed moving forward quickly turning her while encasing her exposed skin in shadows. She was hurt, her coat torn and a bloodred line ran over her back though it hadn't broken the skin. I could see some blood seeping onto the stones, and I felt my shadows thicken with worry swirling frantically. ''Bri'' Cassian said mortified by the look of her. Her face showed she was in pain, with a shallow cut bleeding on her cheekbone. Cassian also knelt next to her as the others stayed back in the warmness of the house. ''Hi, guys'' she croaked out. ''What happened'' Cassian asked. ''Not important just help me up and get inside'' She answered. I shot him a sharp look, I had to help her. She didn't flinch at my first touch but touching her to help her up was all on her terms.

Briars POV.

Shit, I thought as I fell the final few meters to the balcony. I crashed into the hard stones, not having the energy to summon some wind. Even though the spark had grown to about half my original power using it so much during the last four weeks had drained me. The doors open and familiar shadows snaked my ankles. I could have sworn I heard Azriel whisper Briar and it warmed me a little. I felt a hand on my shoulder, turning me to face the male. I could tell by the shadows trying to comfort me that it was Azriel, but I couldn't help but grimace in pain. His hand move on his own to wipe away some blood from my cheek as Cassian knelt next to me. ''Hi, guys'' I said my voice raw again after so little use. 'What happened'' Cassian asked. ''Not important just help me up and get inside'' I said not wanting to tell it while laying in a pool of my own blood. Cassian had stood and was reaching down to grab me, but one look from Azriel stopped him. Azriel let me initiate the touching, allowing me to swing my arm around his shoulder. I know he was going to have to carry me, so I nodded, giving my okay for him to grab the back of my knees. I still winced, but Azriel is safe. I kept reminding myself as he carried me inside after the others. ''We were just having dinner, I could have Cerridwen look you over and then you could join us'' Azriel offered. I nodded, knowing my left arm needed cleaning just like my leg. He sat me down in the sitting area, so I just had to move into the next room after I was done. The others had already moved back into the dining room, and I couldn't help but notice two things. First Feyre was among them and second the adoring look Azriel shot Mor.

After Cerridwen had cleaned and dressed the cuts and helped me into a set of dark green loose pants and long-sleeved crop top. She pushed me into the room. I took the empty seat next to Amren. They were currently telling their backstories to Feyre who looked a bit conflicted. Cassian and Rhysand had told me their stories in the past, yet I did not know Azriel's. ''Are you high fae?'' Feyre asked me. I shook my head and said ''No, the easy answer would be that I am a half-breed of lesser fae''. She looked a bit confused, in fact, they all did.

None of them ever asked me what I was or anything about my past really. ''then what are you'' she pressed wanting to know my story as well. I stopped eating and hesitated probably a bit too long as Cassian said ''She's a phenomenal warrior, so what happened out there who hurt you''. The last part was directed to my wounds, this was easier to talk about, so I answered simply ''Naga''. ''Are they here'' Feyre asked with a slight tremble, she must have had a nasty run-in with them before. I shook my head ''no, I ran into them just outside of the winter court, they tried to ambush me''. ''What'' Cassian almost yelled, and I flinched at the sudden loud noise containing a lot of anger. ''Cass you have seen me get treated for worse, cauldron you have seen me get way worse wounds'' I simply said trying not to reveal too much. She did notice my choice of words, ''Did you fight in the war?'' ''Yes, I did, it is where I met Cassian and also where I was caught by Hybern''. '''Those are stories for another time'' Rhysand said, just a few minutes earlier she had asked about the lists that were sent out after every battle. ''What is your story'' Cassian asked Feyre, funnily enough, she actually indulged us in her story of wealth, than poverty. Having to hunt to sustain her family while her sisters sat at home with their father, all the way up to the moment she came to Prythian on some bullshit reason Tamlin made up. Cassian offered to teach her to fight she started to object as Tamlin had convinced her it was a bad thing. All of us, especially Mor, felt her pain. After Mor held her little speech, I piped up, ''if you're not up for training with Cassian I can do it'''. ''Bri, you're still recovering yourself you won't even let us touch you'' Cassian argued. ''All the same Cass, I will do it if it makes her more comfortable, she needs to be able to defend herself. And come on a big brute like yourself couldn't possibly teach the sneakiness that our size allows for.'' He held his hands up in response, and I could have sworn Azriel laughed a little, but that could also be for Mor.

''I will think about it'' She said, though she did accept the offer to work with us against Hybern. The moment Rhysand said that Jurian's eye was missing and possibly alive, the blood in my veins ran cold. He had gone mad during the war, after Clythia. It was the only distracting big enough for Amarantha to leave her camp with most of her forces, it was the day we went to save Rhysand our small squad. Azriel had noticed my rigid stance and looked at me with worry as I tried to follow the conversation. Rhysand and Feyre were going to the prison to see if it was possible to revive someone from just an eye and a fingerbone after so long. My mind swirling, he had seen almost all that had been done to me, let alone the mental strain being reduced to an eye might have caused. It had kept swirling as the others went to drink in the sitting room, but I moved to my bedroom for another night of Nightmares.

Next chapter will probably be another flashback to the war. Let me know what you think and if you want another chapter from Azriel's POV or a chapter on her people.