Autumn had come to Windhaven just two weeks later. The trees had almost changed overnight from shades of green to looking as if they were on fire. The thought made me anxious. Golden, orange and red hues filled the forests around the camps now and some had started to scatter leaves on the ground. To me this season had once been beautiful and had always reminded me of my heritage. My mother had been born in that court, after all, many centuries ago. But now, as I looked at the leaves it reminded me of fire and of her beautiful auburn hair. Which I'd never see again.
"Everything okay?" Lina was looking at me. I'd stopped, I'd realised. We were on a jog after a training session and I'd hesitated.
"I'm fine," I told her, snapping myself out of it. She didn't buy it, I knew that, but she didn't pry and we continued until we reached the camp once again.
There was a cool breeze, but males in armour wandered around, heading to training or hunting, whilst the females hurried about carrying tanks of water, meat and other belongings, continuing with their chores.
Lina's children ran to embrace her and she rustled their hair affectionately before they ran off again, laughing and playing. "They're already hoping for snow."
"Well it's certainly getting colder," I replied. Snow would soon be here. It often arrived in Autumn in Windhaven and stayed until Spring.
"Darven wants you to teach him to fly up to the mountains," Lina rolled her eyes and I smiled.
"You know I would."
"I know but you're a busy female," Her eyes looked to someone behind me, "Speaking of-" She bowed her head and I turned around to see Devlon there, in his war-lord armour as usual.
"Lord Devlon," I bowed my head too.
"Captain," His familiar smirk there. Lina excused herself. He signalled to my house, just several feet away. "A word… in private."
I'd never invited him into my house. Usually I was summoned to the barracks or somewhere belonging to him. Nonetheless, I let him stroll into the house.
"Can I get you some tea?" I offered and he shook his head, sitting in the armchair. I moved to sit on the sofa across from him. "Is everything okay?"
"I received an interesting letter this morning." His arms were folded and he did not break eye contact. Neither did I, going against all protocol expected of females.
"Oh?"
"From Mountiel Camp." My mouth went dry but Devlon carried on, "It would seem you've sparked their interest and they have invited you to visit and start the training for their females." His expression was now unreadable.
"My role is here, My Lord." I replied.
He cracked his knuckles, "I'm well aware of that, Captain, but I'm also aware that our numbers are growing. Our female numbers. And as much as I enjoy the extra females," Another smirk, "We can't keep letting more and more in. If you were to visit Mountiel and start training the females there, then perhaps we would not have an influx of mouths to feed. Females could go there instead and once you have found someone to take over your role, you could return."
Train in Mountiel Camp- start them off and then return once they had a female confident enough to lead them… and perhaps the same was possible at other camps.
"What does the General say about this?"
"I have sent word to him," He said, "But I thought I would seek your answer." Another crack of the knuckles. "Of course, you would have to find someone to take over your training here unless you want the females to-"
"Lina. My second-in-command," I said. "She's the strongest and has helped with training the last two months."
"Okay," A nod, "Well, what are your thoughts on the matter?"
Mountiel… I felt nervous about that but then… Elric was there too. I could seek answers, perhaps. Maybe he knew more about Thornhill than he'd ever let on…
"So long as we have the General's permission, I'll do it."
Mountiel was near the Steppes. It was further East than Thornhill had once stood and was one of the larger camps. Smaller than Windhaven and Ironcrest, but large in comparison after that. Cassian had indeed allowed me to go and with Azriel away, he took it upon himself to escort me there, seeing as we didn't have the luxury of winnowing. He carried two of my bags and I carried the third as we flew, dressed in our Illyrian leathers, to our destination. It was the furthest I'd ever flown, a few hours without stopping, and I knew that my muscles would ache later.
We landed at the camp mid-afternoon, when the sun was heading West towards its sunset in just a few hours. Mountiel looked much like Windhaven, although this camp had fewer solid buildings, but more tents. There was a tavern and some shops, the barracks, and something labelled as the Bath house. Cassian had been here before and I followed him, trying my best to ignore the staring Illyrians. I wore my armour- armour they had not seen before with its blue scales on the shoulders and then the blue siphon I also wore.
"They'll get used to it," Cassian murmured as I caught up to him, adjusting the bag I was carrying. I just gave him a nod as we walked into what looked like their barracks. "We're here for Lord Logan," He said to one of the warriors and we followed the direction he pointed in.
Logan's office was similar to that of Devlon's. In the middle lay a table with a giant map, used for plotting out battles and attacks. A desk sat in one corner, a chair on each side, and paperwork and books were spread across the desk and the shelves. Messier than Devlon, I noted. More chaotic. He stood when he entered and this time he acknowledged Cassian with a bow of the head.
"General," He said, "How nice to see you again." Although I was sure it wasn't so nice. "And Mayar, how wonderful!"
"Captain Mayar," Cassian corrected.
"Of course, Captain," He looked at me, "Please, sit." I glanced at the General, aware there was only one free seat and he gave me a nod. My bones and muscles were glad to sink into a chair, even if it was old and battered. "Thank you for coming," He spoke directly to me, ignoring Cassian, "As you are aware from the letter I sent, some of my females have been bubbling up," A laugh then, "And wish to be warriors too."
"We are encouraging females to be warriors should they choose," Cassian said, "This is what the High Lord believes is right and just."
"Of course," Logan nodded, "Which is why I thought who better to teach them than the only female Captain in our Illyrian armies."
I was sure there was more to it than that. Cassian had said the same on our flight over, which was why he had insisted on staying a day or two. "It would be an honour," I said, my eyes wary.
His eyes roved again, taking in the throwing knives on my thigh, the hilt of the sword sticking out over my shoulder, the siphon on my chest. I wondered if perhaps he saw me as a problem. Or a threat. "You have the best room in our tavern," He told me then he turned to Cassian, "Yours is less … luxurious… as I was unsure how long you would be staying, General." My friend simply shrugged. "I'll have one of my warriors take you there."
The tavern was only the second tavern I'd visited. And it was nowhere near the quality or standard of Rita's in Velaris. This was a stone building, not too small but not too big. We entered through the wooden door and it was already bustling with people. The smell of dinner- some kind of stew- filled their air and Illyrians sat on benches at tables. Some were drunk, others were sober and leering over the barmaids that moved around, filling up the tankards. A wooden bar lined the side of the room and I saw the landlord behind it, as well as another barmaid. Eyes were on us.
"You must be the General and the Captain," The landlord said. He bowed his head to Cassian but was straight-faced when he looked at me. "Come, I'll show you to your rooms."
We were both on the top floor. Something I was grateful for. I was tucked away, out of the way of prying eyes and ears and away from the noisiness of the tavern below. Cassian's room was small, a double bed just about the right size for wings with a wash basin in the corner and a shared bathroom on the floor below. My room was bigger. A far bigger bed, a dresser, even a tin bath by the fireplace and a bathroom through another door. It wasn't luxurious. Not when I'd been to the House of Wind. But it was okay.
"Thank you," I said to the landlord and then he excused himself. I turned to Cassian, who was standing with his arms folded. "At least it's not one of the tents, I suppose?" I offered.
He laughed, "Yes, at least we have running water."
"I think I'm going to be missing my house," I murmured as I took in the wooden room that would be my home for the foreseeable future.
"I think I'll be missing yours too."
Once we had both freshened up, we headed down into the tavern for dinner. I'd changed into some leather trousers and a black blouse Emerie had kindly given me before leaving. Still very much Illyrian, even with my siphon now in a cuff around my wrist instead, but more casual than wearing my leathers. Cassian, however, still wore his, ever the General with power and strength radiating off of him. Eyes were on us again as we found an empty bench to sit at, tucked into one side of the tavern.
"What can I get you?" A barmaid said. She fluttered her eyelashes at Cassian and I held in a snort.
"The stew," He said to her and then signalled to me.
The barmaid looked at me, bored. "You?"
"The pie," I replied. Her eyes instantly returned to look at Cassian. With a smile and a wiggle of her hips, she walked away as my snort was released. My friend raised an eyebrow. "You're on her menu for supper, I think."
He smirked, "I can't help it if the females want a taste." I snorted again and he laughed, "You're not very ladylike, you know that?"
"My mother used to scold me for it," I told him and my mouth tilted up at the corners. I tucked a loose hair that had escaped my braid, behind my ear.
"Have you ever visited the Autumn court?"
I shook my head, "I've never really had the opportunity… not when Amarantha…" My voice trailed off and he nodded in understanding.
"Have you ever wanted to?"
I pondered for a moment, "I'd like to find my Mother's family," I told him. "She used to still write to her sisters… but then," I signalled to my wings, "This makes things difficult, as you know."
He nodded in understanding, "It does." He stretched out his wings behind him, "Although if you wanted to go, you know Az and I would have your back."
I gave him a small smile, "I know." I glanced around us, observing the faces as Illyrians ate and drank, some even danced as they listened to someone singing in the corner of the tavern. "How accepting do you think they'll be… of female warriors?"
Cassian looked thoughtful and then he shrugged, "Illyrian brutes," He said, "But you managed to prove yourself and be more accepted in Windhaven so I suppose anything is possible."
"How did you win them over?"
He smirked again, "Fear." I rolled my eyes and he grinned. "Rhys, Az and I are the three most powerful Illyrians in history, as you are aware and with us being in charge of these armies… well they'd be stupid to argue." Some had though, just months ago. Cassian seemed to flinch as if he could read my mind. "There's no winning over everyone… but if you win over the right ones then that can make all the difference."
I took a long sip of whatever alcohol was in my tankard, "I suppose I'd better find myself some allies then."
"Keep them close," Cassian advised, "And your enemies closer."
