The nightmares had come that night. I'd been in Thornhill but this time Logan had killed my parents. And he'd come to claim me.
Nonetheless, I dragged myself out of bed, dressed myself in my armour and headed to the training anyway. And that's how I kept myself busy for the week. He didn't come looking for me and I certainly didn't go looking for him. I spent the evenings eating my dinner in the safety of my room and filled the days with training the females and training myself, trying to work out what the magic was that hummed through me. Or reading one of the few books I'd brought with me.
I was surprised when I got to training after two weeks of being at Mountiel. It was a cold morning and it smelt as if the snow was on its way. I'd worn my fur-lined leathers this time, hoping for warmth and as I carried the knives we'd train with that day, I was surprised to see twenty females waiting in the training ring. I blinked at first, wondering if I was dreaming. But no, sure enough they were there, Elrein stood in the centre of them all.
"I found some more females for you to train," A sly smile as she caught my surprised reaction. "Luckily they already know how to run."
I recapped everything I'd already taught them about attack positions and the footwork, as well as some basic moves with swords. And then we moved onto knives- my specialty.
"That's quite the blade you have there, Captain," One of the females commented, looking at the one throwing knife on my thigh that was different to the others.
"A gift I was given a few months ago," I replied as they lined up with the targets in front of them.
"For completing the Blood Rite?"
"Yes," I lied, looking ahead.
I showed them the posture they needed and they all copied me, twenty pairs of female eyes watching me carefully. I moved along the line, adjusting some slightly and then when I was happy, I counted them down.
A few missed the targets completely. Others were barely on there. But Erein's shot hit the target. Perfectly. I had no doubt that she'd been trained before, probably by her brother. She looked at me, waiting for praise.
"Nice shot," I gave a nod and she grinned, folding her arms across her chest. There was no doubt she wanted to be the female Captain here when I left.
This time I was more direct as I taught and a few more knives hit the boards than before. We practised over and over for the remainder of the lesson, a few of the females already starting to improve and, by the time I dismissed them, they were tired and sweaty. I packed up quietly, aware that Erein was still there, hovering. She spun her own knife around her hand.
"I feel like you've been avoiding me," She said.
"I don't know what you mean," I packed the last of the equipment up and slung the bag over my shoulder.
She raised an eyebrow, "You're never in the tavern… where do you go?"
"I've mostly been eating in my room," I replied.
"Ah," She laughed, folding her arms across her chest. "It's not just me that you're avoiding." I stalked off towards the barracks but, as I expected, she followed me. "So my brother told you the truth about why you're here."
"I'm going to train these females up, hand over to you and leave." I told her.
"As much as I'm flattered, I think you should stay."
"Windhaven is my home."
"Thornhill is your home," She quipped. "Leaving you now free to roam wherever you'd like." She flicked her ponytail over her shoulder. "We could give you your own tent or even a house if you preferred. Or there's room at ours. Better than the tavern, far more comfortable."
"I'm not interested in whatever game your brother is playing," I told her and this time as I stalked off, she didn't follow me.
I went out after dark that night. I knew it was stupid to, but my head was swimming and I was sure a fly around the mountain would clear it. And it was the first time in days that the stars were out. I decided I'd fly to the cliffs, just above the rivers. I could still see the camp from there so it was relatively safe, but at the same time it was far enough away that I could think straight. I spread my wings out behind me and sighed as I looked out at the moon overhead. I wondered if somewhere Azriel was looking at it too.
Azriel? I called out into the bond between us, as he had done during the Blood Rite. His name swam around and I wondered if perhaps my mind was searching for his.
I looked out at the sky and the patterns the stars made. I spotted the great stag shining ahead of me, as if it were standing on top of the mountains and I traced it with my finger as my father had once done.
Mayar? Are you okay?
His voice returned. It sounded distant, a little muffled even, like he was far away.
I'm fine, I lied, And you?
He went quiet and my stomach twisted as I looked out of the stars ahead of me. I spotted the sword in the sky then. I couldn't remember the name my father had given it but it was there. The sign of the warrior.
I'm well.
I let out a sigh of relief. I miss you.
I'll be with you soon, I promise.
I glanced down at the siphon on my wrist and sucked in a breath. Power swam through my veins and I let out a hiss at the spark that appeared in my hand.
I hadn't even noticed that Logan had crept up behind me until he sat down on my right. I tensed and he raised an eyebrow.
"I hope you weren't intending to throw yourself off," He drawled, not acknowledging what had just happened, "Because that would be an awful waste." I let out a low snarl and he smirked. "I hear you've been avoiding me and my sister. I'd like to say that Erein is not responsible for you being here."
"I'm sure."
"My sister wanted to train the females herself," He said, "So when I told her I'd invited you, she wasn't best pleased." He shrugged, "But she isn't good enough. Not yet." He was quiet for a moment, "My compliments bother you, don't they?"
I kept my gaze straight ahead, "I have no need for them."
"Females always have a need for them," He laughed, "In my experience, females crave compliments." I stood up then and he was quick to do the same, stepping closer to me. "What do you desire, Mayar?"
"Change," I told him, "Fairness and change."
"We're to visit Hewn City tomorrow."
"We?"
"You're one of my best warriors," He said, staring me down, "So you will accompany me." And as I went to step away, he grabbed my arm, "Who else has seen you do that?"
"No one," I replied, shrugging out of his grip.
"I suggest you keep it that way."
A package was waiting for me when I returned to the tavern that night. It seemed I would not be wearing armour the next day. At least, not the armour I was used to. I threw the note into the fire and watched it burn.
My hair was braided along one side, my eyes framed with kohl again. The dress was black with a slit up the side and there were no sleeves, showing my tattoos around my shoulders. I wore a silver filigree chest plate that curved from my waist over my chests and into a halter neck around my neck. With long, laced-up boots. Another warrior Queen look, I noted, fastening my siphon cuff to one of my wrists. I strapped my knives to my thigh and headed to the barracks.
Erein was dressed for the occasion in a dress too and she had the nerve of looking excited. I, on the other hand, was anything but. I looked around, half hoping that Cassian or Azriel would turn up and stop his nonsense, but it seemed unlikely. The males came out of the barracks then. Most wore their traditional Illyrian armour, swords strapped to their backs, but Logan's armour was more detailed, the chestplate covered with intricate engraved swirls. There was no doubting who was in charge of this camp.
"Shall we?" He murmured and we took to the skies.
The flight was quicker than I had expected, giving me less time to mentally prepare myself, and soon we were gliding towards the opening of the mountain. We landed in the dusting of frost that was there, reminding us that snow was coming soon. The cold sent goosebumps shooting across my skin and I stood behind Logan, flanking him.
"To my right," He said, signaling to the empty spot as his sister took his spot on the left. I curled my wings in and moved into position, the other Illyrian warriors, Elric included, flanking us as we strolled through the carved door.
It was only the second city I'd ever visited but it was nothing like Velaris. We walked along a walkway and I looked around warily at the buildings carved from dark stone, into the surface of the mountain. A contrast to the House of Wind. Buildings, homes, bridges and spires surrounded us, pillars like vines. It was beautiful. Until you looked closer and heard the begging, the jeering, the music that was not too dissimilar to the music that had been at the feast. We passed a river, it's water clear against the dark stone. Someone was crying out for help somewhere and I tensed but everyone else ignored the sound. I wondered if they had all been here before and knew exactly what to expect.
High Fae looked over at us as we passed them, dressed in finery and fashions similar to what Erein and I wore. Some sneered at us when they saw we were Illyrian but a few caught my ears and tilted their heads. We reached something resembling a castle then, with great, scaled black beasts guarding it. I swallowed.
Elric had told me I was brave and he'd always longed for my courage. But that courage wasn't here now, not as I heard the screaming somewhere again. We walked through the gates and were soon in a large reception room. Someone was being whipped on one side of the room- the reason behind the screaming- and on the other side fae were drinking and dancing, rubbing their bodies against each other. Some lesser fae servants moved around the room, offering food and drink and then I saw the golden-haired male standing by the dais. Mor's father, I knew him to be and with his brown eyes and blonde hair, there was no doubting it. To his right stood another male but with auburn hair. Autumn Court, no doubt.
"Keir," Logan bowed his head, "And Eris, a pleasant surprise."
"Logan, how nice of you to grace us with your presence," Keir said, although his voice was sly. Cunning. "And to bring your entourage too."
"You know me," He said, "I don't travel alone."
"Of course not," Keir moved in closer, "But we should take your group somewhere a little more private… to avoid prying eyes and ears of course."
Spies, I mused. I wondered if anyone answered to Azriel, seeing as this was still Night Court territory.
We followed him into what I assumed were his private quarters and we sat at the dining table making small-talk as we ate lunch. Soon we retired to another room, though, and the niceties were gone. We were seated in a library decorated with ebony shelves and black marble flooring. I looked around at the books lining the walls, many titles I'd never heard of, as we were led to armchairs, Keir and Eris behind a desk with us on the other side.
"Perhaps some of your entourage can wait outside," Keir said, "I don't want it too crowded."
Logan dismissed most of the warriors, leaving myself, Elric and Erein inside. Eris, I noticed, was watching Erein, but not like most males did. No, instead he looked irritated by her presence. Then his eyes fell on me and he took in the bare skin on my thigh, the tattoos around my shoulders and my pointed ears.
"This is Mayar, the only female captain in our Illyrian army," Logan said, waving his arm to where I sat at his right. "The only female to ever take the Blood Rite." Neither male looked particularly impressed and he continued, "She grew up in Thornhill. The Lord's daughter, half Illyrian and half-High Fae."
"Another half-breed," Keir murmured and I let out a snarl that made him laugh.
"Her mother," Logan continued, "Was from the Autumn Court, Eris."
He looked curious, "Your mother's name?"
"Alba… Conaill," I hesitantly gave her surname, the one which meant wolf as my father had told me, and Eris looked over at Keir, his eyes wide, before he turned back to look at me. I glanced over at Logan.
"You know the name," He said.
"My mother's maiden name," Eris murmured and I swallowed, "Alba was her youngest sister."
