CHAPTER 1 - HEWN CITY
As the snow devoured the light from every side of the mountain pass, snowdrifts loomed above in icy waves the stars did very little as all light was swallowed whole by the night. The Illyrian warriors trudged by horseback, hunched over and exhausted from the days of flying and trekking through the unrelenting mountain-scape bare of proper civilization. Though they were too prideful to admit it to be so, their muscles were bunched and sore and their asses were frozen solid to worn saddles.
No words were spoken tight-lipped and eyes squinted through the stormy white, as any warmth they had left could be carried by a breath. They had to arrive soon they collectively prayed, not that Illrayians pray too much; even with the snow that crept down their backsides through leather and furs, and kissed their faces spring was to arrive in the months to come and the city couldn't be too far off. It was a relief to know they wouldn't be back through the pass until the snow had melted if they were to leave at all.
They were moving down the tight mountain trails to be dispersed as guards in Hewn or Valris security was needed so something of the likes of the Hybern attack would not occur again. They had Lady Feyre who fought in the last attack but they couldn't count on her to defend the next time, there could be a bigger attack at any time.
In the crowd of men was one woman she didn't want to be here. Anywhere but here she supposed it was for the best though. if she wanted to not be noticed by The Court of Dreams she'd need to be well away. She'd read the books a definitely wanted to be a background character if she could help it, lay low learn some things maybe fight a war of two. Or a dog, either could work.
The opinion of their High Lady varied greatly squadron to squadron. Some would lay down to die at any command as well as quiver and grovel at her feet like dogs, loyal to a fault to the now fae use to be human High Lady, others were skeptical to have a Fae woman in charge of them and believed she should fall in line behind her husband, not that they would express such distaste. Whether they like her not they were damned grateful that she had the power she did.
The numbers were in the fifties, streaming down the trails in black leather that looked as if it were scales on a serpent. She shuttered, the cold was too lonely; too quiet, but allowed her to catch her breath and plan the days ahead. Also how to trick the others into believing she was actually trained in these mountains, if not they'd have her head firmly sat on a pike, wings torn. She assumed, she wasn't sure what order. She'd seen the smaller camps and how they treated women finding ways to discriminate and humiliate people disregarding them as less than human or fae because of what they believed in, she'd seen it. Whippings, mutilation, dismemberment, it was something she wouldn't wish of any of her enemies. While not common, those kinds of Illyrians were not kind to those that deceived them. Especially females.
It was uncommon for Cassian, the Commander of the Night Court to tag along on a little thing like this, but felt the reins of duty above him to do so, the cold didn't bother him much but he'd most definitely rather be in woman's sheets at some pleasure house in Valais where it smelt of herbs, spices, glittering candlelight and giggling girls. Here, It smelt of horse shit, piss and sweat. Not like it had ever smelt different than the place he grew up in. Now that he'd know the luxuries of having a bath more than once a fortnight. He'd never go back. They walked further into the winters grasp they reached the side of the pass where it winded down they could see the giant looming silhouette of Hewn city entrance.
"Halt." Cassian stuck a leather fist up other held the reins on his horse and they come to a stop. He turned his horse and yelled through the wind. "This is where we'll part, now, I know you may have certain preferences on such a subject and please put a hand in the air if you'd rather be posted in Hewn City. In the fifty, twenty put their hand up, Cassian didn't understand the appeal of Hewn but decided not to question it as he'd rather not be posted down there himself. "Alright you all will be following Allistare, I wish you luck."
Allistare yelled and motion with his and for those to come forward, The woman trudged forward passing most without question about the bandana around her face, her short hair, and feminine eyes and long lashes. Cassian watched them past his eyes landing on her for a few seconds before passing undisturbed under the low light. She let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding before her eyes trained ahead once again to the stables she slowly got off her horse her legs had turned to jelly during the long ride.
Hewn City was known for its violent tendencies, dark dealings, and cruelty toward others but a safe haven for those who prefer a more violent rule that Lord Rhysand hadn't delivered in recent years. She knew going to Hewn City would keep the Court of Dreams far away from her, and keep them from invading her mind. The stew she'd consumed the day before turned and lurched in her stomach knowing Hewn city wasn't the best place for a girl from the stories she heard from anyone who'd been there. The air was stiflingly damp as they entered the smell of men filter through the air in the small space. She hardly looked the part of a warrior with her wings and measly dagger by her side but decided I'd do.
This was one of the worst places to be she thought. Even the people who already lived in hellish parts of the world thought to themselves, "At least I'm not in the Court of Nightmares." And now she was here. Suprise.
"Welcome the Hewn City," Alistair said gruffly under a salt and pepper coloured goatee as they all entered the darkly lit city it smelt vulgar, rats scurried along the corridors as they moved, "The sleeping arrangements are set out on the parchment if you have a problem take it up with someone else" Allistare then turned a wobbled away, probably to find something to drink and someone to warm his bed, Connie had to admit she'd do the same after the chill of the ride here. The rest left scuttled toward the parchment that held their fates,
Kol, Richon and Pyper, written in a swirly cursive she traced the inky lines with her fingers across the rough parchment. Kol, it was a name she'd chosen here her old name would never fit with her appearance now it was a pretty name, short and didn't make people think. Her roommates were a mystery to her though she had no idea who they were out of the sea of black and browns but decided it was probably for the best if she arrived first. Choosing a top bunk she slid her self around the cold damp room, it would be best if she slept in her leathers with the chill and dampness and it held her chest area down binding it from view, something that held importance if she wanted to stay hidden here. A male of pure raw arrogance sauntered into the room looking around before his hazel eyes found Bramble.
"The names Richon" his voice was smoky and rumbled like a throaty dragon, his hair was long and shiny from the lack of showering, it was long but not long enough to tie. He held out a large glove-covered hand.
"Kol," She said in a low voice looking down.
"What a name, eh? you parent don' like you or something?" he tilted his head forward looking at his shorter companion. "So short eh?" She gave him a pointed look in silence,
"Something like that."
He nodded to himself humming, it wasn't uncommon for Illyrians to have more than one child, most would have at least one other sibling, survivability rates were low in this time even with magic. Being the favourite was hard most younger siblings were neglected once they could feed themselves.
Richon pointed and the black cloth covering her face, "What happened? you ugly or somethin'?"
As she had fabricated she replied in a deeper voice than naturally, "A fire took half my face just scarred skin and bone, nasty to look at, disgusting really" She fingered the fabric looking for a reaction to the fake story nervously. Though there was truth to the story, it was how she died in her last life. A scar ran up her face to near the bottom of her eye to prove it. He turned his head abruptly taking in the information before he shrugged turning to unload his leather pack. The silence drew across the room for a few moments as she watched him unload his bag slowly.
"Do you have a companion for guard duty yet? Most have already picked each other but my ass was too frozen to speak during the ride" He confessed rummaging through the leather bag unpacking random things on his bed.
She shook her head, while she'd heard others muttering about it it hadn't crossed past in her thoughts until now.
"Well guess ya' have one now" He bellowed and a toothy wide smile crossed his face.
Connie could feel the tension in the room until it was broken by whom probably was Pyper, he was skin and bones the Illyrian leather slid off his skin, he was pale and if he hadn't had the inky black wings on his back she would've claimed him to be only a fae boy or human, not of a warrior, weak and dainty. He looked nervous but well collected, he knew his place was at the bottom and had it as such. His grinned and crooked toothy smile at his roommates.
"The names Pyper" his voice rang out less smoky than Richon, higher in pitch and nasally.
"A pleasure, I'm trying to get some sleep," Richon said plainly and had laid down on the bunk underneath Connie adjusting himself to be comfortable the bed creaked in response. Pyper sat down aswell on his bed awkwardly adjusting himself before clearing his throat
"So what do you think will happen with us?" The squeaking of the bed below to indicate to her that he had a reaction at all.
"We're new so probably just some normal 'peacekeepin' I heard ya' don' have to take it seriously, it will be easy if ya have a backbone, that what my brothers told me. I think we'll be assigned shifts tomorrow," Richon whispered annoyed by the other boy, "So by Caldron just sleep."
When silence reached across and only shuffling could be heard Kol turned over and welcomed the sweet embrace of sleep to her tired limbs.
Most had fallen into a routine, wake, eat, guard and sleep.
She worked during the nights as well as her roommate Richon who was becoming a quick friend despite some of his views towards Lord Rhysand. Nothing happened usually, they'd maybe break up a fight or two over meaningless garbage, sleep during the days and train sometimes. She fit in barely with the rest of her fit and well defined muscled colleagues. Pyper and she were weak, but she was far more coordinated than poor Pyper who'd become a punching bag for their superiors. Connie didn't speak much she, decided it wasn't going to help if her voice decides to crack like a pre-pubescent boy and became a silent companion to the rest, who liked her welcomed her well enough like brothers much to her surprise especially Richon. It was nice after her time alone.
Today had marked the fifth week in Hewn city for her and settling in had been hard in such a judgmental city.
It wasn't a kind city; Dark alleys were known to take lone ladies and whisk them away to unknown places be sold and raped by vile men. People turned a blind eye, it wasn't their problem she assumed that was the way, to not care or feel remorse for those lesser. Guards may sometimes fight them off and sometimes join them instead it was vile, but the way. The High Lord hardly resided down in the city, and Keir held as the 'leader.' The city was known as the city of nightmares, it was definitely that, as well as something more sinister.