The halls were quiet and baron of life save for the clicking of boots heels the halls are hot and humid in the summer heat as the day grew longer.
Mor's golden hair bounced with allure Kol felt jealousy burn lightly in her stomach at the beautiful High fae. Her curvy hips sway as she makes her way down her brown eyes with long almost doll-like lashes filtering around taking in the world. The crimson cloth of her long dress fluttered and caressed over her legs.
Kol kept a straight posture looking ahead instead of following the lines of the woman's body. She was tall and stocky, definitely not the beauty that others were scaring wad the least of her worries. She sniffed the dusty air and smelt the citrusy scent of Mor the gave off the slightest hint of cinnamon it was clean, unlike the males she hung around normally who lacked the want of a shower.
She forced herself to keep going, sore from falling onto the ground earlier her head pounded. She wasn't sure if from nervousness or from the actually fall. She touched her head feeling the bump that had made its home on her head she groaned lightly.
"Are you well?" Mor said turning slightly lips parting. Kol stuttered and tripped on a stone she blushed.
"Yes, M'lady."
Silence fell once again for a few moments Kol found the crack in the walls interesting as she thought of something to say, "Are you excited for the Solstice M' lady?"
Mor shrugged lightly "Perhaps a bit, the guard has been treating you well?"
"Yes, M'lady."
They made there a way to a small but meticulously crafted room it seemed neat and tidy with the decor in all the right places pillows throw on couches and a dark oak desk in the middle with an ink a bright but beautiful cyan quill, oil lamps lit the room in a quiet way. It smelt like cleanliness, it was a nice change to the sweat molded barracks. The guards the followed silently stopped outside the door opening it for Mor and holding it for Kol. Mor sat dow elegantly without flaw but kept an impassive but curious trained eye on the girl in front of her.
With the door closed she cross her hands, "I'm just surprised M' lady, I thought there was a way to go before I was checked upon," She looked at her short nails she thought she'd left this sort of shyness behind, "Forgive me for being surprised."
Mor smiled lightly "Given," she rustled the papers looking through names, "I want you to have a look at this." She handed a parchment over, Kol gave it a look the letters strange and foreign.
Kol knew how to read her name, but more than that was beyond her she slid it back over quietly.
"-I M'lady, I cannot read," Mor furrowed her brow most knew even woman of the Illyrians, "I was never taught."
Mor bounced back quickly giving a half-smile "Forgive me," she took the paper, "It seems your friend had concerns about you and your gender." Kol's heart stopped, Mor knew the time she spent here was gone now, she'd have to leave they'd never see her the same. Kjell wouldn't forgive her, Calum might, but the risk that others held to her if the found out. The discrimination she'd seen wasn't something she needed when war was on the horizon. Her throat was dry and the pounding in her head got worse.
"M'lady please-" She started getting up. Mor looked at her calmly but abruptly interrupted.
"I'm here to offer you position in a different guard, Kol if they found out it wouldn't end well some wouldn't care but you should be worried about the reaction of others," She clasped her hands "I can help you."
Kol looked away looking at the ceiling as a tear started welling up before pivoting toward the flawless fae.
"No."
"No?"
"I can't," her heart pounded, and she bit her lip, "I can't leave my brothers."
Mor gave an expression of surprise before understanding.
"Fine," she turned getting up wander to Kol's side of the desk looking her up and down, "I'll be in touch."
Kol made her way past the guards and kitchens. She fled downward toward the tavern. People she passed looked at her with intrigue at the hurried guard with the deceptively calm facade. Kol was too concerned with the matters in her head that plagued her to bother occupying others who watched her desperate flee. As she flew down the steps the with an alertness that she didn't know she possessed the hand that grabbed her arm letting her come to a stop surprised her.
It was Callum he didn't seem pleased at her alarm. He squeezed her arm in the comfort he frowns tilting his head deep brown hair tumbling to the side.
"Whats happened?" He looked for wounds, after finding none he looked into her eyes with concern.
"Do not stop on my account, I'm fine," she assured him, it looked as if he didn't believe her as he followed her when she continued down from a safe distance. He wore a black tunic with fine threadwork that was taut across his shoulders a siphon on his belt. He studied his friend like a mother hen would a chick hands bunched in his pocket. For all the changes she has had she gave in to the comfort that some people still cared for her well-being, somethings stayed unchanged
She sat on a ledge looking down at the expanse of the city, she heard Calum behind her who'd taken his time before sitting beside her. Kicking his boots against the wall he was crouched over relaxed he let a breath out.
"I was born during the summer you know," He looked up a little ray of sunlight the filtered in through the small holes in the top of the mountain smiling a bit letting Kol see the little freckles adorned upon his face, he crinkled his nose "my least favorite season."
Kol stayed silent so Calum took it as an invitation to continue "I've never had any real brothers only sisters," he made a face "Knowing you and the others has been the closest thing to real ones."
"Yeah and annoying is what you lot are," Kol smiled a bit teasing Calum cheer up a bit, he opened his mouth to retort but stopped and leaned back taking in the view.
"Aerwyna, Kaia and Oona," He paused using his hands to talk giving a loving wistful look, "Oona's the youngest I'm the oldest."
"I had a sister," Kol said quietly looking out before tilting her head to look at her feet reminiscing her sister "Sara."
Calum looked at her in surprise, "I didn't know I thought you had no family."
She turned away "Just her and me."
Calum nodded humming, they just sat there it comfortable silence for a few moments swinging their feet.
"It's going to be okay you know."
"I hope so."
Kol drifted into a restless sleep that night tossing off covers from the humid climate as healing Pyper groans in pain below waiting for bones to mend. It gave her no peace of mind that her friends could be like that in a few months.
She gets up leaning her back against the wall closing her eyes to try and submit to peace taking a deep breath as the darkness around her envelops her in a blanket of fear. The Solstice passed quietly, Hewn's people weren't one the celebrate much after little deliberation she climbed down the ladder and through the halls wandering for a bit before landing before the stables, tufts of grass and dandelion struggled to grow against the wall kept nice a tidy, the stable was the first place she'd been in Hewn; located nearly outside it was open to the fresh morning air, a nice change.
Though the smell of hay and horse shit was much stronger. She found herself stroking one of the muscled horses restless from being locked away. She knew the feeling, no matter how big Hewn was she couldn't escape her dread. Its mane was soft and kept, chestnut brown in color it was soft so she thought to think of how rough her own skin looked. She needed a hobby she thought, maybe the flute?
"Making a home with the horses?" A confident voice rang down, Kol looked toward the brown glossy eyes. Kol snorted and brushed the horse. The blonde walked up hands brushing the stable door and patting the horse inside with a glow of peace in her eyes.
"M'lady," Kol said bowing slightly in respect she wondered why she'd come, it was late. Did she have the same trouble sleeping knowing Feyre still sat in the Spring Court for another few days?
"Mor," She said smiling lightly eyes casting away. The rising sun hit her eyes in such a way they looked like dark pools of honey. Kol smiled lightly scratching her face nervously, getting too close was dangerous.
"I don't think that's quite polite enough for a woman of your standing M'lady," she said stepping back from the horse, they were too close petting it together. The horse eyed her with annoyance and huffed. Kol put her hands behind her back rolling her shoulders back.
"I insist," Mor gave her a commanding look, raising an eyebrow "we are in the stables, not a diplomatic meeting"
"Fine."
"Fine?" Kol looked at the cherry red dress she bore today the material exquisite and the gold trimming and embroidery exotic and intricate. With that Kol tried to exude patience and control but failed and asked as Mor had turned away to looked at the sun rising.
"Your dress, what is it made of?" Mor smiled know she'd caught Kol in her web. She fingered her dress leaning against the post.
"It is some sort of silk, it comes from the Summer Court the seamstresses are exquisite the views even more. I'll take you some time," She said looking eyes flicking up she continued to stroke the mare. Kol eyes widened
"You hardly know me is not proper for a guard," Kol knew she needed to get away from the Fae lady but her voice was entrancing "I've got work."
"What's wrong with two ladies looking at a dress or two? I'm sure you could leave for a few days." Mor stepped forward she was shorter than Kol but made up for it with attitude and suave.
"I- I have to go," Kol turned in waves of fear washing over her she rubbed her arms leaving her dizzy.
She walked away quickly leaving Mor in the stable alone.