MANON
Manon and her coven landed near Calaculla in Eyllwe. Right before the start of the Oakwald Forest. Dorian, as soon as they landed, left.
The Thirteen unpacked.
Manon then spent some time going over fighting aerial techniques they could use if they face those ilken. Better be prepared if they face anything like Ellywe.
Next the coven did combat where Manon was surprised to beat everyone with ease. Watching Rowan and Aelin had its perks. She showed her coven and they quickly picked up the new moves. The demon twins said they were going to practice on a useless human somewhere.
Manon told Sorrel, because she still did not feel like talking to Asterin about it, that she was going to check on Dorian and will be back soon. Sorrel just nodded.
He was not that hard to track with her keen sense of smell. He was sitting right in front of the slave camp. Well, now it is just empty since Dorian's father killed all the slaves in the camp. Manon could see how furious he was, and feel it. His magic was flickering. His sapphire eyes were practically glowing.
She just sat beside him. No words would make him feel better. Manon thought he is storing this in his memory anyways. The fine line of killer he will refuse to be. Tell himself he is nothing like his father and never will be.
Finally, he said, "When I first entered Endovier to get Celaena…Aelin, I did not bat an eye at the slaves there. And now, I cannot bat an eye because they have been massacred."
He closed his eyes and continued, "I remember that day I first saw her. I was looking at her the wrong way. I asked to see the lashes on her back, and her body in general to see if she was beyond use for my own gain. I did not really care how it happened, that the slaves were being abused and mistreated. That some of them were just in there because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I did not care enough to speak out."
"If by your gain, you mean undermine your father by getting her out the slave mine. What you were doing was still right for the kingdom. That began with getting Aelin. It took you 20 years to challenge your father, to realize what he was doing was wrong; it took me about 120 years. And there have been worse things than this I did obediently and without question for my Grandmother. You cannot change the past, no point sulking in it."
"The past is helpful to learn from and shape your future," he said softly.
She did not reply. Just stared at the camp. Thinking of all the ways to have a better future—in the Witch Kingdom.
After what seemed like hours, she turned towards Dorian, and he was staring at her. Silently, she kissed his forehead. And then rose and said, "We should sleep. Long day tomorrow."
He looked shocked. His eyes were filled with emotion.
Manon simply started to walk away back to camp. That is when she noticed Asterin at the tree line smiling with her white teeth. She just grabbed a dagger and whirled it straight beside Asterin's head, and it slammed into the tree. Asterin's smile somehow got even bigger.
Darkness embrace her.
IMOGEN
Ever since Imogen and the Thirteen found Manon at the beach, she has been… different. A good different. Maybe it was because of the boy that now tagging along, or maybe she finally understands that witches can be better.
The fact she did not slash Asterin across the face for yelling at Manon earlier today was surprising, but she had a feeling if she did the same thing, there would not have been that much lenience to her.
She pondered this new phenomenon as she walked alone in the darkness, offering to take first watch as the rest of the coven got some sleep. She did not mention she had other business to attend to. Honestly surprised she has never been caught yet. If her body was in her prime, one cannot really tell the difference.
She walked up the hill to where she could have a good eye on the Thirteen to still be an okay lookout. But, she does like to have the wind going through her as she does her rituals.
She looked around to make sure the coast was clear, and pulled out a dagger. She cut her palm for blue blood to run. Then she smeared it on her face. She prayed to the Three-Faced Goddess.
And then after a few more chants, sent out a call, hoping the receiving end was available. She should be, as this is around the agreed time and day of the week.
Finally, she heard Petra Blueblood's voice in her head, "Hello, sister."
Religious fanatics with their noses in the wind indeed. For Bluebloods do not need witch mirrors to communicate at all.
Lol this came into my head yesterday while running with my dog (unfortunately not named Fleetfoot). Hope you enjoyed. Feel free to give suggestions.