PART TWO- Heir.
The Dawn Court Palace was exquisite. Much like the Moonstone palace of the Night Court, it stood tall. It was made up of towers joined with archways. Steps, balconies and verandas graced the architecture. Sunstone pillars draped in morning glories as the palace peered over the clouds.
It took my breath away. My mate, Azriel stood quietly beside me.
"Another palace you'd like me to buy you?" Amusement in his tone. He was trying to settle my nerves. The twisting, churning in my stomach.
It had been almost a month since the battle where Beron, High Lord of the Autumn Court had been killed by his son, Eris. My grandfather, Eris. The reason I was even attending this meeting. The other Valkyries remained at home in the Night Court but Eris … he'd insisted on inviting me. No one knew that we shared blood, aside from my mate, our High Lord and his inner circle. And now that wounds had healed from the battle and time had passed, the High Lords of the courts had decided to meet. Dawn Court was mostly central and their High Lord, Thesan had hosted before.
The air was warm. Summer had finally began. But the float sleeveless blue dress I wore, brandishing the scar on my arm, felt itchy.
"I'm sure we could find you an uninhabited palace as a mating gift," drawled Rhys from beside Azriel, "one that we wouldn't have to go to war over."
Feyre laughed softly and I smiled over at her. I was still nervous being around the High Lord and High Lady, even though we'd had dinner with them at the House of Wind just last week.
"We said no to you planning and paying for our ceremony," Azriel told him in warning, "we're not letting you buy us a palace."
"Spoilsport," Cassian piped up from the other side of me. "I'd have enjoyed the parties."
"You do realise, Cassian, that we have a palace you can and have had a party in?" Rhys' eyebrows shot up.
Feyre cleared her throat as we nearly reached the top of the steps. Reminding us why we were there. I took a deep breath and looked ahead.
We're all right here, Azriel's voice said, soothing my mind.
"But you were all betting on a fight," I whispered under my breath.
"Still time to jump in," Cassian murmured and I thumped him in the arm. Amusement flickered along mine and Azriel's bond.
We let Rhys and Feyre enter the courtyard first and then I followed, an Illyrian warrior either side of me. Most of the other High Lords and their entourages had already arrived, it seemed. They sat on chairs and benches around a beautiful pool filled with flowering lilies and fish.
Helion saw us first and greeted us all formally before turning to me and saying, just above a whisper, "Unlike Rhysand, Thesan lets me bring the whole entourage. I'll take you for a spin later."
I laughed softly and he smiled before returning to his seat. High Lord Tarquin approached next. He seemed wary as he greeted us all but there was some warmth to him. Then High Lord Kallias greeted us all with his wife and mate, Vivaine, who was disappointed that Mor had been left home on babysitting duties.
Then Thesan, whose court we currently visited. His relationship with our own court was positive, Azriel had said the previous night, and I knew he had once sought a cure to my mate's wings in the last war.
"Rhysand, Feyre, you both look well," he said in greeting to our High Lord and High Lady, a bow or the head. "Azriel and Cassian, hello again." He looked over at me between them.
"Gwyneth," Rhys introduced me, "a priestess, librarian and one of my Valkyries."
"And your Shadowsinger's mate it would seem," Thesan said and some murmurs or surprise rippled through the room as Azriel and I nodded. "Nice to meet you," the High Lord said to me. He signalled to some empty chairs and we took our seats.
A few courts spoke to one another whilst we waited for the final two High Lords and I watched Feyre tense as Tamlin entered the room. I'd saved him mid-battle a month ago, when the enemy had surrounded him. Would he remember? I saw Lucien follow beside him and surprise crossed faces of the High Lords. They were not expecting him. Helion's eyes widened across from me and I glanced back to Lucien, wondering what the missing link was.
They took a seat, only Lucien greeting people as Tamlin looked like he'd been dragged to the meeting against his will, and then Eris strolled in with two of his highest guards. From the golden sword pin on one guard's chest, it was clear this was new General, as he no longer held this position. The other High Lords were wary of him, it seemed and rightly so- he had killed his father. They did not know yet what kind of leader he intended to be. No one did. He said a general greeting to everyone and took his seat.
"Thank you all for coming," Rhys spoke and I fiddled with the fabric of my dress in my lap, "and thank you kindly again to Thesan for hosting in this beautiful palace."
Thesan bowed his head, his winged lover watching carefully from beside him.
"We have not summoned you all with bad news," Feyre said and I was aware that Azriel watched Tamlin, daring him to say something or even look at our High Lady the wrong way. "In fact, with some changes in leadership, we feel it would be important to meet."
"Autumn Court made an attempt to conquer Spring Court lands," Kallias said. "Is that not bad news?" He made a pointed glance at Rhys and then Helion. "I hear you both sent soldiers. Did you tell the families of those that died that it was not bad news?"
Helion replied, "Yes we lost some soldiers, although Autumn lost more. We all knew the cost. Beron needed to be dealt with."
"My father would not have stopped with the Spring Court," Eris spoke, his eyes like fire. "Perhaps that would have been enough for the next decade but beyond that… other courts would have fallen and perhaps the mortal lands too."
"And you do not wish to continue his legacy?" Tarquin asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No," Eris said. "I did not kill my father simply because I wanted to be High Lord. I did it to protect my mother and my people."
"We've heard what you did to Morrigan, centuries ago," Kallias spoke. "Are you saying this was not your fault?" He turned to Rhys, "You're awfully forgiving."
Azriel and Cassian gripped their chairs either side of me.
"Do not drag my family into this," Rhys warned.
Eris spoke again. His voice calm, but threatening. "The truth of that particular incident lays between myself and Morrigan and perhaps she'll share it one day. Either way, are all of you saying you never made a mistake? You're all squeaky clean High Lords?"
Helion laughed at that, "I may be speaking for myself here but I am not squeaky clean."
Tamlin spoke then and I watched Feyre hold her breath as he did so, "If Eris intended to take over my court, then I have no doubt he would have let it happen that day. He could have killed me and had it all over with. But I'm still here, still standing, as is my heir "
Surprise rumbled through the group.
"Your heir?" Thesan eyed him, warily.
"I have not been lucky enough to be blessed with children," a cold glance at Feyre and Rhys then. Azriel tensed again beside me as she continued, "So I have chosen Lucien Vanserra as my heir and any of his children will be an heir too."
"You can't just choose an heir," Kallias scoffed.
Feyre spoke, keeping her voice even, "You cannot, but the ancient ceremony can be performed and it was, last month under the full moon."
"Your allegiances remain with Spring and not the Autumn Court then?" Thesan clarified and Lucien gave a nod.
"I intend to help to rebuild," he said. "Work has already started. It will be nice to have more Fae living in the Spring Court again."
I saw Feyre's hand tense. A subtle movement but there nonetheless.
"Whilst we're on the subject of heirs," Eris straightened his waistcoat, "Meet mine, Gwyneth Berdara."