My head was still throbbing when I woke up. I held it as I squinted, looking around. I was in a wooden-walled room… no… a cabin, I realised. It swayed slightly and I sucked in a breath. We were on a boat. But going where? I sat up and looked more carefully. No windows. I sat on a wooden bed, scratchy woollen blankets below me. A chest sat in one corner, open with female clothing inside. I realised then that I was not in my Valkyrie armour, but a long, nightgown instead. I folded my arms across my chest. Someone had changed me. A bucket of water sat in one corner and I washed myself in the freezing cold quickly, dressing myself in one of the dresses in the chest. Nothing special, a cotton dress and a lace-up waistcoat over the top, and some worn, brown boots. I searched the room for my sword, my dagger, but I couldn't see them.
"Idiot," I scolded myself, "Why would they let you keep your weapons?"
The lock on the door turned and I tensed as the door opened.
My captor's eyes roved over my clothing and my face. "Ah, you found some clothes then."
"Who dressed me?" I asked, eyes narrowed.
"My sister," He replied, casually. "No need to worry yourself, princess."
"Don't call me that."
He smirked, "You must be hungry." I was, but I was reluctant to admit it. "Come," He said, beckoning me, "You're worth far more to me alive than dead."
I followed him out of the room and into the narrow corridor on the ship. He led me into another room and I tensed. The Captain's quarters, from the large bed, the large windows that showed the windows beyond. A large table sat in the centre, laden with meats, breads and fruits. A female with dark hair and olive-coloured sat there already, in an orange corseted dress and she looked up at me as I entered. Opposite her sat the two winged males, drinking something from a tankard.
"Sit," My captor said, signalling to the empty chair next to his sister. I sank into it as he moved to sit at the head of the table.
"Wine?" He asked his sister and she nodded with a smile. He poured it carefully.
"Thank you, brother," She said, an edge of an accent to her voice.
He offered some to me then and I gave a nod. He poured me a glass too and then he clicked his tongue. "Where are my manners?" He said. "I'm Lux." His name meaning, Light. "This is my sister, Aerilyn and my two friends and most trusted advisors, Marx and Xandro." He then waved his hand, casually. "And you are Gwyneth Berdara, if my sources are correct."
I nodded and took a sip of wine.
"Is it true you're a Valkyrie?" Aerilyn asked from beside me.
"Yes."
"I've always loved reading about them," She said, her green eyes seeming to light up. "My sword skills are a little rusty but… I'll get there one day." Her eyes flicked to my dress, "Why, brother, have you given our guest servant's clothes?"
"We're on a ship, dear sister," Lux drawled, "Where do you expect me to find extra clothes?"
"I would lend you some of mine," Aerilyn said, "But you're a little taller than me so they'd probably look ridiculous." She squeezed my arm, "As soon as we're home, I'll make sure we find you something more suitable."
"And where is home?" I asked.
"You'll find out when we dock tomorrow," Marx said from across the table. "Although I think I'd prefer it if you didn't know."
"Gwyneth is hardly a threat currently," Lux said. "She is no daemeti and has no winnowing powers."
"Does my grandfather know you have taken me yet?"
"So many questions," Lux murmured, drinking from his tankard. He signalled to the food, "Please do eat."
Aerilyn was already tucking into some bread and butter and meats beside me and Marx and Xandro did not seem to need telling twice.
I took a piece of bread and placed it on my plate.
"And no," Lux said finally, "Your grandfather does not know. We'll send word once we have returned to our kingdom."
"Your kingdom?"
He smiled slyly and raised his tankard for me, conversation clearly over.
We docked early the next afternoon and I could hear the sound of birds overhead, as well as the chatter of some kind of harbour. A hooded cloak was given to me and Aerilyn pulled the hood up, mostly concealing my face, as we left the ship. As I glanced up, I realised we were in Hybern. In the capital city, to be precise. Stone walls surrounded it and a huge, stone castle stood tall in the middle, surrounded by further walls. There were large houses, shops, temples and taverns and the stone streets were busy with people talking, horse-drawn carts moving food and resources around, and the odd beggar sat calling out for money. It was exactly as I had read about.
Hybern. My stomach churned at the thought.
Aerilyn linked arms with me as she led me through the streets, following her brother and his two friends. People stepped aside for them but no one spoke. We reached a stable, where four hours were already set and ready to be ridden.
"Do you ride, princess?" Lux asked and I shook my head. "Very well, you'll ride with me."
He helped me onto the horse and then moved to sit behind me. My body tensed at his touch as he reached forward for the reins. And then we rode out of the capital. I wasn't sure how long we rode through the rich, green countryside, but I gathered it wasn't too long before we reached a town sat upon a hill. A large manor house overlooked the other buildings from the top of the hill and as we travelled through the town walls, some soldiers clutching their hands to their chests in greeting as we passed. The stone floor beneath us was much the same as the city and a fountain sat in the middle, surrounded by flower beds. As the horses continued onwards, we passed a tavern and then a building with some females outside, waving handkerchiefs and flashing their legs. I'd read enough books to know it was a brothel. There were shops, a small market and then lots of houses on our way up the hill. Two guards opened the gates to the manor and we rode inside to the stables.
The building itself was made from grey brick with slate roof tiles. It was large and grand. We reached the stables and Lux helped me down from the horse as Aerilyn, Marx and Xandro dismounted too.
"Aeri, will you lead our guest to her room?" Lux asked, "Marx, Xandro and I have business to attend to in town."
His sister curtsied, "Of course." She looped her arm through mine and led me through a backdoor and into the manor. Paintings lined the court, much like the Forest House in the Autumn Court, but these paintings looked like what Dusk Court had once been. Others had couples in, with little clothing or none at all. Red velvet curtains surrounded the large windows and the doors seemed to be carved out of some kind of oak. Aerilyn didn't bother with a tour. Instead she led me up two flights of stairs, the second barely a wooden staircase, with just a single room. She slid the bolt across and opened the wooden door.
The attic room had wooden beams across the ceiling, a wooden floor and cream coloured walls. A four poster bed sat in the middle, plain white sheets across it and cream curtains framing the bed itself. Shutters covered the windows. A painting of a ship sat against one wall. A dressing table against another. A wooden chest was against the foot of the bed and a small wooden armoire squashed against a bathtub. The room felt cold. And like a slightly bigger version of my room within the library.
"Probably not the standard you're used to," Aerilyn said from beside me. "There is a toilet and sink through that door though," She said, pointing at a wooden door in the wall.
"Is this where you keep all of your prisoners?" I asked.
"You offered yourself up, which is why you're not in the dungeon," She said with a shrug. "Besides, we don't particularly enjoy chaining people up as punishment. If we're to use you to get what we want, we need to look after you."
I sat myself down on the edge of the bed.
"I'll send up some clothes for you, preferably something nicer and more in keeping than what you're wearing," She said, "You do not leave this room unless someone fetches you. Understand?"
"Yes."
"Good," She closed the door and I heard the bolt slide across.
I looked up at the ceiling, grateful that there didn't seem to be any creepy crawlies or spiders keeping me company. I walked over to the bath and turned on the tap instead, feeling grimy and grubby from the ship, aware that I'd not washed since my time in The Middle. The door opened when I was in the bath and I cursed as Lux strolled in, carrying a pile of clothes.
There were few bubbles to hide my body and I glared at him as I tried to cover myself.
"Glad to see you're having a wash," He smirked, placing the clothes on the bed. "Fresh clothes," He announced. "I'd recommend a dress for dinner, it's far more formal." He turned back to look at me, "I'll send up some books too. Wouldn't want you bored up here." And then he was gone, closing the door behind him.
I sat in the soapy bath until the water went cold and then I dried myself quickly, trying not to think about how cold the room felt. My options for dinner seemed to be limited- I had blouses, some kind of corsets, trousers, boots and some cotton and velvet dresses left for me, alongside some underwear and a cotton nightgown.
I dressed in a cream coloured dress that fell off the shoulder and showed the top of my star tattoo, lacing the underbust corset at the front and trying to ignore the restricted feeling it gave me. I slipped on the boots under it and opened the shutter. The sun was setting outside but the sky looked dark, as if rain was coming. The cool air smelt damp and as I looked into the distance I could barely make out the capital city of Hybern, its castle towering above it.
I missed Prythian. I missed the Night Court. Hell, I even missed the Autumn Court. Would I even see Azriel again? Would we buy our little house by the sea together? My heart tightened at the thought and a tear rolled down my cheek and I tensed as the door unbolted behind me. I stood straightener, fastening my white ribbon in my hair in a half-updo as Aerilyn stepped into view, her dark hair in curls, a red velvet corseted dress on her.
"That's better," She said as she looked at my dress, "Come, it's time for dinner."
I followed her in silence as she led me down the stairs and along a corridor until we reached a Dining Room. The walls were wooden panels, the large wooden table big enough for a banquet. The males were already seated, Lux at head of the table once more, with two empty seats set for myself and Aerilyn. The males all watched me as I entered and the way Lux's eyes scanned my body made me want to slit his throat.
I moved to sit in the chair furthest from him, but instead, this time, Aerilyn signalled to the chair by his. I sank into it silently as wine was poured.
"The dress suits you," Lux drawled from next to me. I ignored him, sipping my wine instead. "Did your grandfather not teach you any etiquette in the Autumn Court?"
"My grandfather told me I did not have to bow to anyone below my station," I said, drily. "I suppose the lines were blurred as to what else I needed to do."
Aerilyn let out a short beside me.
Lux's eyes watched me, warily, "You're certainly not like any princess I've met."
"I'm not a princess."
"In these lands, you would be classed as one. Anyone female in-line to the throne is a princess," He swirled his cup.
"You said this was your kingdom," I pointed out.
"Well this town is my kingdom," He said. "Until I have taken the Dusk Court."
"You said that day in the woods that it was your birthright," I said to him, "How?"
He gave a lopsided smile, "Now, isn't that the question."
"Our ancestors were the High Lords of the Dusk Court," Aerilyn answered for him, her voice bored. "Many centuries ago, before it was destroyed and the remaining residents fled."
"Where did they go?" I asked her.
"Some travelled across the Night Court," She replied, "And some of those ancestors now reside in the Hewn City. Our family travelled across the seas to Hybern and built this very town, but the residents here today… most know nothing of the Dusk Court. Most have never even heard of it."
"You keep it a secret, why?" I turned back to Lux.
"Because it's dangerous knowledge and I'm not sure how well the Royal Family would receive this news… or your High Lords and High Lady, I suppose," He shrugged. "We would like to return home without the bloodshed, as our ancestors have tried to do for centuries but… we feel it may not be so easy."
"Why do you need truth-teller?" I asked, "You already have Gwydion."
"When knife and sword are reunited, so shall our people be," Xandro said, across from me.
"We need to reunite the two as part of the ritual to reclaim our land and restore it to its former glory," Lux said. "Only the weapons and the blood of its owners can uncover the ruins of our Court. Until then, legend has it, it has been hidden by magic."
Its owners… Azriel…
"The blood of its owners?" My eyes widened, "But surely you would die?"
Lux laughed, "Not all of our blood," He said to me. "Just enough for the magic to work… but I doubt your mate will be particularly willing and as he killed my brother…"
"He owes us a debt," Marx finished.
My body tightened, "Why did he kill your brother?"
"Perhaps you should be asking how he came to be in truth-tellers possession?" Lux drawled. "But that's enough questions from you for this evening. I was hoping you'd be one of the quiet ones."
"How disappointing for you," I scoffed.
"How did a priestess end up in the Night Court? Training as a Valkyrie?" He pried.
"Your old King ransacked my temple and killed my sister," I replied, my voice cold. "The High Lord of the Night Court offered me sanctuary."
"How… uncharacteristic of him," Lux said. How wrong he was. How wrong many were who still saw Rhysand as the cruel, powerful High Lord the stories spun him to be. "And you did not choose to go to your family in the Autumn Court instead?"
"I did not know Eris was my grandfather until recently," I replied. "And family is not just about blood."
"How interesting," he drawled, "that despite being the heir to the Autumn Court, you're still so loyal to the Night Court… I wonder how Eris feels about that…"
I ignored his baiting and turned my attention to the food instead. It did not taste as rich as the food in the Night Court, nor did it taste as warming as the food in Autumn. I remained quiet the rest of the meal, whilst the four of them spoke. But, then, when the meal was over.
"I'd like her to train me," Aerilyn announced from my side. I blinked.
"You want to be further trained, dear sister, and say the words. I'll do it myself," Lux said, "Or Marx would be happy to oblige." The winged male nodded.
"I want to be trained like a Valkyrie," She said, her face set in stone.
Marx let out a low whistle across from me.
"It did not end well for those females," Lux said.
"But now we're in a new age," Aerilyn said. "And I wish to be trained by a female who knows what it is like to be a female "
"You wish to be trained by someone who was captured so easily?"
I released a snarl then, my hand gripping my form as I'd not been given a knife.
Aerilyn's eyes locked onto mine. "No," she said softly, "I wish to be trained by someone who sacrificed herself for her mate."