Chapter 436

Elain watched Eris' face as she and Lucien sat down at the table. The High Lord of the Autumn Court lifted a piece of fruit to his lips with his fork, but did not place the fruit inside. He just watched them, fork raised.

"Having a good morning?" Elain asked, turning her plate on the table before her to best advantage. When she had the easiest access to the honeyed pears, she looked again at Eris. He was now chewing his fruit, fork still in hand.

"Mmm." He nodded, waving the fork gently. When he swallowed he spoke. "The mornings here are significantly warmer than those at home." Elain supposed that was true. "It makes one want to get up earlier and get started on the day."

"And what will your day entail?" Lucien asked, spearing a pear with his own fork.

"Are you asking if I intend to remain in the Day Court or if I shall return home?" Eris raised an eyebrow, and Lucien gave a light cough.

"Well, I assume Helion is aware of whatever choice you had made… so I was just making conversation."

"Is that so?" Eris gave a vulpine smile. "I will be here for another day or two yet."

"Is Nera coming to breakfast?" Elain asked, "or will she remain in your room…?" Eris had placed his fork gently down on his plate and he met Elain's eyes silently for a moment. She could not tell what he was thinking, as his face was as unreadable and stoic as any well-trained courtier. It likely would have had to be to have deceived Beron for as long as he had. "She is still here…?" Elain asked after a moment, beginning to grow uncertain.

"She is still here." He smiled then, expression growing warmer and Elain wondered if anyone in his own Court had seen that look on his face before. Those amber eyes flicked to her left, and he watched something behind her as his smile widened. Elain couldn't help but turn and look over her shoulder and, sure enough, heading toward the table was the faerie she hadn't seen since their last visit to the Autumn Court.

Nera did not say anything as she approached, but walked around the table to take a seat beside Eris. Her eyes remained low, on the table and on her plate, and Elain did not blame her for the nervousness she so clearly felt. Glancing around the room, however, Elain noticed that not a single pair of eyes was directed their way. Nobody was interested in Nera at all, if they had even noticed her presence. Elain doubted that anyone would have even known who or what she was. If anyone would have paid her any attention out of any jealousy due to interest in Eris, they were hiding it well.

"Good morning, Nera." Lucien said in a friendly manner, "Are you enjoying the Day Court."

"I…" Nera looked up then, eyes moving between Lucien and Elain, "Good morning. Yes, I like what I have seen so far, although I suspect that it is currently not at full potential…"

"True." Elain smiled, "Usually it is a little more… impressive."

"Understandable considering…" Nera frowned a little and her eyes returned to her breakfast. Eris leaned toward her, murmuring something that Elain could not make out and the female seemed to relax just a little bit. It was evident that Nera was comforted by Eris and his presence and, Elain wondered just what he had told her to get her to agree to leave their room for the morning meal. She wondered if he had coaxed her, or promised her something. She was pretty sure that he would not have ordered her to do it.

"Are you intending to go into the city?" Lucien asked, "To see more of the place…?"

"Perhaps this afternoon," Eris replied softly. "There will likely to be much to do this morning." Elain knew that the Throne Room was to be cleared of anything remaining after yesterday, and she wondered just where the bodies of the fallen were being kept.

"If you are intending to help, that is much appreciated." Lucien said, and Eris nodded slightly in acknowledgement.