Chapter 437
Around them, the chatter of breakfast rose and fell. Elain listened to it here and there, trying to look as if she were as attentive as she thought she should appear, but she kept finding herself watching Eris and Nera across the other side of the table. The two of them were clearly affectionate, although perhaps somewhat unused to having eyes on them while being so. Elain understood that; it had taken her a long time to get used to others seeing how she and Lucien were with one another. Their relationship had developed under the eyes of most of the Courts of Prythian with a never ending parade of strangers offering them advice. Nera and Eris, however, had developed their own relationship in private.
It was rather sweet, Elain figured, watching the way that Eris would shift or lean closer to Nera, offering her quiet words, and then Nera would smile and seem to sit a little higher. Her confidence seemed to come and go in waves, but Eris always seemed to notice when she needed his words. The two of them spoke quietly to one another, replying to others when conversation was directed their way, but this was seldom as the lot of them sat up the end of the table, away from most of the business of the rest of the room.
Helion approached the table when Elain was halfway through with her breakfast and she was unsurprised to see Ashk with him. Russet eyes moved from one of her sons to the other, and Ashk smiled more widely as she took up an empty chair. Eris was on his feet a heartbeat later. "You have not eaten?" the High Lord of the Autumn Court asked, looking at his mother and the lack of plate before her.
"I have not." She replied, glancing toward the table of fruit. Eris moved away from his seat without another word and they all watched him stride across the room to fetch his mother some breakfast.
"Has he always done that?" Helion asked, voice curious. Elain turned back around to see Ashk nodding slowly.
"He has always ensured I was taken care of…" Her voice held a note of something Elain could not identify, but she understood the older female's meaning. Her eldest son had ensured that she had not gone without whatever he could provide for her considering Beron was likely not concerned with her needs.
Eris returned only moments later, setting down a plate of honeyed pears before his mother. Ashk smiled at him and Eris returned to his seat with a slight bow. Elain did not think that she and Lucien needed to try too hard to pry any further reasoning as to why Eris had come to the Day Court and remained here. She watched Eris for a moment as his eyes remained on his mother, only leaving her when she lifted a piece of pear to her lips, and he saw her eat. He then turned his attention to Helion, lifting a red eyebrow as he addressed the other High Lord. "Is there a plan for this morning and what needs to be done?"
"There is." Helion replied, almost reclining in his chair. "Those willing will move to the Throne Room to assist there…" Helion stopped, looking as if he had been about to say more, but he turned head, lightning quick, to face the doors to the dining room, and an instant later he was on his feet.
More slowly than Helion, Elain also turned in her seat, hand resting on the back of it to help herself twist. She froze then, watching as two soldiers she did not know stalked into the room. Elain's gaze settled between them, however. Struggling and crying, Amala was dragged, the soldiers each gripping one of her arms as they pulled her along. Her bare feet slid along the floor, even as she tried to gain some traction to resist as the soldiers dragged her toward where Helion now stood and dropped her at the High Lord's feet.