Chapter 462

Setting the bells she had collected at the market beneath the tree by the many urns of ashes, Elain heard the sound of footsteps behind her. She had thought that she was alone in the garden as it was just after midday and everybody else had gone inside for Lunch. Turning, she smiled as Lucien approached her, but the smile fell from her face when she took in the light frown marring his features.

"What is it?" She asked, wondering what could have troubled him.

"Rhys and his… entourage… have arrived." He said, voice kind of blank.

Not sure why that would have had this effect on him, Elain tilted her head a little, reaching for the bond and any clues as to why her mate seemed less than pleased by this news. "Why have they come?" She asked, "Is there another High Lord meeting?"

"He claimed he heard what happened and has come to offer his assistance."

"Oh…" Elain blinked, "Is that not good?" That seemed like a nice gesture to her.

"Who told him?" Lucien asked, "Did you tell them?"

"I…" Elain paused, taking a small step back, "I… no…" She shook her head, "I wasn't aware that it was a secret... but… I haven't had the chance to write to Nesta yet…" She probably would have mentioned it when she finally had the time to actually sit down and pen a letter, but she had been so busy since everything happened that she hadn't had that time yet. Lucien frowned again and ran a hand through his thick ruby hair. "… Why?"

"Helion is asking…" Lucien told her, reaching out and taking one of her hands in his. "He did not tell the Night Court. If he intended to or not, I do not know… But he has not yet, and somehow they know."

Elain knew what that meant. Spies. "Azriel?" She asked softly, "Do you think he has spies in the Court?"

"He has them everywhere, doesn't he?" Lucien asked, voice flat. "Isn't that what his job is?"

"All the Courts do that, don't they?" Elain asked. "Although I don't understand wanting to spy on your friends…" She could see Lucien looking at her, his metallic eye clicking as he took in her expression.

"I suppose everyone has different ways of gathering information." He replied. "Generally the Emissary is a good way of gaining that information."

"But they are in plain sight." Elain mused.

Nodding, Lucien gave her a half smile, "Enough of the furniture around the place that sometimes their presence is forgotten or overlooked and they witness some interesting things…" Elain wondered what he had witnessed during his years as an Emissary. "But… the kind of spies that Rhys keeps are a little different."

"I had thought everyone does that." Elain replied, and Lucien shook his head.

"Do you imagine Helion has spies like that in the Night Court?" he asked, and Elain frowned, trying to imagine it. "Who in Rhys' Inner Circle" the words were nearly sneered, "do you imagine would be passing Helion information their High Lord? Morrigan?"

Shaking her head slowly, Elain frowned. The very thought was ridiculous. "Nobody would be able to get close enough for that…" She murmured, thinking about the differences between the Night Court and The Day Court. "He's too… removed… from the rest of them." She said, "They live so far from the city… from the citizens…"

"Yes." Lucien agreed, "Helion has dozens of faeries around him for most of the day. Information on his movements and actions would be only too easy to acquire…"

"Would he even want to change that, though?" Elain asked, knowing that he would not, even as she asked the question.

"It's probably one of the reasons he is so beloved." Lucien said, "They can see him, see what he does, how he treats others… how he rules… and they are loyal for that."

"Do you think Rhys will tell us?" Elain asked, "How he knew what had happened?"

"One way to find out…" Lucien slipped an arm around her shoulders, and she walked with him from the garden and inside.