Chapter 592

They had turned down several streets and smaller alleys when Kaii came to a stop. Elain eyed the small wooden door critically. It looked as if it had been involved in several fights and she could have sworn that the small knicks in the wood here and there had been made by blades. Looking back to Kaii, she raised an eyebrow.

"Is this it?" She asked.

"This is it." He confirmed, nodding a little. Elain knew that would be his answer, but it nothing to quell the nervousness swirling inside her like ash. If the door was anything to go by, this was a side of the Day Court that she had not yet experienced. "This is a place which is…" Kaii paused, "likely not the type of place you are used to."

"Okay." Elain drew a deep breath, looking back to the door. Behind it, she could hear the sounds of the commotion inside. It sounded busy.

"That's alright." Nera said, tightening her arm around Elain's. "Until recently I made a living cleaning the High Lord's house. I'm used to such places as this." Elain was glad for Nera's confidence, although she was still nervous. Even when they had been poor, she had never been to places like this. Kaii was smiling at Nera and he gave her a wink as he reached for the door. Elain reminded herself that Siv was still somewhere nearby, watching over them. "What are you worried about?" Nera breathed, leaning closer to Elain. "This is the Day Court."

"I know." Elain replied softly, "I know it's probably nothing like the kinds of places I imagine exist in the Autumn Court… Maybe we should have brought Eris…"

"You've spent time in the Night Court." Nera said, "Surely you've seen some… things…" Elain just smiled anxiously as they headed inside. She had been told that the Night Court's reputation had been largely exaggerated throughout Prythian, but she had only ever really had dealings with others who knew the truth. She wasn't about to be the one correcting those ideas unless she'd been told she could.

The loud noise and the warm air washed over them as Kaii led them inside. The smell was also not something Elain had expected. She had expected something unpleasant, but the spices that seemed to float on that air as they made their way across the large room were almost welcoming. Elain breathed deeply, trying to calm herself, and found that she relaxed more than she had expected she would. "Oh… it is warm in here…" She was looking all around them, taking in the multiple fireplaces that were emitting a comforting warm glow.

"Busier than I would have expected for this time of day." Kaii commented, ushering them across the room and between groups of faeries drinking at the bar. Elain had thought, for a moment, that they were heading to some of the couches by one of the fires, but Kaii directed them into a large booth surrounded by high walls. "Might get at least some privacy in here…" he said.

"Good view of the room, too." Elain agreed, sliding into her seat and watching the rest of the place as she did so. Nera slid in after her, and a part of Elain was thankful that her friend was now a barrier between her and the rest of the room. "Kaii… exactly what kind of establishment is this?" She could see all different kinds of groups gathered around the place. Some were at the bar, some were at tables, and others in booths like their own. Each group looked about as different from one another as it was possible to be. Not all were High Fae, but some were. Some looked well to do, and others not at all. A delicious smell drifted past them, and Elain breathed deeply again. She had just begun to relax again when a shout went up and a scuffle began by the bar. Kaii straightened, his hand going beneath the table, and Elain knew that he had gripped at least one of his weapons. The scuffle didn't last long, as a member of staff had quickly gripped one of the fae involved and dragged them outside.

"Why does the High Lord come here?" Nera asked, and Elain thought it was a good question.

"I suppose he comes here," Kaii answered, "when he wants a break from being the High Lord."