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starfall-spirit · 1 year

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A Court of Twisted Wisdom

Summary: See ACOTW Masterlist

Chapter VII: Patience is a Virtue

Ayla The monolith didn't do it's job that morning, but Thesan was my savior and I was ready to jump back in the saddle. I'm no puny coward. I'd proved that on Ramiel, despite everything. Finding Roxanne, we went to find a certain softie capable of transporting us since we were grounded from both magic and flight for a few more days.

"No."

"Please, Uncle Az," we begged, linked arm in arm.

"What did I just say? The camp is the last place you should be right now."

"But—"

"Stop, Ayla. Not yet. I'd rather keep my head on my shoulders. Give it a few days. Your parents will let up eventually but we have some shit to figure out and you have some healing to do still."

We turned away, making a show of sulking about it. Roxanna was already past my mental doorway. We owe this to her parents, Ayla. We're going now, no matter what our parents want.

Agreed. ~~~~~ I took a deep breath as we winnowed into the camps, keeping our heads down despite our hooded cloaks covering our faces and brutally scarred wings. My mirror revealed to me that even Thesan couldn't erase the scars of sick knife work. Roxanna and I were steering clear of as many people as we could. There were only two people we needed to talk to today. While I know others, I wasn't ready to face their questions and pitying eyes. At last we reached the small house in the center of camp. I rapped on the solid wooden door.

It swung inwards, revealing the wonderful woman who treated me like her second daughter. Outside Velaris, Gina and Vincent were my home. "Gina, I'm so sorry." She nodded, merely sweeping me into a hug and welcoming us in for some tea.

"You were with her when she died? Both of you?"

"She was killed. They were there for us and she tried to step in and... She was still behind me. I was too slow." Her husband came in from the living room. Not mates, but helplessly in love. He sat on my other side, squeezing my hand. "I'm so sorry."

"You may have been her only friends in those mountains, but you weren't charged as her guardians, Ayla," Vincent tried to sooth me.

"But I promised to be," I insisted. "We're a team. The three of us are supposed to cover each other." I tried to wipe my tears away. "I failed her in our greatest challenge. She should have come home."

He pulled me into a hug, but it did little to numb the pain. "I hate to bring up another bad subject, but how are you two adjusting to..."

"Thesan was in Velaris when we were brought home," Roxanna cut back in. "Our wings are fine, actually."

They both gave me smiles at that and Gina tried to ease the conversation as Vincent went to answer the second knock on the door. "Ah, Cassian," I heard him say from the foyer.

"If I can do anything to ease your adjustment, please don't be afraid to ask for help. You and Gina will always be family. I—"

I flinched as my father stopped short. He had sensed we were here. "Ayla, Roxanna, come here."

Great. The full names are coming out. Straight-backed, I stood to face my father. He sent her out where Aunt Mor was waiting, saying her scolding was for Rhys and Feyre to handle. "I was just extending my own condolences," I snapped. "I figured they'd want a first-hand telling of what happened."

"I told you to stay in Velaris until this blew over and you were truly healed."

"I'm fine! I don't need anyone babying me because of what happened up there. Sitting at home just leaves me with time to think over it and feel worse. If I'm going to think about it it might as well be worth the time. If it was me that died up there would you want Lyra to tuck herself away and let you wonder what happened to me? Because that's what you're asking me to do right now."

"I'm asking you to go because you can't handle being here."

His words struck hard. With a clipped goodbye to my hosts I left the camp. I wouldn't let them see me cry. ~~~~~ I sensed him approaching the next morning and stood a little taller. As promised, I had started the morning by training with Az. My change in body language clearly had him confused. "Ayla, can I speak with you?"

"Why, so you can snatch my sword away and tell me to give up?" Speaking to my father like this wasn't exactly respectful but I was too angry to care. I needed to calm down. The last time anger took over...

He winced, cursing as a wide-eyed Azriel found some shadows to meld into. "How did you kill them?"

Not how was I capable of it, but in what way did I. "No way I care to admit to others." I answered sharply, working to mend the training ring's barriers. "It was impulsive and cruel. I won't speak of it. Ever."

"I'm sorry, Ayla. What I said was out of frustration and worry. I didn't mean a word."

"Every slip up has roots of truth. I'm not stupid enough to think you truly believe in me now."

He groaned, stomping over and turning me by my shoulders. "Will you listen to me, Ayla? I was scared of it happening again, okay? I said the first thing I could think of to scare you off. That camp isn't exactly small and there are quite a few people who wouldn't mind your absence, especially since you reached the monolith. I'm not blind to how some of your feelings towards Illyrians might have changed since the Rite."

The males I hope to fight beside now terrify me. I looked away. "You're doing a pretty damn good job hiding it but I know walking into that camp wasn't easy. I don't want it to be any harder, okay? Let people be a little protective until you've healed completely."

"I've healed enough," I growled.

"And until we know Devlon was working alone."

"You're really convinced this wasn't a spite crime."

"People outside of the Night Court know about the Rite and when high-ranking people train for it. The wards around Velaris have been altered over time so they're almost impenetrable. If people can't kidnap or kill you here why not try at the Blood Rite? And if any survivors saw you and go blabbing about your mother's old magic being passed down... I don't want a target on your head again."

I had to admit his logic was sound. Disturbingly so. But I wasn't going to stay in Velaris my whole life, as beautiful as it may be. I was going to honor my skill set one day on a battlefield. Another place where I could prove myself. I was going to make my mark from north to south if I had the chance. I couldn't do that by staying in the city.

"Look," he began again, breaking my train of thought, "I know it's tough, but you have to hand over the reins sometimes. Let us keep looking into this and steer clear of Windhaven for a while. Okay?"

"Okay." I was terribly tempted to cross my fingers.

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animal-crossing · 1 year

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