A Court of Shift and shadow

II

Katies POV:

Three days later, I could finally walk up straight, and eat. Dressed in the most formal dress I had, I knocked on the study door. No answer. One knock more, still quiet.

"Father?" I said to the door. "I'm home..." I knew he was in there, his powers surrounded the door and room.

"I'll be in the library, so you know..." Slowly I left the door.

The library was one of my favourite places in the manor. Books and maps all over the walls, simple sofas and armchairs created sitting areas, and by magic, a teapot was always ready for whoever decided to sit down. I walk among the bookshelves and read the titles. Novels of places far from here, stories about fae long dead. And the one I had reread one time to many. The story of Prythian, "From the rise of the wall to its fall" As I flipped through the pages and reread my favorit parts, again and again. How the Night Court murdered my father's father and brothers, how the human girl broke the curse, and how my father in the final moments manged to collect an army to aid in the fight against Hybern. I had found the book by chance one day, and started to read it. My father never talked about this time, nor did I ask.

As I studied the maps and blood lines of High Lords in the books. Showing how the current High Lord of the Night Court had murdered his own father to get the position. The first time I read this part my stomach almost turned inside out. Now, I was only disgusted by the fact. How could that man, both crown the first High Lady and kill his own father, I always wondered as I turned the pages to the one about the human girl. Curse breaker was her name.

"What are you reading?" I froze for a moment at my fathers voice behind me.

"From the rise of the wall to its fall" I said and showed him the book. "I like learning about the past."

"The past is in the past, no need to drag it up." He said as he took the book from me. "And this is a time I would like to forget."

"I understand." I said "I..."

"We have been invited to a meeting..." He said before I finished my sentence. "You and I, Under the Mountain." This time I not only froze, I gasped.

"Who is calling us?" That place was... I look at the book in his hand. "And why?"

"An old tradition, but a necessary one." He sat down in front of me and I saw how tired he was.

"Father, it... it was long ago..." I tried but regretted as his claws shot forward.

"I want the past, in the past." He hissed. Before withdrawing the claws. "But you need to follow, and I dislike that more than the place." I tried not to show the shimmer of joy I felt. To meet the other Lords and Ladys, to maybe get a change to ask them about the things he wouldn't tell. To get faces to the names. But I managed to keep my face neutral.

"So I need to follow?"

"Yes..." He handed me a letter, the letter with the black wax. "Read it." And I did.

"The council has summoned all the Lords and Lady's to Under the Mountain, to talk about the future of our lands. The place is chosen for its neutral history and the peace that is there, and only there.

There are expected to be two from each court in place, Lord or Lady with mate or relative in blood. If this is not possible, the mountain will allow a faithful servant to follow. The mountain knows and will not approve of anything else.

The meeting takes place at the next full moon and will last for at least three days.

Singed The Council"