A Court of Shift and shadow

XVI

Galads POV:

I saw how she shifted and took off, flying off towards the south. Slowly her bird became a small dot in the sky only to disappear. I was standing in her room, the scent of her wildflowers slowly fading away. The last of her fading away. No way she would last in the spring court, Tamiln would kill her as soon as she stepped inside the borders. And to know that hurt more than dad being ill, it hurt more than to hear her screams, to see her panic. I had just left the room, following her, tried to say something, and her only words to me were.

"Thanks..." And then she shifted. And I was left in her room. I had so many things I wanted to tell her, but now... If all that I would have was her memory for the rest of my life, so be it. Even if it would hurt. Elain entered the room, I had only met her a handful of times over the years. Never really cared for her too closely. And after this, I probably never would care for her.

"Feyre is calling you." She said, did she see my pain? Did she care that she just sent Katie to her death?

"Why?" I asked.

"To talk about what to do now."

"No, Why does she need to go there?" I closed my fists. "He will kill her."

"What I see is not for everyone to hear." She said, "But trust me, things are happening for a reason."

"Her death... What reason will that have?" I said, leaving the room. Mom was at my dad's bedside. "You called for me."

"Yes..." She turned towards me. "You will need to run the court, I can't do it alone, not..."

"Amren? Why can't she do it?" I asked.

"She refuses, I don't want to lay this burden on you Galad. But right now, you must." She wiped away a tear. "We will need to inform the citizens, and the other courts. Right now we need all the help we can get to understand this."

"I understand..."

"I have lost him one time before, I can't do it again." She looked at my dad. "She will need to fly for at least three days before she reaches the Spring Court. If that is of comfort."

"It is not..." I said back. "But I will help you to run this court. But only if I don't need to travel to the next meeting. Before the new borders will be confirmed. Take Belinda. For if I see him, knowing what he has done... "

"I can do that." Was her only answer.

"I will inform our citizens and allies first. Then the other courts." I left the room, Cass and Az were standing outside. "Take some rest." I said to them,

"No." Az stated. "I just want permission to start the hunt after the spy who did this. All means necessary."

"We can't do nothing... " Cass said. "We can't be sitting on our asses when he is ill."

"Okay then." I said. "Azriel, start your hunt, but tomorrow. Rest, think, and make sure to get a spy into the Spring Court." Az nodded and disappeared. "Cass, stay here... We can't be spread out over the territory right now. Call Vesa here, train her and Belinda. And me. Give us a routine to follow."

"I will." He put his hand on my shoulder. "And, she may have only trained for me once, but she will not go down easy. Whatever that Tool of a High Lord will do. She will fight."

___

Nex morning Velaris was quiet, black flags were hanging in mourning, and scholars from all types of fields came to our door. I put Nesta on to handle them. Researchers were sent to Amren, who worked her way through the library looking for a clue. Some came just to give us support and some to help the healers. Az was gone, he had left before sunrise. And I waited, waited to feel her disappear from the world. I walked between Amren in the library, Cassian's training and Nesta greeting the visitors. Back and forth, letters from the other Courts came. Tarquin wanted to visit, same for Kallias and Viviane. Helion sent some of the more unique books on poisons and diseases. One day became the next, and that one became the third.