A Court of Shift and shadow

XXI

Galads POW:

My heart was still speeding, like it had been the day before. I felt like I had been running my fastest with no rest for hours. But all I had done was to read that invitation that still missed a date, and went out flying. A month had gone since dad got ill, and it was only two weeks left to the original deadline for the next meeting. For a month I had acted like the High Lord, and apparently the stress already took its toll on me. Great... My hands had stopped hurting, and my back too. But now it was this speeding heart. What would be next? I landed from my flight and started to walk inside. Cass was at his and Nestas home, she had a tough start to her pregnancy and he was needed at her side. Az had not been home for over a week at this point. But now he was standing in the doorway.

"Galad, come." Was all he said, and I followed. He led me up to the library. "I got called to the Summer Court yesterday, and we have some answers." He opened the door, and the first thing I saw was the creature in the middle on the floor. And then the scent on wildflowers...

"Katie?" The creature turned towards me, and slowly she shifted. Her hair was short, and bruises covered her arms, and her hands... I looked at mine, she had been burned. She walked towards me and hugged me. A small shiver passed through her body. "What happened?"

"Long story... But I know how to fix this..." her mind opened up, just a little, and one thought came to me. And after that, we will talk. I nodded.

"You can?" I asked.

"Yes... But I need time."

"And some FOOD!" Amren yelled. "She had been here for hours and not taken one break."

"I can do that later." Katie said back. I just looked at her, Amren was right. She had lost more weight than what should be possible in one mouth.

"We have time, come, let's eat. And we need to inform mom, and Cass. And Belinda." I looked at Az, who only nodded and disappeared again. I took Katies hand and we started to walk down stairs, she was a bit unsteady. And her breath strained. How she was standing, or even shifting... What had happened.

"How... How long has it been?" Katie asked as we sat down.

"A month, what happened to you in that time?" I said back, studying her face.

"I got trapped in a Faebane cell..." She studied her hands, had it burned her? "Tamlin trapped me... And I did lose hope.. Until I didn't... And I got out, I fought against him one more time..." Her hand moved up to her hair. Looking for what wasn't there. "I got out, and I can help, that is the important thing." Was she ever gonna be okay after this?

"Then eat." Amren said "Farbane is not just a stone that hinders magic, it drains it out of you. Even Rhys gets affected by it." Katie started to eat, and I turned to Amren, trying to tell her to not berate her like that. If Amren heard me, she didn't show it. But she kept quiet.

Belinda was the first to come into the house, wide eyed. Don't say a word I told her and she only nodded once for confirmation and walked upstairs.

She looks like bones. Was her only comment once she was out of sight.

Yes, but no need to comment on it. She wants to help, and we have just dragged her down here to eat, so she can help. I said back. Trying to keep my face neutral.

Does mom know?

Az is telling her now.

Good.

"Are you all called to the next meeting?" Katie said, half of the toast was gone. A start.

"Yes, we are waiting for Spring to answer..." Amren said.