A Court of Shift and shadow

LVI

Galads POV: 

More weeks passed, and we found a normal rhythm in everyday life. Me being away in training, my magic was so easy to work with, it had moved from being hard to control and instabel to something more similar to my dads powers. But the stones were needed for me to use it. The nine stones not only contained it, they made it so easy to work with it. I was wearing seven of them at all times, and the two extra were placed in my twin swords, to let me use my powers unhindered in battle. Belinda teased me for it, for being more Illyrian with the stones then she was. And Katie worked with Azriel on the reports from the battle. So many things were still unknown, and not understood. It drove dad mad, once a day I found him muttering about it.

I could only agree, we always knew what was happening and why. But this time, no plan made sense. But with Hybern more or less emptied on citizens, and the keep destroyed, the King's body was missing. Probably because of my magic. It all just felt wrong. Katie said the same when we talked over dinner, that something was wrong, but what or why...

"We walk through every part of the plan. The King killing of Tamlin makes sense. If he believed that I was the one that was next in line." She said moving the food around. "And to make us, winter and autumn insatiable by forcing Eris to kill... Why us three? Maybe he didn't know about our treaty, making the revenge more extreme then he had planned for."

"That would mean that Eris was meant to attack from behind. As Spring was unstable and Winter too..." I said back.

"Az said the same. But in that case... We still have a better structure around our armies."

"We?" I asked. Realising that she always talks about the Night Court as the Night Court.

"Yes, we." She looked up from her food. "Even if you and I needed to deal with Spring and whatever. Belinda, Vesa, Lisu. Cass. Heck Az and your father too. They all are still free to do it all. Last war you had even less of a structure."

"We had... Maybe he had no spies here..." I said. Katie rose to her feet.

"Teran moved around in the Court of Nightmares. He only visited us this Starfall." She said,

"You are losing me..."

"The King's plan started earlier. At least two weeks earlier. Before Teran could have reported anything from starfall. So his plan must have changed after that..." She got down again. "We are going around in circles."

"Let's talk about something different." I changed the topic. "Your birthday, what do you want to do?" A small smile.

"Caspan has a bigger party planned, he will invite and welcome all of the Spring Court. I have no real interest in that. But mother will kill me if I am not there..." She ate the last of her food. I couldn't help but to feel relieved at the empty plate.

"So we travel down to Spring. We can do that." I said back. Taking her hand. "I will ask the rest to just let it be. If you want me to."

"That sounds good... And like a plan..." I couldn't help but to study her face, her closed eyes, the tanned skin, her soft smile... She had come back from the Tower, she had opened up, talked about what happened. The bond between us had never been stronger or better. Even if it at times almost hurt me to see her sit on the roof, staring out over the city. To see her flinch at every touch from others.

"I know you will never hurt me, but everyone else..." She had said one time. "I need some time to remind myself that not all touch is evil."

"We have time." I had said back. "Don't rush it to a point where it hurts you."

"What are you thinking about?" Kaite asked, bringing me back to the table

"Nothing important."

"Liar." She said,