A Court of Teal and Shadows

Chapter 4

Gwyn

As the morning exercises ended in the training area, Gwyn watched Azriel. The morning was cool, and despite her sweat, she almost shivered. She drank from the ewer at the water stand, waiting for Deidre and Ananke to finish their cooldown. As the last of her fellow Valkyrie trickled out of the arena, she approached Azriel.

"Today went well." She said as she neared him, trying to think of ways to lead the conversation toward the topic she was actually thinking about.

"There is still work to be done." Azriel replied rather shortly, before adding, "Roslin has improved her stance since yesterday, and I assume it was thanks to your private lesson in the library."

Gwyn felt her ears redden, realizing her one on one sessions with the priestesses were not as secret as she had thought.

"Thanks for helping them," Azriel continued, "it can be hard for me to help some of them without risking their personal space. If working with you is more comfortable for them, perhaps you should start leading the training exercises."

"What? There's no way that I'm qualified for that. Besides, that's why you're here." Gwyn responded, shocked at his suggestion.

"I've been thinking about it. Maybe you should take over for me. I'm sure the others wouldn't mind, and when Emerie returns she would likely help you if you needed it. You both won the Blood-Rite. Even if you don't have the experience Cass and I have, you have still faced enough to know what you're doing. There is enough for me to do for the Highlord that there would be no issue in your taking over."

"I didn't realize our training had been keeping you from your duties," Gwyn said, inwardly cringing at the unintended coldness in how she spoke.

"That's not what I meant," Azriel said, facing her fully, his wings blocking some of the light she had just been in.

"I know. I'm sorry." Gwyn replied with a sigh. "I just think there are too many things we could still learn from you for you to leave now."

"Maybe you're right. I'm sorry too. There are just...other things I'm worried about, so I figured removing myself here would give me a chance to look for solutions to problems that have arisen elsewhere."

'What's going on?" Gwyn asked, not faking her concern. This had been what she had wanted to ask him about, to begin with, so she was glad he had mentioned it and reminded her. During their morning exercises, she had sensed that something was off. His shadows were moving faster than usual, pulling away as if they wanted to be elsewhere.

"It's nothing," Azriel stated, but Gwyn could tell he was holding back.

"Yeah right," Gwyn retorted, trying to keep the tone light for fear of pushing him back into his usual silence. "I can tell it's bothering you. Your shadows seem off. I understand if you can't tell me, but come on, who am I going to tell?"

Azriel stared at for a moment, a hint of something she couldn't recognize in his eyes. Then he sighed.

"If anyone asks me about this I'll know it was you who told them."

"I just told you I won't tell," Gwyn replied back, hiding her surprise that he was actually going to tell her.

"It's Feyre's sister. Elain." Azriel began, "She is going into the human realm to meet with Lucien because Rhysand thinks that if we can get Elain to form some kind of relationship with Lucien, it will strengthen his loyalty to the Night Court."

Gwyn mentally noted the way Azriel said Lucien's name as if it tasted foul on his tongue. He was Elain's mate, so Azriel's disdain for the male was a little surprising. As she thought it through, she realized there must be something about Elain he wasn't saying. Something about Elain, but also about Azriel. It hit her then, that they must have some kind of history. She wondered if they were lovers, or at least had been at some point in the past year. Elain. She had met Elain, and after everything she had heard from Nesta, the third Archeron sister had fallen somewhat short. She was beautiful, but there was something lacking in her. Gwyn had felt guilty after she first met her for thinking it, but ever since then, there was nothing about her that Gwyn particularly liked.

"The human realm is still dangerous," Azriel continued, bringing Gwyn's own thoughts back to reality. "Rhys thinks she'll be fine, but Lucien has failed others in the past. She is not safe there. She would be much safer if she stayed here."

Gwyn filled in the last two unspoken words on her own. With me. He didn't say it, but she knew it was what he was thinking.

For some reason, Gwyn had a new feeling of dislike for Elain.