A Court of Shadow and Song

Chapter 10

Gwyn POV

Gwyn saw the Autumn Court High Lord staring Azriel down as if he were a meal for a starving man. Beron was every bit as scary as Nesta had told her. For some reason, she didn't process the horrifying power of the High Lord while eating chocolate cake over smutty books with Nesta. Now she wished she would have taken a bit more interest.

"It has been ages since I killed an Illyrian." Beron said, "This should be fun." Gwyn could see Azriel tense in front of her, but rather than move to protect himself, he took a step over, concealing her from Beron.

"Oh don't worry. I'll take care of her too." The High Lord laughed. Azriel growled, the truth teller suddenly in his hand. He lunged for Beron, nicking the High Lord's arm. Azriel half turned and took a half step back towards Beron, a fluid quarter circle, shoulders and all, he moved as if he knew Beron's next step. Beron turned, arm raised, but Azriel was faster, truth teller sliced out leaving a deep cut in Beron's arm.

Beron roared with pain, fire now lit his eyes. Gwyn couldn't move. Watching Azriel fight was like watching a professional dancer. Gwyn thought she had nearly mastered the techniques Cassian and Azriel had taught her, but watching him now made her realize how novice she truly was.

Beron had fire. And no matter how fast Azriel was, he couldn't outrun fire. The first kiss of the flame caught his right wing. The scream from Azriel snapped Gwyn awake. She unsheathed two daggers from her side and lunged at Beron.

"Oh she fights for you too? How sweet." Beron slapped Gwyn aside as if she were nothing more than a bug on his shoulder. "I will send your wings back to your high lord as a reminder of what happens when he tries to send spies to infiltrate my territory. And he wonders why I no longer want to place my allegiance with him." With his attention back on Azriel, Gwyn took the opportunity to strike. But Beron threw a flame to Gwyn. The flame chilled her to the bone, even while burning the skin across her shoulder. She screamed, more in shock than pain. She wasn't expecting the flames to be cold. She had heard tales of flames so hot they chilled you, but she never thought she'd experience it.

The sound that ripped through Azriel was one that Gwyn had never heard before. "Do. not. Touch her." He screamed.

Beron tsked, "You let your weakness show too easily." Azriel had pure fury fueling his moves and behind his eyes. But Gwyn could already see this play out. Beron would kill him. He would kill her Shadowsinger, she realized with cold fear. Azriel was a great soldier, but he lacked the power of a high lord. It was as simple as that.

Beron surrounded Azriel in a cool blue fire. Bile rose with the panic in Gwyn's throat as she watched him fight, unsuccessfully, against the flames.

Beron turned to her. "I think the best form of torture, to teach you a lesson, Shadowsinger, is to kill your whore in front of you. This will serve as a wonderful reminder to your court the next time they think of sending spies into my court."

"I will rip your skin from your body, Beron," Azriel screamed, "You touch her and I will make you suffer." The fear in Azriel's words made Gwyn's heart race. He thought she was truly in danger. He was scared for her.

Beron edged towards her, hand raised with a lingering flame licking across his fingers. Gwyn lifted her daggers. Determined that, if she were going to die, she was going to die fighting. She tuned out Azriel, knowing that she would die faster if her eyes drifted to him.

From there, everything happened at once. She did not have a chance to fight for her life. She heard a crash before Beron's eyes went wide and his head slid from his shoulders.

The flames around them dimmed until Azriel was left panting and burned on the ground, his hands were shaking uncontrollably. Beron's headless body fell to the ground, revealing a crazed looking Eris. Gwyn watched with wide eyes as Eris's skin began to glow and the Autumn Court powers transferred into him.

Unsure of what else to do, Gwyn knelt before the new High Lord. And wept.