A Court of Fire and Starlight (ACOTAR Fan Fiction)

New Tillstead Part II

ASTRA

With a pounding headache, Astra only half listened while Lucien and Eris took turns lecturing her on the previous night's unnecessary spectacle, as they called it. Astra was of the opinion it was barely a minor disturbance, but only Reed seemed to think the same, which was concerning.

Astra had tried to stay in bed for the entire morning, but they had pounded on her door and finally strolled in to remove the covers she had managed to slide under at some point during the night.

Lucien and Eris made a fairly good team when they were of like mind and not bickering with each other. They'd possibly reconnect over their shared belief that chaos surrounded Astra. They might even be able to bond with her father someday since he believed something similar and had mentioned it many, many times.

The day was turning out to be dull.

She had yet to run into the little brat, Ethra, but she had been amused to see that Lord Birch had significantly less facial hair and red blisters above his thin, upper lip.

Lucien had gone down to the town and was visiting with some Fae that had been close with Jesminda and Rikoh had traveled out to the nearby village he'd grown up in to see distant relatives.

Reed was being pestered by young field workers begging him to teach them how to wield a quarterstaff, which he'd mentioned he learned in his youth before moving on to the more deadly glaive.

Kane had mentioned he planned to check in on a few of the nearby training camps to take inventory of weapons and other supplies.

On her own after recovering from the sweet wine, Astra found a spot in the grass where the dew had dried and tried to wrangle the prowling smokehounds into cuddling with her. Vulcan was more inclined to stand guard in the shade from a tree, but she managed to get the chubby hound to curl up next to her.

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A chill swept over Astra, causing her eyes to flutter open. She groaned when she realized the pleasantly warm sun that had been beating down on her was being blocked by a long shadow.

"You've turned my priceless hunting hounds into domestic, lethargic dogs," Eris drawled while looking down at her.

"Go away," she mumbled as she buried her face into the grey fur of the snoring hound.

"That's no way to treat someone who's gone out of his way to bring you a tonic for your hangover."

Astra's eyes shot open as she jumped up and plucked the vial out of Eris's hand before he'd fully finished his patronizing sentence.

After gulping it down, Astra asked, "Don't you have something you should be doing like singeing more mustaches or holding court for the people of this town?"

A bewildered look crossed his face before his features neutralized again. "I made my point with Lord Birch, and I think he looks significantly better with a bald upper lip anyway. As for holding court, I see no reason for it. The Fae here already know I've been crowned."

Cocking her head, Astra tried to determine if he was being serious or sarcastic. "It's your duty to let people come before you and voice their concerns and ask for resolutions to disputes."

Eris's gaze was fixed on a point somewhere behind Astra and he seemed to be lost in his thoughts before he finally replied. "My father stopped that practice several centuries ago. I vaguely remember standing by his throne in my youth while he listened, but it always turned out badly."

"Are you modeling your reign off your father's?" Astra quipped.

His eyes flicked back to her, and his expression darkened. "Certainly not."