Credit to ink_readable for the beautiful cover! Go follow them! <3
A revamp of the original A Court of Blood and Night.
Rowan Whitethorn Galathynius continues searching for his wife to free her from her aunt's clutches, but months have passed since...
Apologies for the short chapter. It's been a few years and I'm getting back into the groove of things.
Also, for some reason my phone is being a jerk and it isn't letting my save my author's note. So here:
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After some contemplation, Rowan made the decision to stay put until their companions caught up to them. As much as he loathed the idea of stopping, he knew that Aedion's party would have no chance of reaching them otherwise. At Lorcan's suggestion, they doubled back to a more spacious and resourceful campsite that they had passed the say before, only a few hours away on foot; gods knew how long they were going to have to wait before Aedion and the rest arrived, and if they ran out of food before they did then it wouldn't bode well.
The traveling was light in comparison to the hours upon hours of walking that they all had gotten used to, and they reached the site quickly and with ease. The others still had plenty of energy left to set up camp, and quickly got to work.
Rowan composed and sent a response to Aedion's letter as soon as they reached the campsite, not even bothering to wait to set up camp first. As the others around him busied themselves with duties that Azriel and Cassian doled out, Rowan picked up his quill. He made certain to detail as much as he could about Ianthe and Jurian, checking in with the others constantly to make sure he was accurate. He made sure to stress how dangerous they were, though Rhysand was sure Amren would fill him in on everything herself.
Rowan also added, almost as an afterthought, the developments with Rhysand and his Court. He'd promised the Highlord that he would not continue to keep them prisoner, and he intended to keep his word. He added that Aedion should let Amren and the others know as well. When the letter was finished, he sent the bird off with it, and then went to assist the others in setting up camp.
As he helped set up shelters to help protect them all from the roaring wind, he heard Remelle and Lucien behind him arguing over how to best set up campfires. They would have to create at least two to keep the entire group warm, and perhaps even a third specifically for food. Though they were arguing, the banter wasn't hostile, and Rowan knew he had made the right decision on not keeping them all prisoner-- even if Tamlin still sulked like a child.
They finished everything within an hour. Constantly taking down and setting up camp between their travels ensured that they did everything with practiced ease.
It was early afternoon now, and they had a whole day of inaction ahead. Rowan didn't want to sit and do nothing. If he did, he knew he would be overwhelmed with guilt over the fact that he wasn't looking for Aelin. So, after a few minutes of contemplating, he decided the best use of his energy was patrolling the area. Maybe he would get lucky, and a few Valg would be nearby. Gods knew a good fight would keep him busy.
For a while, he walked, but eventually decided he would cover more ground with wings, and shifted. As he flew, the wind catching his feathers, he kept an eye out for any suspicious movement. But even though he flew far, the mountain was not sheltering any Valg.
It was quiet. Too quiet. They hadn't seen any demons in days, and Rowan knew Maeve well enough to know she would be keeping tabs on them. She had to know where they were, but she wasn't bothering to send anyone after them. Why? Was this her way of telling him she didn't believe he could find Aelin? That she didn't think it was worth the effort anymore? Or had something happened to Aelin? Had Maeve...
He swooped down to the ground below and shifted, his heart lurching in horror at his own thoughts. What if Maeve wasn't sending Valg anymore because she had killed Aelin?
No. He swallowed hard. If Aelin was dead, he would know it, wouldn't he? She was his mate. They had a bond. If she died, he would feel it. Still, doubt made it hard to breathe. What if Maeve had been lying? What if she was trying to trick him into thinking Aelin was his mate? But he knew that too was an inaccuracy. He'd felt the bond before. He'd denied its existence but it had been there. It was still there, a reassuring anchor that confirmed Aelin was still here.
Nonetheless, something had changed, and he didn't like it. Maeve had to be planning something. After another moment of thought, he shook his head. It would do him no good to sit and ponder. Even though they were staying in place, Rowan knew there was plenty to get done back at the site. For now, they were safe, and that was what mattered. He shifted again, and made his way back to the campsite.
