A Court of Shadow and Song

Chapter 15

15

Gwyn POV

They waited a week. Gwyn explained what happened two times over before everyone seemed to understand. There was still not much she could do, she had realized. The shadow had not told her where Azriel was. Only that she would need to follow it soon to find him. Rhys was pacing. Cassian had shifted from sadness to anger, his siphones were glowing to show he ready to kill he truly was. Most everyone stayed silent. Allowing Gwyn's words to settle once again.

"Can you call the shadow back?" Rhys asked.

"I don't think so." Gwyn sighed, "I'm not like Azriel, even if I was able to talk to them this time. I don't know how it works." Rhys nodded and continued pacing.

"I don't understand why it would want to wait. Unless the shadow is not sent from Azriel... " Gwyn knew what he meant. That perhaps this shadow was Koschei, leading them into a trap.

"I don't care who sent it." Gwyn snapped. "It was either one of Azriel's, or Koschei's. Either way, it will lead us to wherever Koschei is hiding out."

"Agreed." Cassian said, Rhys only nodded.

"I won't put anyone else in danger." He said softly, looking over to Feyre. "I agree, either path will lead us to him, but I won't put anyone else in danger."

"That's not your choice alone to make." Feyre said, taking his hand, ever the curse breaking warrior that Gwyn had heard stories about.

"No one else has to go." Gwyn said impatiently, "I will go. I'll find him."

"I would rather dive back into the cauldron than let you go alone." Nesta snapped, walking over to take Gwyn's hand.

"Over my dead body." Emerie said, taking her other.

"We go together." Nesta said to her. "Valkyrie." Gwyn's heart swelled as she looked at her friends.

Cassian walked over, taking Nesta's hand. Feyre took his and reached out, taking Rhys's.

"Together." Feyre said. Gwyn knew that if Mor hadn't been watching over Nyx, and Amren hadn't been working on a magical solution to stop his spontaneous winnowing, that they would be here with them too. Family, Gwyn realized. As much as she and her sister were.

The shadow reappeared before Gwyn could say anything else. This time, a larger shadow in tow.

"Where did you go, you little thing?" She snapped, rushing to the darkness.

Time. It whispered into her ear. Come with us.

Gwyn realized why the little shadow had left when the larger shadow opened up and it beckoned for her to walk into it. The smaller piece of darkness had to retrieve the portal.

"I think we are supposed to go in." Gwyn said over her shoulder. Locking eyes with her friends, they walked through, hand in hand.

~*~

Gwyn stepped onto a darkened path. She smelled dampness and realized they were near a lake. But this spot had likely been glamoured. They crept into the darkened cave in front of them, as the crossed the entrance the image of the cave shifted into an enormous lair with stone doors and a long narrow hall. Glamoured, Gwyn silently confirmed.

"Hey, you!" A male came rushing towards them, one of Beron's men, she realized with a start. The fury lit through her blood and Gwyn's dagger went sailing through the air and through his throat as if it were nothing more than a ribbon. No one behind her had had a chance to move. A low whistle from Cassian was the only sound as Gwyn retrieved her dagger and continued on.