A Court of Souls and Shadows

3. Azriel

The cold bit into my wings more than usual. The temperatures in the Winter Court had always been brutal, but it was even worse this time of year. I flew to the edge of the Winter Court towards the forest edge at the base of the mountains, where the Soul Stealer had last been seen 473 years ago.

I touched down at the edge of the trees and searched for any sort of trail she could have taken, but there was nothing. This wasn't surprising to me, considering she had made her escape over 400 years ago. I released my shadows and watched them sliver in between the dense trees and up the face of the mountains. It was unlikely the Soul Stealer had settled in the mountains here, right under the nose of the Court that wanted her dead, but it was a start.

As my shadows made their way through the mountains, I took to the skies, trying to put myself in the Soul Stealer's position and think logically about where she would have gone that made sense. There was nothing but dense forest and mountains for miles, the perfect place to hide. But I knew the Winter Court had many creatures that knew those woods and could have tracked her easily. I wouldn't have stayed so close to home. My shadows returned to me and confirmed what I already knew. No fae resided in the mountains below.

I continued to fly North, crossing the mountains at the border of the Winter Court and entering the Dawn Court. I sent my shadows ahead of me again, searching for anything of use. But they returned to me with nothing again. Gritting my teeth in frustration, I turned around and headed back to the Winter Court. I needed more than just rumours to go on if I had any hope of finding the Soul Stealer.

Rhysand had sent word to Kallias that I would be searching the Winter Court, and he had confirmed with me that the High Lord didn't give a shit. I could look around as much as I wanted. As far as he was concerned, his half-sister was dead and I was simply wasting my time. I didn't buy for a second that he didn't know anything about her though. 473 years ago, Kallias would have been young, but not so young to have not remembered a thing. With that thought in mind, I headed for the Ice Palace deep within his Court, to give him a piece of my mind.

I touched down at the entrance of the palace, the guards not surprised to see me at all.

"Azriel of the Night Court, I request an audience with the High Lord."

The guard to my left nodded and reached to open the doors.

"He's expecting you," he said gruffly, stepping aside to let me pass.

I walked through the open doors and couldn't help myself from turning my head upwards to stare at the intricate ceiling above me. I'd been inside the palace before, but it always took my breath away. A translucent layer of ice formed a dome above the entrance, intricate designs of snowflakes etched throughout. Chandeliers made of ice hung from it, catching the light of the morning sun and glittering like diamonds.

I continued through the entrance and towards the throne room, where a staff member of the palace had confirmed Kallias was waiting for me upon my entrance.

Kallias was seated on his throne of ice, his mate Vivianne on another throne by his side. I briefly wondered how he sat on that thing without freezing his balls off, until I noticed a layer of furs on the throne underneath where he sat on it.

I stopped at the foot of the raised dais the thrones sat upon and bowed, before straightening and clasping my hands behind my back.

"Shadow singer," Kallias said. "I take it your search has not been successful so far?" A small smile played on his lips, and I could tell he was deeply amused I was even trying to find the Soul Stealer at all.

"No," I confirmed. "Unfortunately, I have nothing but rumours to go on." I let my lips turn up slightly at the corners, taking on a playful tone in the hope I'd get more information out of Kallias this way. If he knew just how serious I was on finding the Soul Stealer, he might not help me at all.

Kallias rested his elbow on his throne and scratched at his beard, his smile turning into a full-on grin. "I hate to say I told you so, but...."

I smiled back at him and shook my head. "You don't remember anything about her at all? Do you know who her mother was? Any bit of information would help," I said, shifting my weight between my feet. I silently cursed myself at the small action, I didn't want him to know I was on edge awaiting his answer.

Kallias narrowed his eyes and his lips formed a tight line. I wondered for a moment if he would tell me anything, but before I had a chance to rephrase what I'd said, he spoke.

"The Soul Stealer was a bastard my father was ashamed of. My mother never expected monogamy from him, but when she discovered he had sired a child with one of his mistresses, she was furious. Her rage in that moment rivalled that of even the Cruel King himself. I remember that day well. My mother destroyed his office in such a rage, the walls shook."

I stayed silent as Kallias' frown deepened and he looked to his feet, deep in thought. I waited for him to continue, but he didn't.

"He had many mistresses?" I asked. I was sure I was crossing a line, but I decided to take my chances. We needed the Soul Stealer to win the war.

Kallias looked back up at me with those piercing, icy blue eyes. "He did," he confirmed. "But they were all fleeting. Except for the Soul Stealer's mother. He saw her for years."

"Did she ever come to the palace?"

"Cauldron, no," Kallias chuckled. His reaction surprised me.

"He never brought his mistresses here. I know other High Lords are far less discreet, but my mother would have killed them, and him, on sight if he had ever done such a thing. She was the only one the Cruel King himself feared. Her power surpassed his, which was something he would never let anybody else know."

"She sounds like a fierce female," I said softly, and Kallias nodded.

"She was."

I stayed silent for a moment. I thought maybe I'd pried too much, and I didn't know where to go from there, but Kallias surprised me once more by continuing.

"The Soul Stealer's mother, I think she was one of yours."

My eyebrows rose at his admission.

"One of mine?" I said incredulously.

"Illyrian," Kallias confirmed. "I heard rumours of the girl being able to conjure wings, but they were never confirmed. I saw her once, and she had deep gashes all down her back. My father beat the hell out of me for snooping in places I should not."

Kallias shook his head and turned back to look at me. I did not hide the surprise on my face. Illyrian! What the hell was she doing in the Winter Court? As if he could read my mind, Kallias said "When he would see her, he would disappear for days, sometimes weeks at a time. I remember asking where he was going, and he always said it was business with the other courts. My mother sent someone to follow him once, and they lost him in the Illyrian mountains."

I couldn't think of anything to say. I was in shock. If it was true, and the Soul Stealer was half-Illyrian, how had no one heard of this before? Why hadn't Kallias offered this information earlier? If the Illyrians were harbouring a fugitive from the Winter Court, she was sure to stick out. Had she really been hiding in our own court for the last 4 centuries?

"You told Rhysand you were too young to remember the bastard," I said, narrowing my eyes at the High Lord in suspicion. He did not look pleased at my statement.

"I don't remember what she looked like. I don't even remember her name. When I stumbled upon her in her cell, I only saw her back. My memories of even that encounter are hazy. I don't know why my father captured her or what he did to her, but I do know that she escaped. That part is obvious. When I told Rhysand I did not remember her, I did not lie. She is a ghost to me. One I would like to remain buried," he said with a deep frown.

"I apologise," I was quick to say. "And I thank you for being so forth coming with me. I will send word if I make any progress with my search." I bowed again and prepared to leave.

"Make sure that you do," Kallias said, almost too quiet for me to hear. But the way he said it didn't sound like a request. It sounded like a threat.