The Symphony of Shadow

20: 'Confortably Numb'

G W Y N

"You cut your hair," Mor commented as she firmly closed the door of the tent which she, Gwyn and Emerie were staying in whilst on mission in the Autumn Court to find, take and interrogate the three remaining mortal queens, who had been found to be hidden away in the Autumn Court's Forest House, unbeknownst the other courts.

So far, on their first night, everything had gone soothingly. Until Eris arrived, that was.

He'd simply appeared – unbothered yet audacious with his red hair and amber eyes – scaring Gwyn, who'd been alone at the time, half to death.

Until she'd gathered herself of course, and had been ready to attack before Mor had come out, iron gaze and all, which had ceased slightly when she took in the sight of Eris.

She'd even demanded that the two of them needed to talk...

"That's the first thing you point out?" Eris remarked, hands in pockets with the ever so slight quirk of the right side of his sly lips.

"You're hair's always been long," Mor contemplated, and Gwyn couldn't help but wonder about the lack of hostility held in her voice. She hadn't heard much about Eris, other than the possibility of his engagement to Nesta, and that he'd actually betrayed the Night Court to Briallyn – and so she found it odd how Mor held no hatred for Eris, at least not blatantly.

And so, despite Mor's withdrawal of hostility, Gwyn remained on edge, staying close to her dagger, not letting any emotion emit through her gaze.

Eris shrugged. "I wanted a change. So what?"

Mor rolled her eyes. "At least it looks better than it did before."

"Oh?"

"You looked like a drowned rat. Did you know?"

"I didn't look anything of the sort, Morrigan."

"That's what you would believe."

"I didn't come here to discuss my hair, Mor." Eris finished, running a hand through the strands which now came down and across his forehead on either side – clipped short on the back and sides.

"No, I suppose not." Mor swallowed once, regaining her line of thought, tightening her jaw. "Where are the Mortal Queens?"

Eris hesitated, as if hiding something. "Dead. They're dead."

Gwyn's attention snapped, as did Emerie's and Mor's. That certainly put an end to what she'd came here to do – a shame.

"What?" Mor demanded, her voice sharp and infuriated; her eyes narrow and dilated.

"You heard me," Eris muttered, looking down, and Gwyn couldn't help but pick on the slightest hint of regret in his voice.

"How did they die?" Mor asked, and when she received no answer, she asked again, her words sharper. "How did they die, Eris?"

"Murder." Eris said – barely a whisper.

"By, whom?" Mor almost snarled, and understandably so – the Mortal Queens were key to fining out how Briallyn had managed to contact Koschei when forming their alliance prior to her death. If knowledge like that was accessed, then they would be one step ahead of the Death Lord – hopefully.

"Oh you know, just my dear old father," Eris replied, harsh resentment weaving through his tone. "Or he had a servant do it, I wouldn't know."

"No?"

"I have refrained from spending much time in the Forest House. Turns out getting caught by the Night Court, shed vast amounts of disappointment on my name in the eyes of my father."