A Court of Madness and Depth

Chapter 24

"I am proud of you," My father whispered into my hair. My heart soared with pure pride and affection as he wrapped comforting and sturdy arms around me. When I pulled away I found none of the madness, none of the cloudiness that had been haunting him for all those months. Standing before the powerful, coherent, and strong man before me I felt as if that period of his madness was another lifetime ago.

"I need to confer with the rest of the court," my father announced, releasing me and stepping away, "I will get a medic to care for your arm. Meet me in the throne room at first light."

I nodded, barely noticing as a healer stepped forward and began intense work on my arm. I was enamored with my fathers retreating form. He had arrived in the traditional Night Court battleware, dark obsidian armor with a red cape. The night sky seemed to shift after him as he strode towards the entrance to the Hewn City, entire galaxies moving at his behest. The iron gates flew open for him with a single flick of his wrist. Illyrians and Darkbringers alike gaped as my father entered the city.

My vision was drawn away from my father when a familiar looking Illyrian landed a few feet away from me. I stared up at him and his face darkened with concern and shock. Cassian's protective expression seemed to draw me out of the stupor my father's presence had put me in. He was studying my arm, and when he met my eyes I could tell he was trying not to grimace.

"Are you alright?" He asked, not hiding his worry. I nodded.

Then suddenly, as if I had been struck, the memory and the crushing weight of Azriel's condition fell upon me. As I remembered the sight of him struck by those arrows I nearly collapsed in worry. Cassian leapt for me but I mentally commanded him to find his brother, sending him a vision of what had happened. Within a moment the Illyrian was on the move, soaring for the city to search for our friend.

"Hold still," The healer commanded, supporting my weight. At her words I straightened, trying to offer her the best angle. The pain was excruciating. In the height of war you barely process the pain, it is only after in the aftermath and stillness that you can process the hurt you feel. I winced at my arm was wrapped, but tried to conceal the discomfort. All around me fae and mortals alike lay in much worse conditions than myself. I tried to be sensitive to their plight.

Once the healer, Dellina, had decided my arm was in fine enough shape she moved on to the next person. There was a pull coming from inside the mountain. I chose to ignore it, not sure if I was ready to see what lay inside. Instead, I occupied myself with checking in on the faeries and humans who lay scattered along the battlefield. I let my wings lift me into the sky as I traveled between healing warriors, giving my weary legs some respite. I offered comforts, told jokes and stories, and commended brave acts.

Typically, talking with Illyrian males or Darkbringers was unpleasant at best, physical altercations at worst. However, in the thick of healing after battle I didn't see the familiar animosity in the eyes of those littered outside the gates. In the aftermath of death and destruction I was able to find some semblance of humanity and was offered fair treatment, even compliment, in return.

Once my nerves had soothed I found myself ready to enter the city, no matter what waited beyond the gates. I could feel that Azriel was alive. For some unknown reason I just knew that if he had died I would have felt it. However, this was war, just because he was alive it did not mean that he would survive. I sucked in a deep breath and wiped some dried blood from my brow, preparing to enter the city.

The Court of Nightmares was typically a dreary and uninviting place. However, this late night there had been a shift in the atmosphere. Children, who were usually kept inside homes, out of sight, were freely playing in the streets. Food, which was usually only eaten at formal dining tables, was lain out on long tables across the streets. People ate and talked without consequence or arguing. Doors to homes were open wide and inside I could see beds set up for healing. For my entire life the Hewn City had been behind closed doors as I passed through silent streets. It was strange seeing it so full of life and community.