A Court of Stars and Memories

6. Planning Precautions

The artwork above is not mine.

◦༻❅༺◦

    "What's going on?" Mikael asked as soon as the door was closed behind them.

    Lysander knit his brows, watching as Wynter wrapped a protective arm around Elodie's shoulders. There was a hint of fear in her one crystal blue eye. The other was scarred and clouded, its gaze vacant.

    "You know we imprisoned my uncle and Julian Frazier," she said, not looking at any of them.

    Mikael nodded and Nyx replied, "I thought they were locked away and forbidden from speaking to anyone."

    "They were," Wynter confirmed.

    "But?" Mikael gave him a prompting look.

    "They escaped from their prison three weeks ago. We didn't find out until recently. Father and I have been searching the Court for them along with our warriors, and we've increased security around all of our homes, but so far, we haven't been able to find them."

    "I'm afraid Uncle Ebner will go after Mina, Micah, and Mitsi," Elodie said. "It's us he'll want revenge on and he'll use them to draw us out, just like he used me to get to Wynter. Besides, they're his children. He thinks he's entitled to them."

    "What can we do?" Estelle asked. "Do you want a few Peregryns to help search for them or to guard your homes?"

    "Or Illyrians?" Nyx offered.

    Wynter shook his head. "I wish I could accept but I think that would draw too much attention. Ebner does have remaining allies in the Court. If we brought Peregryns and Illyrians to help hunt him down or protect ourselves, he'd seek them out sooner rather than later. The precautions we're already taking will have to be enough."

    "We want your help figuring out a way to ensure Mina, Micah, and Mitsi's safety," Elodie explained. "I'm more concerned about them than anything."

    Nyx rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. "If you don't want additional guards coming here, maybe you should send Mina, Micah, and Mitsi somewhere Ebner can't reach them."

    "The Dawn Court will be too easy for Ebner and Julian to access," Mikael said. "It's right beside the Winter Court and Father's wards only alert us of newcomers. They don't keep them out. And we can't reset the wards to focus on Ebner or Julian directly without having come into contact with them recently."

    "Then what about the Night Court?" Lysander suggested. "It's further away and if we take them to Velaris, Ebner and Julian would have to come through the mountains if they tried to reach them. They wouldn't make it a fourth of the way before Rhys sent Illyrians to take care of them."

    Nyx gave a slow nod. "I don't think my parents would object after I explain the situation."

    "They could stay with our parents." Lysander tilted his head towards Estelle. "I'm sure they'll agree, and they have plenty of room since Estelle and I aren't living with them anymore."

    "Can you speak with them before you leave?" Wynter asked. "The sooner we get Mina, Micah, and Mitsi out of Ebner's reach, the better."