The Princess & The Lord

Part 21

Elena soared over the towering palaces of snow and ice. The cool air smelled of pine and frost- her heart ached at the remembrance of Terrasen. The snow capped mountains off in the distance seemed to call her name.

The number of villages along the outskirts of the city began to dwindle as she reached the southern border of the Winter Court. She could see a stark boundary line between the courts. Where the Winter Court ended, so did the ice and snow. Beyond, she could see a land of orange and yellow. The mountains were covered in autumn.

The sun warmed her feathered wings as she continued flying south. She could hear the shrieks of the wyvern behind her and the loud flap of leather wings close on her tail.

She ducked her head below to see Nyx racing to catch up. She shifted with a flash of light to her version of the Illyrian form, with her long white feathered wings spreading out behind her.

She flipped over on her back to face Nyx.

"Am I too fast for you, lordling?" Elena joked with a small smile.

"It's not all about speed, Princess. Sometimes it's about the size," Nyx said as he flew above her looking down at her with a smirk.

Elena rolled her eyes as she and Nyx dove down to the ground and landed gracefully on the snow. The ground below them shook as the wyvern hit the earth roughly.

"It looks like we've reached the southern border."  Cal said as he stared out into Autumn Court.

"The magic of the seasonal courts is linked to the High Lords, keeping them eternally bound in their respective seasons," Nyx explained

"Eternal winter? I don't think I could take that much snow," Cal said aloud. Gavriel huffed his agreement.

Elena focused at the task at hand, "We're looking for any sign of activity. Anything at all. No one's been able to pinpoint the Valg's location and as you heard there have been recent sightings. We'll take the eastern border, you three take the western," Elena instructed.

"We're not to engage. We are in foreign territory and our actions aren't sanctioned here. If you see anything, we report back to Kallias," Nyx stated.

"We don't take orders from you, bat boy." Aster snarked back at Nyx. Gavriel shrieked loudly as Cal swatted him in the back of the head.

Flames filled Elena's eyes as she stepped in front of Nyx.

"It seems as though you don't take orders from anyone." Elena snapped. "Your father, your king, was very clear-we are allies. You are to treat him like one." Elena sneered.

Aster rolled his eyes. Elena shot out a gust of wind that knocked Aster off the wyvern.

"What is it?" Elena nearly yelled as she stomped over to him. "What is your issue with him? He's been nothing but respectful and welcoming to you and you treat him like dirt- less than dirt. So what is? Get it out!"

"I can see it in your eyes!" Aster finally said.

Elena took a step back. "You can see what?"

"That you want to stay here. That you want to stay with him," she said pointing at Nyx behind her.

Elena was stunned and she couldn't find the words to speak.

"The moment I saw you walk through that door, there was something different about you. I couldn't figure it out at first, but I know now. You don't want to come home."

"I want to go home," Elena said. "I've wanted to go home for months." Elena said as her heart ached for Terrasen. "But you're right." Elena said bleakly.