A Court of Watchful Shadows

Hybern

Getting out of bed that morning felt like wading through glue, my muscles ached with fatigue from spending the majority of last night sobbing.

I had no idea if he'd listened to anything I'd said, probably not, I wouldn't listen to a drunk person slurring their sentences outside of my door either.

Mor had come to fetch me, today was the day of the Hybern mission they were talking about, and I was to go with them though I'd tried to argue my case.

I sat in front of the light breakfast I knew I wouldn't be able to stomach. If I leave Velaris would Ziven know? Surely Rhysand being the most powerful high lord is much more powerful than Ziven.

Ziven is in the winter court anyway, we are going west to Hybern. If the inner circle are certain we can make it in and out without being seen by the literal king of Hybern then I'm sure Ziven won't even feel my presence outside of Velaris. I kept reassuring myself as I tried to shovel down food before it was time to go.

~~
My nerves were shot to bits as Cassian flew me over to hybern with the rest of them. They were taking a big risk in thinking we could just be in and out quickly.

The past few weeks had been hectic, though no one had really spoken to me aside from Feyre and Mor I'd heard of the attack on Velaris, seen it happen from the balcony of the house of wind whilst I was stuck there unable to do anything. If Hybern had found Velaris it was only a matter of time until Ziven might.

No, the Suriel can't lie, I'd be safe in Velaris.

Rhysand had since repaired the wards that Hybern had used the cauldron to take out, hence today's mission of nullifying the cauldron. And here I was, coated in blades and leathers as though I were one of them...I'd never felt like so much of an outsider though, even in the beginning of my time here.

I hadn't seen him yet, my eyes and shadows unwillingly searching him out the entire time, I couldn't believe that after last night he still wasn't going to speak with me.

"He's flown ahead," Cassian stated, noticing I was searching for him. I opened my mouth to ask about him but he spoke again "he told me this morning that after the mission he's ready to talk, seemed positive about it."

My stomach fluttered. Perhaps my demons and lies had yet to ruin everything between us. I settled for the rest of the flight, now anticipating the end of this Hybern ordeal.

I stared ahead, at the bone-white cliffs and barren hills surrounding the emptiness that was Hybern. There was a lean, white castle of stone built into the cliffs. King Hybern's castle I gathered.

They'd planned around the guard shifts, we were to take the closest entrance to the lower levels - where the cauldron was.

~~
Mor, Azriel and Feyre had already gone ahead, Rhysand trailing behind and now Cassian and I were to enter the door left open for us.

As we entered I immediately slipped into shadow, to no one's surprise, it was self preservation since we could only afford to look out for ourselves in this dangerous place.

Cassian and Azriel cleared the corridors, returning bloodied each time as Feyre led the way to the cauldron. Shuddering the closer she got to it.

When we finally reached it I was rather starstruck. It was forged of dark iron with three legs, the legs those temples had been ransacked to find. It was darkness personified, I found it rather intriguing.

"Hurry" Mor whispered at Feyre "we've only got a few minutes" worry coating her now paling face.

Feyre began to recite the spell she'd been memorising, and as she did I snuck a glance at Azriel, who had already been looking at me. The world stopped spinning, and it was as if it was only him and I there in that room. He opened his mouth to say something until Feyre began to shake, the spell she was reciting and the presence of the cauldron too strong for her, he stepped forward and yanked her away, shaking her.

"Stupid fool," came an unfamiliar voice, though I turned and recognised the face- Jurian.

Cassian took a protective step in front of us "you." Earning a snicker from Jurian "worked your way up the ranks, did you? Congratulations."

Rhysand appeared, snatching the book from Feyre and shoving it in his jacket. Keeping his cool demeanour as he spoke "you look good, Jurian," he paused "for a corpse."

Jurian sneered "last time I saw you, you were warming Amarantha's sheets." low blow.

Rhysand remained calm "so you remember," he mused, "interesting."

Jurian's she's sliced to Mor. "Where is Miryam?"
"She's dead," Mor replied flatly.
"Liar," Jurian crooned. "You were always such a liar, Morrigan."

We had failed. It was time to go.

I gripped onto Azriel, who gripped Rhysand and and Feyre. Mor and Cassian gripped each other and we braced for the darkness, but no darkness came.

We couldn't winnow.