A Court of Heritance and Destiny

Chapter 3 Etera

Summer in Illyria was different, the high mountain peaks protected many of the camps from the warm sun, making it chilly. Etera knew that some parts of the mountains never got free from the winter's snow, but in the valley that protected the different camps the early summer flowers had taken over. The ground is still moist and a bit muddy from the melting snow and spring rains.

Etera laid down outside of the ring, her head resting on the paws of the wolf form. Ikarad was over seeing some training, and she held one eye on him, the other on the rest of the camp. It was one of the better ones, the girls were allowed to train undisturbed, up to the point of marriage, when whoever they were married to needed to allow any continued training. But from what Etera had seen, the ones that wanted to train did continue, and those who never found any joy in it stopped. She had been awake with Ikarad for many nights talking about the Illyrians and their culture. Breaking down how to navigate millennials if not more of hurtful traditions, traditions most claimed to be worst for the females. But Etera had seen enough from the males within the family to know about other, less seen effects.

She was a spy after all, she saw how Cassian had a strict routine, and how his mind could unravel if he didn't stick to it, she saw Rhys self doubts over his body from time to time. How Azriel struggled with the conflicting training within him. But she also saw how Ikarad battled with it.

How he so easily fell back in the same damaging tone when he talked to novices, how he repeated words that had hurt him so badly when he was a child living in the camps. Nyx had never wanted that life, he had asked to train back in Velaris, to never take part in the Blood Rite. That had never been an option for Ikarad, with his magic needing Siphons to function, with his wings being permanent, and a large invisible heritage from his father and uncles to uphold.

She moved her head, following her mates movements as he taught the lesson, had he ever had the choice the females in this camp had? To say no to training? A shiver came down her spine and Etera rose up, shaking out the fur before laying back down.

She had lived a life for so long without choices. When to shift, speak, eat, move. The first time she had shared a dinner with the family she had almost been so overwhelmed that she asked him to serve her. Asked him to pick what to eat and how. Even today, fifty years later, when her old habits came back, she always asked him to do just that. To take over for her.

"Dismissed." She looked up as Ikarad left the ring, like the loyal wolf she played, she came to his side, walking to match his pace as they moved through the camp. One last one tomorrow, then we can go home. He reminded her, his hand coming down to scratch her neck.

Don't start something you can't finish. She warned.

I am so planning on taking more time off... He laughed down the bond and Etera huffed when he removed his hand.

Do that again, and I will play with your wings tonight. She warned, knowing that if she did there was no way they would get out of bed in time the next morning.

Don't say that like I wouldn't enjoy it. Etera wished that she could kiss him, that she could do just what she had warned him. But instead she continued on walking, playing the role of the wolf.

"General Ikarad!" She snapped around as the camp's lord came towards them. "Leaving already?"

"I have seen what I must." Etera sat down, staring at the camp lord. He was one of the younger ones, holding a large amount of respect to the Family.

"Do I need to worry?"

"No."

"Good... Good..."

He is nervous... Etera watched how the Lord looked around.