A Court of Heritance and Destiny

Chapter 11 Orion

She was gone once he woke up, her part of the bed cold. Her scent lingered in the sheets, the only thing that remained from the night before, telling him that it had not been a dream. Orion pressed his hands against his face, he had spilled parts of his heart out, a bold move. None had come to wake him up, meaning that her absence was not because of a crisis, at least not one that demanded his attention. And maybe he hoped that if something happened that required her to leave because of a private situation, then she would wake him, tell him. Place her trust in him just like she had done earlier.

Above him the cold winter sun fought to climb over the mountain tops, casting his home in long sharp shadows. The day was near its peak, later than he would have liked, but that is what happens after long days spying on the lords of Hewn City. With Etera gone, he had more to do. Staying behind after training, listening in to others talking. Hoping that no one was stupid enough to try and organise something. The latest one had wanted to rebel against Amaya being announced as heir, the following three weeks in the dungeon had been a satisfying experience.

No screams, no the male had told them everything the moment Orion picks up his tools. Then days upon days of him coming by, scaring the life of the male over and over until nothing but fear existed in his crappy excuse for a soul. Then he had started his work, the male had not said one word, paralysed by fear at that point. The best part, one that made him shiver of satisfaction, was when he let him go. No scars lingerd on his body, nothing but the fear forever marked in his scent, would expose what had happened.

Some scars are truly invisible.

On tired legs Orion got up and dressed himself for the day. Training by himself, then he had planned to walk around the halls. Etera may be the perfect spy, but he too, had been trained by Azriel in the craft to remain unseen. To stay light on his feet, ready to move away without anyone noticing. But as Orion sat down with a loud huff, complealty shattering the idea of him being able to walk around unseen and with the Winter Solstice around the corner, he could skip that part. He could skip his recon mission today, no need to risk making a mistake.

With a warm cup of tea in his hands he willed himself to be ready for the day. To leave the night and disappointing morning behind him. Maybe he could take the day completely off? He still had shopping left to do before the Solstice, not that he had any good plans or ideas. May the one who came up with this tradition never be found, for their own safety. He could slack for a day, pretending to mop over the fact that Amaya disappeared before the sun rose for the day.

A hard knock on the door, and then his fathers shadowy silhouette entered the apartment put an end to that idea.

"Yes?" Orion asked, getting up as fast as he could.

"Gwyn found something more in the books." His father started, with hands behind his back he walked around, barely even looking at Orion. "We are having a meeting at the River Estate now."

"Now?" Most of the Inner Circle members were away.

"Now, Rhys and Feyre are on their way back, Mor, Emerie, Nesta, Cass. Even Ikarad and Etera are coming."

"What?"

"I informed them that their presents were not needed, but they said that it was important." His father said with a sigh. "Etera needs to hear this, it will help her."

"According to you or her?" Orion bit back, Ikarads instructions the moment he took her away to the cabin had been clear.

Do. Not. Disturb. Us. Yet here they were, doing just that.

"Gwyn managed to learn how Dorothea knew so much." His father answered, "How she planned everything." Orion nodded, partly agreeing that it might help. Even if he had wished for it all to wait.