A Court of Games and Fate

An Opened Door

          Any pride that had been evident in Cassian's gaze had quickly flooded into the abyss as the two now sat in an entirely different meeting in the House of Wind.

          Once the article was drafted, a statement to declare Andromeda freed from any birthright to her mother's former Court, Devlon was rushed to spread the news and Cassian was more than happy to rush Andromeda back to the safety of her father's home in Velaris. The two hardly had enough time to continue any argument before darkness swarmed through the halls, blanketing the daylight shining through the openings of the structure.

          Lord Rhysand was not a quick-to-anger man, unlike his father before him. Sure, he had a rage that lingered beneath the surface, willing to shine through when necessary as a tool, though anger was not his choice of tactic when it came to ruling. However, the primal urges of parenthood were strong for fae and suddenly, the Lord's control over his rage seemed to be hanging by a thread. When a tense Azriel made his way to his meeting room down in the city with news that Andromeda was not there for her training session, nor was in or even near the House of Wind, Rhysand felt as if every bit of skill in control had vanished in a blink. Now, standing in front of Andromeda and Cassian, the two could sense the level of his anger through the looming threat of his magical darkness.

          "Illyria," Rhysand repeated for what felt like the hundredth time. His words were borderline hysterical, a bitter laugh emerging from his throat. Andromeda paled, though kept her chin up. This was her own grave that she knowingly dug and she would lie in it. "You ran off to Illyria, of all places?"

          Andromeda felt like it may be a trick question so she did nothing more than calmly tilt her chin down in a nod. Cassian remained as stone beside her, understanding her father was in High Lord mode and that the general was also currently on his shit list.

          The room felt tight and oppressive with all the differing forces battling it out. Rhysand held the front of the room at his desk, standing rigid for all to see and drawing in the attention of the rest. Andromeda and Cassian sat on the two opposite chairs like children being scolded for breaking a piece of home decor. Azriel stayed off to the side of the room, involved, but not. At least the Shadowsinger provided some sense of calming energy in the room.

          "Every single action I have taken in the recent weeks has been to keep you safe and comfortable. Do you understand this?"

          Andromeda's nose wrinkled slightly in disapproval over being spoken to like a child, but still, she nodded.

          "And I explicitly told you that you were not to be involved in Court affairs, especially those concerning the Illyrian camps. You don't know what kind of a place those camps can be, particularly for young females. You don't know a single bit about the work that I have done, yet you felt that it was acceptable to sneak away and involve yourself in it-"

          "-I have been involved in it!" Andromeda finally responded, cutting her father off from giving the same lecture Cassian had already given her. "You said so yourself weeks ago. It's not my fault you refuse to see me as some asset."

          "I will not use my daughter as an asset in political schemes, not any more than I already have!"

          The words burst from her father in a terrible shout, his voice cracking ever so slightly. Andromeda was not going to back down though. If anything, his emotions fueled her more.

          "Use me! For Cauldron's sake, please use me for something that is not keeping me away from society like some caged animal that needs to be trained! What message do you think it sends to Prythian that I have gone into hiding after the disbanding of mother's court?"