Snowstorms and Hazel Melodies

To New Friends and Old

Do you understand the violence it took to be this gentle?
-Nitya Prakesh

The destination was nothing short of mesmerizing. Tall and short buildings alike stood around the street they materialised in. It was still late afternoon, but little twinkling lights hung over roads and pathways. Shops were illuminated in a warm starlight glow, each one with a story to tell in itself: families laughing and enjoying each other's presence, lovers giggling in restaurant windows, the final few customers being ushered out by an exhausted salesperson. Raina couldn't help but look around in awe, her eyes glittering with something other than the lights in front of her. Piercing blue eyes gleaming with warmth and attachment for a place so untouched by the turmoil and trauma the Hybern war had inflicted. Velaris for her was like the first touch of sunlight after years of drowning in the cold seas.

Cassian, glad to be away from the 'perverted shadows', stepped to the wide-eyed ice wielder's side. His face was of poorly concealed pride and satisfaction, no doubt a reaction to Rai's appreciation for their home city. Azriel was looking at the new female with a mix of understanding and well hidden amusement. However, the shadowsinger had a question biting at him. One that challenged the credibility of his intel on her.

"I thought you've worked closely with the Night Court before. Have you never seen Velaris?".
Before she could reply, the warlord assumed, "Perhaps she wasn't told of its existence."
Azriel shot him a sharp look, 'don't answer for her', it seemed to say. Raina shook her head fondly at the two male's interactions.
"I did know of its existence", narrowing her eyes at Cassian for thinking the former High Lord did not trust her with the best kept secret of his land, "But I simply had no time to visit the beautiful city itself. Whenever I had left the Moonstone Palace, I went to the small towns on the outskirts of Velaris. "
The two Illyrian males nodded, one secretly relieved that his information was correct and the other not understanding why she would pick dainty towns to visit over the homely grandeur that was the City of Starlight.
"So," Cassian cocked an eyebrow, "You chose the boring towns over our capital?".
It took a while before she answered this time, "I needed quiet, back then. A capital doesn't provide that. "
The hazel eyed Spymaster understood the need for silence profoundly. He also noticed the tension in Raina's shoulders as she gave her answer, how her eyes wavered for a second.
"They also have the best bakeries", that worked to bring Cassian's smirk back and stop his questions but Azriel easily saw it for what it was: a distraction from whatever memories his best friend had triggered.

To their transporter's credit, they had been winnowed into the city centre. This allowed Raina to get an extensive (and animated, thanks to Cassian) tour of the Night Court as the group strolled towards her residence.
"You're both very lucky to have grown up here. It's breathtaking."
Cassian and Azriel exchanged a glance, smirking a bit, but there was a mutual flicker of longing on their faces. A hope stemming from the wish that they had, indeed been born and raised in this heaven-like city.
"We aren't that lucky. We didn't grow up here. Both of us were born to Illyrian's parents and grew up in Illyria's steppes. We came here only after meeting Rhys and properly settled after the First War. "
Raina listened, humming in response. A silence followed this, one of comfort.
After a few moments, Azriel asked a question of his own, " Raina, where do you hail from?".
The female raised her striking opals onto him, her face showing what she was feeling: amusement and mocking, "I bet you already know, Azriel."
The shadowsinger rolled his eyes softly, a smirk tugging at his lips. Raina felt oddly proud of bringing out some form of emotion from him by her words. His answer was fairly shocking to her.
"Except that you are partially from Winter Court? No, I don't know. Not because I can't, " he added when his brother raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Because you are not an enemy, so I forbid my shadows from finding out anything about your personal life. That does not mean I don't know where you have done work and who you have aided. "
Rai smiled, the expression of playfulness making way for gratitude, "That's good, the answers to all of your questions would be so boring if Azriel already knew the answer."
Cassian chuckled, the sound rumbling from within, "Indeed, Icesilver. Now, where were you born?".
"I was born in the Dawn Court", the answer caused both of the males' eyes to widen by a fraction, "I know, you would expect me to have been born in the Winter Courts. My powers come from my father, a courtier in the Winter Courts. My mother, however, was a general to one of the Dawn Court's army. I was raised in Dawn Court with my older brother and then relocated to Winter Court after I reached fifteen years of age. "
"So you're a half-half? "Cassian looked intrigued by her heritage.
Raina dipped her head lightly in admission. She kept the secret of her wings from them, still. Azriel did not seem to know about it, which was how it should be. Morrigan knows, Vivian and Kallias know, Dain, Laken knows, and so had her family. The ice-wielder did not want to lie to the two Illyrians that could become good friends, so she prayed to the Mother that they do not ask for more elaboration. For once, She seemed to listen because the topic was pushed no further.