A Court of Three Stars

23: Silence

Silene's Tunnels, Night Court, Prythian

Bryce

"We're winnowing across this." Rhys put an arm out to block us from crossing the narrow bridge. The sound of roaring water off in the distance crackled, wafting the scent of iron deposits in the air.

"Why?" I questioned, peeking my head out into the large cavern and looking around before Hunt pulled me back.

"Well, for one, that would be the perfect place for an ambush." Nesta scowled.

"Who's ambushing us?" I furrowed my brows, "Are these not secret tunnels?"

"Not people." Rhys's magic flared out as he spoke, quick as the snap of his fingers, and then we were standing on the other side of the cavern.

It was so quick, so unbelievably effortless for him that I almost missed the unmistakable scent of dried blood mixed in with the damp scent of iron and dirt. Hunt went on guard too, hand tight in mine as we searched for the source.

"It's Leur's, from the last time we were down here." Rhys explained before we could even ask, "You'll scent it for the next few miles or so."

Nesta's voice came through her teeth, "How?"

"Relax, Lady Death." He put a hand out towards her, "There are beasts in that cavern I just graciously winnowed us all across. Perhaps you could thank me for sparing you."

She just glared at him in answer.

"Beasts?" Hunt scowled, glancing back at the opening behind us.

"Well, there was... at a time." Rhys shook his head, "Most of them are dead now."

I was going to need a lot more information than that.

"We're fine." Rhys waved us along, "Just keep moving."

Hunt's eyes met my own warily, but we obeyed. Perhaps some questions were better left unanswered.

But the silence between all of us, in these tunnels I now knew we were not completely alone in, unnerved me enough that I spoke if only for a distraction, "So, where does this lead again?"

"The Prison." Rhys answered, lighting the way with a ball of... some kind of violet light in his hand.

"So ominous." I smiled, mocking his deep voice, "The Prison."

"Well, it used to be the Dusk Court." He glanced back at me, "Where our ancestors hailed from, where most of the fae on Midgard are from."

"Oh?" I blinked.

"And now, it's a hellhole full of monsters locked in the very stone of the mountain." Nesta scowled.

"You said 'our ancestors', right?" Hunt asked, "You're related? Did I miss something?"

"Silene and Helena were the daughters of Theia." Rhys explained, "After Theia's death, Helene took the Starsword and the Horn and created Avallen on Midgard. Started a bloodline with Pellias that led all the way down to you, Bryce Quinlan." He adjusted the ball of light in his hand, "Silene came back here with Truth-Teller and the Harp, created the Prison to hide what she had done, and then ended up mated to a High Lord of Night, creating a bloodline that led down to me and my sister."

"So technically, this is just one fucked-up family reunion." I mused.

He laughed, a sound so pure and joyous that it should have been impossible for someone so horrifying to make, "In a sense."

"We should make commemorative t-shirts for this occasion." I quipped.

"T-shirt?" Nesta stumbled a bit over the word in our language, honey-brown brows furrowed tightly, "That's... clothing?"