A Court of Fire and Lies

Tunnels

　The walk back had been tiring but seeing Diamond House was worth every freezing snowflake. It's hard to believe that it's always winter, forever falling snow and dripping in white.

　I do like the look of it, but imagining Velaris in summer is too divine. I shake the thoughts away as we wander through the palace talking.

"So, what are we to do now?" She says a smile appearing on her face. I knew she shouldn't have had that fairy wine on the way back, yet she had three glasses, full of giggles she steers me towards the marble staircase that I know leads up to Anglais' room. I shake a little bit when I remember his story, the book.

　And I think I'll look at it again in the morning, I don't know if I'll take it with me when I leave though in about five days time. It feels like so much longer, I have been here almost three months, I feel as if it's been six months.

"Wait, let's not go that way and go this way?" I ask with pleading eye.

"Fine." She says dragging me in that direction. 

"What's down this way?"

"Servants quarters, laundry, our private hospital, oh and the passageway."

"Passageway? I ask.

"You know, this one leads to the east castle, there's another one that way," she says pointing in the opposite direction, "it leads to the west castle."

"Do you ever use it?" I ask.

"Sometimes..."

"How much is sometimes?"

"Well, as you know my mate, well he lives or lived in the east castle."

"And we're continuing down this tunnel because..." I say.

"Because i, I want to see him." She says, and even though the world around us is dark I can hear the crack in her voice and almost see her smile falter.

"Alright." The word rolls off my tongue because I know how she feels, I wish a secret tunnel could lead me to Rhysand right now, in a second I would be there. As fast as possible.

　She moves a tad faster as she grab a my hand and we turn left.

"How much farther is it?" I ask.

"Just past the infirmary."

"Excellent, because i am exhausted." 

"Well, maybe we can relax once we get to the castle?"

"Sounds wonderful."

"Okay we're here." She says her voice becoming a whisper.

　I don't see anything but suddenly a white light appears in front of us as Lili drags her finger in curves of letters filtering through a white light of a language I can't read.

"What language is that?" I ask.

"An ancient one, as old as the cauldron but older than time."

　This sounds familiar. Like the language Amren was deciphering for hours and hours a day for months.

　The words read in the tongue: Niko Abre Forum Notrella Alla Fan Bayelyn

"What does it mean?" I ask.

"It says 'Wise one when come to me, breath the air of secrets and leave in your wake dust'" she says.

"Why does it glow white?" I ask.

"Because this is the winter court."

"I see." I say just as the door falls away to reveal a path lit by torches.