Azriel's Tale

Azriel's Tale - Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15:

"Durin is healing well," Azriel said to Rhysand the next day, "Still on the mend, but nothing that wouldn't be out of the ordinary for a training Illyrian." His Lord nodded.

"Good," he replied "I don't want this to become a concern."

"It won't." He promised.

"And Cassian?" Feyre asked as she walked into the kitchen. Rhys and Azriel were sat on the table to the side of the room. Azriel replied as he looked up towards his High Lady.

"I haven't had a chance to speak to him this morning. I was hoping to see him before I saw Durin, but he had already left. Nuala told me that he was heading towards a different Illyrian camp, though I am not sure which one." He confessed. "I'll look for him after breakfast."

"Okay, but don't make it too obvious that you are checking in on him. I don't want him thinking that we don't trust him or that we are trying to baby him." Rhysand said. Azriel nodded in confirmation

"Which camp is he likely to be at?" Feyre asked as she was making herself a cup of tea.

"Any of them really. I should start looking." Azriel grabbed some food that was easy to eat on the go and set off. Despite Feyre's protest that he should eat before he left. He couldn't bring himself to do it, his appetite was gone, replaced with worry for his brother. Sure, Cassian had fought with Illyrian warlords before, of course, he had. Cassian had a higher rank than the camp Lords, but he had never gone this far. It was made explicitly clear that they had authority in the camps, and that serious damage could not be done. Serious damage was a lot, especially to an Illyrian. But Cassian wouldn't have stopped if it wasn't for Azriel's intervention. It eerily reminded him of his situation only a few months ago with Rhysand. Azriel wouldn't have stopped if it was not for his Illyrian brother intercepting him. 

Hours. That's how long Azriel had been looking for Cassian. He went to every camp he could think of and nothing. No one had seen the Illyrian today. Azriel did not let on that he didn't know where the army commander was, he was trying to keep this to be as low profile as possible. He didn't want anyone to worry or question Azriel, he was also doing this for both his own sanity and Rhysand's. He returned to the house of wind to find; Rhys, Mor, Feyre, Amren and Elain. Rhys quickly gauged that his spymaster had been unable to locate the army commander.

"Nothing?" 

"No," he replied, a sulk crawling into his voice.

"What's happened?" Mor asked. Elain, Amren and Mor all taking notice of Azriel's arrival and obvious annoyance.

"We don't know where Cassian is this morning. He got a bit...overwhelmed last night and we don't know where he is." Rhysand replied to the others in the room, perhaps to spare the shadowsinger from embarrassment. They were all instantly theorising other places Cassian could be, but Elain, sweet Elain simply said. 

"He is with Nesta. They went to a garden together. I saw them leave." They paused.

"Why didn't you say something?!" Feyre exclaimed, clear exasperated at her older sister.

"Nobody asked me," she replied simply. And that was true. Rhys had kept it quiet in the hopes of not raising any alarm with his Inner Circle. Whilst they all laughed off their worry, Azriel tried to figure out what garden Elain could be speaking of. His problem solving was apparent to Mor and was quick to reassure the Shadowsinger. 

"We know where he is now Az," she spoke calmly. "Relax, he's safe." He knew she was right, and that she should stop worrying about him so much. Is this what it was like for them? Constantly having to worry about Azriel's safety. No wonder they kept pushing him on it. He agreed to let it go, albeit reluctantly. In the final hours of the day, with the fire still burning, everyone still in the room, Cassian casually strolled in. As if everyone had known where he was. 

"Hey," he said casually.

"Where have you been?!" Exclaimed Mor, clearly annoyed at his attitude. 

"We went out," he replied, obviously confused at Mor's exclamation. As if on queue Nesta also walked into the room and without a word sat next to Elain. Once realising that everyone was in the room she asked, 

"What's the occasion?"

"We didn't know where you were," Azriel said in a monotone voice. Cassian shrugged.

"I'm allowed to do things without having to let everyone know. I have a right to privacy like we all do."

"I'm not saying you don't," Azriel replied, immediately defensive. "I was just worried because of what happened at the camps yesterday." Cassian still shrugged, clearly not thinking it wasn't a good enough reason, he just looked at his brother and turned back towards the door he had only recently arrived through.

"I'm going to bed." 

"Cas!" Azriel called. "We need to talk about this."

"Right," he replied, sarcasm lining his voice. "Because you're so great at talking about things which bother you." Azriel opened his mouth to reply but Cassian was already walking up the stairs. Not soon after his bedroom door slammed shut. Wisely nobody spoke anymore about the subject.

Sorry, this chapter took a little longer! I've been busy with sixth form at the moment. Have you all seen the title of the new novella after ACOWAR - A Court of Frost and Starlight! I can't wait to read it! Let me know what you all thought of this chapter. Any comments and feedback are greatly appreciated. -Jessica