A Court of Spies and Shadow

Dark Prey

The world spun around me as we were all transported to Ramiel on the wind.  It was similar to winnowing, yet not.  Where Rhysand's amateur winnowing was like a step to his destination using a pocket between realms, Devlon's was fast spinning, like a helicopter seed on the wind.  When I had finally righted myself, everyone else was gone.

In the distance, I heard a voice boom with magic amplification, "Welcome trainees! You are about to perform the rite that has taken place every year since the dawn of Illyria, and will take place until it's dusk.  Enalius himself performed in the rite, touched the onyx monolith at this summit, blessing this land and all it's people for eternity.  Enalius bless any who reach the summit.  Hail Enalius, watch over these young males and forge them in your vast strength and wisdom.  Be fearless, be ruthless and make a name for yourselves.  Survive seven days on the mountain and reap your rewards."

I searched for my brothers, but saw a tree overlooking a grove and a pond.  Scaling it, I saw five males fighting, three already dead.  These brutes could not last an hour without trying to enact what they deemed as revenge with a feuding family.  They didn't even have weapons— as part of the rite, we had only the clothes on our back to rely on— so they fought like hell, resorting to choking, eye gashing, or traditional fists and feet. 

From my viewpoint, I saw multiple fights of varying brutality, but there was only one quarry I was interested in.  Grazing in a clearing not far away was a doe.  I didn't know when my next meal would be if I gave this up, so I slid my way down the tree and sprinted silently as I could towards the doe. 

The beast never stood a chance.  I was behind it in a moment and its head was bashed against a rock in the next, but now I had a much larger problem.  Problems.  The smell of blood had attracted four other males who seemed to have found the best  possible outcome to the metallic tang that hung in the air.  Kill the shadowsinger and take the meat.  I didn't need Rhys' powers to see the thoughts running through these brutes' minds.  A temporary alliance to take me down, then either run with the meat, or fight the others. 

I gave them all the benefit of the first move.  They were hanging by the tethers that bound their wings in the trees before the deer's blood was able to pool.  The spell that bound magic didn't apply to the full extent of my shadows apparently, as I shrouded the fire and cleaned carcass in shadow to let it cook while I watched from a tree.

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When the slabs of meat were done, I bundled them into the skin that I'd salvaged and cleaned with a sharp stone while I'd waited for the meat to cook.  It was time to hunt for my brothers.

Even with the spell on our magic, even if he wasn't fully grown and he was not at his most powerful, Rhysand's scent was unmistakable.  I prayed to whatever gods, the Mother, Cauldron, Enalius; whoever could keep him safe from the males that would undoubtedly hunt that scent.  I prayed that Cassian and I could find him before he faced a band whose fighting skills became too much for him.  I'd sent my shadows out hours ago to hunt for him and mask his scent, but they hadn't found him yet. 

I hoped that my other brother had already found Rhysand's scent and was well on his way.  Knowing Cassian, the first thing he'd do was find any weapons he could, a dagger that had been "missed" when we were searched for such things from the others in his area, or even a sharp stone.  It was unlike Cassian to go into any fight unarmed, but he himself was a weapon, and I knew better than to think that a band of pure-bred brutes would fell him.  He was a far better fighter than anyone in our camp, or in any camp from what my shadows whispered.