A Court in Flames

Chapter 9

Aelin's POV

I had heard everything Amren had said. Seems like the most likely of people were now my allies.

I stalked away to find the library and anything I could find about wyrdmarks.

I reached the front door and what awaited me behind it made me lose my breath.

"Beautiful. Isn't it?" I turned to see a golden-haired female with brown eyes.

"It is." I agreed. "It reminds me of Orynth." She tilted her head.

"Morrigan. Everyone calls me Mor, though." She held out her hands.

"Aelin," I said as I shook her hand.

"How about I give you a tour? We can get to know each other." Her friendly demeanour made me want to follow her, but I couldn't stand the thought of more mind reading.

I took a step away from her and I knew there was fear written on my face.

"Are you okay? I don't want to hurt you. I know what it's like to be hurt like that. I still bear the scars from it. And I can tell you have gone through similar experiences." I looked into her eyes. 

"I'm not afraid of that. Not after Maeve. Do you have the mind-reading powers?" I asked her. Knowing I had revealed my true fear.

"Am I Daemati? No."

"Then yes. I would love a tour."

"Do you mind me asking what you have against Daemati?" Mor asked me as we walked through the beautiful city.

"Well... I guess I would have to start with the Valg, to answer that question. It's a long story."

"We have time." I smiled and began the story.

I told her about how the Valg came from another world and had attempted to take over my world. How they were darkness and hate and everything vile. Only concerned with their want for sunlight. I told her how I had created an army to rival that of Morath and how I hadn't thought I would be able to lead it.

Then I told her of Maeve and the trap she had set for me. Then the two months of torture and how we found out that she was a Valg Queen. 

"So basically you hate them because Maeve used her powers to hurt you more and create illusions. Gods. I would hate them too if that happened to me."

"That's not even all of it. I was tortured for the past eight months by another Daemati. Except he used his powers to erase my memories and thoughts. And he also warped my thoughts." I couldn't help the tears that ran down my face. "I have to go back, though. I have to save my daughter from his rutting clutches."

"How old is your daughter?"

"It depends on how long I was out."

"Two days."

"There you go. She is two days old. And that bastard has her and I can't do a rutting thing about it," I told her as I felt my flames. The flames I had missed and loved for so long tried to rise, making me smile. They comforted me and I let them create a crown on my head.

I was Queen and I would not hide.

Mor smiled at me, "I promise I'll help you. Now. How about we go see one of the theatres here?"

"You have theatres here?" I said hope flaring into life. Before it died. "I can't I have to save her. Do you have a library here?" My flames flickered out.

"Of course, we have a library!"

I smiled. Finally, someone who understood me. And the pain. And the love I felt towards my family.