A Court of Ash and Fire

Chapter Nine

It was early morning when Aelin stumbled across the waterfall. She had been slowly climbing the mountain, picking her way through overhangs and jutting rocks. The falls were within a large crater near the middle, hidden unless you looked for it specifically. Deciding this was the best place to stay to regain her strength, Aelin settled her things onto a moss-covered rock. On her travels, she had collected a large assortment of food and herbs for healing and strength. They were all sorted into animal skin packs and waterskins.

Shucking off her boots and sweaty, smelling clothes, she dove off a rock and into the rushing waterfall. The clear water was cool and crisp against her naked skin, and she relished every second of cleaning herself of four days' worth of dirt and sweat.

Finished with her skin, she rinsed out her clothes, leaving them to dry on a rock in the sun. Then, she waded over to the fall where she washed her hair under the rushing waters. It was a luxury she hadn't experienced for some time.

Untangling her hair with her fingers, she let the heavy stream slide over her face, cooling her hot skin.

She tensed as a wolf whistle sounded behind her.

"Well, hello little lady."

Aelin turned with disgust to the three males, all with their wings bound. She sneered at them. "Unfortunately, gentlemen, I'm not for sale. Or rent."

One of them hummed, his eyes skimming up and down her body. She heated with anger. But she didn't give them the satisfaction of covering her body. "That is unfortunate. So, then, what are you doing in the Rite?"

"What in the name of Wyrd is this Rite thing everyone keeps mentioning." She rolled her eyes, squeezing the water out of her hair. "Ok, look. Either you leave me alone, or I kill you all."

They all laughed, casually drawing makeshift daggers. "You'll kill us?" One chortled.

Aelin hummed, giving them a wicked grin. Then without further ado, she shifted into her Fae form and sent a wave of fire at them.

They yelled, raising their arms to protect their faces as the force of her flame sent them over the edge of the mountain. Aelin simply turned back to the waterfall and continued bathing.

~

"Two Illyrians attempting the Rite said they saw a human girl matching her description," Azriel reported. I sighed, rubbing my eyes.

"Great," Rhys said, throwing down another report. "An escaped human criminal is now in the path of dangerous Illyrians competing to the death in a Rite. Perfect."

Azriel held up his scarred hands. "Hey, don't shoot the messenger."

Rhys sighed. "Sorry. It's just been four days and no-one has managed to capture her, let alone even come close to it."

I rubbed his arm. "We'll find her, Rhys. To be honest, I'm more concerned about her safety than anything. She'll be running from us with a group of competitive, annoying Illyrians. The poor girl must be frightened to death."

~

"I'll see you in hell!" Aelin said cheerily as she caused another winged bastard to go over the edge off the mountain. Her humming downed out his screams. She had left the waterfall about and hour ago, and since then she had come across five more warriors. She had taken them all down easily, of course, thanks to her element of surprise. No-one would suspect what a dangerous creature hid beneath her skin.

She was almost at the peak of the mountain, and she could see snow coating the tip. The air was beginning to thin out, and she began to feel dizzy when she assumed she was about three hours from the top.

Deciding to take a break, she settled down on an overhang, munching on some roasted wild boar. Though the warriors could be better at combat, they were mean cooks.

Her head cocked as she caught the sound of scuffling and fighting. Frowning, she tried her best to avoid the fight, which was far closer than she would've liked.

Almost three hours passed, and she took down another eleven males in that time. She was sweating by the time she was at her last few minutes of the climb, knowing that since all these males were trying to get to the top, something must be up there.

Her fingers calloused and raw, she hauled herself with the last of her strength onto the very tip of the mountain. She panted, absolutely exhausted as she flopped onto the flat top, and slowly got to her feet, the wind a balm on her sweaty skin.

Wiping the sweat from her eyes, she cocked her head as she neared a onyx dais in the centre, a black pedestal standing tall and proud. She gingerly reached out a hand to brush her fingers against the stone, when suddenly, she was teleported onto a muddy training yard.

With Cassian glaring daggers at her.