The sun peeked from the horizon, warmth cloaking her as Aelin's stomach grumbled with hunger. After today, she promised. She didn't have a problem with eating. It was rather one of her favorite things to do. But times had changed. It had been a decent amount of time since she had last savored something when she ate it. Now it was just to keep her functioning and alive. Though she loved one specific kind of candy. And could gobble it anywhere it was given to her.
Those sour little ones were her favorite. The perfect combination of sweet and sour.
The group waited outside, less. . . panicky than yesterday.
"Why don't all of you look less pathetic," she hummed grinning. Cassian rolled his eyes, "Such a pathetic attempt at flattery, it's alright you'll learn one day," he chuckled as she dramatically let her mouth fall open, narrowing her eyes. "Says the guy who can't get a girl," she replied.
He let out a scoff.
"I promise you I've been with more people than you can imagine. I mean you are a kid-" he was cut off mid-way as a dagger shot past his hair stomping into the wall behind him. The air whooshed, everyone, turning their attention to the dagger. Cassian turned neutral, the smirk wiped off his face.
"Don't you dare call me a kid again," she said, voice silvery, "Or it'll be your eye next time."
He didn't say anything in response.
"My wall," Fennis screamed. Once he looked at Aelin and she only grinned in response, he rubbed his temples, cursing her under his breath.
The presence of someone behind her made her cock her head. Lucien stood grinning at her. His face looked drowsy, hair messier than usual. Arms crossed in front of his shirt he looked her over from the back. "Are you going to say something or just stare at my beautiful body all day?" she questioned.
He may have been in a good mode, a very non-Lucien thing, as he leaned in, "I hope you enjoyed your little trip outside," he whispered. Her lips thinned into a straight line, color pale as she stared at him. If he knew. . .
"Did you follow me?" she asked, voice raspy.
"Oh no, I heard you leave though I'm surprised any of these idiots didn't sense you," his voice was hushed as he continued, "you should be a little more careful next time. I wouldn't suggest sneaking out in the middle of the night. Especially when the city is full of threats and the most dangerous king we are yet to face stays here."
She would have shut him up. Come up with a rather good comeback. But she didn't say a word walking to a quiet corner.
As they dug into their breakfast's getting ready for the tunnel swipe she thought.
Adrian.
She had met Prince Adrian Aillard, heir to the throne of Belarus. Even though the prince had seemed harmless she was still wary of him. But he'd let something slip. Something that didn't seem important to him. He had told her guards had been sent to Ethopia for more troops. Ethopia. Atarah's kingdom.
Atarah had claimed the place had been utilized for weapons and soldiers. But something didn't sit right with her. She could feel something was wrong. Nevertheless, her interaction with the prince had been interesting. She didn't hate him, not like the rest of them did. But something had sparked in his eyes. Something that suggested that he wasn't what everyone thought he was.
Atarah had said he was working with the king. But the prince had seemed so lost. So unbothered, and calm, and interesting. A theory clicked in her head as she looked at the Fae gathering around the counter. Maps scattered.
~
"There are three entrances to the tunnel systems. One from this side," Atarah started, moving her fingers around the cylindrical shapes, "This one seems to lead right under the castle. I don't think any of them are guarded, considering the king doesn't know about them. But still, to be safe we'll divide into groups. Aelin, Cassian, Atlas, Zavia, and Lucien. You guys go together. The rest of us can go through the other exit. If there are guards observe them, their rotations, weapons movements. Do not attack. Try to contemplate if their parts of the creatures the king has been raising.
"As for once, we get there. We do not go in. Not today. If the palace really is located here, we find its weaknesses, attack at the time the guards are least attentive. For now, our main purpose will be finding our way inside. The second part of this plan initiates later."
Everyone listened attentively, Aelin, however, was not comfortable with this. She wasn't used to working with someone. Besides not attacking anyone, not going inside the castle, these things would cost them more time. The time they didn't have to spare.
"Lucien you can lead them inside, keep your head clear, our powers are lost but we still have our heightened senses and strength. You've been on missions like this with the bane, you're experienced at getting into places." Atarah wore a serious expression, her tone grave and full of wisdom.
A queen leading her people. Her court.
Three ferocious generals, a shadow striker, an archer, the deadly Creation twins, and a fierce fighter.
And unwillingly, coincidentally, the Silent Slayer.
But Aelin knew she wasn't part of this group, Atarah's court. She was her own person, a woman who would not bow, who'd shape fate to her own will.
She stared at the map circling around the two ends they'd take. It was merely for herself the thing she said next.
"Yeah, of course, you would know he's experienced, he's already been inside you." She was merely mumbling to herself but when the room went unusually quiet she looked up to see all of them staring at her. Eyebrows knitted together, arms crossed. She regretted saying anything.
"You guys need to be more discreet," Atlas mumbled staring at the maps as well, face clouded with what seemed like amusement and disgust.
For some reason, the apartment became rather interesting to look at as the rest of them hummed and stared at different objects.
Her gaze lingered over Lucien who seemed like he was holding in a smile. Just like she could've sworn the rest held in their laughs as well.
She didn't dare look at Atarah, the daggers the princesses stare was shooting were already piercing their way through her.
This was the time, one she thought would never come, when Aelin thanked the gods she would be going with Lucien.
~
The growling in her stomach grew with the undeniable anxiousness. No one dared share glances or pass snarky comments as they walked quietly hands locked on weapons. Aelin had drawn her own sword, the blade seemingly stiffer than she remembered as if it too knew things could go terribly wrong.
They'd lost their biggest ally, their magic, but this was important and there was no turning back. They would rely on wits.
Atlas pondered over to Aelin, who walked behind Cassian and Lucien, both males slowly drawing towards the tunnel's mouth. Atarah and Lucien had exchanged a few words before leaving, both groups taking different routes to avoid suspicion. Neither the twins nor the warriors had glanced at each other, snickering was a long way.
Out of the two, Atlas was the rather wild one, full of mischief, wilderness and Aelin loved that part of her. Even as Esma had seemed rather reserved and mature. They both balanced each other.
"This one time," Atlas started, eyes stilled on the approaching tunnel, "Zavia, Esma and I snuck into a war master's tent during a long-ago battle."
The name struck interest. A war master, was another soldier, though one that had more protocols, spending time preparing for wars, planning strategies. But it was their brutal skills, discipline, and training, received by the gracious Casadrians, sons of Sidra, the god of wars, themselves which made them deadlier.
"I'm guessing now that you stand here next to me," Aelin drawled, "he spared you."
Atlas merely shrugged. She was trying to distract them. From whatever today had in store.
"It was rather messy if you ask. Zavia believed we may poison him to spare the slaves from their misery in Estella. She thought we could save some of them. The wine we were going to poison was there, but the master was with a girl. . . We decided he deserved a rather brutal death but that girl-" The horror on her face said enough.
It was true, War masters, no matter how brutal their forces, and armies they had built now festering somewhere only the Gods knew, they were bastards and morons. Slavery, cruelty, execution, it was all games for them.
"I'm guessing Zavia got creative?" Aelin asked, eyeing the shadow striker. She walked gracefully, hair shimmering in the sun's broken rays. She turned around, a smirk painted on her face, "You think?"
"We saved a dozen slaves but that girl, she thanked us. Her gratitude was like no happiness I'd ever felt. We never went to Estella again, they doubled their forces but-" Atlas raised an eyebrow sarcasm sounding in her voice.
Aelin chuckled, shaking her head.
Lucien and Cassian stopped in their tracks, the tunnel soaring them towards it. Each gaped into the lurking darkness, unaware of anything that might have been pestering inside those walls. "Grab your weapons, stay alert," was all Lucien said as he quietly pulled out his sword trudging towards the entrance. Aelin pressed along the rest, meandering over to Lucien keeping up to him.
It wasn't because she was scared or the rest could prove fatal if anything attacked, it was because she wanted to see whatever there was, now waiting to pounce onto them, first. Her heart boomed, lips pressed into a straight line as she looked over to Lucien who to her surprise was just as tense at her staring into the abyss to make out anything dangerous.
"You look like you'll shit your pants," Aelin whispered, voice raw as she kept walking beside him, the entrance stepping closer.
The area around them was marked with trees, visible as far as her eyes sought. The wind grew heavier, air tighter as they walked.
"Whatever you say, though it's likely when the something pounces you'll be the first to run," Lucien replied.
Aelin swallowed a laugh. Even he couldn't hide the worry and timidness in his voice though she was sure it wasn't for himself but for his companions and the princess, who wandered the same pathway from another direction.
"It'll be fine you know, we'll make it. And I promise if anything tries to kill us, I'll try my best to protect you, considering your poor fighting skills," she teased trying to calm her racing nerves.
It seemed he appreciated it too as he looked at her, eyes twinkling with gratitude. He passed her a genuine smile, lips curled, as his body slightly relaxed. She could have sworn the tiredness and worry disappeared from his eyes.
And so they stopped outside the grey hole staring at it. Examining the place that could hold all the answers to their questions. And the doom that could destroy them wholly.
And with significant prayers and trembled curses they walked inside. Weapons out, vigilant and alert.
~
The darkness was welcoming, eyes straining as Aelin made out walls. The grey stone reeked of an abhor scent, eyes watery from it. But soon sunlight had snuck in from the tiny sewer holes carved every few feet. For now, the stone had been like the rest of Belarus, worn and dull. They walked in silence observing everything as the first turn welcomed them, voices of people above sauntering inside.
Each of them walked in silence, though the horrendous odor had taken its frill on them. Aelin walked closer to Lucien, their hands brushing every now and then as they stumbled further. He'd merely looked at her and the stare itself told her that he too, would protect her if the need comes. It had somehow eased the tension slightly.
Assassinating someone had never felt this disturbing. She would keep her eyes on the target for days before killing them, knowing exactly what to expect. Planning out escape routes, studying their routines, wealth, danger.
This, the ignorance, being kept in the dark, unawareness. This disturbed her.
"So if we find the entrance to the castle, what do we do?" Cassian questioned frowning. His golden hair shifted, eyes glowing the darkness.
"That's if we do make it out," Atlas replied smirking as Cassian exchanged a glance with her. Panic rose onto his face, pale skin visible in the gloominess.
"Why will we not make it out?" he whimpered, voice softer than it usually was as they took another turn. A left.
"Are you sure he was a general for Alynth?" Aelin teased. Lucien shook his head grinning. While Cassian snorted at her, staring her down. She obliged him, returning the stare.
"If we do get in, how will you take out the king? What says he hasn't armed himself with the same creatures? What if he is one?" Aelin murmured quietly.
Another wave of silence crossed over them before Lucien cleared his throat.
"The king has done a lot of bad stuff. That is the reason we came together. Each of us has been cursed with a wound the king has given us. A wound that will only be healed with vengeance." Zavia shrugged from behind but Lucien ignored her, continuing, "If we find the entrance today, it will be a planned move for when we attack the palace. Though now the blockage of our powers is another obstacle, we'll figure that out first. One thing we know for sure is that if he's anything like us his powers would have been distinguished as well. So that means-
"He's not a Faerie," Aelin finished for him. He merely nodded at her.
"Once the blockage is cleared and the entrance is examined we wait for Clio-Sidra, the day of banishes."
Aelin only narrowed her eyebrows, tilting her head to the side. Lucien snorted, understanding that she had not heard of it.
"Clio-Sidra, the day of banishes, is a day of celebrations for Belarus that has been celebrated for over fifty years. After the Cramoisan war, people - mortals were taken as slaves, butchered and tortured to an extent that they were almost extinct. Most of their territories were already captured, and execution was an everyday thing. Faeries murdered them for pure entertainment, torturing and tormenting. At that time most human-kingdoms had already had their downfalls and most remaining went into hiding.
"When things became too bad, the ruler of Belarus, Edward Aillard took it upon himself to retrieve his lands. Bring justice to his people. So when the Fae feasted and executed, he secretly built his armies, designing weapons and artifacts, deadlier than any of our kind had seen. Some of the Fae retorted to helping him. Mainly because they knew that he was too powerful. That we didn't stand a chance. For shelter from the wraith, he was going to unleash they gave up their powers, draining each and every drop for him to create dangerous weapons. To the extent that another drop shredded could kill them.
"Then he unleashed his forces. When we least expected it, soldiers and beasts flooded us, vicious and brutal. The weapons they had, even our powers couldn't save us. Most were killed, others went into hiding, the ones that couldn't do anything were taken as slaves."
She could see the sorrow and rage filtered as he blinked as if he could witness each event in his head.
"Thus Clio-Sidra, day of banishes, was born. The day the mortals took control and made sure that like this would happen again. The day is marked in history. The day of their victory."
Anger flashed around her, each person tense as they walked further marking and memorizing each turn as light greeted them every now and then, the sounds of footsteps still pounding over them.
"So on Clio-Sidra, when the people are busy celebrating, it'll be the perfect distraction. Guards will not be as alert, most drunk for all we know. We'll foster into the castle that night and unleash our own wraith on the king and his family." When Lucien finished, his voice was hoarse, eyes weary as he tightened his grip on his sword, groping at the two turns that stood in front of them.
Aelin felt something tighten in her chest, the anxiousness now soared with overwhelming and remorse as she gazed at them. Like her, they were tired as well. Of the loss and bloodshed and sacrifices. Everyone wanted this to end. And some part of her swore that maybe, maybe this would be the court that could be the beginning of a better future. Her hands aching from her own tight grip, braid shifting as she moved to stare into the blackness as well.
"How do you know, the Prince is also included in this whole thing?" Aeling retorted, "What if he has no idea and he's just as lost as everyone else in the city?" It was true, beneath the timidness and tension, this question had been bothering her for rather some time now, clawing at her.
He'd just looked so at peace, and sad as if his life was being spent as nothing but playing as a puppet. She had expected a cunning, ravenous, snake boy who would have killed her on sight but Adrian. . . he had seemed harmless as if he too had been consumed by his father's misery and was drowning in his own demons. She thought, a stupid, idiotic thought but a fools hope that maybe. . . maybe Adrian could be proven as a potential ally. Someone on the inside to guide them.
The end of a haunting plead.
"It could be but we can't take risks. His reputation is at high stake, he wouldn't go against his father even if he is under the rock. If the time comes we may spare him," Lucien looked at her, expressions again returned to the cold mask he always wore, "for a better future. A better future for both us and Belarus."
"Cheers to that," Atlas trudged from behind them, chuckling quietly.
Even Zavia snickered, the female had been quiet assessing the place but Aelin knew her ears had been pinned to the conversation they'd been having.
"Maybe you can let me feast on you if we win," Cassian flirted, grinning at Atlas. It had hardly been more than a whisper, but all of them heard it.
While Lucien and Aelin both choked on a laugh, gazing at each other.
Atlas had almost said something, blushing but angry when the arrow shot.
Lucien caught it, panic written across his. And then another came. Aelin caught it swiftly, the sharp front close to Cassian's eye as he shuddered a breath. And then it started. Fear colliding with confusion as the emerging soldiers became clearer with each step.
Do not attack Atarah had said. So Aelin turned around ready to return the way they came from. But more soldiers soared from that side as well. Ambush. This was an ambush.
All thoughts drifted away from her as she gripped her swords, pulling out the twin as well as she scanned the area. They had no way to escape if it wasn't over these dead bodies. She looked at Atlas and Cassian and Zavia readying themselves as their own weapons slid out. Backs tense looks cold.
When she looked at Lucien, she knew he was thinking what she was as he gripped his own sword. She could have sworn his eyes softened for a second as he looked at her. With what feeling she didn't know.
And as they grinned at each other nodding while the soldiers gathered around, Aelin smirked at them.
And then she began slicing.