chapter ten

─── little brothers

          ℑllyrians had settled across the mountains to the north of the Night Court, in a variety of different places which I had yet to ever visit and doubt I ever would. The northernmost camps, where Azriel came from, were often covered in snow and ice for most parts of the years, with a brief period of warmth for the summer. The easternmost parts of Illyria had no fixed camps. The people there moved around with the changing of seasons, training along the way. The westernmost camps were warmer than all the others, right by the sea as Velaris was, and my mother had always talked about wanting to go and experience it.

She, and my brother, had both trained in the southernmost camps, that bordered the edge of the mountains and the land around it. I had only been once, remembering the hustle of the markets and the sights and sounds. It had been nothing like I had ever known, and I'd often wished that I could go back.

"This is Windhaven." Azriel explained as I looked around. It was one of the central camps in Illyria, located in the midst of the mountain range and only truly accessible by flight or winnowing. "It's the centre camp, the one directly in the middle of the other territories. It's where the most elite of the warriors are sent to train."

"So, no women here then?" The Illyrians view of women was not a high one, and it was comparable to that of the Hewn City. I could only hope that when I finally took control of Hewn that I would be able to change that, and Rhysand and whoever helped him rule, would be able to help the Illyrian women.

"None, apart from mothers who are dropping their sons off." I looked around the wooden cabins and large training grounds with an unimpressed expression on my face. I preferred my own home. This felt too exposed, the camp spread out far more than the winding streets of Hewn, and the men here did not fear me.

Azriel was beside me, the seven syphons glowing on his armour. His shadows were flicking with agitation, eyes narrowed as he searched for the leader, Devlon, who was supposed to come and speak with me.

I could guarantee that the reason he was taking so long was because I was a woman.

Azriel turned to sneer at another pair of leering Illyrians, who were looking my body up and down. It was probably the first time they'd seen a woman here who wasn't their mother, so I paid it little heed. I could beat them in a fight anyway.

"I swear, if they do not take their eyes off of you," Azriel shot them a cold glare as I turned to look up at his clenched jaw. "I'll kill them."

"Az." I sent him a warm look and a calming grin. "I really love that you would do that for me, but you can not. We do not need to cause an uproar just yet and it will be my job when we do. No need to make them despise you."

"They already do."

"Why? Did they not like your chatty disposition?" I questioned, smirking as I drew a small huff of laughter from Azriel's lips. He might be chatty with me, but I knew that he seemed to refuse to speak to anyone else at the most part. "This is my job, Az, just like yours is to listen to rumours and be the shadowsinger."

"I don't spy on everyone." He muttered, crossing his arms as he shot me a look. I forced a smile from my face. "I don't spy on you."

"That's because we're mates and I tell you everything anyway, so you have no need." I rolled my eyes as we continued to wait, before remembering something. Azriel had never seen me truly in my element as leader of the Dark Bringers. "I'm going to warn you now that you might not like how I treat them."

"What do you mean?"

"My father has given me permission to use excessive force if necessary and if they do not respect me, then I will." I told him as Azriel's eyebrows furrowed and he shot me a single nod. I knew that he would understand why, but I did not need him to look at me differently for it. "So, if I end up stabbing one of them, you can not interfere. It will undermine my authority and make me look weak. If you do, I will be cursing you out in front of them, mate or not. My position is incredibly important to me and I worked hard to get it."

He looked slightly put out but he nodded all the same. Azriel saw the best in me, but in times like these, I had to be the worst.

"In these situations, I normally make myself more evil, more like my father." I shook my head, licking my lips as my fingers drummed across my dagger. "I don't like it, but it keeps me safe. This is what I am like in the Hewn City and I know that you do not like it, but it is a part of me. A part of me that is more powerful than the nice side you get to see."

"Are you saying I'm special then?" Azriel teased, seeing the hesitance on my face.

"Of course you are. You're my mate." I shot him a wink, before turning back to the front. "Thank you."

"Maiya?" Snapping my head to the side, my eyebrows furrowed at the sight of two tall Illyrian men. They were shorter than Azriel, one with cropped dark hair and the other was slightly longer, half pulled back off of his face. Both carried swords over their shoulders, dressed in typical training armour of an Illyrian in training.

I turned to Azriel, who was grinning, before looking back once more. 

"Is that Rhysand?" I asked Azriel, guilt forming in me as I realised, I didn't recognize my own brother. Azriel saw the look on my face, the utter guilt and sorrow, his smile falling.

"Rhysand's the one with short hair." He told me gently, and I looked back at them. Rhysand was taller now, much taller than me, his dark hair cut shorter than I remembered. There was gash healing on the side of his forehead, and a bruise on his cheek, but he was smiling as he walked over. I could just about make out violet eyes, the same ones that I saw when I looked in the mirror each day.

"Princess. They're ready for you." I turned away from my brother, looking at the man ahead of me with narrowed eyes. Immediately, any thought of my brother left my mind, instead channelling in on what I had to do. I had a job, and I would not fail.

"You've made me wait for half an hour." I snapped, glaring at him as my lips curled into a snarl. "If that happens the next time that I arrive, I will be removing fingers from those who made me wait."

"Of course." The Illyrian managed to get out the words from behind gritted teeth, turning to lead me to the tent. I stormed away, feeling Azriel behind me. My mate had shot Rhysand an apologetic look, before keeping to my heels as we reached a group of men in an open tent, sitting around a table. I assumed these were the camp elders.

"Princess." I looked around them, raising an eyebrow until I found the commander. Azriel had said that his name was Devlon. He was a broad man, with a cold snarl plastered on his face. He reluctantly raised his hand and I shook it quickly, glaring all the while. I knew that he would hate me, for I was a woman, and thus I would reciprocate that hatred tenfold.

"Devlon. You kept me waiting." I snarled as he nodded, before looking Azriel up and down. I turned, before nodding at my mate to back away until he stood with Rhysand and his friend, who had followed us towards the tent. "My father's Shadowsinger was kind enough to bring me here."

"What did you need?" 

"The amount of Illyrian soldiers in each camp, including those that will be completing their training within the next few years. I need to know who the most powerful are, and the legions who are more powerful." Devlon nodded, though the other men began to fidget behind him. None of them looked pleased that I was sent to get information on their army. "I need strategies that you would be keen to use in the upcoming war, and anything that you don't want to use. I will be your strategist for all future battles until the war ends, you will be reporting to me."

"When do you need them by?" Devlon forced out through gritted teeth. He glared down at me, but I glared back. He was not my father, so I was not scared for he could not do anything to me.

"As soon as possible. Two days time, or I'll be back with more of my own soldiers." I smiled cruelly, the threat apparent. I had been entitled to use force, and I would if they didn't comply based on the fact of my gender. The men behind him all flared their wings, glaring at the command I issued. I rolled my eyes.

Men and their fragile little egos.

"I'll see what we can do."

"No, you'll see that it's done." I corrected, before raising my hand for Devlon to shake once more. "Good. I'll see you in two days."

I turned on my heel, looking straight forward. It was best that we left now, otherwise there was a potential for things to get messy. I don't think my father would appreciate if I left anyone dead.

"A mere woman is telling us what to do?" I paused at the words, weighing up in my head whether or not I was going to do it. I smiled to myself, my thoughts clear, before turning back to the man. As I walked, I pulled one of my daggers free, grabbing the Illyrians hand.

He turned, but could not move as I slammed the dagger down. He screamed in pain as the blade went through his palm and into the table below, pinning him still. The Illyrians were on their feet in an instance, but I did not care. They harmed me, my father would butcher them. He may not like me but I was still his eldest child, and he would protect me to uphold the reputation of the family.

"Watch how you speak to me." I smiled at him, my eyes wide and I'm sure at that moment, I looked psychotic. "I'm being nice, as we've got a war coming up and need all of our soldiers, but speak to me like that again and I will take your tongue and then your head."

I twisted the knife as he slammed his hand onto the table, yowling through gritted teeth. Leaning closer to his ear, I grinned as he whimpered.

"If this happens in my presence again, before the war, I will torture you to the brink of death, only to heal you again so that you are able to fight. Do you understand?" He murmured something ineligible, but I furrowed my eyebrows. "I asked you a fucking question. You answer that with a yes ma'am or no ma'am!"

"Yes ma'am." He spat out, as I yanked the dagger free.

"I'm so glad we're on the same page." I pulled the collar of his tunic free from beneath his fighting leathers, cleaning my blade. "I would so hate for us to have another misunderstanding like this."

I patted his cheek before turning to Devlon, as the Illyrian clutched his hand.

"Get your dogs under control, Devlon, or I will come back and make them obey." My glare grew as I sheathed my dagger, before I smiled. "Information in two days. Don't make me come back a third time otherwise I shall start to weigh up whether it will be yours or your whining boy's head that comes back with me."

He nodded, bowing his head as he fought the urge to draw his sword and I nodded.

"Good." Stepping away from him, I brushed out of the tent, past a shell-shocked Rhysand and the other Illyrian. Azriel fell in beside me, watching as I sighed and let my hard expression fall. 

"Are you alright?" His words were quiet, a shadow wrapping around my little finger though I brushed it away. Not in public, and especially not here.

"I will be once we get to Hewn." I kissed my teeth, before pausing at the call of my name from behind us. Rhysand was hurrying over, with the long haired Illyrian, a frown on both their faces. "Rhysand."

"What was that?" He asked as he got closer. I sent Azriel a look, nodding behind me as he got the message. He grabbed the other Illyrian, walking away as I turned to Rhysand.

"You know, it's really bad, I'd forgotten what you looked like." I looked up at him, taking in the scars and the way his wings twitched every now and then. "Azriel had to point you out to me."

"Maiya, you just-" He cut himself off, watching me with wide eyes. "You forgot what I looked like?"

"It's been twelve years." I shrugged, pushing the remainder of my rage down so that I could talk to Rhysand calmly. "You've changed. Both of us have."

"I never forgot what you looked like though." His eyebrows furrowed, pain clear in his eyes as I sighed once more.

"It's been a long time."

"What happened?" He asked, wings curling tighter around them as I watched them enviously. "Have you learnt a glamour charm?"

"What?"

"Your wings. I can't see them."

"I don't have them." I repeated, before spitting to the side as the scars on my back ached. "Father cut them soon after you left, then sent me to the Hewn City to train. Being in the war camps done you good, I see. The shadow singer says you're powerful."

"You can't just change the subject."

"Rhysand, I don't have a whole lot of time." I replied, shaking my head. "Father expects me back soon and I have to go to the Hewn City first. I'm trying to catch up as quickly as I can."

"How's Mother? Is she doing well?"

"How should I know? I'm not the favourite child so she doesn't care." I shrugged. I wasn't intentionally being harsh, though Rhysand winced at that, it was just the truth. "Hopefully I can come and visit soon. I'm set to be your strategist for the upcoming war."

"I could do that."

"Father doesn't trust you. You're too powerful, so it's on me." I replied, turning as I caught Azriel's motion from the corner of my eyes. "I should go."

"Maiya." Rhysand caught my arm, before tugging me back into a hug and clutching onto me. "I'm sorry I didn't visit."

"It's fine." I patted his back gently, before pulling away and ruffling his hair. "It looks better short than it did long."

I turned, before walking to join Azriel's side once more though I shot the long haired Illyrian a curious look. He noticed, stretching out his wings as Azriel shot him a glare. 

"Maiya, this is Cassian." Rhysand stopped by my side, introducing me.

"So I've heard." I cocked an eyebrow at him, tilting my head. This was the last of their little trio so to speak. "You're a foot soldier now, aren't you?"

"Charmed to meet your acquaintance."

"She's my older sister, Cassian." Rhysand spoke again, an eyebrow cocked. "You're not allowed to try and sleep with her."

"You never know, I might be her type."

"You're not my type." I corrected, before shaking my head. "You haven't got a big enough wingspan."

I heard Rhysand laugh, seeing Azriel snort and Cassian's offended face before grabbing onto the Shadow Singer and winnowing the pair of us away.

∘☽༓☾∘

Hiya,

So, I do love feisty Maiya and her and Az are the sweetest, but she couldn't remember Rhys when she first saw him, sad times for her. Also, Cassian is pretty funny so he and Maiya are gonna have fun.

Let me know what you think,

Love Li xx