𝐒𝐈𝐗 | War Camps

"Rhysand!" I lifted my dress, hurrying down the stairs as I saw my husband in the doorway. It had been months since I had seen him.

"Hi..." He trailed off, neither of us knowing whether to give the other person a hug or to just shake hands. I made the decision, stepping forward and wrapping my arms around him gently. His hands were careful, hovering over my waist as we stood there for a moment. "I have something for you."

"You do?"

Rhysand hummed, before presenting me with a bouquet of flowers, that glimmered in colours of orange and red, similar to a sunset.

"Oh they're beautiful." I smiled up at him in thanks, before hurrying to find a vase and water for them. "Thank you, Rhysand."

He smiled, a warm one as I turned back to him.

"Are we ready to go?" He nodded, holding his arm out to me. I didn't hesitate this time when I took it, drawing myself closer to him. "You look beautiful, Carasai."

"Cara is fine." I told him gently. We had been married for months, and in reality, only my father called me by my full name. "Everyone calls me Cara."

"My friends call me Rhys." He smiled, before tightening his hold on me as we winnowed from the townhouse in Velaris. I kept my eyes closed, as the wind tugged at my loose hair. When I opened my eyes again, we were in a cooler area of the mountains, no sight of civilisation around us for the most part. "This is Windhaven."

"Windhaven?" I looked around, staring up at the towering stones of jagged rocks, covered with ice and snow. Each one seemed to look like a sword, weathered by years of rain and wind, leaving the Illyrian camp in the centre of it all, somewhat protected. Yet every time the wind whistled through, it sounded as if someone was screaming.

"The central camp." Rhysand explained, shrugging off his cloak to wrap around my shoulders. I was a Day Court member, this cooler temperature did not agree with me. "The best warriors in the other war camps are sent to train here."

"Were you sent here because you were the prince?"

"No, I trained in one of the Southern War Camps with Cassian, before coming here. Then, we met Azriel, who's from the Northern War Camps, and the three of us trained here." Rhysand explained, hooking his arm through mine once more as he lead me through the camp. It was filled with large wooden cabins, training areas, weapons stores, blacksmiths and the like. There were hundreds of Illyrian men around, of all ages, from young boys up to full grown adults. But no women, at all. I was very much a lone figure. "Azriel finished before Cassian and I, because he's a little older. That's why he now works with my father, but Cassian and I finished training this year."

"There are no women?" I twisted, searching for any Illyrian women in the crowd but there was no one. "Why are there no female soldiers?"

Rhysand tried to form words for a moment, his eyebrows furrowing. He didn't say anything for a moment, trying to work out how best to phrase his next statement.

"They do not train women here."

"Why not?"

"Because that is not the Illyrian way. They're a little...old fashioned." Rhysand explained quietly, before drawing me closer. I hummed, looking around as the men stared at me. It was almost like they had never seen a woman before and it left me feeling a little uncomfortable in my own skin. 

In my home court, there had never been an issue with me not being able to learn. My father had pushed for it, and I'd accepted it because that was what I wanted. I did not know that things were different in other courts, and it came as a shock to me. Rhysand's presence filled my mind, something that he didn't do very often, filling me with reassurance as he hovered by my side. He would protect me should the need arise.

"Why is it not the Illyrian way?" My voice grew quieter, hand tightening on Rhysand's wrist. He turned his palm up, letting my hand slip down into his. The warmth engulfed me for a moment as I took a deep breath. "Women are just as competent, if not more so, than men."

"There lies the issue. Illyrian men do not fare well with being less competent than women."

"And? Your sister is older than you, is she not more competent?"

"Her powers have dampeners on them, her wings were burnt from her back, she does not anymore."

"They did what?"

"That is why she and my parents do not get on." I watched him in horror, before he turned me towards a familiar hulking figure. Cassian had no one with him, and was instead sharpening his sword meticulously. "Cassian."

"Rhys. Hi Carasai." He gave me a quick hug, kissing my cheeks in greeting. "I didn't know that you were paying us a visit."

"Yeah, Rhysand invited me." I managed to stumble out, still watching Rhysand's face.

We'll speak on it later. His voice echoed throughout my mind as I huffed, before scrunching my nose.

"So what's the procedure for today?" I turned to Cassian, smiling. "Rhysand hasn't told me much."

"We're just getting awarded our siphons, if we've earned any and then just graduating."

"Do they have a speech or something?"

"Mother above, no. Thank the cauldron. I don't think I could sit through that, none of us would." Cassian laughed. "It'll be quick and simple. We turn up, we get the siphons, we leave."

"I see. Am I both of your guests then? I don't see anyone here for you, Cassian."

"That's because Cassian hasn't managed to trick anyone into staying long enough."

"Yet. Give me time." Cassian pointed out. "I never see you bullying Azriel for this."

"Azriel is too secretive. For all we know, he could already have a mate."

"Yeah, but he would most likely tell us." Cassian reminded Rhysand, before shrugging at me. "Azriel's a bit unsociable most of the time. He grew up alone, so getting him to talk to people is a little hard. He doesn't really like to."

"I see." I hummed. "Is that something to do with the scars?"

"It's not our place." Rhysand mentioned softly. "But he's been like that ever since we met him at least."

"And he graduated last year?"

"Two years ago." Cassian corrected. "We train here for the last four years, and he was two above us but he took us under his wings, quite literally, made sure that we made it out of here alive. Windhaven's very different to what we're used to, much harsher, and he made sure that we didn't get into too much trouble."

"I'm sure that was stressful." I joked. "I can't imagine either of you being that easy to handle."

"You're right, we weren't." Rhysand laughed, shaking his head. "He has grey hairs from all the stress we gave him."

"Oh absolutely." Cassian and Rhysand both chuckled, as if remembering previous times, before the call came for the graduation commencement and I was directed to stand with a few others. There were only two other women there, both mothers of some of the men graduating, and I was the only wife. Most Illyrians, at least according to Rhysand, were so focussed on training that they didn't have time to get married, but I suppose being the heir to the Night Court had allowed him to. 

The rest of the guests were men, brothers and fathers, with leering glances and wandering eyes. I wrapped my arms tighter around myself, watching as Cassian went up first, collecting seven red siphons that I assumed meant that Cassian had a lot of power, though I wasn't massively sure. He was given a pat on the shoulder, before being sent off as Rhysand was called up.

I smiled at him, watching as he was given the slip.

No siphon?

I shatter them. He sent me a grin from the side, winking, as he stepped off after Cassian. I didn't know whether to follow, so stepped back out of the tent, working out that I could track them down by going around the side of the tent.

Once I stepped out, however, I realised that the tent was a lot larger than I thought it was. Sighing, I took off, trying to find a way to cut through and find both Rhysand and Cassian. 

Huffing once more, I continued to explore, before finding a gap through and slipping through it, trying to make myself smaller. It seemed to work, no one shouting at me, as I came out in another clearing. Immediately, every hair on my body was standing up. Something was wrong here, and I did not like it one bit.

The ground was bloody, and there was a post ahead of me, chains on the top of it. 

I stared at it, bile forming in my throat as I stepped towards it.

"Cara." A hand grabbed mine, and I was tugged away. "Mother, Cara. Don't walk off."

Turning, I met Rhysand's violet eyes, my lip trembling.

"What was that?"

"Don't think about it."

"Rhysand."

"Cara."

"Rhysand!" I warned, eyes narrowing. "What is going on?"

"Carasai." He looked around. "Not now. Not here."

"But-"

"Please." I stopped, stepping back from him for a moment, before looking around. Nothing seemed out of place, but I felt like it was wrong. I did not know what was wrong with this place, but I did not like it.

Hiya,

So, Cara's found something, we get to see more of Rhys, Cara and Cassian, learn a little about Az and the camps and I like this chapter. What do we think Cara found?

Let me know what you think,

Love Li xx