As I fought with the smile on my  face, willing it to fade away, there was a sudden burst of light, of black light. Two shadows whisked through the the room, and disappeared in another dash of darkness. Wraiths. Stiffening, I realized they were much like the guards in the prison. Had they come to find me? 

Rhys seemed amused again by the mix of shock and maybe fear on my face. "That's Nuala and Cerridwen, Az's spies. They're half-shadow Wraith, half High Fae." He smirked. "And they're afraid of you." I let myself relax, hiding my relief. 

Azriel stood up, almost as gracefully as the Wraiths, and headed for the stairs. "They've got a report. I'll be back." He strode up the stairs, and I heard his door close.

Cassian leaned back in his chair, slitting his eyes at me. I stared back, holding his gaze. I smiled. I could do this all day. Mor suddenly slung her arm around Cass, and he broke off the stare in surprise.

"Stop. I know what you're doing." She glared at him, and I felt a sudden pang of friendship. This reminded me of something. 

"Rhys." The violet eyes turned my way, and he nodded as if to say, Go on. "What did you do to my powers?" That smirk returned again, and I felt like kicking him again. "When I rescued you," he put the emphasis on rescue, "I bound you here. And, may I add, my own powers were strong enough to restrain yours until I let you go." He half-smiled. "Which might be never." 

"Idiot." I mumbled. I was confused, nonetheless. "Until I apologize to Cassian, I won't be able to use my powers?" 

Rhys nodded. "Just one single word." 

I felt myself smiling. "Alright."

I turned toward the Illyrian. "Dearest Cassian." Mor snorted, and Rhys interrupted my heartfelt apology. "Honestly, please." I grinded my teeth together. Could I really do this? Apologize honestly and truthfully?

"Cassian, I'm sorry I said your friend deserved his death. I was confused and angry, and..." I felt myself weaken a little, but I let myself say it. "No one deserves to die like that." I heard giggles that turned into snorts. "What?" I stared at the three of them laughing their heads off like maniacs. 

Cassian managed to speak. "You... You apologized!" He dissolved into laughs again.

I locked eyes with Rhys. "Let me go now." I demanded. But staring at those eyes reminded me of something. "And, Rhys, thank you for saving my life."

Everyone was choking in laughter.

Suddenly, wind and smoke and darkness whisked back into the room. Everyone silenced as Azriel and his spies appeared. Rhys seemed to stiffen, and Mor and Cassian waited somberly. 

"A band of Peregryn attacked and killed an Illyrian- during a meeting." 

Cassian groaned. "Where?"

Azriel replied quickly, "Dawn Court, Steelperch." Cass banged his fist on the table. "Steelperch? Again?" Azriel nodded. "They're attacking at midnight. We've got to go." In a flash, Cassian and Azriel had vanished. Rhys ran a hand through his hair. "Mor-"

"Let her come with you." She interrupted. I was confused, but I knew what was happening, sort of. "What are Peregryn's?" I asked. The word brought an image to my head. Mor answered quickly. "Winged warriors, not like Illyrians. They serve the Dawn Court." 

"And Steelperch?" Rhys answered. "An Illyrian war-band." I nodded. "Let me come. Free me. I can help." Rhys frowned, then sighed. "Alright. Just don't kill us- never mind. If you wanted to, I suppose you would have found a way already." He disappeared as well, snapping his fingers. Suddenly, weight and power fell on me. My powers returned, filling up a hole I hadn't known was there.

Mor watched me cautiously, then got up and grabbed clothes from her chair. "These are for you."  I frowned at the heavy outfit. "No need." I stretched, and then grabbed a knife and stabbed it into my arm. Of course, I was showing off, using my powers to deflect the metal, but Mor didn't look remotely surprised. "Suit yourself. Follow me." Mor quickly changed into her own gear and grabbed my arm, leading me outside. 

"Don't let go." She said.

And then wind and breath and darkness and light and everything.

Mor let go of my arm. I stumbled around in shock. We were in a wood, and the three Illyrians, dressed in black, stared at us. "You were late." Cassian joked. Mor frowned. "Her fault. Don't kill me." She pointed to me.

I wasn't sure how much of my power I could use, so I closed my eyes and let the dark inside of me wander. "Amren!" Someone shouted.

Blinking out of my reverie, I realized the trees around me had moved. Leaning away from me. "Scary." Cassian muttered, and I released my hold on the trees.

But it felt good to use my powers.

"So, what's the plan?" I jovially asked. 

Cassian snorted. "The plan is for you and Mor to stay here, and we'll get things settled. If things get rough, you come in."

Mor frowned. "How do we know what she can do?"

At that, Rhys winked. "We'll see." The other two Illyrians on his heels, they flew out of the trees. 

"This is boring." I said, stealthily lowering a branch down to meet my hand. Mor glanced at me from the corner of her eye. "So what can you actually do?" She laughed. "Aside from annoying the heck out of Cass."

I frowned; I really didn't know what I could do in this form. "I'm not sure..." Mor stiffened, her spine going straight. "What happened?" I asked, alert.

"Rhys and Az are trying to restrain the Illyrians..." She blinked. In an instant her arm was around me, and we fell into a pit of wind again. 

This time we were near the edge of the woods, where we could see the scene unfolding in front  of us. I gasped. There were a whole lot of Illyrians, wearing the same silver armor, and facing them were winged Fae of sorts, white plumed feathers sprouting from their backs. They wore golden armor. Peregryn.  Mor and I watched as two men, one from either side, came to meet Rhys. Azriel was on the ground, keeping the legions at check. 

Immediately I felt the invisible barriers between them, the protective wards that separated the two groups. And there was something else, too... I closed my eyes, delved deeper into the things at the edge of nothing, and felt hundreds of living, breathing minds.

I jerked back, surprised at how deep the minds went. I focused on the brief meeting between Rhys, the Illyrian leader, and the Peregryn captain. 

"My Lord, these monsters have attacked and killed one of our own, going against the peace meeting. They must die." The Illyrian said, fear deep in his eyes. My Lord? I had no time to think, as the Peregryn captain jutted in. "Your Illyrian attacked one of us. It was self-defense."

"Only because he offended us!" 

"Lies! We were stating a fact!" 

The Illyrian jabbed a finger towards the Peregryn. "You-"

"ENOUGH!" Cassian, appearing from the crowd of Illyrians, bellowed.