A Court of Shadows and Stars (Azriel Fanfiction)

Thirty Five- Spying couldn't get any harder.

Thirty Five- Spying couldn't get any harder

"Why the sad face?" Eris asked me as we made our way to Beron's house. As usual he had me dressed up in the servant's garb and I played the role of docile mortal girl who's only job was to scrub and polish floors.

I kept my head down as I walked, "I'm pretending to look depressed, isn't that supposed to be in the job description?"

Eris let out a low chuckle, "You know what I'm talking about. A certain spymaster didn't come to see you off,"

"If you're talking about Ariel I suggest you drop it," I said, the venom in my voice evident.

"Or what?"

I kept my mouth shut at that for I had nothing to say to it. There was nothing I could threaten Eris with except for a few empty threats about gouging out his eyeballs which would only earn a chuckle from him in response.

We reached the townhouse just as the cook opened the back door to discard some stale vegetables. On seeing Eris she dropped down to a low curtesy. He sprung into character by pushing me by the shoulder towards her, "Mouthy one she is, make sure she sticks to her chores," the unsaid command to find the rest of the tunnels wasn't lost on me as the cook hauled me inside. She pressed a bundle of laundry at me and ordered me to have it washed and hung out to dry. I kept my gaze lowered and stammered a few incoherent questions about where and what the laundry room was before the cook herself hauled me by my hair to one of the rooms at the far end of the corridor.

I pretended to muffle my sobs and much to my amusement I watched as the cook stood there fuming in anger before shutting the door after her, leaving me alone in the room.

I had been here before and I knew that the hidden door behind the tapestry led to the main tunnel. Making sure to bolt the main door behind me, I dumped the laundry into the basin of water before me and began scrubbing super fast in order to get the job done. Luckily for me, the sheets were easy to clean and I put them out on a bench before hurrying down the tunnel and to the main one.

Thanks to the piece of charcoal and parchment I had sneaked in, I began sketching down the rest of the tunnels as I hurried through them. There were more to be discovered but I knew that I had to manage my time properly. I had already spent enough of time here and so I made my way back out through the door I went through and locked it firmly after me before proceeding to take the laundry basket out to dry.

It went on like this for a few hours. I was extra vigilant and made sure to cover up as much as I could. My hands and feet ached, new blisters finding it's way to my palms that were red and sore thanks to all the house work. I didn't encounter Beron throughout the day and was grateful when I received my dinner of gruel and gobbled it down hungrily before settling in the small servant's room that had been offered to me.

Turning off the candle I used the dim light of the moon and went through the sketches I made. They all were in place now. The entire tunnel system was in this piece of paper. As tired as I was to just go to bed I couldn't help but force myself to take an all-nighter and mark down all the accessible tunnels and note down the ones that could be accessed with a small and large group.

It was nearing daylight when I finished and my eyes burned thanks to all the exhaustion I had put myself through but it was worth it. The sooner I managed to finish Eris's task the sooner I could leave this place and focus on what my uncle wanted.

Whatever that was.

I slipped out of my nightgown and into my uniform after using the sparse bar of soap and water and the stick of mint to clean myself up before leaving my room. I was entrusted with the task of picking out the mushrooms for the soup and it was also right in time to meet Eris in the allocated place. The cook still hadn't woken up and so hadn't the rest of the household.

Just as I was about to leave I heard a small commotion coming from right where the kitchen door was. I stopped in my tracks, afraid that it would wake up the cook and she'd blame it on me. When no one else stirred, I tiptoed to the entrance of the kitchen where the door was left slightly ajar.

There were voices outside the door. A male was speaking to another and I kept myself hidden well away as I peered through the hinges.

"Are you sure about this?" It was Beron. It had to be. He looked just like Eris save for looking a tad bit older than him. Beside him stood a fair haired male. He was dressed in dark robes, the edges of his eyes stained with kohl. His gaunt face was drawn in malice as he stared back at Beron who looked like he was in the middle of telling him off.

"I don't make deals without trusting the consequences High Lord," The male's voice was deep and smooth. Like silk gliding over glass. Something about it seemed off and I felt a shiver crawl up my spine.

Beron still would have none of it, "How am I sure that you won't end up turning against me?" He asked as he crossed his hands over his chest.

The male only smiled, "You have something I want and I have something you want. You seek to rule Prythian and I'm happy to offer it to you,"

I swallowed down the gasp that left my lips. Beron wanted to rule Prythian. Hybern included. Did my uncle know about this?

"And what do you want in return?" Beron asked.

The male smiled, "My brother was killed in a land ruled over by the descendant of Goddess Mala, I seek revenge,"

"If it's Aelin Ashryver Galathynius you're after- Prythian isn't the place,"

I bit my fist in shock. They were talking about the Fae woman who defeated the Vlag. This male, he called the Vlag his brother.

Erawan was his brother.

I peeped through the hinges again but the two of them had walked off. Suddenly out of nowhere I felt someone grab onto my hair and fling me away from the door. It was the cook and just as I looked up she slapped me so hard the stars danced before me.

"You intolerable child! Spying around like that," she was seething and before I saw it coming she slapped me again. So hard that I fell down on the floor in a heap, my cheek scraping against the rough surface. Pain laced through my face and I feigned a sob as I sat up. If she dared raise a hand at me again I would cut hers off, consequences be damned. Luckily for her she didn't, instead she pushed me out of the house demanding that I return in time with the mushrooms.

I kept my head down as I walked, hoping that I'd see Beron and that strange male again. There was something evil conspiring between the two and I was torn between reporting it to Eris, Rhysand or my uncle.

Finally I decided on the latter. If there was anything to be done, my uncle would know it.

Now I just needed to find a way to talk to him.