To The Dreams That Aren't Always Answered

Chapter 65

A/N

The first and most likely the majority of this chapter is going to be pulled directly from ACOWAR, those parts shall be Italicized. I DO NOT OWN ACOWAR, OR THE CHARACTERS, that privilege goes SJM.

Also, this shall be written w/ the help of @SJM_addict so be sure to show her lots of love!!!!!

Anyway, enjoy my depraved fic!!!

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The first test would be the most dangerous— and informative.

Passing through the guards stationed at the edge of the camp—and

learning if they'd heard of Ianthe's demise. Learning what sort of power

Ianthe truly wielded here.

I kept my features in that beatific, pretty mask she'd always plastered

on her face, head held just so, my mating ring turned facedown

and put onto my other hand, a few silver bracelets Azriel had borrowed

from the camp priestess dangling at my wrists. I let them jangle loudly,

as she had, like a cat with a bell on its collar.

A pet—I supposed Ianthe was no more than a pet of the king.

I couldn't see Azriel, but I could feel him, as if the Siphon parading

itself as Ianthe's jewel was a tether. He dwelled in every pocket of shadow,

darting ahead and behind.

The six guards flanking the camp entrance monitored Ianthe, strutting

out of the dark, with unmasked distaste. I steadied my heart, became

her, preening and coy, vain and predatory, holy and sensual.

They did not stop me as I walked past them and onto the long avenue

that cut through the endless camp. Did not look confused or expectant.

I didn't dare let my shoulders slump, or even heave a sigh of utter

relief. Not as I headed down the broad artery lined by tents and forges,

fires and—and things I did not look at, did not even turn toward as the

sounds coming out of them charged at me.

This place made the Court of Nightmares seem like a human

sitting room filled with chaste maidens embroidering pillows.

And somewhere in this hell-pit ... Elain. Had the Cauldron presented

her to the king? Or was she in some in-between, trapped in whatever

dark world the Cauldron occupied?

I'd seen the king's tent in Nesta's scrying. It had not seemed as far

away as it did now, rising like a gargantuan, spiny beast from the center

of the camp. Entrance to it would present another set of obstacles.

If we made it that far without being noticed.