Distant echoes of life came to her in fleeting screeches of night birds as she struggled to keep track of time. Darkness, damp and stagnant silence as her only companions. The moon was a phantom presence lingering at the top of the stone funnel opening several levels higher into the sky.

Suri felt entombed, enveloped in the unstirred air of the dungeon and in foreign shadows spreading around her like cobwebs, trying to swallow her completely. She knocked her head on the bars once. Twice. And kept doing it for a while feeling less alone at sound of bone against metal. She slid the tips of her fingers down the thick iron bars, feeling under her hands the odd symbols engraved there. They covered every surface of the cell, from ceiling to floor—Suri had never seen anything like them.

In the long hours she'd spent down here, courtesy of Eris, Suri had been studying them carefully. As it plainly was, these marks had the extraordinary faculty to block out her powers. That she knew, the only way to achieve that effect was using Hybern's ancient chains, and yet, here was this other diabolic trick; she knew the chains of the King had all been destroyed, and these carvings felt far from that sort of magic anyway. Suri didn't know how to explain it, but they felt—older. She wasn't an expert but from the look of them the symbols followed some unrecognizable pattern, like letters.

If only Aksel were with her. He would surely know about them.

He wouldn't have gotten into this kind of trouble to start with, actually.

Now it didn't matter—she obviously wasn't her brother. The only thing that counted was that once she got out Suri would cut away the arrogant grin of Eris from that pretty face of his.

The sound of approaching footsteps drew her out of her thoughts. Gold embroideries glinted in the dark as four guards stopped in front of her cell ordering her to step back. Suri did as she was told without arguing. The bulkier one opened the door always keeping a watchful eye on her, lest she should decide to pick a fight, and stepped aside to let her out. Suri could have used the shackles engraved with magic symbols they'd put on her wrists to strangle the guard, then knock on the head the next who came after her, and next, and the next. But what point was there in killing them? They were already taking her right where she wanted—to the High Lord.

Suri kept walking, two guards flanking her and two following behind. She recognized the path to the same room in the tower where she and Keran had been received by Eris the day before.

Keran must have been taken to another part of the dungeon, she did not know where, for she had not heard or seen him the whole night. Suri didn't have to wonder for much longer, though. He was there, similarly escorted and chained, waiting for her. They filed into the room through open doors and found and empty throne welcoming them this time. The eight guards accompanying Suri and Keran spread out along the circular perimeter of the turret, standing at attention.

That bastard was enjoying this till the very end.

Eris had caged them with his treacherous magic, thrown them into a damp cell and let them wallowing in mildew.

He was so finished.

The sun started to tinge the sky outside announcing the beginning of the new day, and Suri felt her resolution growing stronger with every minute that passed. Her hands were literally itching with eagerness to fight when the Cauldron finally decided to please her.

Suri and Keran turned their heads in unison to behold the entrance of the High Lord: Eris was walking toward them entirely shrouded in flames lapping his body. The fire burned hotter than hell on Suri's skin at a distance, while Eris didn't look troubled in the slightest as the red tongues danced around him, his amber eyes also ablaze and sending out scorching sparkles.

Suri was regretfully forced to step back as she felt the leather of her suit starting to melt with the skin underneath. Eris walked slowly through Suri and Keran to reach his seat, the exposed patches of their skin sizzling. Just as Suri was about to let down her stoical composure and back well away from that unbearable heat, the High Lord smothered the flames and sat on his chair, eyes still smoldering. His rage felt tangible when he spilled a vibrating roar.

"You," he stabbed a finger at both of them. "You will pay. Don't you dare think for a second to come into my house, elude an explicit ban of mine, abuse of my hospitality—even kill a member of my Court—and walk away without repercussions. I don't know and I don't care if you acted on your own, or if you were sent here by your parents with ill intent all along, but I'll make sure this kind of disrespect is never showed again in the future. Your punishment will be exemplary."

Suri stood with her back straight, wearing an unimpressed expression against the sweat still trickling down her temples. She stepped forward and glowered at the High Lord. "If apologies are what you're looking for, I think you're going to be disappointed."

Eris laughed heartily to her face. "Apologies you say. You'll regret even crossing my threshold." He stood up and set his foot on the first step of the raised dais, regarding her as he would do with any chained dog. "You can start telling me what Vaun revealed to you."

Suri scratched her chin with a nail as in deep thought, rattling her shackles. "Vaun... Who's this?"

Eris stalked to her, brandishing fire in his right hand. "Don't play games with me, little girl, or you'll get burned. Vaun was the man you killed, my best alchemist, and you know it perfectly well."

"Ah," exclaimed Suri. "Sure. I didn't know his name. Keran, do you remember? Vaun—the one who soiled himself and begged like a dog."

Wildfire spurted out from Eris' hand, reaching a threatening distance from Suri. Keran turned to her with a half-pleading look on his face; this was difficult to him, since everything they'd done from their arrival had been jeopardizing the long-lasting alliance between the Autumn Court and his own, ruining the efforts of his father. Suri could understand and respect that, so she ceased the outright insults in favor of a hostile silence—she could try, at least.

"I'm not asking twice." The low rumble in the voice of the High Lord didn't admit a refusal.

Suri preserved her composure stubbornly, but she felt Keran waver next to her. Then a tremor shuddered the turret through all its length. Suri snapped her head up toward the roof where something had just crashed. For as quick as her reaction was, Suri heard them coming before actually seeing them: two sets of mighty wings, booming like impending thunders over their heads. The sun at their backs, gliding inside through the open sides of the tower like nightmarish creatures, the two Illyrians made a spectacular entrance. Suri thought with regret that the effect would have been much improved if the trio had been completed by herself, though. Their landing was perfect as well. They were quite a view—the lanky figure of one warrior standing next to the bulky frame of the other.

"Sorry to interrupt," said Kaden as way of greeting.

The wicked grin on Ronin's face told quite the opposite instead. Smaller in stature than Kaden, he made up for every inch he lacked with sheer force and his pugnacious appearance.

"Who are you, and how did you get in?" The cold and murderous tone in the words hissed through Eris' gritted teeth was a harbinger of bloodshed.

"Your security measures proved... a bit lacking—you're welcome, by the way; we were glad to help your guards figuring out how to best improve themselves. As for your first question, High Lord," Kaden bowed to the waist, "we are humble middlemen, speaking in name of our Commander, Cassian."

"Your Commander has no authority here—no one invited you!" barked Eris.

"I did."

Everyone turned toward the open doors to the throne room as Lady Aileen strutted in and walked past Suri and Keran to stop in front of the High Lord. "My Lord, I'm here to negotiate the release of my son."

"And we'll do the same for our Deputy Commander, if you allow it," cut in Kaden. He and Ronin had taken advantage of the general surprise following the arrival of Lady Aileen to sneak through the room and position themselves on either flank of Suri—two pillars, her loyal comrades. It looked like they knew of Suri and Keran's situation; somehow, word must had reached the right ears and reinforcements had been sent.

"Aileen," drawled sourly Eris, "I expected more from your son. We are kin, after all." They were indeed, since Tamlin had married into the Autumn Court nobility.

"I don't deny his wrongdoings. But his recklessness has extenuating circumstances, you'll concede."

"You're in no position to tell me what I shall or shall not concede." Eris spoke with obvious irritation, but he was apparently growing less edgy. That must be the reason Aileen was here instead of Tamlin; as Eris' relative—for how distant their kinship—she had better odds to get him listening. Besides, Tamlin already got his hands full with the panic surely taking over his Court right now.

"Of course." Aileen lowered her head slightly in apology. "Name your price then, for you surely have one."

"My dear, nothing you can offer will repair the damage I've suffered."

"That's a lie—and you know it. Just ask."

Eris tightened his jaw at Lady Aileen's knowing smile, and seemed to be taking her seriously now. He traced his steps back onto the dais and to his seat, settling himself with utter calmness. Arms resting at his sides, Eris focused his unrelenting and calculating gaze on the female. Suri could barely glimpse a reflection of the High Lord's scheming thoughts in those amber eyes.

"Do you truly think that after all we've been through I still have to ask? If I were my father, your entire family would have been wiped out to get what was mine—what still is mine." Eris spoke with cold words, though the flames dancing in his eyes didn't reflect that blankness. "But I spared them, and asked nothing in return."

"And I thank both the Mother and the Cauldron you're not your father," acknowledged Aileen. "But, my Lord, you know as well as I that you didn't do it out of generosity—you didn't harm them because Fianna would have never forgiven you."

Eris shot out his tongue like a barb to make some cruel remark, but then changed his mind. A long pause ensued.

Lady Aileen eventually broke the silence and offered, "I'll speak to Fianna. Release Keran now, and she'll agree to a private audience with you. That's all I can promise."

Eris transfixed her with a sharp look and nodded in satisfaction.

"I guess now it's our turn," stepped in Kaden. "Lord Eris, Commander Cassian is willing to meet your requests to get his second back."

The High Lord looked him over carefully, not at all impressed. Kaden held his stare without faltering and waited his reply. That was smart, not giving away how much they were ready to offer for Suri's freedom; better seeing first what Eris' inclinations were.

"The Brannenstein," Eris articulated, savoring each syllable.

Suri closed her fists rattling the chains still bounding her wrists. Kaden went stiff next to her.

"I fear that one is not on the table," the Illyrian replied.

"Then your Deputy Commander can rot away in my dungeons," Eris gloated.

Ronin took a menacing step forward, the nasty scar running from his left ear down into the collar of his suit flashing out against the tanned skin of his neck. Kaden cast him a warning side glance willing him to a halt.

That bastard. Suri should have guessed Eris would not miss the chance to make demands on the stone. The Brannenstein was an ancient heirloom that had come to be emblem of power and strength. It had once belonged to the Autumn Court and to its High Lords, but it had been stolen from them by the Illyrians—that was one side of the story, at least; according to the Illyrian records, the Brannenstein had been won in a fair combat by an Illyrian war-lord, and treasured somewhere in the mountains of the north since then. Suri didn't even know whether Cassian had it, or someone else did.

Kaden squinted his green-streaked brown eyes looking comprehensibly perplexed, but not entirely surprised by the request. Maybe Cassian had seen this coming and given him instructions on the matter.

"The Commander is not in possession of that item, at the moment. He'll need a few days to retrieve it, but, if this is your only condition, you can have it."

Eris' teeth flashed in a smug grin. "Giving in already? I expected much of a negotiation. That stone has been property of your kind for centuries, I thought your Commander would hardly cede it."

"He reckons it a fair price to pay for his second," Kaden declared. "Naturally, he expects you to trust him on his word and to release Suri immediately."

The High Lord snorted. "Naturally. But before that, I have another request." Eris turned his cunning and cruel gaze directly on Suri. "I ask something else of you, as personal payment and proof of your atonement."

He made an operatic pause before declaring, "I want you to bring me a Suriel."

Suri went still, feeling her blood turn ice inside her veins.

That fucking bastard.

She barely registered Ronin and Kaden's edgy glances, her body instinctively assuming a fighting stance as her mind molded the cold anger and loathing burning through her into a sharp blade of murderous determination.

"I wouldn't do it if I were you," Eris challenged her. "Another infraction would cost your father greatly. You know he'd give anything for his daughter, wouldn't he?"

Blood trickled on the marble floor as her nails dug in the skin of her palms, but Suri didn't notice the red beads staining the pavement, nor the light drip drip that was now the only audible sound filling the still air of the room.

"A Suriel." Her voice sounded like an outlandish rasp to her own ears.

"Precisely."

Suri walked toward the throne under the stunned gazes of those around her. Eris' eyes betrayed a subtle fear as she extended her bloodied hand to him. After some tense seconds, he reached out and grasped it.

"It's a bargain," he said barely hiding the quiver in his voice.

"It's a bargain," repeated Suri.

Right after the words were pronounced, matching tattoos appeared on their left wrists, sealing the pact. They looked like black circles resembling wristbands—or handcuffs.

Once the guards freed both she and Keran, Suri released her wings and took off, flying out in the morning sun with a cry that shuddered the forest to its core.   

۞۞۞

Suri met the others later, outside the Forest House—at a safe distance from Eris. The flight had cleared her mind and soothed her, but she was far from being subdued. When she landed, Suri noticed the drawn face of Keran as he argued with Lady Aileen.

"Mother, you didn't have to—"

"Don't worry Keran, it's for the best. Your aunt refused the bond out of respect toward me, but now I can give her a pretext to give up her honor and finally be with the male she wants. Fianna is stubborn, but she'll do it if she believes it's to help you and to avoid retaliation."

Suri vaguely knew the story; it had occurred before she was even born. Aileen had been engaged to Eris, but after meeting her younger sister, Fianna, he had called everything off because the mating bond had snapped into place. Fianna had refused to accept the bond, though, even after Aileen had married Tamlin. It seemed the water under the bridge hadn't been enough still, for either Eris or Fianna.

For how much she wanted to stay with Keran, Suri couldn't bear the name of Eris right now, or anything related to him. She walked into the near cluster of trees instead, where Kaden and Ronin awaited her.

"We got out pretty smoothly, didn't we?" Kaden joked grimly.

Suri snorted.

"What?"

"Nothing," she said. "Only, you're usually the sensible one. I thought being such a show-off was my prerogative."

He ruffled clumsily his short chestnut hair. "Well, you weren't with us, so I took on your part—only this once, don't worry."

Suri chuckled, surprising even herself at the lightness in that simple gesture.

Ronin joined her and gave her a jab. "Glad to see you again, boss."

"I told you not to call me that!" Suri complained.

"I know, boss." Ronin tossed his long braid backward and leaned in to pat Kaden on the shoulder. "Seriously, this one almost freaked out when your uncle Azriel sent his spies to the camp to warn the Commander of your incident."

Kaden muttered something incomprehensible and pushed the other Illyrian still mimicking his upset expression.

Suri smiled at the two warriors bickering like children. They looked a curious pair: one tall and dark-haired with a bashful air about him; the other a sturdy brawler with white-blonde hair, arranged in a complex pattern on the top which left the shaven sides of his head exposed, and clear blue eyes revealing his Vallhanian origins.

She couldn't have asked for better friends, though.

"Ok, ok, I got it. You missed me. Thank you, by the way—you saved me."

"Always," replied Kaden with a smile.

"Don't rush it," cut in Ronin. "We're not finished yet."

"What does that mean, now?" asked Suri confused.

Kaden sighed in reply.

Ronin explained, "There have been troubles back at the camp. You need to come immediately, before things get really messed-up."

"Is that what I think?" Suri felt a grip in her stomach.

"If you're thinking of outright rebellion—then yes."

Suri cursed.