"Do you spend a lot of time in Orynth?" Nascha asked Lysandra as they entered another shop.

Elide, Aelin, and Evangeline were further behind, talking amongst themselves. A bag containing three tunics, two sets of pants, and a few undershirts hung from Nascha's shoulder. She also had a smaller bag containing a few different soaps and combs so she wouldn't have to use Fenrys'.

"A fair amount," Lysandra replied. They stopped beside a table displaying leather bound notebooks. Nascha's hickory gaze lit up and she inspected the selections at once. "Aedion is often in the Staghorn Mountains, working with the Bane. Do you remember them?"

Nascha nodded, leafing through a blank notebook. "I heard about them while I was in the Southern Continent. They're Aedion's legion, but I didn't think they were trained soldiers."

"They weren't, but Aedion's been training them for years. They have some new recruits now that the Fae and Demi-Fae are returning to Terrasen. He's spent more time in the camp, helping oversee their training. Caraverre is lonely when Evangeline goes to stay with Darrow and Aedion is gone, so I usually come to Orynth until one of them returns."

"What is Caraverre? It didn't exist when I was growing up."

"Aelin and I created it when I joined her Court. She gave me some territory in the Staghorns and commissioned a house to be built. It's nothing fancy yet, but maybe it will grow someday, when Caraverre is bigger. We have a crest and colors. White, green, and gray, like my ghost leopard." Lysandra held out her hand, letting Nascha see the crest engraved on a ring. It depicted a ghost leopard with a key over its head. "The crest is to remind me that I am the holder of my own freedom."

"Do people live on your lands?" Nascha asked.

Lysandra nodded. "A number of refugees, Fae, and Demi-Fae have moved there."

"And Caraverre is in the mountains. Is it not close to the Bane's camp?"

Lysandra pursed her lips, thinking. "It's close enough that Aedion can ride there in a day, but it would take the same amount of time to ride back."

"I see." They wandered over to another shelf of notebooks. Nascha saw Aelin, Elide, and Evangeline enter from the corner of her eye, but they stayed on the other side of the shop. "Arcelia is very remote. People sometimes referred to it as Terrasen's Hidden City."

"What do you mean?"

Nascha's hands stilled between the pages of the notebook she held. She exhaled slowly, dredging up the memories she'd tried so hard to forget. "The city is carved atop a mountain. The walls around it were hewn to resemble a mountain peak to anyone beyond the city. It's impossible to see unless you're flying over it or already inside it."

"How do people survive so high up?"

"The summit Arcelia is built on is still below the treeline," Nascha explained. "The air is breathable. There is grass, trees, streams, and lakes in and around the city. Most of Arcelia's food supply comes from farms in the surrounding valleys."

"What do the buildings look like?"

"They're built from the same stone that makes up the mountain. The roofs are red and the chimneys are white."

"It sounds beautiful." Lysandra smiled. "I think I'd like to see Arcelia sometime."

Nascha snapped her notebook shut. "I hope I never see that city again." She returned the notebook to its shelf and hurried out the door. Aelin followed her immediately.

◦ ~ ❘ ☼ ❘ ~ ◦

Fenrys glanced up as the cabin door opened. Nascha entered alone, carrying two bags. "Where are the others?" He asked.

"Returning to Orynth." She hesitated, annoyance flashing through her eyes. "Aelin mentioned we're supposed to meet them there?"

"We are." Fenrys kicked his feet up on the table. "I told her what you said about your magic. She and Rowan want to see the extent of your power and how much control you have over it."

"Why?"

"So they can determine if they should offer you training while you're here. We don't want you to accidentally hurt someone, your Ladyship."

"If I hurt someone, it won't be an accident," she growled. Nascha brushed past him, heading back to the bedroom. Fenrys followed silently.

He leaned against the doorframe, watching as she unpacked her purchases. Nascha folded a few tunics and undershirts, but left one of each set aside, as well as a pair of pants. She took a few combs and bottles of soap out of the smaller bag. Fenrys approached, lifting one of the bottles to smell it.

"Nutmeg?" He remarked. "If you wanted to smell like nutmeg, I could just dump the spice into your hair."

Nascha snatched the bottle out of his hand with a glare. "No, thank you." She peered into the bag again and paused. She drew a small leather bound journal out of the bottom of the bag, her lips parting in surprise.

"You like to write?" Fenrys asked. "I noticed you were scribbling something with charcoal while we were on the ship."

"Yes..." Nascha admitted. "I like to write. I didn't see anyone buy this, though. And no, I didn't steal it." She glared at him again.

"The thought never even crossed my mind." He combed his fingers through his hair, studying the journal. "Maybe one of them bought it for you as a gift."

"Maybe." Nascha opened the journal, tracing her fingers over the blank pages. She smiled faintly and Fenrys cocked his head. She glanced at him, narrowing her eyes. "What?"

"I haven't seen you smile even remotely, since we found you in Aklease."

"And?" She set the journal down, crossing her arms.

"You look less like a bitch when you do it."

Nascha's mouth fell open and anger flooded her gaze. She swung, but Fenrys caught her fist with a laugh. "Are you ready to go to Orynth, your Ladyship?"

"Anything to get me away from you."

"You're going to be disappointed then. I'll still be there with you." Fenrys headed out the door, beckoning for her to follow.

"I'm getting used to disappointment," Nascha muttered. "And I'm changing before we leave, so just wait a minute!"

◦ ~ ❘ ☼ ❘ ~ ◦

By the time they reached the training rings behind the palace of Orynth, Nascha was fuming and ready to hit something. She'd changed in the bathroom before they left while Fenrys hovered outside, talking incessantly. Nascha grew more irritated with each snide remark he threw at her. She was beginning to wonder if he was acting that way on purpose.

Nascha smothered a groan, spying several unwanted onlookers around the rings. Lorcan and Rowan were casting invisible shields over one ring in particular. She guessed that was where she'd be demonstrating her power. Aedion was in another ring, walking Lysandra and Elide through a few basic moves. Nascha's duel bladed swords hung from his belt.

She ground her teeth at the sight as Aelin fell in step with them. "I want my swords back."

"You can have them back after we're done here," Aelin replied. "But Fenrys will carry them unless you're going somewhere you might need them, or he trusts you to have them."

Nascha resisted the urge to roll her eyes. As irritated as she was, the Queen had just spent a fair amount of money on her and wasn't receiving anything in return. Nascha could afford to continue showing her respect, at least.

"You'll be able to stop yourself before you reach a burnout, right?" Aelin asked, ushering her towards the ring where Rowan and Lorcan waited.

"Don't worry, your Majesty. I know my limits." Nascha swung herself over the wooden fence. They've almost been exceeded, she thought to herself.

Aelin and Fenrys leaned their heads together, speaking softly enough that she couldn't hear them. Nascha joined Rowan and Lorcan. Both males eyed her warily. "Shift if you must, but you won't be able to get past our shields, so don't bother trying," Rowan said.

Nascha shook her limbs, loosening them. "How much magic does the Queen want to see?"

"However much you have stored up."

Nascha was already diving into her well of magic, grasping at it as she fell. Rowan and Lorcan left the ring and joined Aelin and Fenrys. Aedion, Lysandra, and Elide weren't far behind. Nascha fell deeper and deeper into her magic until it began to reach for her before she summoned it.

Nascha then caught herself, drawing in a few steadying breaths. Starlight hummed through her veins and darkness welled up within her chest. She spread her arms wide and released it. Darkness swirled around her in a thick mass, forming an impenetrable shield. Smoky hands reached from the mass, straining towards those who stood beyond the training ring.

She was stopped by Rowan and Lorcan's shields. Nascha fed her starlight into the mixture. Silvery strands wove through the darkness, crackling with power. With one thought, she could have sent it spearing through the hearts of those around her. Instead, she wove it into several different strands throughout her darkness. Her magic burned steadily, easing the pressure that had begun to build up within Nascha over the past few days.

She caught sight of the group standing outside the ring. Lorcan's features were neutral. As were Elide's. Rowan appeared suspicious, but Aelin watched curiously beside him. Lysandra was smiling and Aedion seemed faintly impressed. Fenrys studied her calmly, intrigue shining in his onyx eyes.

Nascha could feel the tide of magic ebbing. She focused on her breathing as she let the last of her power trickle away. When it was gone, Nascha shifted into her owl form and flew through the lingering darkness. Starlight clung to her feathers, illuminating them in the inky blackness. When that too faded, Nascha shifted into herself and landed.

"How far could you let that spread?" Aelin asked.

"Through part of the city, if I was careful."

"And your starlight?"

"Farther than the darkness."

"Impressive." Aelin's eyes twinkled mischievously. "I think you should learn to control your magic while in your animal form."

"You also need to learn a little bit of technique," Rowan said. "Your control is better than expected, but it could be better. Technique will help with that."

"I'm not sure she should learn anything. The more she knows, the more dangerous she'll become and the harder it will be to keep her here," Lorcan pointed out.

"I'd rather know she's dangerous and in control of her magic than dangerous and out of control," Fenrys replied. He was still watching her with that intrigued look in his eyes. "And if she's going to have her weapons back, I want to make sure she knows how to properly handle them."

"I can handle them just fine," Nascha snapped. "You don't have to talk about me as though I'm a child just barely beginning training."

Fenrys glanced at Aedion. "What if we came to the Bane's camp for a few weeks? She could train with the novices and I trust you to look after her while I attend to my duties."

"Sure," Aedion replied. "Aelin?"

The Queen was already nodding. "That's a good idea."

"Don't I get a say in this?" Nascha grumbled.

Fenrys tilted his head towards her. "Do you want to become a better warrior or not?"

She frowned. "Can I kick your ass in the process?"

"No, but don't worry, your Ladyship. There will be plenty of other asses, albeit less attractive ones, for you to kick."

"You are repulsing."

"I've been called worse."

"My swords," she barked.

Aedion handed the blades to Fenrys, who promptly sheathed them across his back. Nascha fought the urge to let her owl talons manifest and rip the smug look from his face.

"We'll see you tomorrow, Aedion," Fenrys said.

"Assuming you aren't murdered in your sleep tonight," came the amused reply.

"She won't kill me. She can't even look at me at night," Fenrys chuckled.

"I'm too busy trying to sleep before you wake me up at some unseemly hour!" Nascha retorted.

"You should thank me." Fenrys nudged her away from the rings. "It'll be easier for you to wake up early for training." Nascha didn't bother with a reply. She let her anger simmer as he teleported them back to the cabin.