the siren.

it would not surprise her.

"I mean to say that there must have been easier ways for these hidden enemies to threaten the entire continent without implicating us - and our age old allies. I know we and Hybern will be taking all the blame if the fae refuse to work with us, but I can't... I can't see the reasoning behind it." she sighed. "We've been hidden. Practically extinct to the world. We were on our own and none but Hybern had known. Why smoke us out? Why us?" it was the question that had bugged her since they've landed in Starlight.

why Starlight? "I was saying that these villains could have just made us - made anyone -their willing puppets with the amount of power they have. If they can render us without magic, they could do pretty much anything else. So why do it like this? Why make us the targets? It doesn't make any real sense."

unless it was an enemy in ally's clothing.

"Enjoyable like this is some kind of vacation to an exotic land? I doubt that, Cassandra." They said pointedly. "I lost a commander, faes lost their lives in Winter. It's far from enjoyable to be here. If you wanted to stay hidden then you should have stay hidden here instead of bringing death to the other courts doorsteps." Jamie finally stepped back, arms wrapping around themselves as they looked her up and down with disappointment.

ah, yes - they did not know that.

"Did it occur to you that we did not come willingly?" she spoke, voice quieted down to a seething whisper. "We received no invitation, so how could the sentries of the Winter court allow us in for the ball? We were cursed in the same manner as you have, so whoever had done this... they'd already known about us. You think you are hurting now, but our betrayal runs deeper - if a traitor is not one among us, then it is one from the only court that's been our friend for fifteen millennia. That kind of betrayal hurts more than you can imagine." she whispered out.

this was going too far.

"If you wish to be miserable, then it is on you. I wanted to apologize and make you feel as comfortable as you could given the situation, make your court - every court - feel welcome and provided for, but if you wish to mope then you are welcome to do so. But, do not blame Starlight for something that is not our fault. We are being targeted as well - do not forget that."

His eyes widened as he was taken aback by her, still, dark take, but he was amused and entertained. "I'm not one for going about thinking about eliminating others. Nor wish that my enemies would be done with this and kill us all." At her offer, Dorian perked up. "A tour with a local? I'd like nothing more. I want to know everything about your court. It's beautiful here."

then again, his younger sister was just proclaimed high lady when it happened so...

"That is wise, Dorian Eldritch. You will learn the most about a court through the common citizenry. Commonfolk seldom lie - they have nothing to gain from it. Of course, they could strive to portray the court worse out of mischief, but never better. Our people are honest and hardworking, so I am certain you will find some affection for them." she spoke, finally at ease for being able to speak the truth.

"You are kind of heart and that is something to be cherished in these trying times." Casseia added, but then a smile bloomed upon her lips. "I'm pleased to see you like it so far. We can finish our drink and then I can take you touring. What would you like to see first? The market, the docs...?"

The spymaster had been hunting all over the Starlight Court for information. She knew there was some secret about some of the fae present during the ball. She did not know that she had somehow missed an entire court.

Luna approched Cassandra with a air of urgency. "They want something, whoever they are" The spymaster tapped her fingers on the table "I will make sure they do not get it" She looked over Cassandra, contemplating and analyzing the smallest grip. The spymaster had met with Rivian and others to discuss strategy. Luna's list of suspects was ever growing.

a water source sounded much better.

It would have been easier to control everyone, if they controlled the most important things, the basic things everyone needed to live. "They do. I would have called them fools for telling us about it, but their tactic is perfect - and I hate to admit it. They have us running blind after, what? Smoke? Grasping at straws and cryptic messages that lead nowhere." she huffed out through her nose.

"Do you have any ideas? I'm coming up blank, the possibilities are endless."

"I don't know," he said, his voice light. "I think if they'd wanted to finish us off, they would have done it by now. Whatever those things are, they seem to enjoy the performance more than the kill." He tilted his head, golden eyes meeting hers across the table. "It's almost theatrical. Someone's putting on a show, and we're the captive audience. I'd be more offended if I weren't so curious." He leaned back in his chair, the picture of ease, though his gaze remained sharp and assessing.

"But I interrupted. You were in the middle of a very bleak, very relatable moment, and I sat down without asking." His smirk flickered, almost self-deprecating. "So I'll ask properly: do you want company, or would you rather I take my mediocre wine elsewhere? I'm comfortable with either. I've been told I'm excellent at both."

not tonight.

She would not let that damning realization that Starlight was known to the world sour her mood. These unknown enemies had bittered the taste of wine and fruit to her tongue enough. Humming, she found herself agreeing with what he'd said. "Intrigued, yes. I would really like to know how they managed to shatter the shield that's kept us away from the rest of Prythian for fifteen thousand years, just like that." she'd also love to know how they even knew about them to begin with. Were they from Starlight?

or from Hybern?

She wasn't sure she believed it was someone unrelated, as the shield upon Starlight had been stronger than the foundations of the earth. Waving her hand, Cassandra leaned back in her chair. "I don't mind company, but I'd advise you to not call Sorrel's wine mediocre. He's very proud of it, weak as it is." she snickered, casting a quick glance at the owner of the inn.

"His whiskey is infinitely better, though. If you'd like to try it."

not to mention the royals from Hybern.

Name dropped so horribly to instill chaos and mistrust, Cassandra made a mental note to check up on her friends from the only place that had known about Starlight. But, when the fae spoke, she couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips.

yes, she was home.

"I am, yes. It's been a while since we've been back. I don't expect you to share my enthusiasm, though." she responded, the glanced at the fae, switching sarcasm for courtesy. It wasn't his fault the wards were broken. "I know many hoped to go back to their own homes. Am I correct in assuming you are one of them?"

a nightmare.

Cassandra loathed enigmas, the uncertainties that had woven themselves into all of their lives. Transporting the fae to other courts was a questionable choice on their end, but she could excuse it -- had it been any other court. But, Starlight's wards getting shattered to such an extent that they've now become public knowledge?

mortifying.

"No, but perhaps they could have made us their puppets if we're rendered free of our will upon our demise. Playing with us would have been more dull, I agree, but at least we would've been much more agreeable to playing along." she commented, then took a sip of the drink before setting it back down on the table.

"At least it's good to be back home, isn't it? I've grown tired of Winter court's chill."

where: Stellaria

The involuntary winnowing left everyone a little confused and lost as they landed on a strange new court. During the time that Jamie wasn't in Day and before they finally stayed in Dawn, they had been traveling the courts a little but this was completely new. They had no idea where they were and they were silently thankful to have take the position of Commander that Talia had offer them, knowing that they could be useful to their court and family now.

Their proactive instinct kicked in immediately, gathering their sister and their court in one place to see that everyone had traveled there and it seemed that they had. Other courts seemed to be doing the same and in the commotion, they tried to see if they managed to spot Cassandra.

And after a while— they did.

The two locked eyes through a crowd of fae asking questions and demanding answers to what looked like the new found Starlight faes. Cassandra seemed to be one of them. Their breath got caught in their throat as they realized that Casseia wasn't exactly who they thought she was. The young commander tried to focus on their court but eventually, when they saw that everyone was alright and decided to stay at the Stellaria, Jamie finally approached her when they caught a spot where she was on her own as the crowd started to dissipate.

"I suppose asking if you knew about this is rather pointless, is it not?" Jamie asked, low enough that no fae other than Casseia heard them as they spoke, lips close enough to her ear. They were trying not to look as hurt as they felt as well as trying to seem like their conversation was nothing but transactional and professional since they were in public and under the eyes of prying fae.

taking one look at Jamie across the room told her enough.

She'd always known it would come to this. Hoped it wouldn't, or at least hoped it would have been on better terms and more peaceful times, but how does she begin to explain it to them? That it was not a wish of hers to lie to them, nor was it done out of malice, but rather a necessity? A necessity that had tied the hands and tongues of her fellow citizens for over fifteen millennia.

they wouldn't understand.

Still, when Jamie approached, Cassandra offered them a soft smile. It would solve nothing, but at least it might show sincerity. The question did not surprise her - she'd expected as much from them. "It is." Cassandra admits with a slow nod.

"I owe you an apology, Jamie, but I hope you can understand my hands were tied at the time. Starlight's wards have not been breached in thousands of years. Speaking of it outside of the circle of those who had been privy to it's existence had not only been hard - it was impossible. All of us had been bound by it, our own High Family included." it was an ancient curse - cast by the founding line of the court of Starlight. Even if they have been extinct by now, their curse had remained.

until this -- whatever it was -- shattered it.

"I do hope you will be content in here. It seems we are stuck in the Twilight isles for the time being, so why not make it enjoyable?"

After wandering around all they, Dorian finally stopped for a drink and perhaps a bite at the nearest tavern he found sat down in front of someone that looked somewhat familiar. One of the fae they discovered were from Starlight instead of Hybern and confidentially, the Emissary. "You are Cassandra, are you not?" He asked as he put down his drink and sat across from her. "Dorian Eldrich, Emissary of Autumn." He introduced himself with a bit of a had vow and a polite smile. "That's— dark." Dorian commented on her observation with a soft chuckle. "But I agree, it's been quite the ride. But I must confessed, I'm intrigued."

she couldn't say she blamed them - the Prythian fae.

She figured she would have been ten times worse is there was an unknown court that suddenly popped back up. Had the roles been reversed, she would have been suspicious, too. "I am, yes." she spoke, inclining her head lightly in greeting. "Greetings, Dorian Eldrich. The court of Starlight welcomes you - and the court of Autumn. I hope your high lady and the family are settling in well. I know it's been quite a... shock for everyone." a petite smirk dances upon her lips.

perhaps she had been amused by it all - even if only a smidgen. "Dark, or perhaps realistic? If you had proclaimed a court - nay, the continent - full of enemies, wouldn't you have taken the opportunity to eliminate the threat while it was blindsided?" she asked, head curiously cocked to the side.

a soft chuckle rasped through her lips.

"I am pleased to hear you re intrigued. I have expected more... ferocious ignorance from the courts of Prythian, so it heartens me to see you have no such prejudice. Perhaps you'd like a tour?" Casseia offered.

𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐋 𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐘 as 𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐀