Chapter Text
“ You do realise how stupid an idea going after the mortal is when she proved yesterday that she isn’t opposed to causing us grievous bodily injuries. Right?” I ask, only slightly rhetorically. The question should be unnecessary but valerian has always played by a more violent, more reckless set of rules. I use my cruelty to show my heart of stone and hide my heart of glass but the others revel in it. It is in our nature to hurt others and ourselves till we are nothing but blood and bones.
“Are you trying to imply that I would not be able to beat her?” He asks me, the offence obvious in his voice. The fey are not fragile by any means but the idea that the children of dirt are equal to us, let alone better, has always stung. It is why Nicosia took such offence when Locke left her and took the Taryn as his plaything. It is why she thinks I should be offended as well. I am not but hurting the mortals annoys Locke enough for the pretence to be worth it. That is discounting my disgust at the meek ones trick on her twin.
Locke chuckles at valerian and the look in Nicasia’s eye lets me know we are all aware of his inevitable downfall were he to continue after the more defiant member of the circle of worms.
It is Nicasia who replies, “You know as well as the rest of us that despite her mortality, she has been raised fey.” It suprises me that she is the one of us to admit that she is more fey than mortal first but then again, she has never been one to underestimate someone she sees as an opponent. The gleam in Lockes gaze tells me he also understands what she is saying. Jude Duarte is mortal by blood but she acts more fey than even some of the gentry. More fey than her own sister even.
“ Do not tell me my mother is the only one who ever told me tails of the mortal assassin and smith of the high court.” Locke says while looking at me. I know he is referring to the fact my father has barely spoken a word to me and my mother’s neglect. It’s not surprising that he is the only one of us to know a tale of years past thought. Nicasia’s mother had not been interested in the land for over a century before her daughter’s fostering and valerian would never care enough to ask. “ Not even you Cardan? Your mother was friends with Eva, after all.”
That does shock me. My mother friends with a mortal.
“ What significance does this have to our discussion Locke.” Nicasia asks as though it isn’t obvious. Which maybe it isn’t. While not well known, it isn’t a secret that Justin Duarte was the royal smith after studying under Grimson. And the idea that the grand generals late wife would have been an assassin is not so shocking a revelation ( it at least explains why he would chose to marry a mortal woman).
“ Why dear Nicasia they are the circle of worms parents after all and based upon mother’s stories it would not be surprising if even before coming to elfahame they were raised with faire rules without them knowing they were not typically mortal customs.”
“And what would make you believe that?” She snapped back immediately. While I know it is not out of the realm of possibility, it is a far fetched claim.
“ Well, Taryn’s skewed view on mortals for one. What she tells me of her memory’s from the Ironside compared to what Vivienne has told us in the past is shockingly dissimilar.”
It should not shock me as it did. It explains a lot of things that are odd with the Duarte girls in comparison to the other unglamoured mortals we have met. It also would explain how they adapted so quickly once they got here. Even if they were young when stolen, with few memories of there old home, lessons taught when your an infant tend to stay with you far more instinctively than something taught later in life.
Valerian, inexplicably, looks delighted by the new information.
“What about this brings you such joy valerian?” I ask him because I cannot fathom what has been said since the start of this dreadful discussion that could please the savage beast I call a friend.
He grins as he turns to reply and it is more a baring of teeth than anything, “Then we have not been defeated by a mortal. Maybe one of blood but if she was not raised by there customs then she is not truly one of them. “
“You are not suggesting that she is any kind of fey” Nicasia looks scandalised by the mere prospect.
Locke is looking on in amusement at the way this conversation has ran.
“Of course not but she is certainly not a mortal and neither is her twin sister.” Valerian finishes.