Illyrian Training Pt2
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Her hair bouncing behind her as she ran, Herdis was breathing out more harshly then when they had started. Beside her Cassian didn't look bothered in the slightest by the pace he was setting for her. Breathing in through her nose she let them go maybe a dozen more steps before she spoke. Her breathing might have been a little labored but her voice carried to the general keeping pace beside her. "I don't know if Rhys mentioned it to you yet. But there's a woman named Ianthe currently squatting near my sister in the Spring Court." She looked to the side to watch his profile but he didn't react beyond nodding for her to continue. So she did. "Sassa is worried about her and Rhys says she is right to be. He plans on trying to talk to Tamlin for me, so I wont have to go over there and hurt someone. But if talks don't go well and my sister isn't safe there I want to go and get her out. I know Grimm will come with me no questions asked but I don't want to impose and assume you would come as well. I know Rhys would if I asked but politically its not a great look for one High Lord to go and steal from anothers home right?" She asked and looked to her side again noting that he nodded. So she finished off her question, "Will you come with me if I need to go and get her?"

Cassian eyed her sideways for a minute before he snorted and nodded his head, dark hair bouncing in the bun he had looped it back into before they had started their run. "Of course I will. And you should just remember for next time, if you need me, ill be there." Herdis gave him a tired smile and nodded her head in response. "I know you 'don't wanna impose' or some shit," he even did air quotes which made her laugh and slowed her pace so she had to push herself a little harder as she matched his pace again, "But you are part of this family now, which means it goes assumed, if you need someones ass handled, I'll be happy to do it. So would everyone else in this court." She nodded her head and offered him a second smile this time not slowing herself as she told him, "Its assumed in my family too, if I call my brothers they will come. But I don't want to involve my family in court business and right now its only court business. Plus you know how my parents can get. They don't have any non intense settings when it comes to us kids. If my father even assumed there was a whiff of trouble for Sassa he would burn Tamlins manner to the ground without a second thought so she was free." She stopped talking to breathe deeply again and only continued when she had a steady hold of her breathing again. "I know this might go badly but if I can avoid bringing my family into it we also avoid having my family question how the courts operate. I don't want my two families at odds you know?" Cassian slowed their pace as they came to the steps of the House Of Wind. When they stood before the steps he leaned down, hands on his knees. As he steadied his breathe he watched Herdis who stretched her hands over her head breathing heavily.

"I get it. And im in. You can safely assume if its for you, this court, or your family im going to be there to help." His smile then was a quick flash, as sharp as the angles that made their generals appearance so fearsome. Even when his face was relaxed in a smile, one he was always quick to offer, it promised darker, more deadly things. "Rhys wont be happy if he isn't included but he will understand why. He is always a pragmatist, and he trusts you to handle yourself. Added bonus now you not only have your creepy magic, but you will soon be able to kill like an Illyrian." He wiggled his brows and laughed as he stood straight. Her matching laughter died on her lips as he pointed behind himself to the staircase that lead up past where human eyes might have been able to make out. "Now, we take the stairs." Herdis shook her head, not as a dismissal but in sheer disbelief. She had never taken the stairs up to the House Of Wind. Rhysand or one of the other Illyrians flew her in if it was needed. But to climb all 10,000 stairs was madness. "If I wanted to kill myself there are easier ways of doing it Cas," she told him but he only motioned her head of him. "Sadistic, that's what you are." Cassians laughter followed her as she moved into the long stone spiral base of the stairs. "Sadism isn't my thing, but I do think its just a little funny," he admitted before adding, "Now up you go."

Herdis steeled her spine and then she started up the stairs. This was a more forgiving pace, and she knew her body would be jelly by the time she got to the top. Cassian was always a couple steps behind her, ready to catch her if she slipped. The stairwell they took was a wide spiral of ancient stone and it would be unforgiving on a falling body. So he was her backup as her muscles screamed on their way up. They had been doing conditioning for months but this was abuse in the worst way and every so often Herdis would mumble "Sadist" under her breath and Cassian would laugh, the sound traveling up the staircase ahead of them. When she had cleared maybe 6500 of them she debated stopping, braced her hands on her knees and just waited. Behind her Cassian encouraged, "You are almost there, and then you can brag to Rhys that you have done something he never has." To be fair to Rhysand there was never a reason for him to do it, he had wings after all. But Cassian mumbled low encouragements until Herdis started to move again. When they cleared the top she leaned against the wall and mumbled against the cold stone, "I hate you so much." Cassian snorted and let her rest a moment before he held out his hand. "Come on, ill fly you to the townhouse and you can demand baths and body rubs, which your muscles will appreciate after all of this." She looked at him like for a second she might bite him, that being all she had energy left for. But then she pushed off the wall and let him scoop her up. He carried her to the balcony they usually landed on when coming to the House Of Wind. Across the river the city sparkled before them and she leaned her head against his shoulder as he took off. While they were over the water she murmured up to him, "You will have to dump me right on Rhys's lap, there's no way I'm moving again tonight." And Cassians laughter carried over the water, announcing their arrival home.

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