A Court of Lost Stars-Chapter 39: A Glimmer of Light

The morning came too soon, and Hollis wasn't ready to start the day. He rolled onto his back as Bran walked past his bed, quipping. "I have plans, let's go."

Hollis stared at the ceiling and grunted as a small pile of clothing landed on his chest. Before yesterday, he'd been excited, albeit nervous, to train with Bran and Finch. Now, he wanted to curl up and go back to sleep. The bonfire had been a complete disaster; he could still taste the bitter rejection on his tongue as Cassian ordered him to leave.

He understood Nova was there.

It didn't make it any less painful.

Bran stood at the side of his bed and narrowed his eyes at him, "Get up, Hollis."

"Why?" He asked, not meeting his gaze. "Reign is right. I have my place, and you have yours."

A muscle feathered in Bran's jaw as he lowered himself, sitting on his heels. He was quiet for a long moment before he said, "Either get up, or I will drag your sorry ass out of bed."

Hollis turned to look at him, and his stomach dropped. His threat was not a threat, he realized, but a promise. "Why do you care so much?"

"Because I know you, and it isn't this person. I refuse to watch you sit back as if it doesn't matter. As if you don't matter," Bran clenched his jaw as a fire entered his hazel eyes. "Get up. We have work to do."

The sky had been painted with rubies when Hollis emerged from the barracks and joined Bran. They walked silently, not sparing a glance at each other as they took a new trail through the forest. It was a short walk, almost equal to the distance as the trip to the obstacle course the day before.

"Where are we going?" Hollis at last asked.

"I didn't mention it to the others because I didn't trust them."

"Yet you trust me?"

"Yes."

A distant whinny piqued Hollis's attention, and he quickened his pace. Through the thicket stood a stable. It wasn't grand, but it was lavish. Blinking in surprise, he stopped at the edge of the clearing.

"You have horses?"

"Four of them."

Hollis hurriedly followed Bran across the distance that separated them from the stables. Each quadrant, which spanned fifteen square feet, was divided into four corners of the room, and inside each was one horse, all of varied breeds.

"They were all trained for war but have since retired and settled over the years. There's a larger stable in Windhaven," Bran said as a couple of stablehands walked past to bring fresh feed from the back. "You say you have nothing to offer. No skill that can be used. Yet, skilled riders are often challenging to come by. Everyone has strengths that contribute to a larger picture, and this is yours."

"I've seen you ride, Hollis," Bran said, turning to look at him, "I've watched you practice diligently over the last ten years. You are easily the best rider I've seen. Many Illyrians can be hot-headed. Egotistical. They might have the strength to wield a weapon on the ground, but lack the charisma needed to ride into battle. A horse isn't a tool- they're a connection to yourself, and you understand that. I'll teach you to fight; this time, it isn't me who needs you to try. It's them," he nodded to the stables. "If you convince yourself you're not good enough, they'll be hurt, and that will be on you."

Hollis furrowed his brows and stared ahead, where impatient snorts could be heard. The stables were where he felt most comfortable, most at ease. Winter, among other things, provided much-needed peace after years of self-doubt and chronic worrying. He didn't need to think it over; he knew what he wanted to do.

"I'd like to learn."

A slight uptick quirked the corner of Bran's lips as he nodded and led the way forward. Inside, to the left, where the first stall was, stood a blood bay mare with a streak of white down the center of her head.

"Ruby," Bran nodded. "She's the oldest mare. She has much experience traveling longer distances and has mothered many foals in the past."

Hollis offered his hand out, and Ruby immediately took to the window, nuzzling him. But when she realized he didn't have any food, she turned away with a roll of her eyes. Chuckling, he looked to his right, where a sizeable dapple gray stallion stood. Speckled like a splattered egg, he was massive compared to Ruby's petite frame.

"Leon," Bran supplied, "He was trained for war and luckily never had to see it. Nice temperament, though."

The stall beside Leon's made Hollis smile, "Yellow dun?"

"Wild," Bran chuckled and nodded, "His name suits him. He wasn't bred for war, but should have been. Good horse, just a lot of attitude."

Wild snorted at them, and Hollis grinned.

Across from Wild was another mare, a bay roan. She walked up to the window and immediately reached her lips out for any treat. Smiling, Bran walked to the bucket near her stall and withdrew a handful of oats, offering it to her.

"Mazie. Sweetest of them all, but a little too trusting, if you ask me. She's the youngest, and it's why she was sent here. She's more suited to the quiet life out here rather than in Windhaven stables."

Hollis turned in a slow circle, addressing each stall and horse and committing them to memory. "Who am I to ride?"

"Any of them, if you'd like, but I'll teach you to fight on Leon. He has the most experience with war training."

Wild screeched at them, baring his blunt teeth with an impatient snort. His ears weren't pinned back, but he seemed agitated, Hollis thought.

"When do they go to the meadow?"

"It's past their time," Bran nodded. "I'll take Wild out first if you want to take Ruby."

In agreement, Hollis walked to the stall where Ruby stood, flicking her tail in anticipation and shooing away the pesky flies that zoomed past. They seldom worried about flies in the Winter Court, let alone ones that bit, but by the time Hollis had led Ruby out to the pasture, he had slapped away at least four of them from his arms and neck. Glaring at one that landed on Ruby's back, he brushed it away.

"There you go," he smiled softly, untying her bridal, "Hopefully they don't bother you much."

Snorting, Ruby trotted away to graze in the patch of soft grass near Wild. Maybe all the rain wasn't such a bad thing, after all, it provided for them. Often, Hollis found himself importing soft grasses as a special treat for Winter. Having it plentifully available outside was a blessing he hadn't considered.

The day was chipped away as Hollis worked with the horses, all of which explored the expansive pasture, and sooner than he would have liked, Bran asked the fateful question.

"Are you ready to train?"

Releasing a shaky breath, Hollis nodded, "No time like that present."

With a deep chuckle, Bran patted his shoulder, "You'll be fine. I've seen you ride. You have more strength and instinct than you think."

As Bran retrieved the necessary training items, Hollis tacked Leon and brought him to the training arena. Which was just a little fenced-in area Leon could easily step over if he wanted to.

Hollis reached into his pocket and pulled out an apple slice he'd taken from the bucket inside. Smiling, he watched Leon nibble and take the fruit.

"Are you going to let me ride you?" He asked, stroking his fingers through his mane. Before he could talk himself out of it, he placed a foot in the stirrup and mounted. Quick enough, he didn't linger, but not so fast that he didn't frighten him.

It seemed Leon wasn't easily startled.

Straightening his back, Hollis looked out over the arena and smiled. "I missed this, you know," he mumbled, stroking the side of Leon's neck. "Horses don't judge..."

Leon snorted, and Hollis laughed.

"Okay, some horses don't judge."

"Making small-talk?" Bran asked, quirking a brow.

Hollis shrugged and chuckled, but his attention was snagged from Leon to what Bran carried. A short and long sword, both sheathed by scabbards, and a long pole that looked to be made of sturdy wood, but painted white.

"Don't worry," Bran tossed the blades to the side, "We won't work with anything sharp yet. I just wanted to show you the weapons you might carry into battle and what I'd advise you to leave behind, then we'll work on some basic drills. Leon is used to them, but he'll need you to be his guide."

Hollis nodded, focused on Bran as he listened intently.

Bran continued, "Short swords are alright to keep on your person if you go to the ground and need to fight hand-to-hand. They enable quicker execution and greater accuracy. The long swords and poles, which do not have a dagger or tip at the end, but those used in battle will, are best used on the back of a horse. They allow for longer extension so you can get close enough to plow the enemy, but not so close that their sword reaches you or your horse.

"It's important to note that the pole is lighter and is easier to wield if your objective is to impale, but the long sword takes more strength in your arms. That's something you lack."

The memory of face-planting in the mud simmered to the surface, and Hollis nodded his head, "So, to wield the sword, I need to gain strength."

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Bran nodded, "Essentially. Training every day will naturally do that as well, but your core strength is your biggest ally. Being able to swing a sword means nothing if you can't stay on your horse. Not only are you protecting yourself, but also your partner. If you go down, he will too, and vice versa. Battling on a horse can be effective, but two lives are at stake. That's a lot to shoulder."

"I understand," Hollis shuddered.

Steadying a penetrating gaze on him, Bran smiled, "Let's begin."

The shade of the tree was welcoming as Hollis leaned back, cringing from the soreness of his back. It had been a while since he'd worked those muscles, and though he ached from his head to his toes, it was welcomed. Knowing he earned the sore spots from learning something new was worth the knots he'd have to work out later.

"You alright?" Bran jibed, a playful smile carving his lips.

Leaning his head back, Hollis chuckled as Bran set a sack on the ground and opened it. Inside was filled with cheese, sausages, and various fruits. His stomach lurched, realizing he hadn't had anything to eat yet today.

"You did well for your first lesson," Bran added as he took a seat opposite him and popped a chunk of bread into his mouth, followed by a thin slice of pale, spotted cheese.

They had spent that better part of an hour drilling war riding techniques. Bran had been true to his word, and Hollis never held a weapon until the end, and it was a dull pole. Mostly, he'd learned to reframe his mind about riding a war horse. It wasn't the same as leisurely riding Winter around her indoor arena. While on Leon, Hollis had circled a practice dummy and practiced getting close enough to jab and retreat without losing his control. He worked to focus his mind on a new intent- maiming an enemy while reading Leon and adjusting to his needs accordingly.

Hollis's body was sore from the exercise, but he was more mentally drained than anything. Not being able to let his mind wander, but stay focused for so long, was a muscle he'd need to strengthen.

"Good..." He trailed off, taking a strawberry. He stared at it. As much as he wanted to be able to continue this type of training here with Bran, he knew the reality. In two days, they'd be meeting with the High Lords, and everything would change. There was no way of knowing what his future would look like by next week.

Nova's future would change, too.

"I'm sorry for last night," Bran confessed.

Hollis glanced up and furrowed his brow. "What would you have to be sorry for?"

"I hadn't considered asking before inviting you to the gathering..." He trailed off and released a sigh. "I just wanted you to feel welcomed, and that's the opposite of what happened."

Pursing his lips, Hollis shrugged. "Thank you. For inviting me, I mean," he paused, "How it ended wasn't ideal, but thinking back, I should have known better than to accept. Of course, Nova would be there. I hadn't considered it, but I should have."

"Why does it matter that she's there?" Bran asked and shook his head. "They're making such a big deal about it. You two were friends before the attack. I can't imagine she wouldn't have wanted you there."

Hollis knew to skirt around the conversation, but there was a desperate part of him that wanted to tell Bran everything. The Prophecy. The true intent behind Tamlin's attack.

"The only thing we've ever been told is that you're to be protected," Bran's eyes looked him over. "I understand if this is bigger than any of us. I know you can't share everything. Nova doesn't seem concerned, at least."

Hollis raised his brows. "She's not concerned?" He asked before he could stop himself. How could she not be concerned about being forced to join with another for the fate of the Courts?

"I suppose," Hollis continued, blinking with surprise, "She handles her stress very well."

Bran nodded slowly, "She's a Valkyrie now."

Hollis couldn't help but smile.

"She already broke Finch's record on the obstacle course," Bran smirked.

Leaning his head back, Hollis laughed and then sighed. "Well, I'm glad she's doing well."

Still, his stomach twisted into knots when he thought of the Court's meeting. There, they'd see each other for the first time in ten years, but if she were handling the union well, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. For the first time in so long, Hollis could see a fragment of light at the end of the dark tunnel he'd been traveling.

If Nova could be happy about this, perhaps he could, too.