CHAPTER III #3
“And you must be the second son,” Heysan grins and extends his hand, “a strong Prince in your own right, as I have heard of the work you do on behalf of the Kingdom. I should like to share a few drinks with you as well once the ceremony has ended…”
A pamperer, I think quietly to myself just as Heysan’s grin turns into a small smirk. The Ancient is nothing if not overly friendly, though even still, I can tell that he genuinely wants to enjoy this day and the people in it.
Troy grins back at the Ancient and clasps his hand. “That would be wonderful, thank you. Your presence here and any drinks shared truly is a blessing upon my brother and Disce. I think I speak for everyone in this room when I ask if we can expect more of your brothers and sisters to show today?”
Troy’s question carries over the silent room. The crowd begins murmuring, considering the prospect.
Heysan shakes his head to the Prince, still grinning. “Just myself today, I am afraid. Though I know my sister Sianoa will be waking soon, thanks to your own...”
Heysan’s eyes dart past Troy and move back to the Queen, smiling to her in affection.
“You have a strong family, Queen Renate. A true testament to you and your late husband.”
The Queen bows her head in acknowledgement as Heysan turns to her right, greeting Princess Elena. “A pleasure to meet you as well, Princess.”
Elena gives the Ancient a demure smile, her pale blonde hair falling in front of her face as she curtsies.
“Thank you for your assistance with my sister, Sia,” he continues, “I expect we will see her gracing this Old World soon?”
“Am I hearing correctly?” someone in the crowd gaffes.
“Another Ancient is awake?”
“Another sister…”
“No. He said he expects her to be awake.”
“Are they all coming back to the Old World now?”
“Very soon,” Elena nods, her blue eyes moving quietly over the Ancient’s face in thought.
Heysan gives her a brief nod and then turns his smiling gaze back to me, his glance looking at me mischievously before he says in a casual note. “And what of the delegation that covets my other sister so openly? I should like to meet this Prince Isham.”
Of course you would, I shake my head.
I turn a questioning glance on Troy, noticing that he’s watching the two of us with a cool gaze, his eyes catching and holding mine.
His summoning pulls at my body in that moment, the magic trying to read the emotions that come from me.
I narrow my eyes on the Prince but ultimately let it go.
Anything he feels from me right now will just be a mixture of curiousness and amusement, because I know I’m going to genuinely enjoy Heysan greeting the Leviathan Prince.
“Troy,” I smile, “can you make the introduction?”
Troy narrows his cool eyes on me again before he gives a small nod, turning his body to the right as the three of us take a few steps into the crowd and towards the small group of blue.
Prince Isham stands proud with his delegation and watches us make our way towards him, that secretive and knowing smile of his gracing his strong features as he looks directly at me, not the Ancient.
I hold his gaze and lift a brow in return, noticing that he’s wearing a thick and rich deep blue tunic, one that has a high collar that juts up to his sharp jawline.
He’s not wearing a crown, though he himself looks regal enough in his own being.
His braided hair rests thick behind his back as a number of shiny white beads run through the braids, the ensemble coupled with a white and tan beaded bracelet he also has on one of his wrists.
His hazel eyes are amused as he finally nods to the Ancient, the gesture not nearly enough of a greeting to garner the respect Heysan deserves.
“An honor,” Isham smiles sarcastically.
The Ancient, to his benefit, does not meet the Prince with sarcasm or any amusement of his own. He just remains friendly and grinning, assessing the Leviathan with a searching gaze as Troy moves to stand next to me.
“It is an honor,” Heysan nods, the power of his being pushing out stronger and surrounding our small group.
Isham grimaces and bows his head under the pressure, finally giving the Ancient the greeting he deserves.
“Tell me, Prince,” Heysan smiles, eyes curious, “how is my sister fairing after such a deep sleep? Can’t be all that well?”
The braid on Isham’s right shoulder twitches just slightly, the movement nearly unseen. Both Heysan and I eye it, waiting for the snake to rear its head just as the crowd begins murmuring again.
“Another sister? The Ancients are coming back then?”
“Who’s to say this one is even who he says he is?”
“Us magical folk can feel his power, Renner. That being is certainly of the old Old World.”
Isham shakes his head, moving the braid behind his back. “Your sister is steady, Ancient Heysan, and patiently waiting to meet with you.”
“I’m sure she’s anything but patient,” Heysan chuckles softly.
“You should take the travel with Lady Alexis,” the Leviathan Prince flicks his hazel eyes on me with a nod, “the Lady and I were just talking of her travel to my lands. The two of you can greet her then.”
“I just might. Though that will be at the discretion of the Lady.”
“A conversation for another day,” I murmur, watching as the older Discerni from atop the dais turns towards the crowd.
“If we could all settle in,” his voice booms from the Great Oak, prompting everyone to look in his direction. “However, I would like to ask the Ancient to stand with the Queen and her family up front, if you would grace us with the honor.”
Heysan grins at the Discerni and bows his head, turning his gaze back to Troy as the three of us leave the Leviathans for the Queen Mother. I dip behind the men and walk past them, making my way towards the middle of the crowd as I speak to silently to the Ancient.
I’m going to stand with the Prince and Princess of Pyre. Please don’t forget of them in your greeting, nor the King of Aireal.
“I wouldn’t dream of it, Lady Alexis,” he replies out loud with a chuckle.
I look at Heysan over my shoulder and roll my eyes, smiling as I head back towards McQuoid and Clair.
“A momentous day already,” the Discerni’s voice carries across the room, beginning the proceedings, “though one that is only fitting for the man that is to take the mantle of King to our beloved Kingdom of Disce.”
“Thank you all for joining this afternoon, and thank you to those who have traveled this Old World to share in this transition of power as we move forward as one Kingdom under the rule of His Highness, Keane Zander Bardot.”
My heart thuds in my chest, my feet shifting as the room hushes to an anticipated silence.
All eyes are staring at the Discerni man as he stands so elegantly under the Great Oak, the full sunlight of the day pushing through the large double doors behind him as the golden haze falls beautifully on everyone below.
I watch as his gaze shifts to the back of the room and turn with the crowd, noticing that the people are now dipping into various curtsies and bows.
Keane stands at the end of the emerald green walkway, the sight of him literally taking my breath away.
The King to Be begins to walk proud and strong, his Discerni features sharp as his brown eyes take in everything and everyone around him.
His brown hair falls perfectly over his head, the sides clipped and accentuating his leaf-cut ears and the hard angles of his face.
He’s wearing a thick emerald green tunic that has small black shadow oak leaves stitched into the collar, the pattern circling around his neck until it moves down the front.
I recognize the work instantly as Gail’s, noticing that the leaves mimic the ones that rest perfectly at the bottom of my dress.
Keane continues his walk, his movements steady and sure like the absolute regal he is.
He’s wearing a beautifully rich satin black shirt under his tunic, the fabric shining under the sun and moving with the broad muscles along his chest. My heart surges forward as he gets closer, my eyes narrowing on the deep vee of that shirt with every step he takes.
The tears that want to fall are unabashed, but I keep my head held just as high as his, my smile broadening at the small shadow oak jewel that rests proud against his skin.
Oh, Keane.
The King to Be is closer now, and it’s then that I notice who he’s chosen to escort him to his crown.
Golem walks behind and to his left, the magical creature moving quietly with his own cool and collected features that are much like Keane’s.
I glance to Keane’s right, to Desmond dressed in all black and walking proud behind his brother.
His dark skin and dark demeanor are commanding in their own right, the whole of him acting as both a protective guard and a warning to others.
This is his brother and he will protect him with his life, just as Keane would do for him.
I dip into a low curtsey with the rest of the crowd when Keane moves past us, watching him finally make his way up the dais.
“Join me, Prince Keane Bardot of the Kingdom of Disce,” the older Discerni nods.
The roots of the Great Oak begin to move next to Keane, their limbs jutting slowly around the dais as they weave toward him in greeting.
Keane runs his hand along the roots and takes a large stride, standing before the Discerni as the man smiles in return.
Both Desmond and Golem take a stance at the bottom of the dais, looking up at Keane in silent pride.
“Do you, Keane Zander Bardot, arrive today of your own free will?” the man asks.
“I do,” Keane replies steadily.
“Do you understand the full of the request that will be asked of you today, to serve as leader and protector of the Kingdom of Disce?”
“I do,” his voice carries strong.
“And are you prepared to give your life to that service, whether strong and numbered in your years, or short and ended with your love for the land?”