CHAPTER IV
CELEbrATION AND AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION
“Beautiful,” Gail says breathlessly as we walk down the hall to my room. “Absolutely stunning! I’ve never seen anything like that before!”
“It truly was,” I grin in response at the awe-struck girl.
“He singled you out, Lady Alexis,” she grins mischievously as my heart takes a small leap, “if only for a moment, but the gold fell down on you first.”
I reach for the small key I have hidden under my dress, my smile unable to leave my lips.
After the cheering and formal ceremony came to a close, Keane stood on top of the dais and greeted all of the prominent Lords of Disce as they swore fealty to his rule.
It was a long precession, one that was met with bowed heads and knees, but through it all, the crowd could only whisper about three things…
The power of the King to transform the earth and Oak around him.
The incoming stranger that was now received as a true Ancient.
And me, a human woman and Lady of Knowledge whom the King chose to recognize.
His gesture did not go unnoticed.
I push through the door to my room and take a deep breath, steadying my hand on my chest to will my heart to stop beating so fiercely. All I can see in my mind’s eye are his own brown ones, and all I can feel in every inch of me is his pure desire tugging at my full being, calling me to him.
“Do you drink, Gail?” I ask quickly, walking over to the mantle above my fireplace.
“No, Lady Alexis,” she responds with a small laugh, “though I think I will share my first drink with you now.”
I turn back to the young girl with a grin and pour her a half glass of whiskey with a splash of water on top.
“Small sips,” I smile, handing her the drink. “It’ll burn at first, but you’ll come to like the taste.”
Gail nods and accepts the drink, chuckling. “You look like you need this, Lady Alexis.”
“Alexis, Gail,” I correct with a smile and take a heavy swig.
“Oh no, Lady,” she scoffs, eyes narrowing on the whiskey as she tastes it. “Not after today. Never after today.”
“Don’t drink it too fast,” I roll my eyes, “the drink will loosen your body and mind, so be careful with it. You’ll need build your tolerance in the years to come.”
“Yes, Lady,” Gail grins as the two of us walk through the reading room and into the bedroom.
“I’m thinking we need to start again with the shoes first,” she notes just as Stormfall pushes off my shoulder and out through the balcony. “You’ll need to walk in them as you did with the boots. Though it should be easier this time around.”
Gail rummages through her small pack as I sit down on the bed.
“I have an idea for your hair as well,” she grins, eyeing my locks. “It’s a style that I saw on one of the women working in the kitchens of Gaumond.”
“I’m properly intrigued and am yours to create.”
“I was hoping you’d remember and say that,” she laughs.
I watch as she pulls out two black boots, no, heels, as she called them, and stare at them in disbelief, not understanding how they’re supposed to work. The fabric is almost completely gone, leaving only two large straps and the heel at the bottom.
“I don’t understand,” I narrow my eyes as she hands one to me.
Gail chuckles. “Let’s get you out of this dress and I’ll show you.”
I promptly stand up and tug the emerald velvet off my body, carefully moving it into my armoire.
“You’ll have to go bare on the top, Lady.”
Gail looks over my body, eyeing the black undergarments. I nod and pull my black lace bodice down, leaving the bottoms on as Gail motions for me to sit back on the bed.
“These straps will fashion themselves around your ankles and above your toes. They’ll hold the heel to your foot.”
She grabs my leg and then slips on one of the shoes.
I watch as the full of it fits snuggly over my foot, arching the bottom half in a small curve as she buckles the top strap tight around my ankle.
Gail moves on to the next, fastening the heel tight around my foot before she nods, asking me to stand.
The heels feel like a regular ankle boot without any of the fabric. They look sexy, daunting in their lack of coverage, and hold onto me tight as I take a hesitant step forward.
“I like them,” I grin foolishly.
Gail’s eyes sparkle. “They look good.”
“Wherever did you get an idea like this, Gail?”
“From a strong desire to remove unneeded fabric, Lady,” she laughs.
A true girl of Warrior.
“You’ll get more orders for these after tonight,” I nod with approval, moving back to my armoire to grab the black and gold shadow oak earrings from inside.
“I was hoping you’d say that, too.”
I grin and fasten the earrings, then pull out the shimmering black silk of my new dress and lay it on the bed.
Gail reaches over my side and grabs the fabric, kneeling down to the ground as she holds the dress for me to step into and pulls it over my hips.
This fabric fits snug around my waist just as the velvet did, though it’s much softer and less heavy, which is a nice change.
It flows down and across my legs gracefully as the large slit juts up to my left hipbone.
A small grip of nervousness holds my chest as I look down at the dark silk, realizing that this will be the first time I wear the full black of Warrior. My breath catches as Gail pulls the dress up my chest and to my neck, fastening the collar in a snug embrace before she takes a step back.
“Ancients, this looks better than I could have hoped for,” she smiles. “Do a small walk. The sides of your breasts may show if your arms leave your sides, so you’ll need to be careful.”
I smile in more nervousness and take a few steps around the bed, feeling the silk move with my body.
“Does it feel secure?” Gail asks, eyeing me as I turn around.
“Properly,” I grin, absolutely loving how daring this dress is, how black this dress is.
I wonder what people will say?
Who cares.
“Good. Coal on the eyes and then your hair and we can call this complete.”
“Will you be with us tonight, Gail?” I ask, letting her work on me.
“Yes, Lady Alexis. Though they’ve requested that anyone under eighteen leave after dinner.”
I nod at the sentiment. While the reception before dinner will be properly steeped in Knowledge tradition, Keane had requested that the late night that follows uphold the traditions of his Court of Warriors.
The celebration will no doubt turn into a rowdy one, something that those from Knowledge and Woodlands aren’t used to.
“I’m glad,” I smile and take a seat on the bed. “Jesse will be there, too. You remember him? The boy from Chef’s kitchens?”
“Yes,” Gail blushes as I turn my head for her.
I feel her fingers work their way through my hair.
She smooths it out with a brush and then tousles the bottoms and top completely, reminding me of the unkempt hair that comes after a long day’s ride.
I feel her pull the tresses into a twisting knot and then secure it at the bottom of my neck, letting it rest there as so many of the men of Disce do.
“Turn to me,” she asks softly, eyes narrowing on my forehead as her fingers pull out two long strands of hair. She lets them rest in front of my face with a wide grin.
“Have a look,” she beams. “I remember seeing this style on the lady in Gaumond. She was so heated by the fire in the kitchen that I knew she was only trying to pull her hair back from the sweat. But the look of it was so effortless, so strong…”
My own gaze is curious as I turn to face the mirror, my heart beating fast as I look back at myself.
Ancients.
I look dark and seductive.
I look like a woman of Warrior.
I stand proud in my stance as the black silk winks back at me in agreement.
My eyes catch the black coal around them, emphasizing the green hidden beneath as two pieces of my light brown hair rest perfectly against my tanned skin.
I tilt my head to the side, smirking at the knot that rests perfectly at the nape of my neck.
The full of my hair is effortless, slightly unkempt at the top and held tight at the bottom.
The easiness is contrasted by the thick collar that rests around my neck.
“This is everything,” I say in awe, looking at the exposed skin of my back.
The silk rests perfectly above my rear, tightening around my waist before it falls all the way to the ground in its shimmering black.
I envision Keane’s hands on my barely-covered ass and nearly groan at the thought.
He’ll be off doing whatever the night commands of him tonight, but I’ll be here waiting for him once the celebration is over and will feel his hands appreciate it.
“Stormfall,” I call.
The Bird of Ash soars from high above the Bell Grove, his yellow eyes holding mine in the distance as he glides towards the balcony railing. I smile and hold out my wrist for him, but Storm drops down to the ledge and plants himself firmly outside.
“Come on, Storm,” I chuckle, watching as his eyes flash to gold.
My heart stops completely. It’s been a while since I’ve seen that golden gaze.
“Hirovale,” I nod, pushing my shoulders back in habit.
The Bird of Ash tilts his head to the side, the unnatural color looking over my body without any shame.
“That’s enough, Hiro,” I shake my head, “Stormfall and I need to get going.”
Hirovale’s golden gaze leaves my body to find mine, the glance holding me to him for a brief moment before finally flashing back to Storm’s beady yellow. I take a deep breath as the bird caws and flies forward, gripping my wrist as my heart resumes back to normal.
“Are you ready, Gail?” I turn inside and let Stormfall take his place on my shoulder.
Gail’s eyes widen before she gives me a proud grin. “You are Warrior, Lady Alexis.”
“All thanks to you,” I smile at the compliment.
“No,” she grins, shaking her head as she picks up her bag, “you were always Warrior. Just needed a little push.”
This girl is too far beyond her years.
I smile in acknowledgement and reach for my whiskey, downing the rest before the two of us move under the arch and out the door.