CHAPTER IV #5
He sits silent and graceful, his face kind and reminding me slightly of Keane’s father.
But where Zander’s features were sharp in their Discerni angles, Voland’s face is soft and oval in its humanity.
His black hair falls straight down his shoulders, his skin fair with just a hint of the sun giving it color.
His lips are a pale red, curved up as if in a forever polite smile.
He grins at whatever the Queen says, and though he doesn’t hold the same strong presence as Zander, I can tell he is the same type of listener as the late King.
Across from Voland and next to Desmond is a young man who is also smiling, his blue eyes staring straight ahead at Troy and Isham, listening in on their conversation. This has to be Voland’s son, Prince Hadrill. His hair is just as black as his father’s.
“How old is the Prince of Aireal?” I lean next to Clair, still looking at the young man.
Clair tilts her head down the table in consideration. “I believe he reached adulthood last year.”
I nod, noticing a slight smugness that taints the Prince’s lips. He has the kind of smile that is both arrogant and confident, one born from his birthright and not from living enough life to be humbled.
“And his mother?” my eyes flick back to Voland, watching him converse with the Queen and Elena, “she passed a few years back, yes?”
“A tragedy,” Clair frowns in sadness. “The capitol of Aireal was hit with a sweating sickness that rocked the full of their Kingdom. Queen Plestina did not make it through.”
“Very sad,” I murmur, back to studying the King.
Zander had vouched for him, as did Keane, and looking at him now I understood why. I don’t think I could believe someone if they told me this man ordered the assassination of Keane’s father, but I also couldn’t rule out the possibility that anyone else from his Kingdom didn’t make that demand.
“You were able to meet the Ancient earlier?” I turn back to Clair with a smile.
“Yes. I rather enjoyed him. You?”
“Friendly enough,” I reply, taking a deep drink from my ale as I look out at the Ancient.
Heysan was at the head table for the beginning of dinner, but now he’s making his rounds amongst the guests, currently standing between Cal and Holis and the rest of my friends.
Naturally, that table is the loudest and most lively in the room.
“Looks like Cal approves of the Ancient,” Clair chuckles.
“Heysan roped him into a drinking challenge earlier,” I nod. “They’re going one for one tonight to see who can outdrink the other.”
“Ancients,” Clair shakes her head with a sly grin. “Cal’s a big man and I’ve seen him handle himself in Red Falls, but I don’t think he can outdrink an Ancient, Alexis.”
“We’ll see,” I smile wide, still looking at Heysan from afar. “I have faith in my friend.”
The Ancient turns his gaze on me in that moment, his blue eyes narrowing in amusement.
You and I are supposed to be on the same side here, Human Reborn.
I laugh. Perhaps where your brother is concerned, Ancient. But when it comes to Cal, you will always find me on his.
You’re doubt of me only fuels the competition, he grins.
Not doubt. Just an unwavering confidence in my friend. You have your work cut out for you, Heysan.
I welcome it, the Ancient grins as I take a sip of ale.
I enjoy the other friends you’ve surrounded yourself with, Alexis. You’ve chosen well. I see a few of my brother’s followers have also made their way to into your group.
Holis and Mana, I nod, gaze falling on the twins, mine and Cal’s friends long before we learned of their connection to Hiro.
The Ancient’s brows shoot up from across the room.
You use my brother’s name so casually, Queen.
Just as your brother has been so casual with me, I counter.
He’ll be more casual still, in the days to come, he grins. Though I wonder if you’ll enjoy that?
My eyes narrow on the Ancient from afar. I shake my head slowly, eyeing him hard.
If you know anything about your brother and mine’s relationship, Heysan, then you know his causal use of me is the one thing I enjoy the least.
The Ancient raises his brows again. Or is that what you continue to tell yourself?
I glare at him from my seat, only making his smile grow wider.
Hmm.
I have a wager for you, oh drinking Ancient of Good Fortune, I smile in challenge.
I’m all ears, Lady Alexis, he grins. I’m glad you’ve finally found the game.
I have, I nod, my smile turning into a smirk. Would you like to hear it?
You know I would.
Good. Because here it is…
I lean forward and prop my elbow on the table, my hand holding my chin.
I wager the history books got you all wrong…
Heysan’s grin can’t go any wider.
After all these years… I shake my head in mock sadness, and no one truly understood the true nature of you. Tell me, Heysan, do you prefer the title given to you as the Ancient of Good Fortune and Celebration, or should I begin addressing you as the Ancient of Mischief and Instigation?
Heysan’s eyes widen, looking at me in a new light.
Because I’d wager that you enjoy causing a bit of trouble, if only for the fun of it.
The Ancient laughs, a booming laugh that carries across the whole room as his eyes crinkle in open mirth. There’s a small presence of power that pushes out of him with the sound, the magic filling me with such joy that I start laughing along with everyone else in the area.
Too perceptive, Human Reborn, he lifts his ale in the air in deliberate salute. My brother chose well.
After dinner, I found myself standing on a veranda with a few of the Knowledge ladies I spent time with in my previous station in the Queen’s Wait.
They were all friendly and polite, though their curious glances and remarks as to my new attire and my relationship with Keane were the only two things they wanted to talk about.
Most, if not all of them, were already married and settled down with children, so it made sense that they wanted to chat about anything other than their daily household duties.
I understood their desire and curiousness into my life, but little did they know, I was also just as curious, desperate to hear more on their own daily routines and if they had the free time to do as they wished.
The answer, of course, was right in front of me, as all the Ladies were enjoying their night without a care in the Old World. They, like me, were getting ready for what was to come, the rowdy end to the reception.
Heysan was already stirring the crowd, greeting as many people as he could and reiterating that yes, an Ancient of the Old World was indeed awake.
The Warriors in the crowd were also getting a bit restless, no surprise there, so a large portion of them took to a far veranda and opened up the early night with their smoke.
It warmed my heart to see Sir Miles join the Discerni and human group in black.
He was hesitant at first, but after offering his own shisha to share to the group, the gesture was well received.
His mingling with them prompted more from Knowledge to join in with those from Warrior, and now a massive crowd of mixed Courts and races could be seen outside.
I watch that group from farther away, my want and need pushing hard into my lower abdomen as I will Keane to see the perfect view with me.
His curiosity summoning comes quickly, pressing hard into my chest as I take a deep breath and smile at the ladies.
Within the next breath, his presence is gone, though the new sight of the girls all looking over my shoulder with wide eyes alerts me that he’s back again.
“Your Grace,” they murmur delicately, dipping into curtsies.
I turn around and see Keane standing directly behind me, his presence strong and proud in his dark attire as he nods to the women with a smile.
“Your Grace,” I bow with a demure smile of my own.
Keane watches my head lift back up, his gaze turning wicked.
“Take a walk with me, Lady Alexis,” he commands.
Ancients, this man.
How can any woman refuse him?
I meet his heated gaze and place my hand around his arm, letting him walk us away.
“Did I just save you from the boring conversations of your former group of ladies?” he asks in amusement.
“No,” I shake my head. “I actually enjoy hearing of their lives. They’re all doing well. Settled down in good marriages and raising their kids. It makes me happy to know they’re happy.”
Keane’s eyes peer into mine, considering my words. “Most unwed women would find that kind of talk dull…”
“I suppose. Though I’m still properly curious.”
“Curious as to what exactly?”
“Their day to day,” I shrug, “and how life is like with kids.”
I swear his gaze grows intense.
“You’ll find out, Alexis,” he says as a matter of fact. “We will have that life one day.”
We will. Because it is a matter of fact. His sister has seen us in her visions, has already told his father that we would be together with children of our own.
I squeeze Keane’s arm and let him pull me into his side, feeling his lips drop to the top of my head.
“Come to join us, Your Grace? Lady Alexis?” a familiar voice beams.
Sir Miles stands from his seat in the middle of the smoke-filled crowd that we now walk towards.
“If you’ll have us, Sir Miles,” I chuckle at the older Discerni. “Though we haven’t brought Cal.”
“Your friend has enough on his plate dealing with the Ancient,” Miles laughs. “The full of court is waiting to see who will drop first.”
“Certainly you’ve placed your bets on our man from Knowledge,” I reply, watching as a human Warrior extends a pipe to Keane.
“But of course, Alexis,” he nods, eyes darting to Keane. “It is a true testament, Your Grace, that you are the first in thousands of years to be graced by the presence of an Ancient. Heysan’s appearance today speaks volumes.”
Keane chuckles. “He’s certainly made my mother happy by being here.”
“I know you love your whiskey, Miles,” I take the pipe Keane offers, “but I’d love to share a toddy with you once the barrels are rolled out.”