CHAPTER IV #7
“The rules are simple,” Cal grins and hands me another mug, moving to stand between the two of us. “Once I count to three, you start drinking. The first person to finish the full of their ale will be declared the winner.”
Simple enough, Heysan shrugs. What are we wagering, Human Reborn?
I know well enough not to enter into a deal with you, Heysan.
The Ancient chuckles. Fair. Though I won’t be participating unless I get something out of this.
Yes, you will, I look at the people around us. You’re enjoying the attention too much.
“One,” Cal slaps his hands on our shoulders with a grin.
You’ll owe me, he challenges. A small debt.
No.
“Two!” the crowd yells with Cal.
I’ll owe you. Twice, he counters.
I narrow my eyes on the Ancient, gripping the mug firmly in my hand.
“Three!”
Deal.
I tip the ale back, though not before seeing Heysan’s eyes widen in surprise.
We both drink ferociously, though I don’t think I’ve ever had the incentive to finish an ale quicker in my entire life.
I angle my mug higher, tilting my head back as Stormfall pushes off my shoulder and flies high above the crowd.
The last of the drink passes my lips and I throw my mug onto the ground.
“YES!” Cal booms.
“All because of you, Cal,” I laugh, turning towards the Ancient. Heysan lowers his head in a sarcastic bow, giving me a mock look of sad defeat.
“Perhaps all that sleeping wasn’t good for you…”
Though I am grateful to it for having you in my debt.
“Who knew my brother’s champion was such an avid drinker?” the Ancient shakes his head in surprise.
“Literally everyone,” Cal replies, slapping Heysan on the back.
Well played, Queen.
Indeed, I smirk in reply.
Keane’s summoning pushes hard against my lower abdomen in that instant, filling me with his desire as I turn back to the settee flushed and pressing my legs together.
Stormfall is resting on his shoulder as the two of them look my way so casually, the smile the King sends me filled with absolute approval.
I grin in return, watching in that instant as Hirovale decides to make an appearance through Storm.
His unnatural gold gaze stays fixated on me standing next to his brother, and I don’t know how I know, but somehow I know that the Ancient of Death and Exploration is smiling at the two of us right now.
Keane notices the small change in my glance and turns to Stormfall, his grin deepening when he sees the gold of Hiro’s eyes. He brings a hand up to Storm’s chest and caresses the Bird of Ash, then brings his gaze back on me as both Ancient and King watch me from afar.
The reception celebration was finally coming to a close.
The moons were well past their apex and settling into the early morning, and there were only about two hundred patrons left in the room. Those that remained made the barrels their central hub, all of us drinking around the settees or on the large veranda closest to the room.
McQuoid was still here, drinking more heavily than I have ever seen him do so.
The full Leviathan delegation was still present as well, as was Prince Hadrill of Aireal, who I noticed stood close by Isham or Troy throughout the remainder of the night.
Warriors made up most of the crowd, though there were a great deal of those from Knowledge still hanging around.
Only a handful of those from Woodlands were still in attendance, but they mostly kept to themselves.
I, myself, had successfully avoided Keane at the settee all night.
I shared my promised toddy with Sir Miles, laughed with Sutton and Tripler as the siblings told me they both won money off my tilt with the Ancient.
I moved to the veranda and shared smoke with a number of the ladies from the Court of Warriors, each of them eyeing my dress and shoes just as they did in Gaumond when I sang Gail’s name.
I watched as the night slowly turned into that of the Court of Warriors, with tables pulled closer to play cards and dice and everyone taking genuine pleasure in their neighbors regardless of their race.
At times, I would find my gaze falling on Isham, watching for any reaction towards the Discerni and humans interacting so openly with one another.
But he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying his night, so much so that towards the end, him, McQuoid, Keane and his two brothers, were all deep in conversation and laughing over their drinks.
The five of them were under the general easiness of the celebration and night around them, forgoing whatever differences the men had for one night.
It didn’t surprise me, then, when Heysan maneuvered the young Prince of Aireal to the group and they all welcomed him grins.
This will be a night to remember.
It’s the only thought I can think of as I find myself outside with my traveling crew.
Mana and Sera were gone, they had left a bit earlier, but Alanna was with me, as was Holis, Cal, Barnes, Tripler and Sutton.
Our small group is grinning as we pass along a new pipe of smoke, content in each other’s company.
“I’m curious as to how you knew the Woodlands Discerni, Alexis,” Holis leans his shoulder against mine with a soft smile.
“We actually met in Brierman. He approached Keane and I in conversation at the Drunken Stump.”
The Discerni peers back at me, his gaze wary.
“I think you’d like him,” I push my own shoulder back against his. “He’s different.”
“Just be careful, Alexis,” he grimaces, “you both had eyes on you during that conversation and I didn’t like the looks.”
“I will,” I nod, “but now I’m curious as to what you do with your days in the Palisades when we’re not traveling, Holis. The thought crossed my mind a few mornings after Sera’s.”
The Discerni twin grins at me, his eyes twinkling.
“I keep a small bookshop.”
My own eyes widen at the comment, watching him chuckle at my realization.
“You’ll have to take me there!” I exclaim, pushing my hand against his shoulder.
Holis beams. “Just say when.”
“Before Woodlands, hopefully,” I tip my glass of water in salute.
“Should we take this back inside?” Cal asks the group.
I look down at the drink in my hand, knowing I’m only good for one more ale or toddy before my body starts to yearn for bed.
Tripler chuckles. “To be honest, I’m surprised we’re all still standing.”
“Same,” Alanna grumbles as Barnes nods his head in agreement.
“A final round, then,” Cal announces enthusiastically, still full of celebration.
“Cal!” Heysan yells from inside when we walk his way, lifting his full mug of ale towards the sky. “Come to surrender?”
“Not likely, Ancient,” Cal grins.
My gaze catches Keane’s, feeling the intensity behind his eyes as he watches our group move towards the barrels. He’s standing next to Desmond and Hadrill, his head tilting just barely behind him to the settee that’s unoccupied.
I smirk and shake my head, still denying him.
“Then perhaps a round for those of us who are left?” Heysan announces, taking a heavy swig of his ale before he turns to the crowd. “Toddies? For the lot of us?”
“Cal…” Another realization hits me as I watch the Ancient.
My steps slow in my walk, hoping beyond anything the answer is no.
“Did you make a wager with the Ancient for this one for one?” I whisper.
Alanna smirks. “He did.”
He did, Heysan repeats in my mind.
“Were you careful with your words?” I ask him quietly.
“Of course,” my big smiles.
“Good,” I nod, feeling a little better. “Do I even want to know what the bet is?”
Both Cal and Alanna grin at the same time.
“Probably not, Alex,” Cal says affectionately.
He offered me his first born son.
I stop dead in my tracks as the rest of the group moves towards the barrels.
“A jest, Lady Alexis,” Heysan laughs out loud from the middle of the crowd.
Not nice.
No, Heysan’s blue eyes sparkle on mine, but the look on your face was worth it.
“Bastard.”
Heysan’s chuckle fills my thoughts as I move next to Desmond, letting him be a buffer to me, Keane and the settee. The Ancient holds out his glass to the small crowd and raises it in the air, a wide grin plastering across his face as he looks upon the group.
“To the true celebrators! Each of you! Tonight has been everything I needed upon returning to the Old World. Cheers to you all!”
Desmond, Keane and I all toast our glasses together, the three of us grinning as the rest of the room does the same.
A hand sneaks around my waist just as I finish my drink, Keane pulling me with him as he sits us perfectly on the settee with a winning smirk.
I fall into his lap with a shake of my head, laughing when he brings one of his arms around the back of the seat like he’s the most satisfied man in the Old World.
“You finally have me here,” I murmur.
Keane’s other hand releases my waist to trail down my exposed thigh.
“Why do you deny me so much, Alexis?” he grins in my ear. “When we both know you want it?”
Heysan orders another round of toddies for the group in front of us, the full of the crowd cheering and smoking and settling in as they keep their focus on the Ancient.
“You know why, Keane.”
The King smirks, nodding just slightly as his hand reaches farther up my thigh, inching near the slit. “No one will know…”
“They will,” I shiver.
Keane moves his hand near the crevice of my hip, his fingers brushing against the black lace I’m wearing under the dress. His lips skim against my neck, just below my ear, his hand dipping beneath the fabric as if in proof that no one is paying attention.
“They’re all watching the Ancient, Alexis,” he grins, pressing his lips against my skin.
I shift on top of him as my heart skips a beat, surprised to feel my previous anxiety slowly morphing into a sense of excitement.
“But they could turn around,” I let out a heavy breath.
“They could,” he murmurs, “I won’t deny that. But what would they see?”
Nothing. They’d see nothing.
Keane’s positioned us so purposely that it looks like his hand is just resting under my dress.