CHAPTER IX #3
I press hard against my temple, needing Keane’s steady and commanding presence to take control of this situation. He moves swiftly to me in his Discerni speed, his arms wrapping around my trembling waist as he pulls me up from his packs, willing me to look at him.
“Tell me,” he demands, his jaw flexing.
I push my aching head against his chest and reply softly. “Just get us out of here, Keane.”
The King stiffens, releasing his embrace quickly as he takes a cold step back.
I look up into his gaze, meeting his intense brown eyes with a nod as I lift my hand up to his cheek.
Keane is quiet, cool, searching my eyes in assessment before he takes a swift step around me.
He picks up his black tunic and pants and changes into them quickly, letting the standard Discerni features of indifference wash over his face.
I move out of his way and take a stance next to Golem, picking my own pack off the ground as we wait for him to finish readying.
Keane finally turns, the full of his appearance dark and commanding, and looks back at me with a calm fire.
We walk into the quiet hall with Golem bounding silently at our side, the three of us moving swiftly for the large staircase at the end.
We take it down, hearing the morning calls from the argents resting in the atrium, and move through the first floor hall before we finally head out the door and under the dark morning sky.
Our full group stands ready, each sighing in relief as they spot the two of us. Keane grimaces at the sight but continues in his steady walk forward, taking the reins Nathaniel offers as he pulls Ash forward.
I smile softly to Sam and take Millie from his hands, placing my foot into the stirrup as I swing my leg over the saddle and settle in quickly. Keane does the same, as does the rest of our group, and moves Ash to the front as he looks calmly over us all.
“A beautiful morning for us to continue our travels through Woodlands,” he announces casually, though his body is stiff and his voice slightly louder than normal. “Let us enjoy our leisure ride on the Road of Silver for Alston.”
The full of our group nods to the King as he flicks Ash to the side, turning the horse around and towards the main road.
I watch as he eyes Desmond in his turn, his gaze calling to his brother to meet him up front and not giving him the choice to decline.
Desmond moves Raven to Keane’s side, the two of them tense atop their saddles as we all follow behind them in anticipation.
I look back at the residence once we meet the bend in the road, releasing a heavy sigh when it disappears behind the glittering forest. The small homes of the village begin to surround the sides of the road now, with only a few patrons awake and walking with us as well.
I turn to find Cal and catch his gaze, motioning him forward as I do the same with Holis and Mana at my sides.
Cal rides up, the three men watching me in quiet curiosity as I whisper under my breath.
“Cal, do you think you can get your hands on one of those heavy packs? I’ve seen a few at the sides of the stores in town but I don’t know if they’re filled…”
Cal eyes the road ahead that leads to the village square, nodding slightly before he slows his horse and maneuvers behind our group.
“Holis, Mana,” I look at both brothers, “we’ll need water. Enough for a small home.”
“There was a well at the opposite side of the road from the pub,” Mana peers forward. Holis nods and moves his horse around mine, riding quietly next to Mana as the two of them pair up.
I gently kick Millie forward, riding past Lord Alexander and Canon as I settle next to Keane’s left.
“Our group will need to stop at the end of the village,” I tell him quietly as we enter the town square. “It will be best if no one can see what we intend to do…”
Keane glances to Desmond at his right, staring at the dark Discerni until his brother nods his head, also looking forward with his cool features. I sigh at the two, hating the rift that rests between them, and stay quiet as we continue through the square.
The early morning sun begins to lighten the soft woods around us when we finally make it to the homes at the opposite side of the village.
My body begins to tremble as we ride past the grey and white faux homes all crammed together, the heavy anticipation mixed with my lack of sleep reminding me so much of my time in Red Falls.
Keane watches me quietly from his side, his eyes narrowed and glancing back and forth from me to the road. He reaches a hand out, moving Ash closer as he grips my thigh tightly, his hold strong and assertive as I take a steadying breath to calm my shaking body.
I turn in my seat, looking to see if Cal and the twins have returned. All three catch my gaze and nod their heads, ready for what is to come.
“We need a home that’s unoccupied,” I tell Keane and his brother as an argent dips low across our group.
Desmond closes his eyes, using his summoning to look ahead and into the forest.
“At the very edge,” he juts his chin down the road, “looks to be deserted.”
“That will do,” I reply.
Desmond leads our group to the right of the road until we reach the very edge of Etter. He stops us before the last three remaining homes, his stealthing summoning flushing strong around the full of our group.
I dismount from Millie and move towards the last home in a silent walk.
Keane follows quietly, lifting himself off Ash as Desmond does the same, the three of us leading the rest of the crew until we’re all standing before the home.
No one makes a sound, not even our horses, just waits with their eyes on me as I take a deep breath.
“You can speak freely, Alexis,” Keane nods me forward.
My heart rattles against my chest, looking first for Alanna as I catch her cool grey gaze.
She stands in heavy hatred with disgust emitting from her stiff body, the soldiers at her side also standing with angered faces.
I then turn silently to Lord Alexander and Canon, giving both of the men a sad smile before I apprise them and the brothers.
“What you’re about to see, the rest of us experienced last night in the pub by accident. The secret is well guarded…”
Lord Alexander frowns and shifts on his feet, watching as I let my gaze fall on Holis and Mana, willing them to be ready. Both men walk forward with two buckets of water, placing them at their feet before I look to Keane.
The King lifts a hand from his pocket with a grimace.
“Your Grace,” my heart pounds, catching his brown eyes with mine as Golem moves from the woods to stand behind him. “Start a fire at the bottom of the home, in the dirt before it.”
Keane looks at me hard, his gaze intense as he remains unmoving. I sigh and take a step towards the small home, kicking my boot against the fake bottom stone and feeling it push back against me in its strong summoning, so real.
“Right here,” I point to the ground where my foot rests, looking again at Keane. “It can be small and will probably catch to flame quicker than you expect. Do not let it be undying.”
I need the flame to be real.
“You are pointing to stone, Lady Alexis,” Lord Alexander shakes his head in quiet confusion as I take a step back, still holding Keane’s brown eyes with mine.
“Remember that thought, Lord Alexander,” I grimace, nodding to Keane as I set my shoulders straight.
I see Keane flick his hand just barely and watch as a large flame engulfs the bottom of the home. The red light consumes the grey stone, the fire retreating for the briefest of moments before it catches flame to the true wood that rests underneath the illusion.
Everyone takes a step forward, watching as the fire grows wider, shattering the fake facade of the small home.
One by one the stones begin to fade as the flames cut through the summoning, the fire rising higher along the home to reveal the old and tired wooden slats underneath.
The slats create an even smaller four-by-four shack than I could have ever envisioned, its walls covered in dirt and old mud and mold, barely standing together.
My eyes go wide as even the ground around us begins to transform, watching as the flames lick against old and dried up weeds.
Everything changes so quickly, the summoning no longer able to contain itself.
Each of us watches with wide eyes, our whole group staring as the grey and white of the village home and its lush green grass transforms into a completely dull and dingey brown.
The sight is so overwhelming that I nearly cry, unable to envision anyone having to live within something like this for the full of their life.
The flames roar, shattering the illusion of the home before they move on to the next, leaving two small and dirty shacks standing pitifully before us.
“I’ve seen enough,” Keane’s voice drips in calm rage.
I turn around, watching as he brings a hand in front of his body and then squeezes his fingers into a fist.
“How is this possible?” Lord Alexander asks in quiet disbelief as the flames disappear. Desmond takes a step forward.
“Alanna,” the Master Informer’s features are hard, “is this how you remember?”
“Exactly,” she kicks the dirt in front of her, also taking a step forward.
I let my eyes stay on Keane, watching as he remains completely quiet, still staring at the shacks.
“This summoning is strong,” Lord Alexander moves beside the blonde Discerni, shaking his head. “It would take more than one Discerni to channel this energy. Whoever is doing this has help.”
“All of you saw this in the pub?” Desmond looks at our group. Everyone meets his glance with a grim nod.
“The barkeep was scared. He turned nervous the moment Cal took out his pipe,” Nathaniel replies, frowning at the memory.
“Which means the magic carries over the homes and the town,” Desmond grimaces. “Did anyone think to check the main residence?”