CHAPTER X #2
Keane’s face is a calm storm in his own anger, his eyes darting to the side as we spot another man opening his door.
A small chill sends a shiver down my neck, watching as a child comes out at the man’s side.
The young girl is holding a piece of wood in her hands as she follows her father’s lead, the two of them placing it on the ground before their door.
I want to cry out in support, nearly do when Keane’s flames consume the wood and light up the father and daughter’s attire in all of its indecency.
The man wraps his arm around the child’s shoulder, holding her close, the heavy look on her face telling me that even she knew there was something wrong about her life.
Keane’s hand begins flicking at his side, pulling my gaze off the father and daughter as I notice even more people now opening their doors.
Most have wood in their hands while others step outside just to watch, to finally see a King moving through Etter with contempt in his features at the sight of their surroundings.
All of their faces are hardened, finally glancing up from the ground to look at Keane and his company head-on.
They watch him without any sorrow of their own, ready to expel the lives that have gripped them for so long.
We finally enter the town square, the shops and buildings hosting far more bundles of wood that are waiting upon our arrival.
I turn in my saddle and look back at the road behind us, the full of the forest surrounding the homes now ablaze in red and orange light.
There’s no remaining summoning on those structures or the ground below them, just the true nature of the shacks and the dinginess in which they stand.
I sigh at the feel of Keane’s flames warming the foot of the shops in front of us and turn back in my seat.
Maude stands with a small group of humans about half way into the town, her eyes fixated not on the full company of men riding in, but on the sight of Etter’s town square breaking down from its illusion.
“Old Maude,” Crisjan’s eyes go wide as he looks at the Discerni woman in surprise.
I can tell that he wants to smile at her, but a deep sadness claims his features as he bows solemnly from his seat.
“Crisjan,” Maude’s gnarled voice nearly chuckles, “a sight for sore eyes, is this not?”
“Indeed, Duhni,” the Lord replies softly.
“Some of the patrons have begun to follow us,” Keane turns to Maude with his features sharp. “Their curiosity is warranted, but I cannot allow them continue down the road to the residence. Do you and yours have the ability to hold them here? In town?”
My eyes land on Stefan, watching as he shifts on his feet next to the hunched woman and avoids my gaze. Maude leans on her cane, nodding her head slowly with her blue eyes holding Keane’s.
“We will do our best. Can you leave us a few of your men?”
“Gareth,” Keane turns in his saddle as a man rides up behind Mana, his human features confident.
“Select thirty men, all human. Stay with the Duhni here and keep the humans of Etter in the town square. Assure them that everything will be alright but that they do not need to follow where we are going.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” the man nods.
“And Gareth…” Keane’s eyes are hard as they flick to the large woods above us. “Stay alert. Protect the people from above, if needed.”
“Of course, Your Grace,” Gareth’s own gaze is steady, nodding to Keane and then to Maude before he flicks his horse to the side.
Keane turns back to the old Discerni, eyeing the woman as she brings her gaze on me with a frown. I furrow my brows just slightly, not sure what I did to garner the attention of her piercing blue eyes, and grip Mille’s reins tighter, holding the Discerni’s glance with my own.
“We’ll continue on our ride, Maude,” Keane says to the old woman, “and will meet you back here when all is done.”
Maude takes a sharp inhale of breath, her eyes going wide in realization.
“I didn’t make the connection earlier when I saw the bird,” she shakes her head, “but now I do. You ride with the Ancient at your side…”
My heart pounds against my chest as Stormfall spreads his wings behind my back, giving her a strong caw in response. The woman turns her gaze to Keane, looking at him in pure shock and quiet awe.
“Both of you do.”
Keane gives Maude a hidden smile but doesn’t reply, angling Ash forward to continue in our walk. I take a deep breath and turn from the woman, feeling Crisjan and Alexander both eyeing us in thought.
The Ancient will be known throughout the Kingdoms soon, Storm. It’s only a matter of time.
The Bird of Ash grips my shoulder hard in agreement.
“Get back in your homes, you fools!” a deep voice yells from down the road as we approach the other side of the village.
All eyes turn towards the Discerni who gave the command, watching as not one but ten men begin moving between the homes, pushing the human families back through their doors with their broadswords ready at hand.
The full village is awake now, the humans standing in front of the summoned grey and white stones and staring at our company as it rides forward.
Keane grimaces, narrowing his eyes on half of the men on one side of the road before he raises his hand and summons the earth below them within a blink.
Large roots mixed with rock dash up the Discerni’s legs, winding around their calves and up their thighs so that they’re held in place.
He quickly turns his gaze to the other side of the road and does the same to the men there, binding them to the ground in a swiftness I can’t describe.
“Drop your swords,” the King’s voice is strong as he looks at the Woodlands men in anger, “or have them removed from your hands by force.”
Most of the bound Discerni promptly drop their swords to the ground, scowling at Keane as we move down the road. But two men remain defiant, their eyes looking back at him with pure hatred.
The King flicks his hand again, lighting every single one of the homes along the road that now have wood at their doors. The humans gasp, caught off guard by the quick and strong flames as they all take a step away from the fire, waiting to see what Keane does next.
“Drop your swords,” he repeats.
The two Discerni flex their jaws, their eyes glancing at Keane and the men behind him, considering their next moves.
The roots at their feet begin to inch upward, tightening around their thighs and the middle of their torsos as they both begin to lean over in pain.
I watch as Keane’s summoning grips them hard, the earth circling around their lower chests and squeezing tight, letting no room for air grace their lungs.
The Discerni finally drop their swords to the ground, unable to hold on as they clutch at their chests for breath.
Keane’s roots release them the moment the blades clatter, but they remain strong on their feet and legs, making sure they’re unable to move in any direction for the time being.
“There will be more like them,” Lord Alexander narrows his eyes on the men as we continue forward.
Keane nods as we ride to the bend in the road, looking up at the woods.
“Holis,” his voice is steady, “I hear four above and can make out two with their bows drawn.”
Holis moves quietly to Canon’s left, drawing his own bow as Keane continues.
“Noah, take up at Crisjan’s right. Both you and Holis have my blessing to fire if you spot any of them make a move.”
Both Discerni nod, keeping their eyes trained on the forest as they draw their arrows tight against their cheeks. I take a deep breath and drop a slightly shaking hand down to my boot, grabbing both of my smaller daggers and placing them between my thighs.
Someone yells in the forest above as we reach the edge of the homes, his cry taking everyone by surprise except for Keane. We watch as a Woodlands Discerni drops from the trees, his bow and arrow falling to the ground at the curve of the bend as he dangles upside down from limbs.
Dear Ancients.
Did Keane just do that?
Another man yells, dropping from the trees in the same fashion as he swings ahead, scowling at the King in pure hatred as we pass under him.
“The other two are running,” Holis grimaces, keeping his bow drawn and alert.
“Straight to Linden and Desmond,” Lord Alexander replies quietly.
We move along the curve, the air around us tense and thick and consuming the full of the forest. Everything has become silent, stilling the woods into an eerie presence that follows us in our ride.
I take another deep breath as the road begins to widen again, feeling Stormfall shift on my shoulder before Lord Kaven’s residence comes into view.
The home rests proud in its massive white marble, almost as if it’s glittering at us in cold welcome.
I let my eyes drift above to the homes littered through the tall trees, noticing that many of the Discerni have gathered along the wooden planks so that they can look down at our moving group.
Most of the men all have their own bows drawn, their eyes fixated on Keane with their arrows pointed straight at him.
Ancients.
This is the King of Disce they now take arms upon.
Do they even care? Or do they truly think they’re safe in these woods? That they can get away with such blatant treason?
Keane slows Ash to a stop at the edge of the large courtyard surrounding the residence and looks up to the Discerni with a cool glance. His gaze is unbothered by the many arrows pointing down at him, his eyes moving coldly over each face as he addresses the men loudly.
“My arrival is not one born of aggression, and I have no wish to harm you or your families. My aim tonight is only to help the human ones from whence we came…”
“But if any of you continue to point your weapons at me,” he stares hard at the men, “then rest assured you will no longer be able to call yourselves men of Disce. This Kingdom will no longer welcome you.”