CHAPTER XI
MOVING ON?
We stayed four additional days in Etter, guiding the influx of Knowledge travelers that all moved into the village to assist with its rebuild.
Hundreds of human and Discerni soldiers walked the town, all of the men handing out the clothes and supplies that were so desperately needed in the Woodlands village.
Large carts of greenstone were also brought into the town square, each of them manned by I’Nir’s finest builders as they set to the task of reconstructing the village.
The huts were all to be torn down, replaced by sturdy cottages of mixed wood, greenstone and the white marble that kept Etter’s economy going.
Not a single Discerni from anywhere within Woodlands Court visited Etter to assist. The only remaining pale green attire that graced the town were from the few that already resided here and chose to stay.
Lady Esme, to her credit, was able to keep the trade of the white marble and timber in place with Airea and the other cities surrounding Etter, her efforts overseen by Lord Crisjan who learned diligently at her side.
The dark market trade of green agate was dealt with quietly, with no one from our group alerting Esme or any other Discerni to the fact that we were aware of it.
Desmond strategically set up men around the mine with the sole purpose of watching those who went in and out, his aim to see who was behind the trade and where the coin was going.
It was a brilliant plan.
Keane was busy training the handful of Discerni that could manipulate the earth around them.
The number was small, but he taught them how to build and construct alongside the stone laborers, their efforts creating a completely new Etter built on both manual and magical labor.
Lord Alexander was tasked with maintaining a new guard for the village, with the crown offering double the coin to any man who chose to remain in Etter and relocate their life here.
The Knowledge Lord would retain his second in command title to Bardot and Knowledge, but would remain in the Woodlands village to oversee the defense once we departed.
Maude led a small council of humans and Discerni, bringing them together over the four days to discuss a new governing.
The Discerni of the group all elected Lady Esme to speak on their behalf, while Maude’s great niece and Stefan’s wife, Rae, was promoted to represent the humans.
No Lord was selected as the sole leader, though Keane pushed for the group to find one.
He put different Knowledge soldiers in front of the women, reiterating that someone needed to be chosen before we left.
Esme and Rae wouldn’t be pushed out, he assured, and instead would govern at the Lord’s side to speak on the interest of their two factions.
It would take months, if not years, to thaw out the relations and traditions that gripped the Discerni and humans, but both Keane and Maude were confident it could be done so long as everyone had a voice.
The rest of my traveling crew found themselves busy wherever they were needed.
Cal and Alanna worked primarily within the residence, situating the humans that were displaced while their homes were being rebuilt.
Nathaniel, Bryson and Sam all worked alongside the human soldiers in different capacities, handing out supplies or training the men of Etter who chose to join its guard.
Canon was free to leave my side for the first time since entering Woodlands, the Discerni moving day in and day out beside Keane as the King made the necessary changes that were promised.
That left myself, Holis and Mana wandering about, the three of us finding ourselves in different places on different days. Mostly, we found ourselves roaming, with the twins never leaving my side as I moved through the thick woods and the backsides of the homes in silent pursuit.
I ached to see more of the village that my parents raised me in, and it was my hope that I’d find the reasons for why they fought so desperately for this place.
The land truly was the most beautiful I’d ever seen, with countless streams and ponds hidden in the trees that provided an air of calm serenity.
Its forests were always sparkling, shimmering in their green and silver no matter the turn of the day, and the woods were home to countless wildlife, prompting the Discerni twins to resume my training of tracking and hunting.
Even Stormfall felt comfortable enough to finally leave my shoulder and hunt in the woods.
But no matter what path I took or how beautiful the village and woods were, I still couldn’t find what I was looking for. I couldn’t find any love for the land that consumed my parents so fiercely, and for that, I was completely perplexed.
So on the third day I resolved myself to touring the residence in more detail, navigating through the pristine halls and the various rooms. There was so much space here, space that remained unused and only catered to Kaven and his wife.
It was such a waste of a massive building that I found myself speaking to Maude and Rae about it, asking them to put the place to better use once we were gone.
I even dared to venture into the homes above, moving amongst the trees with the rest of the remaining Discerni.
What they had built was intricate and well thought out, but it was nothing as grand as the Hidden City of Fumagalli.
Their homes were bare in their sparkling white standings, still so proper and cold and without any life, the sight of them making me feel as if I was trespassing and still not welcomed.
The people here refused to look at me directly, going about their days with hidden grimaces as they watched the three of us move along their planks and back into the woods.
At various times throughout the days Keane would push his location summoning into me, checking in on my whereabouts and making sure I wasn’t without Holis and Mana.
I welcomed the intrusion, pushing my own desire for him through my abdomen and letting him know that he was also on my mind.
He was just as busy here as he had been in Bardot, with both him and Desmond entering our quarters late at night before leaving early with the sun.
I didn’t mind, as I was still continuing my own exploration, but I found myself falling asleep on the fourth night in heavy contentment, happy to finally be leaving.
Whatever I sought to find on my past life in Etter, I didn’t. And I was okay with that.
There was no call that sparked some personal emotion for me here, except for the never-ending pull to better the lives of the humans.
I felt no connection to the village, nor a desire to speak to anyone that was close to Maude or my parents.
Even as word spread throughout the town that I was the daughter of Joanne and Arthur, everyone was passive in their conversations about them, as was I.
Most just eyed me with approval as they passed by, but none of them ever took the time to explain why…
and I didn’t have the desire to inquire.
I came to the suspicion late on that fourth night that Troy’s summoning from my youth still had a grip on me.
It was so deeply rooted over the past ten years that it washed away any genuine interest I had in learning more about my parents.
I was content in myself to just let the memory of them be, and while the suspicion didn’t make me happy, it wasn’t something I chose to dwell on.
I had searched for a connection and came up short, and now I was ready to put my non-remembered life of Etter behind me.
I took solace in the knowledge that they did not die in vain, just as Maude said, and though it was a sight to see all the people of Etter now walking with their heads held high, there was no other hoorah moment that made me think, yes!
This is the home my parents fought for! I see it now!
The only steadfast desire that continued to burn through my veins was the desire to continue on our travel. I had a sinking feeling that Etter was just the beginning of our needed changes and was anxious to see what would come next.
My training with Cal on the morning of our departure was heated. The pull to get out of Etter was strong and I was taking it out on him. My friend eyed me curiously the whole time but didn’t say a word, matching my fervor with his own as his hands came swinging at my cheeks.
When it came time to ready the horses I found myself in the full black of Warrior again, pairing it with gold accents and a resolved face. This village was in good hands and everything was moving along nicely. I was no longer needed here... and again, I was okay with that.
“Your man from Brierman made his way back to La Cour,” Desmond brings Raven up to my side, his voice low, “though he departed after spending only two days there. I have a man on his trail.”
“Thank you,” I nod to the Master Informer, watching Keane from afar as he speaks with the new leaders of the village.
Lady Esme catches my eyes, giving me a small smile before she turns back to the King.
Lord Alexander and Crisjan stand with him, as do Maude, Rae, Linden and a new man, the one that was chosen to represent as Lord.
The Discerni is older and without a family, retired from his life serving in the army stationed at Bardot.
He looks humble and quiet, smiling softly at times whenever anything is directed at him.
“Alexis?” Desmond turns with a questioning look.
“Hmm?” I frown at the sight of two argents circling above Lady Esme.
“I asked if everything is alright…”
“Yes,” I sigh to the Master informer, just as Keane walks away from the group and looks at me with his own frown. “Just ready to leave.”