CHAPTER XIII #3
Keane’s hand stills at my side, stopping his movements as he takes a deep breath. He curls my body into his before he begins to tell me everything he knows and suspects.
Arens’ death was a retaliation to everything happening in Woodlands, especially in Etter, and one that warned the King and his brother of two more deaths that were coming.
Both Keane and Desmond suspected La Cour and Airea had a hand in the murder, with Desmond’s men working overnight in the court to gain any information they could find.
They also suspected that the next two targets would be more Woodlands’ Discerni, as the words traitor and human lover were found carved into Arens’ chest.
Holis had been in the woods on his own with Mana not far behind. They had taken a small path back up to the inn as they practiced their hunting and tracking, telling the King that they heard my cries from afar.
“There was a young woman in the woods with you, Alexis,” Keane’s voice is hard as I finger the chain at his chest, “the one who arrived at the inn a few days ago. She carried her own bow and green agate arrows and made sure you found Arens where she pierced him.”
I sit up in shock and turn on the bed to face him.
“Say that again?”
“The young Discerni girl who’s been at the inn when we take our meals, she was-”
“-That makes no sense,” I cut him off, “if she was in the woods with me, why didn’t she come after me as well?”
“From what the Woodlands girl has told us so far, her only intent was to make you watch. She wanted to make sure Arens died in your view.”
“That’s…”
Disgusting.
Revolting.
Absolutely cold-hearted.
“I know,” Keane grimaces.
“Wait,” I narrow my eyes on him, “what do you mean when you say from what she’s told us so far?”
Keane’s eyes hold mine, the brown watching me in quiet assessment before he replies.
“Mana took her down with an arrow to her back. While Holis and I were focused on you, Mana spotted the girl through the woods. We have her. Alive.”
“Keane…” my voice is low and filled with anger.
The King shakes his head.
“I know what you want to do, Alexis,” his hand reaches for mine as he grips it tightly, “but let this be for now. Desmond is on her, as is Holis and Mana. Odds are she’ll make the travel with us back to Etter. This city doesn’t have a proper prison to hold her.”
“Travel back…”
Ancients, I can’t even fathom the idea.
“You want me to travel back to Etter with Arens’ killer?”
“Yes. We still need to find out how much she knows and what she was doing with Arens in the woods. And I don’t feel comfortable leaving her in Alston while we’re gone.”
“What makes you think she’s even going to talk?”
“Desmond has offered her life if she gives us names.”
“Ancients, Keane!” I scowl. “Does someone like that even deserve to live?”
Keane continues to watch me, his features calm in their Discerni sharpness as his hand grips mine hard.
“You tell me, Alexis…”
His voice is steady as he holds my gaze without release. “Will Lady Esme deserve her life if we find out she is truly behind this? Behind Etter?”
“She is,” I reply heatedly. I know it to my very core.
“Then will she deserve to live?” he asks again.
Keane watches me now as the King of Disce, demanding an answer.
“No,” I tell him. “She deserves no more life than the other three who fell to their knees before her.”
“I agree,” he replies with a hard nod. “She will see the same end as the others.”
His hand lets go of mine, fingers tracing up my arm as he waits for the next words he knows I’m going to say.
“She’s mine, Keane,” I stare back at him, hating the Discerni woman with a deep passion.
“She governed with Kaven when my parents were alive. She has continued to masquerade as a passive bystander and fooled us all. She’s mine. I do not make that request lightly and nor do I make it a request. Mine will be the hand that ends her life.”
“It will.”
Flames roar in the Temple of Hirovale.
Arens’ body rests atop a large scaffold wrapped in a thick and embroidered grey fabric, the flames licking just under him as we all wait for his passing. Golem stands next to me, holding my hand firmly as I try to stand tall next to Keane, hating that we’re even here in the first place.
Everything about our travel to Woodlands is tarnished.
I hate it here with a passion. I want so desperately to leave Alston, to find my new home in Gaumond and look over Keane’s balcony at the thousands of torches that’ll fuel my heart.
I hate that we have to ride back to Etter, to a town that I respect for all it has been through yet still can’t find any connection with.
I also hate that I can’t find any redeeming qualities here, that Woodlands to me is now a place of secrets, lies, deceit and death.
Everything about this place is just tarnished, leaving a deep stain on my soul that I’m not sure will ever go away.
The full of the group is with us in the temple sans Nathaniel.
He’s waiting outside with our horses and the bound Woodlands Discerni girl who now travels with us.
She’s situated on a spare horse as a common traveler, with Desmond throwing a blanket over her hands and thighs and hiding the bindings that keep her to the saddle.
Both Sianoa and Heysan chose to pay their respects at Arens’ bonfire, as did Elena. The Ancients have been eyeing me quietly since they left Sia’s temple, but I fortified my mind the moment I saw them.
I don’t know how much Keane or his brother shared with the rest of the group about what happened yesterday, but I do know by the hidden glances that stand around the fire that they’re curious as to my anguish.
No one here knew Arens like I did, and even I had only scratched the surface with him.
Yet my friends all stand in heavy respect for the life now being sent off to the Ancient, their glances telling me they’re ready to help in any way they can.
Ancients, the young Woodlands man didn’t deserve to die.
He didn’t deserve to have such a brutal ending.
He was one of the good ones, the curious ones. So what did it say about our World, our Kingdom, that someone’s life was lost because of their curiosity to learn more about the World?
Golem squeezes my hand at my side, his head tilting towards the double doors of the temple to tell me it’s time to leave. I turn back to the flames with a shattered heart and a heavy sigh, letting him tug at my hand again before he leads us away.
He is in good hands. He is in good hands.
Hiro’s words are on repeat in my mind.
My body stiffens as I step out into the cool morning, catching the Woodlands girl’s glance on mine from afar, her lips tipping up in a small smirk.
Nathaniel pulls at the reins of her horse and moves her out of view just as Keane places a strong hand on my back and urges me forward.
I release Golem’s hold and move down the steps, my eyes piercing the girl’s back in pure hatred.
This is going to be rough.
Not only do I have to ride with Arens’ killer for the day, but both Keane and Desmond warned me twice not to approach her. I was to stay away, to not engage, because both brothers knew of the violent thoughts that ran through my mind.
Probably for the best, as right now I just want to pound her head into the ground until that smirk disappears from her face.
Ancients, when did I become so violent?
You asked yourself that same question after Fumagalli, Storm’s old voice fills my mind. After you agreed with the Woodlands man’s killing. After you found out about Prince Troy.
You’re right, I sigh again, but is that wrong of me?
Some violence is warranted, Alexis, the Bird of Ash replies thoughtfully, but you should always check yourself before the time comes to using that violence. Don’t ever lose yourself in the heat of the moment…
I chuckle quietly.
My dear, Ancient, Stormfall. What have I been doing all this time without your wisdom and guidance?
Turning a deaf ear, he replies. Literally.
I laugh out loud in my walk, catching both Keane and Golem glancing my way before they hide their small smiles. Keane’s hand falls just above my rear, sliding to my hip as he follows my leg to the stirrup and helps me pull myself onto Millie.
“We ride hard today, Alexis. Just as we leave the gate.”
“I welcome it,” I nod to my King.
Keane’s eyes light to fire, his gaze pouring those flames into mine as I’m fueled by the look of him. He’s ready to put everything here to rest, to lay a firm hand down on Woodlands and his early reign that is now being tested.
Bryson brings Ash forward, handing the King his reins as everyone begins to mount. Their eyes are curious, quiet, waiting for his command.
“You’ve all been apprised separately of what has happened since yesterday’s late afternoon,” Keane’s voice is calm as he looks out to our traveling crew. “We will take the ride back to Etter in swiftness and reach the village before sundown.”
“Your Grace,” Heysan presses his knees into the grey mare he sits atop, eyes flicking to me. “I should like to join you, if you’ll have me?”
“Your presence is always welcomed, Ancient,” Keane replies steadily.
“Thank you…”
Keane directs Ash towards Elena and says his goodbye, his glance briefly looking back at me before he turns down the main road. Nathaniel urges the Warrior soldiers to follow behind the King, with Desmond and the bound girl trailing just after.
I sigh and let everyone move forward, smiling as Holis and Mana stay behind with me.
“I’m sorry, Alexis,” Holis offers, “I wish there was more to do to help him.”
“Thank you for following me into the woods,” my eyes land on the pale blonde hair and light green shirt, “and thank you, Mana, for taking care of her.”
Mana’s gaze follows mine with a grimace, also looking at the back of the Woodlands Discerni.
“Caught me by surprise,” his eyes narrow. “Has a mouth on her, that one.”
“One that I’ve been told to ignore all day.”
“Trust me,” Holis scowls, “you don’t need to hear the fowl things coming from her lips.”
“Has Desmond been able to-”