CHAPTER XIV #3
“Of course not,” I scowl, thinking of our time in Gaumond when he stripped me of my blades. “I did nothing wrong. The rule is outdated, as you’ve said before, and should have been tossed a long time ago. But it is still the law of the Old World. Are others to be punished for their use but not me?”
“You are asking of scenarios that have not yet happened.”
“But they could,” I press him, then turn to Desmond, “and what happens to that human who defends his life openly with the stone? After hearing that another flaunted her own use? I’m hesitant to think of the double-standard that will come of it, of the problems the rumors will cause once they become more well-known… ”
“You could issue the decree,” Desmond looks at his brother, “father was open to the idea. Tell our people that Disce is moving forward on its own, that the ways of the old are indeed something that belong in the past.”
“Might even instill a small fear in those from Woodlands,” Keane nods quietly, “and make them think twice of their treatment of the humans here.”
“Pyre will follow,” Desmond offers.
“Yes,” Keane replies with a small grin.
“I can offer another solution to the rumors, if only to slow them down,” Desmond adds.
I look at the Master Informer in curiosity.
“Your use of the summoning and blade was only viewed by those in Etter. Yes, it’s true that word will travel, that it is traveling, but that doesn’t need to be the only word that does…”
“Counter information?” Keane asks, just as Stormfall flies across the room.
“Yes. I can send out different rumors of Alexis so that they overpower those that come from Etter.”
I don’t think that’s a good idea, Stormfall replies, landing on my lap. Hirovale will want things to move forward as they are. You are the catalyst, Queen, and your displays in front of the residence are just the start.
“Storm thinks Hiro will want the rumors to continue as is,” I tell the men. “The real rumors.”
Desmond tilts his head in thought, eyes narrowing on the Bird of Ash. Keane takes a step around the side of the settee, speaking directly to him.
“Is he prepared to back that, Storm? To move out of his own hiding? We can only tell people that Alexis’ use of summoning is endorsed by the Ancient for so long before he’ll need to lend his own authority.”
He is prepared, Stormfall replies.
“Yes,” I grip Storm hard before a laugh escapes my lips.
Everything is moving forward just as Hirovale planned...
There truly was no escaping my role in it.
Stormfall turns his yellow eyes on mine. You are the Human Reborn, Alexis. There was never any hiding of your role. You just sought to delay it for a bit.
“What is he saying?” Keane asks.
I sigh. “He says that I can no longer hide from being the Human Reborn.”
Keane eyes me for a long moment as I avoid his glance.
Of course Hirovale gets his way. He warned me that there was no use fighting him since the day I met him.
The King finally nods in agreement before he looks to his brother.
“We’ll continue on. Let the rumors spread as they are.
A Disce human woman and the Queen to Be possesses the use of summoning and is known to use green agate.
I will alert the Leading Lords and write to McQuoid through Clair tonight, then issue the decree tomorrow.
The humans of Disce will be allowed to use the stone in defense, though any conflict will be heard and tried within their Courts, as is our custom. ”
Desmond nods steadily as I let out a heavy breath. At least the Old World Rule on green agate was finally coming to an end.
“We need to strengthen your guard, Alexis,” Keane notes. “Have you spoken to Holis?”
“Not yet,” I reply, still a bit nervous to ask the question, “but I can pull him away tomorrow morning.”
“Do it,” he nods before turning to Desmond. “I’m going to take an additional three guards with us tomorrow as well. I’ll let them travel back to Etter once we reach Fensby.”
“I’ll write to Walker,” Desmond replies, reaching into his pocket.
“What of our own traveling group?” I ask the brothers.
“Shouldn’t they be put on alert as well?
Be on guard? While the Warrior soldiers are yours to command, my friends travel willingly and for their own reasons.
I’ve stopped counting the number of times someone has threatened to take me, but they always seem to be in the crosshairs, too. ”
“They know of the risks, Alexis,” Keane replies softly.
“Then do we at least have a reason to give them for that risk?” I ask in small anger.
“Even I do not know. Why does everyone want Storm and I? First the Leviathans, then the Woodlands man in Fumagalli who told you Aireal was interested in me, and now this group that Esme belonged a part of. Why am I sought after? No one seems to want to share the answer.”
Both brothers and Golem turn to each other silently, their glances quiet as a stillness captures the room. I quickly sit up in my seat, watching as Keane gives Desmond a small nod of his head, the two of them frowning alongside Golem.
They have the answer.
“Tell me,” I turn to my full body to Keane.
“Alyson,” Desmond replies, “she’s given us more information…”
“What we wanted to catch you up on,” Keane adds.
“That night in the Bulwark Plains when you, Cal and Daniel ran into Prince Yiannis. He wanted you for Livyatan’s purpose, already suspecting by their own means who you were and who you traveled with.”
I nod my head to the Master Informer. We knew this.
“I dropped Gauthier’s name this morning to the girl,” he grimaces, “the fear that overtook her was uncanny. He is at this group’s head, of that I have no doubt.
She stopped all conversation the moment I mentioned his name, and was even surprised that we had it.
But Heysan caught her thoughts just before she went silent... ”
Desmond shifts against the wall as his eyes go cold.
“Isham. Isham’s name was there. How a young Discerni girl of eighteen is even familiar with a Prince of Livyatan is beyond me, but Heysan explained further.
He saw in her mind that she met with the Prince a day before the coronation and relayed a message from him to Gauthier.
All three of us expect some portion, if not all of the message, had to do with you.
The Prince is fixated on you, Alexis, and as a member of the Kingdoms Council he knows more than others.
He has the knowledge to share everything, from what is going on in his own Kingdom with Rivian to the Council and the actions that stemmed from it two years ago.
He could have even shared the text of the prophecy, knowing that Livyatan is not the only land in the Old World that has an interest in keeping humans as they are. ”
Fucking Isham. What a snake.
“Wait…”
Putting the Prince aside, Desmond’s words bring something else to light.
“That girl, Alyson, was in Bardot at the coronation?”
“She’s been following you since we took the life of the Woodlands man in Fumagalli.”
“Dear fucking Ancients.”
I clench my hand on Stormfall’s back, unable to process the information right now.
“Okay. But how does her meeting with Isham explain why this Argent group wants me? Why would he want to reach out to Gauthier?”
Desmond glances at Keane too quickly.
“We suspect two reasons,” the King replies coldly, his arms flexing over his chest in anger. “The first is that the group works in tangent with Isham with the hopes of expediting you quicker to Livyatan…”
“I will fight tooth and nail!”
As will I, Stormfall spreads his wings.
“The second,” Keane continues with his own scowl, “and more likely scenario, is that they wish to take and hold you themselves. If you do not move freely around as the Human Reborn, if you and Stormfall are held against your will, then Hirovale will have no champion for the change he seeks to promote. I, myself, would also be at their mercy,” his eyes go dark, “and would give in to any demands they make to get you back.”
My heart stills in my chest as I look at the conflict and agony behind Keane’s eyes.
I know of his conflict… felt a fraction of the same when Troy summoned into him.
We’d do anything to help each other— I would quite literally move the Old World over its head to make sure he was safe and where he needed to be.
But I couldn’t allow Keane to do that for me.
He is the King of Disce and swore an oath to protect his people, and any demand Woodlands or the Argents make of him would be too detrimental to that oath.
If I was taken by this group, they’d make Keane do all sorts of things to get me back, things that not only go against his principles but his morals.
I’ll be damned if I let him bend the knee to them or the Leviathans.
I think I know where your thoughts are leading, Alexis, Stormfall’s voice is heavy in my mind. Stop them, now.
I turn to the Bird of Ash with a sad smile.
Would you want Hirovale to lose himself? To lose everything that he’s planned and already fought for, just to get back to you?
Stormfall remains quiet, unable to answer.
You know, I nod solemnly, you know it would have to be done, Storm.
No, he caws loud, wings extending wide as he puffs up his chest, the Ancient will not allow it to happen!
Won’t allow it? I nearly scoff. What is he going to do? Send my soul back to the Old World once it’s done? Even he’s not that desperate.
The Bird of Ash fixates his gaze on me as I shake my head.
No, Storm. Let me have this choice. It would be mine to make by right.
Hirovale’s golden eyes suddenly flash through his Bird of Ash, the anger behind them making both brothers in the room turn at attention. He’s glaring at me, the look piercing my very soul, his eyes unwavering as his voice booms in my head.
I don’t ever want to hear that thought cross your mind again, Alex.
My hands come up to my ears in small pain, his voice reverberating in my bones.
In no scenario will you ever end your own life. Not for your King, not for Disce, and not for the Old World.