CHAPTER XIV #4
Then you will let the will of Woodlands and Livyatan consume the Kingdoms! I glare back at him. You know my reasoning is sound, Hiro. If I’m taken, then Keane will make concessions. He will give in to their demands! I cannot allow that to happen.
“What is going on?” Desmond whispers.
“The Ancient has her,” Keane grimaces.
Then we will make sure you are never taken, Hirovale’s voice is so cold that it sends a chill down my spine, as we have on all other attempts.
Fine. You handle that aspect, Hiro, and I’ll continue with my own plan should it fail.
ALEXIS!
My name shakes the room, his voice no longer a part of my mind but permeating the space around us. The sound grips my chest, willing me to feel the force behind him as I’m rocked back in my seat.
No more of this talk, the Ancient continues loudly. I will send you back if that is what it takes.
“No you won’t, Hiro,” I look at his golden eyes in disgust. “It’s unnatural and goes against everything you believe.”
I wouldn’t care, Alex, his voice vibrates off the walls, and if that is what I need to promise to you will happen should you think about moving forward with this thought again, then know to the very soul I will claim that I do not make the threat lightly. It will happen.
My angered gaze finds Keane’s, trying to ignore the Ancient’s voice that consumes the full of the room. I watch as he comes to the realization of what we’re talking about, his eyes narrowing on mine before he leans down and grips the sides of my arms, pulling me up.
“Absolutely not, Alexis,” his voice is deathly serious.
Swear to me, Alex, Hirovale’s power presses against the full of my body. Swear to us both.
I have to turn my gaze away from Keane’s, feeling his own anger burning through his body as he grips me tighter.
My eyes find Desmond’s, the dark brown watching me with a new understanding behind their depths as he comes to the same realization.
He holds my gaze for a few moments with a look of respect, then nods his head just barely, letting me know that he agrees.
“I promise nothing,” my voice is hard.
You will, Hiro says angrily. Promise us that the thought will never cross your mind again!
“The thought may not even come to fruition!” I scowl back at the Bird of Ash. “I’m done with this conversation. Unless you have anything else to add on our current situation, let’s move on. What more do we know of this Argent group? Where is Gauthier now? Was he not at the coronation?”
Alex, Hirovale sighs, his voice cool, this conversation isn’t over.
“It is,” I reply steadily, looking up at Keane, “and it will be my choice to make should the situation arise.”
Keane shakes his head slowly, his features torn between deep sadness and pure anger. His eyes bore into mine, not understanding that’d I’d make the choice for him. To save him.
“We haven’t spoken to our grandfather since we were teens...”
Desmond takes a timid step towards the two of us, trying to bring the conversation back. “Our mother cut all contact with him over sixty years ago.”
Keane continues to stare down at me as Hiro’s presence begins to fade. His hold on my arms is so strong that both Desmond and I have to reach for a separate hand, slowly peeling him off me.
“We can talk later,” I whisper, bringing his hand to my lips.
Keane takes a tentative step back, his brown eyes quickly losing all emotion as he reverts into his indifferent Discerni features. I sigh and squeeze his hand before sitting back down, the King moving swiftly away from me to take a stance behind the settee.
“Did you say sixty years?” I turn to Desmond with wide eyes.
The Master Informer nods. “We haven’t seen or spoken to him in some time.”
“And your mother?”
“As far as we know, she hasn’t either.”
“Desmond inquired with his men in La Cour three nights ago after Esme tried to warn him,” Keane adds, his voice is devoid of any emotion. “Gauthier still resides in the capitol and frequents its court from time to time.”
“I have people on him. He’s being watched,” the Master Informer crosses his arms in front of his chest. “He’s already met once with Troy in the past three days”
“So your brother still keeps in contact?” I grimace at the news.
“It would seem like it,” he scowls. “My man couldn’t get close enough to hear their conversation, only noted that they’re both there now, continuing as normal.”
“This needs to be resolved,” I look at the Master Informer in sadness. “Whatever is going on between you three brothers needs to stop. The family Bardot needs to be united now more than ever...”
It’s Desmond’s turn to grimace as I continue.
“You said it yourself that you will need Troy and your mother. Whatever has happened in the past needs to be resolved, as well as everything that has happened this last month. How are we to move forward with any changes if this discord in your family continues? Disce cannot fight a battle for its land if its own leading family is torn in two. Let your brother and mother explain themselves. Let us explain ourselves to Troy. He’s still in the dark about everything, which may be why he’s using his own methods to try to piece everything together. ”
Ancients, when did I become an advocate for Troy?
“Let’s say we lay it all on the table. What’s to stop him from taking that information back to the Argents?” Desmond asks coolly.
“What will it matter?” I shrug, “you both already suspect that the group knows what is going on.”
“And if we find out that he and our mother have a hand in this? That they are moving against their own family for reasons unknown?”
“Desmond,” my eyes remain on his as I shake my head in more sadness.
“I don’t blame your mind for going there, it’s meant to.
But please. That is your brother and mother you speak of.
Don’t let Esme’s words hold true. I, myself, have my own qualms with Troy just as you two do, but I’m not yet ready to brand him a traitor without hearing his reasoning first.”
“We have had years with him Alexis. You know nothing of the man you speak of...”
“Then enlighten me,” I plead, “because anyone with eyes can see the discord that runs between you three. You try your best to hide it from those outside the family but any of your enemies will notice it. They have noticed it. Esme already tried to further that divide not a few days ago. Don’t let her words pull your family apart even more. ”
Both men stand heavy as another silence grips the room. Golem takes a quiet step away from his place in the shadows, nodding his head at me in solidarity before he turns to the brothers.
Keane watches Golem in cool thought, his face still devoid of any emotion as he takes note of the magical creature at my side. He finally moves around the settee to look directly at his father’s creation, considering his next words.
“You’ve been privy to conversations between my father and Troy in the past, Golem, yes?” he asks quietly.
Golem nods.
“Is there more going on here?” he inquires, “more to Troy’s actions that we do not know of?”
Another nod.
“And our mother?” Keane takes another step forward, “is she to be trusted?”
Ancients.
Yes.
Keane eyes Golem for a long moment before he turns to his brother. Desmond shakes his head, continuing to let his doubt push through.
“I’ll demand their presence in Alston,” the King says in quiet resolve. “As well as yours. In three days’ time, Desmond, we’ll all meet with Elena and everything will be discussed.”
Keane turns his back on the three of us, walking steadily for the bed as his hand flicks at the single lantern in the room to remove the moonslight. My gaze immediately find Desmond’s in the dark, my lips moving so that his Discerni eyes can see my message without hearing.
Speak to him for me, please, I nearly cry out.
“Holis,” I turn to my Discerni friend from atop Millie, “hang back with me.”
The twin eyes me curiously before he nods, the two of us slowing our horses as Mana rides forward to meet Cal and Alanna.
We’re on the outskirts of Etter and riding into the early morning through the Forest of Quiescence on the Great Road of Silver.
Three new Knowledge soldiers have joined our group at dawn, all of them grinning broadly at Canon before our departure as they’re familiar with the First Guard from their time spent in Bardot.
Both Desmond and Heysan are no longer with our group, staying behind in the village to continue their silent pursuit of the secrets that lie in the shadows of Woodlands.
We would see Desmond in Alston the evening after next with both Renate and Troy.
Both Bardots wrote back to Keane last night, unable to deny his royal command.
I’ve been trying my best not to think of the conversation from last night or the conversation that was to come, instead putting myself to another hard task, one that left me with a knot in my stomach as I looked into Holis’ still curious blue-green eyes.
“I’ve been meaning to speak to you,” I tell him softly, my voice nearly catching in my throat.
Ancients, I don’t know why I’m so nervous.
“Is everything all right, Alexis?” he asks, frowning when he catches my fingers fiddling with Millie’s reins.
“Yes,” I give him a small smile. “I just wanted to ask you a question.”
The Discerni man smiles at my side, urging me forward.
“I understand if you refuse,” I blurt out quickly, “I know you have your life and your brother and Sera in Bardot. But something was brought to my attention that caused me to think of you. Only you…”
Holis furrows his brows in confusion. I smile nervously to my friend, now fiddling with the black ring on my finger.
“I need a Queen’s Guard, Holis. Just as Canon is to the King. I need someone at my side as my protector. Someone who will guard my life with their own…”
Both Mana and Alanna’s heads turn quickly towards each other on the road ahead.