CHAPTER XIV #13
My heart pounds against my chest.
There’s only one other woman that rides with us.
No.
That’s not possible.
“Write to her,” Keane’s voice is hard as he grips my hand. “Now.”
“Keane,” my face goes heavy as I turn to look up at him. “Whatever you’re thinking, it can’t be. This is Alanna we’re talking about.”
The King’s features are cold, staring back at his brother without release.
“Desmond,” I plead and turn to his brother.
The Master Informer ignores my call and moves back into the kitchen, pulling out his oak slab in an instant.
I try to stand up but Keane’s hands are heavy on my shoulders, holding me to my seat.
I glance frantically to Golem, looking at him for help as the magical creature eyes me sadly, shaking his head.
No.
I will not let the brothers do to Alanna what I have seen them do to others before. There has to be an explanation. She is our friend.
But then I remember the way she eyed me at Zander’s bonfire when I questioned Jessie. She was listening in on the conversation. Had she made the same connection? Did she know of her brother’s summoning? Did she suspect something was going on or has she been in on it this whole time?
The bottled moonslight in the house begins flickering.
Deep breaths, Alexis, Stormfall spreads his wings on the table. Don’t let this overcome you. Let the girl explain herself just as you granted the Queen and Prince.
But what if her answer isn’t satisfactory? I cry at Storm, moving again in my seat. What if they…
Oh Ancients.
What if they try to harm her?
Desmond moves silently out of the kitchen and to the front door, his dark figure resting in the shadows.
Renate remains still, as does Troy and Elena, the three of them not getting involved as I turn back to Keane.
The King catches my glance this time, his brown eyes holding mine with a coolness that makes me want to lunge myself out of the seat and warn Alanna not to come.
“Don’t, Keane,” I say softly.
“She will be heard, Alexis,” he says without emotion.
All of our heads turn towards the door in full tension as Desmond opens it, nodding silently at Alanna as she takes in the room before her.
My heart nearly drops to my stomach as I catch Cal behind her, his face growing grim as he notices my features and those around the table.
He takes a step forward with the Woodlands Discerni but Desmond is there to stop him, placing a firm hand on my friend’s chest.
“So help you Desmond,” Cal warns, eyes flaring on the Master Informer.
“I cannot let you come inside, Cal,” Desmond responds with a small shake of his head. Alanna grimaces before she turns around in calm resolute.
“Everything is fine,” she tells Cal. “Wait for me at the inn.”
“Alanna,” Cal’s features are torn as the two look at eachother.
“Go,” I can feel a small smile in her words, “I’ll see you at back the inn.”
Cal remains deathly silent for a few moments before Desmond takes a step back.
Both him and Alanna eye my big friend before the door closes between them, shutting out anything else he had to say.
I shift in my seat, shrugging at Keane’s hands on my shoulders as I turn towards Alanna.
She walks quietly into the room with her grey eyes sharp and shoulders pressed straight, holding back the fire that I know wants to get out.
“You have a brother,” Keane takes his own step forward, leaving one hand on me as we all stare at her. “A man named Joshua.”
Alanna’s eyes flick to mine before they find Keane’s again. She nods just slightly, her voice steady. “I had a brother named Joshua. He is no longer of this Old World.”
I let out a visible sigh of relief.
“Did this brother have any summoning abilities that you knew of?” Keane continues.
“Yes,” she nods steadily, “he could summon memories from a being so long as their feet were planted on the earth.”
No, Alanna.
Oh, no.
Desmond quietly moves behind our Discerni friend from the shadows, her ears perking up as she notices his soft steps, frowning just slightly in response.
“What is this about?” she demands, letting her fire meet Keane without any hesitation.
“This man Joshua has been identified as part of a group in Woodlands that seeks to resist the change coming to Disce. The same Woodlands group that sought to take Alexis and killed Arens and Maude.”
Alanna shakes her head. “It is not my brother. It is not possible.”
“His name is Joshua, Alanna,” Keane takes another heavy step towards her, “he summons memories from those who defect from Woodlands.”
“My brother is dead,” she replies.
I stand up in my chair, ready to put myself between the two men inching towards her if needed. Keane glances back at me sharply, his eyes quite literally telling me to sit my ass back down.
“Are you working with him?” Desmond’s silent voice asks from behind, “is that how the group knew where we were in Alston. Where Alexis was?”
“Stop this,” I tell Keane, watching as he turns his cold gaze back on Alanna. Alanna gives me a small smile, eyes still holding that fire behind them before they turn to the King.
“It would be physically impossible for me to work with Joshua,” she replies to both men. “The man is dead.”