CHAPTER XV #7
Keane nods heavily to the two as the Discerni couple does the same. Both husband and wife are younger, looking to be in their early twenties in human years.
“Next to Lady Dame is our cousin, Neeson. He oversees our trade…”
Another young Discerni in his twenties.
Interesting.
It seems Lord Sandam and his wife have chosen to surround themselves primarily with their own generation.
“A pleasure to meet you all,” Keane gives a small smile before he turns back to the Lord, “and have you met the rest of our traveling crew?”
“We were just finishing introductions before you arrived. Quite a mix you have with you.”
I smile proudly at the comment.
Humans and Discerni. Warrior and Knowledge. That is the norm.
“Erich, Liam and Brandor chose to relocate to Etter with their families,” Keane smiles to the three Knowledge soldiers at the end of the table. “They’ll take the ride back once we reach Fensby.”
“You’re all welcome to stay here when you depart,” Lord Sandam turns his grey gaze to the Discerni men at the end, “write to me when you leave. We have ample room.”
Sir Merrick shifts slightly in his seat as Erich, I believe, gives his thanks to the Woodlands Lord just as two young teens walk into the room.
“We have whiskey,” Lady Tove leans next to me with a small smile as a girl approaches. “I know it’s the favored drink of Knowledge.”
I nod to the girl and give Tove a genuine smile of my own.
“I haven’t had the drink since we entered Woodlands. Thank you.”
“Between you and me,” she says quietly, “I’m not fond of the toddy we have here. Too much sugar should not be allowed in a drink.”
I chuckle in agreement and notice that she’s chosen whiskey for herself. An adventurist and a lover of whiskey. I’m inclined to like her already but keep a careful guard up instead.
“Have you traveled to the Court of Knowledge?” I ask as the rest of the table begins its side conversations.
“Twice,” she nods in genuine excitement, “the first when Sandam and I met with the late King Zander and the Queen in Bardot to accept his position. We rode through the Forest of Quiescence down to Agnor, then took the Great Road to Bardot. The second for the coronation.”
“Keane’s First Guard, Canon, is from Agnor,” I smile and tilt my head towards the man sitting next to her son.
Lady Tove grins. “It is a beautiful lake city. Very calming.”
“How did you two find yourselves in Dankworth?” I ask, pushing back that call again that wants to like this woman. Holis passes me a small basket of rolls from my side, continuing his conversation with his brother and Cal.
“Sandam has lived here his whole life,” she takes a hefty sip of whiskey, “while I was born in Alston. My parents are deeply devoted to the Ancient Ordonna.”
She smiles softly and looks towards her three children. “I met Sandam one night in her quarters. He was staying at the inn on a travel to Airea and La Cour.”
“And stayed there an extra three nights until I found the courage to approach her,” Sandam chuckles, turning to his wife, “much to my companions’ dismay.”
Both Keane and I grin with Lady Tove.
“He approached me again on his travel back from the capitol. Invited me to visit him in Dankworth.”
“Her mother came with her,” Sandam rolls his eyes, “but we found ways to avoid the old bird.”
“Are your parents still in Alston?” I ask.
“Oh yes,” she laughs daintily, “they won’t ever leave. We visit them once every couple years.”
Once every couple years?
Ancients.
I don’t have that kind of time.
I can feel Keane’s brown gaze land on me as I take a hefty drink of whiskey.
Dinner is promptly brought out as the conversations slowly grows beyond the general politeness.
Both the Lord and Lady are easy to talk to, just as Keane mentioned, while Sir Merrick and his wife are the most reserved, projecting the standard Woodlands indifference to every conversation.
Lord Anders and his wife, Dame, are eager to speak of the council they head with the humans and agree to set up a meeting with them and the King tomorrow.
Sandam’s cousin, Neeson, is quiet, though he’s warmed up a bit to Cal and Nathaniel across the table from him.
Canon, it seems, has a way with children, and by the time dinner is done the two twins are asking him to lift them over his head.
Tove’s daughter sits like a proper young Woodlands girl through it all, seemingly annoyed at the two of her siblings.
Everything about this dinner is so different from what we experienced with Kaven and Esme that I find myself smiling through it all, ready to give these Woodlands Discerni the benefit of the doubt.
“Do you plan to make any travel after departing Woodlands?” Lady Tove asks at my side.
I glance at Keane for help, not knowing if Livyatan is supposed to be a secret.
“The Leviathans have extended a welcome to their borders,” he replies casually from his chair, “and we’ll make our way back to Pyre eventually after the Princess gives birth.”
We would.
My last messages with Clair were of the two of us planning a trip to Breccia in the late winter of next year. While that is more than eight months away, it’s still something that I look forward to immensely.
“Livyatan would be interesting,” Lady Tove replies with an energetic grin. “I’ve read that their lands are perpetually graced with Spring and Summer weather and never grow cold. Have you been, Your Grace?”
“I have not,” Keane shakes his head with a smile of his own, “the only Kingdom in the Old World I have yet to travel to. Though I have ridden just outside the Riverlands that border Pyre. It is true that the sun beats down strong with little to no forest to add cover.”
Wait.
That means Keane has been to Aireal?
I have so many questions for him.
I look at him with surprised eyes, a gaze that Keane catches with amusement.
Later, he mouths, brown eyes sparkling.
“And you said you found your hawk in Pyre, Lady Alexis?” Lady Tove asks.
My eyes move off Keane to take a quick peek at Stormfall still on his shoulder.
Tell her Alexis, his old voice fills my mind, no more hiding.
I turn back to blonde Discerni next to me, smiling softly.
“We did find each other in Pyre, in the library at Red falls. Though I wouldn’t necessarily consider Stormfall a hawk. He is vaguely known in the Old World history books as the Bird of Ash…”
Holis visibly stills at my side as nearly all eyes turn on me from the table.
“There’s only one Bird of Ash that has ever been referenced in text,” Lady Tove shakes her head with wide eyes, “and it is that of the right hand of the Ancient Hirovale.”
Everyone remains silent as I give the perceptive Discerni woman a slow nod. Her eyes grow wider still, looking at me in disbelief before they turn to Keane’s shoulder.
“But that’s impossible!”
“Why?” I ask kindly. “The Ancients Heysan and Sianoa are awake, with the former appearing at the King’s coronation not more than a fortnight ago. Even the Ancient Rivian now walks this Old World, someone we’re hopeful to speak to in our travels to Livyatan.”
There truly is no more hiding, and I marvel at how easy the words now come.
Lord Sandam sits up in his chair, drawing all eyes on him.
“Your Grace,” he looks to Keane with emotionless features, “perhaps we can retire to my study? Bring the ladies with us.”
Keane stands up slowly with a nod before he looks out to the rest of our group.
“Tomorrow at the mid-morning apex. Meet at the stables.”
Everyone is excused. The full of the table all stand to their feet, bowing their heads to the King before they begin to disperse.
“Penny,” Lady Tove looks at the young Discerni teen that has been helping with dinner, “please show the children to their room.”
The Discerni mother turns to her boys with narrowed eyes.
“No staying up, you two,” she points to her ear. “I’ll hear you.”
The twins both shove each other in their quick walk, their sister making her way to her parents as Sandam reaches his arms out and draws her to his waist.
“Read them a book if you have to, love, but don’t let them stay up.”
I like this couple.
It’s been decided.
“I’m afraid our residence is in the opposite tower,” Sandam says once the room is clear. “A bit of a walk but my study will provide privacy.”
“And more whiskey,” Lady Tove chuckles as we follow the men.
I smile at the Discerni woman though my eyes are trained on Keane and Sandam.
Something about my comments on either Stormfall or the Ancients prompted the Lord to want to speak privately with the King.
And what is more interesting is that he invited both Tove and I to stay for that conversation, prompting me to think that the two of them work in tangency, just as Keane and I do.
Our walk isn’t as long as anticipated but we do end up taking a number of different staircases throughout the large tower.
Lord Sandam places his hand on the top door with the emblem of the Woodlands Court etched into it, the encircled oak and argents flashing a bright white before he pushes forward.
It’s a small and cozy study, a room with a single large desk and two cushioned chairs sitting in front of it.
The white walls of marble are all dark, covered in shelves of books that consume the full room.
A single arched window rests behind the desk, the bottled moonslight from two lanterns on the walls glittering off it.
Keane speaks softly to both Canon and Holis at the door, no doubt feeling at ease enough to allow them to depart.
Both men begin their slow descent back down the tower as Golem moves to my side in the study, the two of us standing with small grins.
The moment the door closes behind us he extends his hands at his front, covering the room in his summoning.