CHAPTER III #4
There’s a theme to most of the mystical libraries in Disce, one I’ve grown accustomed to now but used to fear in the beginning.
The old walls and fading bookshelves are usually dark, shielding the pages from any natural light so as to preserve them for the thousands of years to come.
Most have an eerie feeling about them, a quiet void in the air that I can never quite place.
It could be the heavy magic that’s contained within their depths or the Discerni who keep a silent and watchful eye on me from afar, but whatever it is, each library is graced by something heavy in the air.
Bardot’s library is one of the few exceptions to that theme, the only library within Knowledge that is as welcoming as it’s King.
Once I got over the eeriness of the libraries themselves, I found myself absolutely terrified by some of the things I was reading.
I’ve come across books that detail outdated methods of torture by using the elements, each text riddled with drawings of bodies that are contorted in the cruelest of ways.
I’ve read texts of summoning so powerful that it had to be disbanded and ruled out of existence by the Ancients when they still roamed the Old World- Summoning so terrible that it became too heartless to use.
Some nights I would stay awake reading of the vicious creatures of old, pondering why any author would jot down ideas on how they thought they could bring the creatures back to life.
Everything was equally maddening and curious in the most improper way, and over the past two years I’ve learned more about the Old World and its use of the mystics than I have in my whole life.
But no matter how dark my searches have delved, I never once let them lead me away from the true purpose of my travels. My attention has always been on the book I need to find for Zander… I’ve just never indulged with him the mental torment it takes to find it.
“I’m glad you’ll be there with me,” I bow my head to Golem in my walk, “truly.”
The magical creature moves to touch my arm, as if he’s heard the thoughts running through my head. No embrace comes as we round the corner to the inn, but he does reach back and pull his hood more prominently over his face.
“You don’t have to do that, Golem.”
He nods. Yes, I do.
“Do you think it makes people more comfortable?”
Yes.
“Well I’m not uncomfortable,” I smile, already becoming familiar with the slippery texture of his skin, “so the choice is yours.”
Golem’s eyes dart to mine and give me a curious look beneath his hood.
I shrug and push through the wooden door of the inn, instantly spotting Cal’s bushy auburn beard and hair in the crowd.
He’s sitting at a table closest to the massive fireplace in the pub, the rest of the crew already there and seated with him.
Desmond sits across from my friend with Alanna by his side, the two Warrior Discerni, Barnes and Claymore, talking at the far end of the table while Holis and Mana do the same from the other.
Cal catches my gaze in relief, his eyes warming as both Desmond and Alanna notice his reaction and turn in my direction.
I nod to the group and hold the door open for Golem, watching as the King’s creature moves silently into the crowded room and keeps his head down.
Immediately, Holis and Mana both stand in their seats from afar, their round eyes mimicking those of Desmond and Alanna who also stand in hurried respect.
Barnes and Claymore notice their companions and turn their heads in small curiosity, the look of disinterest quickly leaving their faces as they stand from their chairs as well.
“You’re sure this is okay with the King?” I ask Golem quietly, the two of us walking towards the table together.
He doesn’t respond and instead moves to greet Desmond first, the Master Informer remaining silent as he nods to his father’s creation with quiet and stoic features.
Golem turns to greet Holis and Mana next, the two brothers instantly bending into a low and formal bow that to my surprise, Golem returns, his head lowering in a respectful greeting before straightening and nodding to the rest of the Warrior crew.
The only one not standing or watching us in shock is Cal. My big friend just sits quietly in his chair with his hand on his auburn beard as he gives Golem a pensive look.
I hurriedly take the seat next to him and pull out another for Golem, but the magical creature shakes his head and moves to stand directly behind me, hiding in the darkest portion of the wall as Holis takes the empty chair at my side.
“So you’ve claimed the King’s Golem, Alexis,” he smiles quietly.
“I haven’t claimed anything,” I reply quickly, reaching out for Cal’s mug. I take a deep swig of his ale and watch as my friend lifts his hand from his beard to flag down the lady behind the pub.
“I take it my father knows he’s here?” Desmond asks, leaning forward in his chair.
“He does,” I nod, taking another hefty sip.
“And will he remain with us for the whole trip?” he continues, dark eyes narrowing on Golem behind me, “into Pyre?”
I nod at the Master Informer and quickly down the rest of Cal’s ale. The big man lifts his brows but remains silent, nonetheless.
“Does His Highness know of this?” Alanna asks coolly.
My answer is genuine as I reply, “how should I know?”
Cal smiles at the lady who’s arrived and grabs both mugs from her hands. He places one in front of me and keeps another for himself, chuckling in amusement at the desperately grateful smile I send his way in thanks.
“How about a horse?” Desmond asks.
I glance at him in confusion.
He’s been around his father and Golem his whole life. Shouldn’t he already know the answer?
“No horse,” I shake my head, “Golem will travel with me.”
“And how will he do that?” Alanna presses, her eyes forever narrowed.
Once again, I glance at the two in genuine confusion. Is the nature of Golem’s home not known? Is Desmond even aware of his clay jar?
Mana’s cat-like eyes catch mine from across the table. He gently shakes his head, the look in his blue-green gaze telling me not to disclose.
“That is not for me to share,” I tell the Discerni woman.
Alanna huffs and turns to Barnes and Claymore in annoyance, joining the two in their separate conversation as she ignores the rest of us.
“I ordered you chicken and vegetables,” Cal pushes his shoulder against mine.
“Thank you.”
“Where were you?” he leans in with a whisper, “the river?”
I nod and start on the new ale.
“Then let’s meet there tomorrow at dawn,” he replies quietly.
My eyes quickly dart to Desmond. He’s now in a small conversation with Mana, also ignoring the two of us.
“I purchased a new blade,” I whisper over my mug.
“Oh you did, did you?” Cal’s smile widens under his beard, “well I haven’t seen any proof of that, Alex. You must be hiding it well.”
“Learned from the best,” I give him my own smile.
Dinner ends with the full of our group about five ales deep.
The Warrior crew has mostly kept to themselves for the night, though Desmond is now debating with Mana about which weapon is stronger in the thick of battle, his broadsword or Mana’s double-edged staff.
The full of the conversation is making me frown, not because of its nature but because this is the most I’ve ever heard Mana talk in the past two years.
Holis passes me a slice of warm spiced bread and pulls my attention away from the two, the smell of cinnamon making me smile and think of chef.
I tip my ale at him in thanks and laugh when he raises his brows in challenge, the two of us promptly finishing our mugs until there’s nothing left to drink.
Eventually the group begins discussing where in Brierman they want to go next, so I turn in my chair and glance back at Golem, my curiosity fixated on getting more answers.
“You ready?”
He gives a small nod.
“I’m off to bed,” I stand, “I’ll see you all tomorrow morning.”
A general chorus of goodnights are murmured from around the table as Golem and I make our way to my room.
“How old are you, Golem?”
His eyes catch mine but his head gives no response. My tired mind forgot that I need to state the question in a yes or no fashion, so I try again.
“As old as King Zander?”
No.
“Younger?”
Yes.
“Is it true he created you?”
He nods.
So at the very least Golem is two centuries old.
“Are you Discerni?”
No.
“You just look like them?”
Yes.
“Did the King happen to apprise you of what I’ll be searching for in Red Falls?”
Slowly, as if considering his answer before giving it, Golem nods again. The hesitance has me peering at him in curiosity, but I decide to forgo that line of questioning for now and rummage for the key in my bag.
“Can you ride if you wanted to?”
Yes, though his eyes narrow in disgust at such a suggestion.
I open the door with a laugh and walk to the end of the bed, rummaging through my travel packs. Golem stays by my side until he sees me pulling out my emerald green night slip, the magical creature turning almost abruptly in what I can only assume is polite bashfulness.
I quickly change out of my riding clothes and pull on the silk, relishing in the nights of travel when I get to wear it.
The slip is a dainty piece of clothing that hugs my body like a dream, but it’s one I only get to wear in the privacy of a room and never on the open road.
I pull back the bed sheets and turn to Golem, frowning when I see him still standing at the foot of the bed.
“Should I get you a cot to sleep on?”
He shakes his head.
“No? You’ll just stand there all night, then?”
Another half answer of yes… then no.
I blow out the lantern of bottled moonslight next to my bed with a shrug.
“Well I still have more questions for you if that’s okay?”
I can barely make out his figure in the dark, but I do see the subtle tilt of his head in agreement.
“Do you have any family?”
The creature’s head nods instantly.