CHAPTER III #6
I nod to my friend and glance down at the blade in my hand, feeling Golem’s gaze land on me from afar. He’s staring at the dagger as well, the only weapon in the Old World that can fatally wound him.
Desmond and Alanna walk into the stables right when I urge Millie out the doors. If either of them notice the small beads of sweat that line my hair or my disheveled clothing they say nothing and instead nod as I ride past them, ready to leave for the day.
“Your Golem was standing at the foot of your bed all night,” Alanna’s voice reaches me from behind as she moves her mare out of the stables and next to Millie.
“He’s not my Golem, he’s the King’s.”
I reach down to feel his jar safely tucked away in the bag at my hip.
“I woke up this morning expecting to greet his lovely face, but lo and behold you both were gone.”
I sigh and turn to the cool Discerni. “For someone whose people are known to have little to no interest in human life, you sure are perceptive of mine.”
Alanna smiles in amusement, “and for a human female from the Court of Knowledge, you sure aren’t as modest as your people would have us believe.”
I flush at the words.
“You don’t hide your fluorite,” she continues with a nod, “and you travel alone with three men, both human and Discerni. Three men who, mind you, look like they would go into battle for you. Not to mention that you dip away in secret at odd times in both the day and night. So tell me, sweet Knowledge, what do you get up to with those men when no one is looking? I bet you could tell tales that would make even a Warrior girl like me blush.”
What the fuck.
She’s watching me.
Us.
I don’t even dignify her with another glance.
“Like I said,” I shake my head, “perceptive.”
Alanna gives a cool laugh and flicks her reins, turning to greet Desmond as he moves out of the stables. I scowl at the back of her head and ponder on her comments...
It’s true that I don’t hide my fluorite as much as the typical women of my court, but what she doesn’t know is that the reasoning is pure selfishness.
I genuinely like the look of the gold and green against my tanned skin, so much so that I kept my old fluorite ring and transferred it my other hand, not caring if the properties of the stone no longer worked.
As for her comments on Cal, Holis and Mana…
Go into battle for me?
Any talks I have with Holis are friendly in nature, while Mana continues to remain politely quiet as he has over the last two years.
Neither of the Discerni twins have ever given any indication that they revere our relationship as something more than traveling companions, nor do they ever look like they would go into battle with me.
Cal, on the other hand, is definitely a close friend, and I would absolutely fight alongside him to the best of my ability.
He’d probably handle the full fight himself while I just stood at the side and cheered him on, but I’d be there, nonetheless.
As for the sexual innuendos…
Well I’ll just leave them alone like the insinuations they are.
I pat Millie on the neck and eye Alanna from behind.
“How do you feel about leaving that Warrior Discerni alone for the remainder of the trip, girl?”
My perfect mare snorts in agreement.
Our ride north to Agnor is uneventful but breathtaking.
The road itself follows directly along the River Poise, its crystal blue waters following our group with every step of the way.
Desmond stops us for a break when the sun reaches its noon apex and leads our horses to a small inlet in the water about halfway down the river.
I steer Millie to the woods just next to the inlet and dismount by the waters, looping her reins over the saddle horn and giving her a thankful pat to let her know she can roam free.
I smile at my brown horse that was gifted to me from the King and watch her wade into the shallow water to cool off on her own.
“Jerky?” Alanna’s cool voice startles me from the side.
Fuck me.
“No,” I shake my head, “thank you.”
I reach for the bag at my hip and open the flap, my fingers brushing against Golem’s jar as I reach for the book I borrowed from Bardot’s library. His clay home vibrates in hello just as I sit down and settle against a tree.
“Are you sure you’re allowed to have that book, human?” Alanna flicks her grey gaze to the title.
A History of the Old World: Ancients and Their Summoning
“Why don’t you ask the King yourself and find out?” I shrug, not even trying to hide the small smile that takes over my lips.
Alanna narrows her eyes and flips her long blonde hair away from her face, stalking away without another word.
“Just keep rebuffing her advances,” a quiet voice greets me, “she’ll get the hint eventually.”
I give Holis a smile and tilt my head to the ground at my side. “Join me?”
The Discerni twin grins and gracefully takes a seat, his shoulder nearly brushing against mine as I look at Alanna standing next to Barnes.
“She’s watching me, Holis,” I whisper quietly, “I don’t like it.”
The Discerni nods and pulls out some bread from his bag. “They’re watching all of us.”
“Why?”
He breaks the loaf in half and hands me a piece, “we’re travelers sanctioned on behalf of the King. They’re most likely curious as to what we travel for.”
“And do you ever get curious?” I ask after a small pause.
“No,” he shakes his head with another grin, “we all have our reasons.”
The twin city of Agnor is large, the second largest city in the Court of Knowledge outside of Bardot and its greater Palisades. It’s a city nestled between the River Poise and Moonsbay Lake, the lake twice the size of the one we have just outside the capitol, Loughty.
Agnor is a fishing city, with each road lined with multiple villages and docks that surround both the lake and river.
There’s always a cool, freshwater breeze that blows through the town at any given point in the day, and at night, the massive lake shimmers in silver from the moons above.
It’s a peaceful city, very calm and serene.
A distinct change from the drunken ale town we just came from.
I’m housed with Alanna again tonight. We’re staying in a larger inn that’s nestled just off the main road and overlooks the lake in the distance, our room and the two beds just as cozy and serene as the city around it.
I uncork Golem’s jar when we enter and drop my bags at the end of the bed, hearing his padded footsteps from the corner of the room before I watch him move out of the shadows.
“Ancients,” Alanna spins, eyes narrowing on the creature and holding a small blade in her hand. Golem eyes her without emotion and moves to my side.
“I’m going to bathe tonight,” I announce.
Alanna lowers her blade and falls onto her bed, fiddling with the hilt before she throws it up and catches it without a nick.
I roll my eyes and tug at my boots, making sure to leave my own dagger hidden inside the heel.
Golem promptly turns around when he sees me loosening my riding pants, while Alanna… well she begins to laugh out loud.
“I should be surprised,” the Discerni shakes her head with another laugh, “why am I not surprised?”
I look down at my body to where Alanna’s gaze is now staring at the black lacy lingerie hugging my hips. I know exactly what she’s referencing and smile in response, then walk away with my hands tugging my shirt over my head to reveal the other set of black that adorns my chest.
Dinner tonight is another separated event between the group, and even though we’re all seated at the same table, our meals and conversations are kept primarily between our two Knowledge and Warrior groups.
The only difference from last night is that everyone seems to be more accustomed to Golem’s presence.
We all drink well into the evening until Barnes and Claymore announce they’re going to retire. The rest of the group follows suit and heads to their respective rooms while I find myself leaving the inn entirely and charting a path towards Moonsbay lake.
I slowly make my way through Agnor and take in the storefronts that are so much different than those in the Palisades.
Where my home city is warm and sunny and accompanied by bright colors of green and various flowers, Agnor is steeped in deep blue and grey and keeps its greenery clipped so as not to block the view of the lake.
The full of the city capitalizes on the waters that surround it, truly remaining a place of calm and relaxation.
Everyone I pass by is just content to move about their night in a peaceful manner, and as always, I find myself at the edge of one of my favorite docks to enjoy that simple happiness, too.
“Have you ever met any Pyrenese before, Golem?” I ask as I sit down.
He nods.
“Of course you have,” I shake my head at the stupid question. The King is often seen welcoming their delegations to Castle Bardot.
“Is it true that fire lives within their veins?” I ask of the rumor.
I don’t know if it was the moonslight playing tricks on me from afar, but the last time the Pyrenese were in the capitol I could have sworn I saw red flames moving under one of the men’s arms.
Yes... and no.
“Only within the strongest?”
No.
“Those that are magical?”
Golem nods quietly.
Hmm, perhaps it wasn’t a trick of moonslight after all.
“And Prince McQuoid?” I inquire about the royal we’ll be meeting, “is his skin licked with flames as well?”
Golem nods again, his eyes peering out to the lake in front of us before they dart up to the night sky. I follow his gaze and the meaning.
“Have you seen a tarragon, Golem?”