CHAPTER III #8
Desmond brings what looks to be a small glass of whiskey up to his lips as he looks at his brother.
“They were alone for a short while through the orange fields outside of Bartley. It was a casual ride that couldn’t have amounted to much, but we do always find them seated next to eachother at meals.
Both of them seem comfortable in each other’s presence and I can tell that he cares for her.
As does she. But I don’t know if either of them have feelings that go beyond that. ”
“Interesting dynamic for a Discerni and human of Knowledge,” the Prince brings a hand to his jaw in thought.
The Master Informer nods and leans an arm on the mantle over the fire.
“Any weapons on him?”
“He keeps a bow but I’ve yet to see him use it.”
“And the third,” the Prince continues, “the human?”
Alanna takes a sip of her own drink while Desmond looks at his brother. “Have you seen the man?”
Keane gives a small nod, “he’s hard to miss. He’s the fighter from Knowledge that no Warrior can beat?”
“The best in Disce,” Desmond scowls, as if the information bothers him, “she is perhaps the most friendly with him. The two are very cozy around eachother. He plans on sharing her tent once we cross the border.”
What the fuck.
How in the Ancients can he possibly know that?
Prince Keane stills his hand in Alanna’s hair, his voice turning serious. “We can’t have that, brother.”
“I know,” Desmond agrees, “it’s why I’ve been setting her up with Alanna for the past two nights.”
“What of her then, Alanna?” the Prince turns to the woman at his side. He gives her a playful smirk that matches his fingers now skimming against her shoulder.
The blonde Discerni shrugs again.
“Like Desmond said, she doesn’t give much away.
We do know that she’s gone early in the mornings.
She wakes up before dawn and is always ready before the two of us start our day.
Other than that, she really does seem content with herself and happy not to keep much company, though she will enjoy the company when its offered, nonetheless. ”
“Unless it’s from you,” Desmond laughs quietly.
Alanna scowls at the Master Informer but nods all the same. “Unless it’s from me.”
“She’s not fond of you, Alanna?” the Prince grins, “are you too brazen for her Knowledge heart?”.
“No…” the blonde Discerni frowns in thought, “and that’s the thing.
She shows no signs of unease when I undress, and her replies and banter are easy and what I would expect from someone of our Court.
She’s comfortable around men and doesn’t care that she’s seen spending most of her nights with them, and she wears her fluorite visibly and unashamed.
Take away the green and gold she wears and I’d be convinced she’s Warrior. ”
The Prince slowly lifts his hand from Alanna’s shoulder, his previously playful features now turning indifferent. “Interesting.”
“Very,” Desmond states with a serious look, “and that’s not the most interesting of all.”
Keane leans forward in his seat, nodding for him to continue.
“She carries a green agate dagger on her, brother, and she knows how to use it. Father is aware and has given his blessing.”
“What?” Alanna turns swiftly towards the Master Informer, “you ass! Thanks for warning me.”
Desmond just shrugs in return.
“Where is her buckle?” the Prince asks quietly.
“Left bicep.”
“How did you come about this information?”
“The girl threw the blade at me from across father’s study. Her aim is impeccable.”
Prince Keane runs his hand over his jaw again, his gaze angled toward the fire in thought.
“There’s one more thing,” Desmond adds, “I can’t scout her when Golem is nearby.”
“No surprise there,” the Prince nods, “we’ve seen what he can do when he’s with our father. Golems are known to have their own set of magic.”
“That thing gives me the creeps,” Alanna mumbles.
I turn my head to the side and smile at Golem in apology, but the magical creature is too intent on the conversation to care about Alanna’s remark.
“Do you know if the transfer occurred?” the Prince asks his brother.
“I do not,” Desmond shakes his head.
“Find out,” he commands, “I’m not asking you to go against our father, Des, I just want to know if he expects Golem to be returned to him after this trip.”
Desmond gives him a brief nod and looks back into the flames.
“What of her time at court? In the past few years?” Keane continues, “you’re in and out of Bardot all the time. What have you learned of the nature of her travels? What was she doing before our father’s employment?”
“She was originally a Lady in Wait for our mother,” Desmond stares into the fire, “joined the moment she turned eighteen. She attended all the parties and festivals and spent time with the other ladies, though I’ve been told she would oftentimes be caught skipping out of the daytime duties.
I know she’s familiar with the full of the court and speaks with both Discerni and humans on a first name basis.
She makes it an effort to attend whenever her travels bring her back to Bardot, and she’s quite popular amongst the men there. ”
“Suitors?” the Prince asks.
The Master Informer nods his head before turning to the settee.
“Many, brother. Have you seen her yet?”
Keane’s hand flexes over his jaw, his eyes searching for something in Desmond’s as they watch each other in silent conversation.
“Haven’t had the pleasure,” he finally says.
Desmond clears his throat before continuing.
“There’s been plenty of human males who have pined after her, though from what I’ve seen, she never actually shows any true, emotional interest in them. She keeps her conversations polite and friendly and turns them down before anything gets serious.”
“Maybe she’s not so annoying after all,” Alanna laughs.
“And now?” the Prince presses, “is she involved with anyone?”
Golem takes a step closer while I shift uncomfortably behind the door. Desmond does the same from his place in front of the fire, shifting on his feet as he averts his brother’s gaze.
“Tell me,” Keane demands.
The Master Informer sighs and takes his time with his reply.
“It is rumored that she engages with our brother Troy...”
The Prince visibly stiffens at the words, his shoulders tensing against the back of the settee as I do the same from outside the room.
Rumors about Troy and I?
Since when?
I watch as the two brothers share a dark look with each other, while Alanna-
Ancients, Alanna.
The Discerni woman starts to laugh uncontrollably, her eyes crinkling in mirth for the first time all night.
“Fucking Ancients,” she laughs out loud, “oh, that’s too good.”
“What?” the Prince looks at her with a scowl.
“Oh, fuck me,” she laughs, “I can just envision it now…”
Alanna tucks her hair behind her ears with a shit-eating grin. “Chaste and proper Woodlands Prince with her? Oh, I bet he was surprised when he saw…”
I throw daggers at the back of her head once again.
Yes, the Woodlands Court of Disce is known to be very conservative in their affections, and yes, most of the women and men have a reputation for being extremely chaste.
The Court always wears attire that covers the full of their bodies, the fabrics of white, silver and pale greens maintaining a look of innocence not found anywhere else in Disce.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Alanna thinks Troy is as virtuous as his Court’s reputation, and there’s also no doubt in my mind that she’s referencing my black lingerie that greatly contrasts that assumption.
“I don’t understand,” the Prince shakes his head.
The Discerni woman slows her laughing and looks pointedly at Keane. “I’m sure you will… eventually.”
“It’s unconfirmed, brother,” Desmond adds, “only rumored. I’m still looking into it.”
The Prince grimaces and stands from his seat.
“If there’s one thing I know about Troy, it’s that he does nothing
without intent or meaning. If the rumor is true and he’s interested in the girl, then we need to find out why. We’ve had little reason to be interested in her before now, but I need you both to get as much information about her as you can.”
Both Warrior Discerni nod as a dark look of determination clouds Keane’s face.
“Confirm Troy,” he continues, turning straight to Desmond, “and find out where else their group has been traveling to and why our father has her surrounded with men of strength. Let’s also keep him out of this.
I don’t like that he’s made this a secret, but he must know by now that you’ll be making inquiries into her. I’ll be making some as well.”
A cool hand brushes against my shoulder and makes me jump.
I turn to Golem and catch his eyes darting back down the hallway from where we came, his meaning clear.
I nod in agreement and peer inside the room one last time, watching as the Prince turns from the fire to stand in front of Alanna with his hand outstretched.
“Join me tonight?” he grins, voice laced with all the confidence in the Old World.
Alanna doesn’t return to our room until the early morning. I know because I stayed up all night with my mind replaying every single word from the conversation over and over again.
Golem obviously knew His Highness was in Agnor and not Dalloway, and he eerily knew exactly what room he’d be in and how to get there.
He purposely led me to the private conversation and hid us from being seen, because apparently Golems have their own set of magic I know nothing about.
What I do know is that we weren’t exactly hidden behind that half-open door, and there were a few times when I made some audible gasps that should have been heard.
So really the question is why.
Why did he want me to hear that conversation?