CHAPTER IV #7
“King Zander approached me with a job a couple years back,” I reply as the barracks come into view, “but I’ve known him loosely since I was a teen. I used to be in your mother’s Ladies in Wait when I was younger, so when that ended I took his offer for employment.”
“Traveling,” he adds, “or so your big man says. And the twin Discerni men join you on those travels from time to time?”
I glance at him quietly now, wondering if he is indeed inquiring for information. Is this why he’s been catching me in conversations ever since Agnor? Is he trying to put together details that Desmond is unable to?
I grimace at the thought.
“Holis and Mana travel with us regularly, not from time to time,” I reply, speeding up my walk.
“Where do you travel? Outside of what you told me of Warrior.”
I sigh at the question.
“We’ve been to every city, town and village in the Court of Knowledge, as well as the southern portions of your Court that I mentioned.”
“Dalloway, Varon and Dardar,” he nods.
“Yes,” I confirm softly, grateful to hear the yells of men not too far away.
I tuck the almonds back in my bag and make my way towards the fenced arena, spotting a good little audience already waiting in attendance. Cal nods to us in quick greeting before returning his glance on Desmond and Mana, the two men looking like they’re just about ready to spar as I settle in.
I move to stand next to Cal and smile at both of our green shirts with the gold accents, propping my boot up on the wooden fence as the Prince moves to my side and crosses his arms over his chest. His eyes land on Desmond just as brother bows to Mana, the Discerni twin accepting the respectful gesture and moving his kedge to do the same.
Both men watch the other carefully, while I, like everyone else in the crowd, wait in anticipation for the first to make a move.
Desmond lunges towards Mana, his broadsword glinting under the late morning sun as my friend dips his hand down in defense, wood quickly meeting steel.
Mana brings his staff up and around his chest gracefully, pushing Desmond’s sword away while moving to his right.
The Master Informer pushes forward again, lunging as his sword darts left and then right in quick succession, but Mana elegantly dodges the maneuvers and dips his kedge in both directions, the staff blocking the sword with ease and grace.
“Cat…” I whisper to Cal, “he’s a cat with a kedge.”
My big friend grins and nods his head.
Desmond continues an offensive onslaught, gauging Mana’s reactions and seeing just how quick the Knowledge Discerni can move.
He presses Mana with attack after attack, each one harder and quicker than the next as he moves his sword in different angles to find an opening in Mana’s defense.
Mana blocks each attempt easily and maintains his defensive pars, sidestepping Desmond and swinging his kedge in such a quick motion that it almost looks like a blur.
And while the fight seems to be evenly matched between the two, I long to see Mana move into offense.
Desmond lunges and is blocked again, a frown deepening on his face as he quickly brings his leg up to the staff and plants his boot on the wood. He pushes it hard into Mana’s chest and makes him lose his balance, the crowd roaring in excitement as the Knowledge Discerni stumbles back a few steps.
I lean forward with a broad grin just as Mana narrows his eyes on the Master Informer. I know that look and what’s about to come, and when the Prince turns his gaze just briefly in my direction, I give him a sly smile before staring back at Mana.
Mana moves fast, finally launching into an offensive attack.
He spins the kedge gracefully in his right hand and swipes down and around at Desmond.
The Warrior Discerni barely brings his sword up in time to meet the blow before my traveling companion moves again, leaving no pause in his actions as he sweeps the other end of his kedge up and away, the maneuver forcing Desmond to twist in a semi-circle to avoid the blade at the end.
His next attack happens so fast that it almost feels like a blink.
Mana lunges for Desmond’s arm just as the Master Informer moves to block him, the movement leaving Desmond’s shoulder on the other side completely unguarded.
Mana takes advantage of the opening and catches his blade through Desmond’s shirt, the sharp green agate narrowly missing the Master Informer in what could have been a duel-winning strike.
Desmond looks at his almost mauled shoulder and then glances back at Mana with a level of deep respect.
He drops his head in a small nod before lunging forward again, Mana quickly blocking his attack and taking a few steps to the side to avoid him.
Mana lunges forward next, his blade aimed straight for Desmond’s neck, but the Master Informer is quick and moves his body to the right, his own sword halting just before Mana’s throat at the same time.
The two stand with their blades just nicking at each other’s skin, their chests heaving with shallow breaths as they both look at the other with silent grins.
“It seems we’re at an impasse,” Keane addresses the crowd around us, “and have a draw.”
Cal slags against the railing with a smile of relief. The two men lower their blades and clasp arms with the other, both of them sharing a smile of respect for an opponent well met.
I take a long bath at noon in the room afforded to me in the castle.
It’s large, larger than my own in Bardot, and has tall black granite walls that are livened by sets of mahogany furniture littered throughout.
The bed is similar to my own and reminds me a bit of home, with the plush emerald sheets only a single shade darker than mine.
I fall into it after washing up and take a small nap, enjoying the lushness of the satin as I sleep easily to the memory of the Shadow Oak.
Shortly after my nap I set off to explore more of the castle with two tasks in mind.
The first is to find the kitchens and bribe whoever’s working for a late lunch, one that hopefully doesn’t have too much pepper in it.
The second is to find a seamstress for tonight’s court, as I’m fairly certain the dresses I brought from Knowledge will make me stand out like a sore thumb.
Both tasks are looking to be near impossible as I maneuver through the halls, the castle fashioning itself as some sort of maze that makes me yearn for the simplicity of Bardot.
Where my home castle is stretched wide along the Greenstone Mountain from east to west, Gaumond takes the opposite approach and stands tall and proud.
The black castle quite literally sweeps up towards the sky in challenge, it’s halls hosting endless staircases and corridors that lead a certain way before they connect and change course with another.
I become lost at every turn, sometimes spotting the same wooden door or massive pine and turning back around.
It’s a relief, then, when a tall blonde Discerni starts walking towards me with a smile on his face.
“You look properly lost,” he laughs.
I grin at his welcoming smile and open friendliness, something that still catches me off-guard about this Court. The Discerni here are much more engaging than those from Knowledge.
“Is it that obvious?” I ask, laughing with him.
“Too obvious,” he nods, “let’s get you where you need to go.”
The man places his hand on the small of my back, pushing me in the direction from where he just came. I nearly startle at the touch, not because of its forwardness, but because he’s now guiding me through the castle even though I haven’t told him where I need to go.
“I’m looking for the kitchens,” I reply casually, trying to ignore his hand on my back.
“Well you’re in luck,” he grins again, “because that’s exactly where I was leading you.”
Yeah, right.
I sidestep out of his hold and pretend to be interested in a painting on the wall. The Discerni is quick to follow, moving to stand behind me in a way that now becomes too close for my liking.
“Ugly, isn’t it?” he laughs, breath pressing against my neck.
It takes everything in me not to cringe.
“Extremely,” I give him a fake smile.
That prompts another laugh as he steps to the side, his arm sweeping towards the end of the new hall we’re in. If it wasn’t for the slight hint of black pepper that I smell in that direction, I wouldn’t take another step with this man.
“What’s your name, Sir?” I ask, wanting to commit him to memory.
“Lord Tadeo,” he corrects with a smile.
Lord Tadeo…
I’ll be avoiding him for the remainder of my time here.
“Alexis,” I mumble in return, hating that he might actually think I’m interested in getting to know him.
“Alexis,” he grins, “you must be the human girl who rode in with the Princes last night.”
“What gave it away,” I reply sarcastically.
The man frowns at my tone and quietly looks at me from his side. I immediately chastise myself and shake my head in apology.
“I’m sorry, just ignore me. It’s been a long morning already and I’ve gotten lost more times than I care to count.”
“It’s no problem, Lady,” he stops in front of a door and gives me a wink, “feel free to run into me again and I’ll be happy to ease your time here in any way.”
Ugh.
I immediately regret my apology.
“Thank you,” I give him a small smile and duck through the door, actually welcoming the wafting smell of black pepper.
“Until next time, then!” he yells at my retreating back.
I shake my head and head straight for the chef, grateful beyond measure that Tadeo chose not to follow me inside.
The chef sets me up with a generous bowl of soup and bread for two cinerin, his grin downright infectious when I finish the full of it.
When I ask him where I can find a seamstress, he leads me to the kitchen door and points down the hall.
“Third one on the right. Can’t miss it.”