CHAPTER V
THE COURT OF WARRIORS
The room used for the court is immense, its sharp black walls angled to an open ceiling as if daring to slice the sky itself.
Two long tables follow along the sides of the room until they reach a third at the far end, that one cutting across the middle and commanding the space for attention.
Behind the long side tables are two massive fireplaces that are built into the walls, the heated flames roaring as the smoke travels up and billows into the open sky above.
Pines as tall as the castle itself line the walls on both sides of those fireplaces, their brown and green bodies also reaching for the sky in a cutting dare just like everything else.
The whole of the room is just so defiant. It screams Warrior from head to toe.
There must be more than four hundred Discerni and humans sitting at the tables, all of them still boisterous and grinning as they drink into their conversations.
My eyes focus on the farthest table at the end of the room and take in the dark, beautiful wood that’s meant to stand out from the others, the richness of it so proud that it acts as a feature of importance.
Its legs are fashioned in the likeness of tree trunks, the top intricately carved as branches that curve over the sides.
I immediately notice the Prince sitting in the middle on a beautiful chair made of mahogany, his presence alone giving the table it’s proper due.
Keane is clad in a rich satin black shirt with a prominent cut down the middle, the slit revealing a large portion of his tanned, muscled chest and the thin black chain that rests across it.
Another heavier black tunic sits over that shirt, the rich fabric threaded with green to form leaves along his collar.
His brown hair is long and perfectly messy on the top while trimmed to perfection just above his ears.
His intense brown eyes immediately find mine and follow my every move, everything about him looking absolutely regal as he slowly stands up from his chair.
That simple stance commands the court in a single heartbeat, prompting everyone in the room to turn and look at him as they quietly stop their conversations.
I avert my own glance from his and ignore the small flutter in my chest when I do, continuing in my solo walk with Golem as the two of us proudly walk between the tables.
Keane remains standing until we finally reach him, his brown eyes catching mine once more before I slowly lower my head and offer a deep curtsy.
“Lady Alexis of the Court of Knowledge, honored guest of the King…” the Prince states, releasing me from my bow, “thank you for finally gracing us with your presence.”
There’s a slight hint of sarcasm in his tone, one I match as I reply with a smile.
“I was unable to find the way, Your Highness.”
Keane’s brown eyes hold mine as he smirks. “What a pretty lie, my Lady.”
I try my best to hide my scowl and lower my head again.
“Please accept my humblest apologies for interrupting your court, Your Highness…”
When I stand back up it’s with a smirk of my own, my eyes darting over the tables with an unimpressed look, “though it looks like I’m not interrupting much.”
Cal’s choked cough is the only sound that greets the room. I catch his gaze a few seats down from the Prince and offer him a wink in salute.
Keane grins and raises his voice to address the room, “Lady Alexis, here, was under the impression that she would be greeted tonight by copious amounts of ale, fist fighting and sexual proclivities that involve groups of three or more…”
The room erupts with a round of deep chuckles and the banging of drinks on tables.
“And while I’ll never deny a woman any of those pleasures, let’s first make sure she has the stamina that is due to our Court of Warriors.”
Keane glances back down at me, his amusement nearly effortless as he says his next words slowly, “our Court lasts far longer than Knowledge, Lady Alexis. In more ways than one. You’re welcome to join us for those pleasures if you think you can make it through the night.”
The roar of mugs and fists banging against the tables is deafening. The Prince laughs with his court and extends his arm to the side of his table, his playful browns eyes dancing across my face as he points to an empty seat at his side.
“Next to me, Lady Alexis.”
Ancients.
I’m in over my head.
I give the Prince one last curtsy and walk towards the end of his table, the long slit in my dress exposing my thigh to the court in the process.
“Is that a strap against her inner thigh?”
“Ancients, it is.”
“And that’s the King’s Golem following her…”
“Do all ladies at Knowledge buckle?”
“I think we need to make a trip to Bardot, boys!”
I turn to Discerni who made that last comment and smile at him in agreement.
“The ladies of our Court would of course be happy to accommodate you all.”
The man’s eyes widen on mine in surprise. He gives me a small nod and then starts chuckling with the men around him, the group actually considering the travel.
“Alexis…” the Prince calls my name in slight exasperation.
I laugh and move around the end of the table, meeting him just as he pulls out the empty chair.
“You couldn’t have sat me with Cal and the twins?” I murmur, adjusting my dress as I sit down.
“Not tonight,” he replies, “I’m feeling a bit selfish.”
I flush and adjust my dress again, tugging at the fabric across my breasts as he takes his seat at my side. Slowly, but with the confidence that comes so naturally to him, Keane reaches for my hand and pulls it away from my dress.
“Don’t hide yourself, Alexis,” he says quietly, “not from me, not from anyone here.”
I let out a deep exhale and force myself to look away from his gaze.
So fucking over my head.
Court turns back to its lively and raucous chatter, the drinks overflowing and being poured by young boys who are running up and down the tables.
Pipes of shisha are already being passed around by both Discerni and humans sitting side by side and sharing the smoke, while women and men shoulder up next to eachother in familiarity.
There’s no proper seating as there is in Knowledge, no calm chatter over dinner that’s paired with the sounds of harps and flutes.
The energy of the room is just so alive, a complete breath of fresh air that’s joyful to look at.
“If I get you a toddy are you going to down it?” Keane asks, watching me as I take in the vigor of his court.
“Yes, most likely,” I admit without shame.
“Two then,” he smiles in reply, “to get rid of your tension.”
The Prince grins and leans back in his chair, raising a hand to a boy behind us. His call allows me to peer around him, spotting Desmond at his direct right with Mana next to him, then Cal and Hollis.
I smile at all of the green of our group seated at the head table, my heart taking a few calming beats at the reminder of home.
“Your friends are well and settled in, Alexis,” Keane follows my glance when he leans back towards the table, “with a better sense of urgency than you, I might add.”
“It’s not that,” I shake my head, “you’re surrounded by the green of Knowledge, Your Highness. I’m smiling because it looks good.”
“It does,” he nods, not looking at my traveling crew at all but instead at my emerald dress.
His eyes are on the high slit that is hidden under the table, his gaze taking me in with a look of genuine appreciation.
There’s nothing leering about that look, no part of it that makes me uncomfortable.
In fact, my body flushes with heat under his gaze, hating how much I love to see his look of approval.
I quickly reach for the toddy he ordered and down it straight.
“Once more,” he hands me the second with a grin.
I accept the drink but stop just before the glass reaches my lips.
“You as well, Your Highness.”
Keane nods, his playful eyes letting me know he approves of the game.
He leans back in his chair again and flags down the serving boy once more as I look out to the room in front of us and search for the familiar blonde with cool grey eyes.
Alanna is seated at the table to our left, her laughter carrying easily as she sits with a number of Discerni men.
“Alexis…” his voice calls me back.
I turn to see the Prince with a toddy raised up high.
“To your first night in the Court of Warriors,” he says in small seriousness, “and hopefully to many, many more.”
I clank my glass against his and down the liquid again, watching as Keane grins and does the same.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever seen a woman down our drink,” a man to my left states. He doesn’t say the comment with any malice or ill-intent, just plainly as if he’s curious to the sight.
I turn to the Discern sitting next to me and am instantly greeted with a reserved smile.
The man has his long brown hair neatly pulled into a knot at the nape of his neck, a thick brown beard matching it in color and reminding me a bit of Cal’s in its fullness.
He’s not as large as my friend, and his face is definitely graced with the angular beauty of a Discerni instead of the fullness of Cal’s human one, but he still has the same woodsy, rugged look about him.
I smile back in familiarity.
“It’s not a slight to this court, I promise. Merely a misunderstanding
that has turned into a game.”
Keane chuckles behind me in agreement.
“I’m not upset, Lady,” the Discerni replies politely, “simply curious.”
I eye the drink in my hand with a nod. “The glasses at Bardot containing our whiskey are small, just a bit smaller than these. We typically down them at court to start the night off, so I assumed the same applied here when I first arrived and was given a toddy.”
“Ah, well now you misunderstand me,” the man smiles, his light brown eyes twinkling as he glances over my shoulder to the Prince, “I was more so curious as to why a Lady from Knowledge would sit and drink so openly with our Prince.”
Oh.