CHAPTER V #4
As the morning continues, I can tell that the haze that engulfed me earlier is having the same effect on everyone else.
Hands and bodies have melded together and are accompanied with seductive grins.
The drinking has turned more rowdy as everyone tries to one-up the other, and yes, there’s been a few fights that have gotten men, and women, thrown out of the room to cool their heads.
Everyone is just having a good time doing whatever they genuinely want to do, the atmosphere so free-spirited that it’s actually a beautiful sight to see.
There’s no disinterested looks from the Discerni, no judgement or silent reminders that they’ll outlive us.
Everyone is just genuinely interested in their neighbor, appreciating them as beings who live in the same Old World.
That sentiment greets me every time I talk with Barnett.
He’s happy to enjoy my company and I’m thoroughly enjoying the flirty banter between us and the easy way with which he tells me stories of his time here in the King’s Army.
We chat for a good portion of the night…
and although I’m also enjoying his company, my mind roams to the Shadow Oak, wondering how long it would take me to walk there without Millie.
“We can skip out if you’d like,” Barnett smiles.
I glance at Cal sitting across from us, smiling at my big friend drunkenly trying to recite an inappropriate ballad that I know he’ll have no recollection of tomorrow.
“What of the drink?” I look back at the barrels.
The Discerni shrugs, “two less people aren’t going to make a difference.”
“Then let’s go,” I nod, “I can use some fresh air.”
Barnett’s hand gives my thigh a squeeze before he stands up.
I quickly lean over the table and say goodbye to Cal, but my big friend just waves a hand at the interruption and continues along with his song.
Some of Barnett’s buddies watch us with sly smiles as he leads me away from the crowd.
He reaches for my hand and walks us through the double doors, the air outside the room hitting us both like a splash of cold water.
“We can take a walk around the grounds?” he suggests.
“A walk sounds great,” I smile, “but can we stop by my room first? I’d like to grab my cloak.”
The Discerni soldier laughs when I try to explain exactly where my room is, but just like Gail, he seems to have no problem navigating these tricky halls and we eventually make it to my door.
“Ancients, Golem,” I gasp out loud, spotting his hooded figure standing next to my bed when I walk in the room. I glance behind me to the opened door and then back to him, not even wanting to ask what kind of magic he used to get here.
“I’m going for a walk outside the castle, maybe even down to the Shadow Oak after. Do you want to come with me?”
Golem shakes his head.
“Will you know how to find me if you need me?”
Yes.
“Will I be able to find you if I need you?”
Yes.
“Okay,” I smile again and walk back to the door, “goodnight then, Golem.”
Barnett leads me down the twisting halls and staircases, his shoulder skimming closer to mine with every step we take. We make it back to the receiving hall and walk past the room used for court in a hurry, the two of us sharing a grin at the raucousness but not wanting to be pulled back inside.
The two of us head down the main entry steps and towards a small path to the side of the castle, our shoulders now pressing against eachother in flirtatious edge. Barnett takes my hand and squeezes it with a tug, his gorgeous hazel eyes finding mine with a look of question.
“You know all the nooks here, Barnett, not me,” I grin.
The moment the words leave my mouth his hand is pulling me towards a thick set of pines that are out past the stables and hidden in the shadows.
His lips are on mine the moment we reach the trees, his arms pulling me into his embrace as he leans against a large trunk behind him.
I lift my hands to his neck and press into his kiss harder, feeling as his lips tilt my head to the side and he starts trailing kisses along my jaw and neck.
A small moan is about to fall from my lips when-
“-And all the pretty ladies lay down for them in wanting…”
I open my eyes in horror and quickly place a hand over Barnett’s mouth. He laughs and wraps his arms tighter around my waist, the two of us peering around the tree at the same time to listen to the familiar voice.
“While all the men on the road only found them daunting…”
Cal is drunkenly walking down the castle steps and reciting the ballad he learned earlier.
I lean into Barnett’s chest with a soft groan.
The Discerni soldier just laughs as I drop my hand, the two of us watching as Cal gives a tipsy skip in the grass, his grin alight as he takes a sip from the mug in his hand.
“He moves well for a big man,” Barnett chuckles.
“For they knew what awaited them after a night with these fair ladies…”
Cal swivels from left to right, his arm holding his ale to the sky.
“An aftermath filled with crabs, and even worse, scabies!”
A big thud shakes the ground as Cal tips over from his drunken stupor. I can’t help but laugh in amusement at my friend before I shake my head with a sigh.
“I hate to see this end,” I look up at Barnett, “but I have to go help him.”
“You do,” his hazel eyes smile down on mine, “but there’s always tomorrow…”
He leans down and bites my lip in promise. The two of us hastily adjust our clothes and head out from beneath the pines.
“I saw your skip back there, Cal,” I smile at him in greeting.
Barnett moves next to me and drops a hand down to Cal, my friend looking between the two of us with hooded eyes.
“You saw nothing,” he grunts and takes Barnett’s hand, letting the Discerni help him up, “you both kids saw nothing.”
Barnett laughs but nods his head all the same, the two of us sharing an amused glance as I pat Cal’s back.
“Let’s get you back to your room, Cal.”
We make our way up the large steps and through the castle doors, past the court that is still going strong as Barnett leads the way. When we finally reach his door, just a few down from my own, I help my friend find his key before unlocking it and sending him inside.
“I’m going to stay with him for a while,” I turn to Barnett in another apology, “just to make sure he makes it to bed.”
“Of course,” he replies, stepping into me with a small grin. I groan when his hands skim up my sides and barely brush against my breasts, the touch sending me off with a heated promise.
“Tomorrow, then.”
“Tomorrow,” I smile.
He smiles and turns to leave, walking back down the hall.
“Alex!” Cal groans behind the door.
I try not to laugh and turn into his room.
“You’re lucky I like you,” I grin, gently taking his arm and guiding him to the bed.
Cal falls with a soft thud and curls up on top of the blankets, sleep instantly greeting him with a gentle snore. I bite back my laugh and tug off his boots, then head to the small table in his room to pour a glass of water I know he’ll be needing in the morning.
The late morning sun greets me beautifully from the window in my guest room in Gaumond.
After getting Cal situated last night I realized how exhausted I was and opted for the soft bed over visiting the Shadow Oak, though I did make a promise to stay there tonight instead.
Today is the last full day in the capitol before we continue on our travel to Pyre, and I intend to spend all night under those black leaves and twinkling stars.
The reminder that we set off soon sends a small knot of anticipation in my stomach.
This will be the farthest in Disce I’ve ever traveled, even farther yet when we set off for Pyre.
I’m eager to visit the small village of Fumagalli on our way there and can’t wait to step into a foreign Kingdom for the first time, but there’s still so much of Gaumond that I yearn to see.
I want to travel the full of the rises and let the side paths take me wherever my heart desires.
.. I want to experience the Warrior men and women in their everyday setting, especially those in the blacksmith and wood rises.
The Black Capitol calls to me, so I resolve myself to answer it.
I take the quickest bath of my life and change into a satin gold shirt with light brown riding pants, braiding my hair so that it falls between my shoulder blades.
I strap my smaller blade around my bicep and slip the larger into my boot, then throw my traveling bag over my shoulder and feel the weight fall on my hip.
“Let’s adventure today, Golem,” I hold out my arm to him and open the door.
Golem gives me a look and shakes his head no, though the tiniest of smiles graces his lips.
“No you don’t want to adventure with me or no you don’t want to take my arm?” I laugh, already knowing the answer.
He takes a step past me and walks out the open door.
“It was worth a try,” I smile.
We stop first to visit Cal in his room. My big friend is doing alright and moving groggily around his bed, though he’s not yet ready to start his day.
I let him know about my plans to explore the city and how I’ll be back before the evening, making him promise that he’ll wait for me so that we can arrive at court together.
He just nods at my too many words and sits back down on his bed, his hands moving across his temples as he holds back a groan.
Golem and I eventually make our way down to the receiving hall without getting too lost and walk out the castle doors towards the guest stables where Millie is stationed. I say hello to my girl and saddle her for the easy ride, then set off for the town below.
“Let’s take the main road all the way down to the first rise,” I tell my companion who strolls leisurely at Millie’s side, “to the entry village of blacksmiths and fire. We can work our way back up the capitol and find somewhere for a late lunch.”