CHAPTER VI #2
“It’s true,” I answer, “while we have the human village of Loughty just north of Bardot, all of the other cities within Knowledge are dual race. Discerni and humans can and do interact, though those interactions aren’t as often or freely given as I’ve seen here.”
“A shame,” the Lord replies.
I shrug softly, responding with the sentiment so often given by the Discerni in my home.
“You’ll outlive us all. I understand why most of the Discerni choose not to engage so openly with humans. I may not agree with it,” I add after a thought, “but I can understand it.”
“And the capitol,” Lord Daniel prompts, watching me closely, “do the Discerni there choose not to engage?”
My mind takes me to court in Knowledge and to the friends and acquaintances I’ve made over the last years serving in the Queen’s Ladies in Wait.
“Some don’t,” I admit, “but others do. I’ve made many friends with the Discerni in the Knowledge capitol, but also respect those who choose not to engage. It is their right as beings of this Old World, magical or not.”
Lord Daniel watches me curiously, his gaze once again glancing to the Prince behind me.
“Your views on life are not what I expect from a Lady of Knowledge.”
“Which is why you should visit sometime, Lord Daniel,” I offer again with a smile, “most of our court engages in these types of debates nightly.”
“And the people of Woodlands?” Keane asks from my side, watching me with intense, questioning eyes, “what are they engaging in?
I take a slow and long drink of ale, thinking of the few Woodlands Discerni that have visited court in Bardot. Aside from my interactions with Troy, the pale Discerni are fairly uptight, watching the night from afar with cold and indifferent glances.
I grimace and reply with another small shrug. “To be honest, I could not tell you, Your Highness. We’ve had delegations from Woodlands visit court from time to time, but they always sit with their own and don’t engage much with anyone else. I tend to avoid most of them when I can…”
Both men give a small chuckle.
“They don’t even appear at our court,” Keane replies, proud of the statement.
“You’re not missing much,” I nod, taking another drink of ale.
“I think I will take that trip to Knowledge,” Lord Daniel leans forward to look at Keane, “perhaps the next time Prince Desmond visits the capitol.”
“So long as you still come back Warrior, Daniel,” Keane tilts his toddy in response, “I have no problem with it.”
I grin at the two of them excitedly.
“Oh, I can’t wait! You really will have to call on me, Lord Daniel. I’ll introduce you to whiskey!”
The Lord’s eyes alight at my enthusiasm, “I would like that very much, Lady Alexis.”
My smile is wide when I sit back in my chair. The sound of dinner clanks behind us as three plates hit the table, the sight of the food nearly making me laugh in disbelief.
Smoked peppered trout.
I groan at the sight of it.
“Was that your stomach?” the Prince asks quietly, holding back a laugh.
“More like my mouth,” I admit honestly, “I had the same meal earlier today and it was outstanding.”
As is this bite.
“I think I’m going to ask Chef to make this for me when I get back.”
“If the food doesn’t involve cinnamon or something sweet, I doubt he’ll even consider it,” Keane replies with a smile.
“I hate how right you are about that,” I sigh.
“You had an eventful day today…”
“I did,” I smile, grinning at my well-spent day throughout Gaumond’s rises. My mind roams to the clanging of metal and the smell of the fire in Marybeth’s Tavern…
Wait.
How does he know I’ve had an eventful day?
I glance sharply at the Prince. “How could you possibly know that?”
Keane nods his head in a way that is all too smug, “this is my home, Lady Alexis. I know everything that goes on here.”
I scowl and take another drink of ale.
Everything?
Does he know about Barnett and me last night?
My eyes quickly dart out to the crowd in front of us, scanning for the Discerni soldier’s giving smiling.
“I’d like to tell you that’s disturbing,” I turn slowly back to the Prince, “but I have a feeling that you know and don’t care.”
Keane laughs in amusement, his brown eyes dancing across my face. “Too true, Lady Alexis. Would you like another drink?”
I look down in surprise at the near empty mug in my hand.
“Please.”
Keane grins and leans back in his seat, the movement familiar as he lets his fingers rest at the top of my chair.
I flush and sit a little bit straighter.
“How did you enjoy court last night?” he asks curiously, placing a new mug on the table.
“It was…”
My mind races through the memories of the night.
Ancients, what was it?
“It was a night without expectations,” I finally settle on with a grin.
“For you or for the others around you?” Keane asks, hand remaining on the back of my chair.
“For everything, I guess. For the night itself. Everyone here can and will do as they please, with no expectations as to the proper court etiquette that I’m accustomed to.
There’s no expectations to engage or not engage with others and no expectations in how you have to engage either. Just no expectations at all.”
My smile is broad as I look out to the full of the court.
“You all live very in the moment. I found it refreshing.”
Lord Daniel gives a small smile at my answer.
“And yet your heart still lies with Knowledge?” the Prince asks, watching me intently.
“Always,” I sigh.
“Their court is very lucky to have you, Lady Alexis,” Daniel nods.
I salute my drink to him before taking a sip, appreciative of the tribute.
“Apologies for my bluntness, Lady,” the Discerni Lord continues, “but do you have a suitor at home?”
I lean back against my chair and smile at the Lord, forgetting that the Prince’s arm is still resting there.
Shit.
Keane skims his fingers gently over my back in greeting, prompting a small shiver to caress my skin.
“I do not, Lord Daniel,” I reply steadily.
Lord Daniel shakes his head in open astonishment, his hand tugging at his beard. “I truly cannot envision why.”
I give him another genuine smile at the bold compliment and lean forward, instantly missing the touch from behind me.
“I enjoy my travels for the King, Lord Daniel,” I reply in explanation, “and have no plans of giving them up any time soon. Naturally, running in and out of the castle at different intervals in the month is not something most men in our Court pine for in a woman.”
“And your time as a Lady in Wait?” he asks, his light brown eyes soft and still full of disbelief, “I can’t envision there were no men pining over you then?”
Lord Daniel seems properly intrigued, though I can’t help but get the creeping feeling that I am being questioned again. Is he genuinely interested in knowing, or is he questioning me on behalf of the Prince?
“No suitors during my time with the Queen,” I lie, smiling back at the Lord.
Daniel shakes his head, “their loss.”
Hmm. Perhaps he is genuine.
I move my hand up to my hair in a slight blush, brushing the strands away from my heated face. A moment later, another hand meets mine, the very fingers that I was just missing now skimming up my neck in a brazen manner.
I swiftly turn to Prince Keane and gaze at him hard in question.
He ignores my look and keeps his eyes fixated on my ear closest to him, the same ear that I exposed when I brushed my hair away from my face.
Keane lets his fingers move daringly to my neck, brushing them up to just under my ear as he reaches for the black jewel there.
His reckless touch makes me still and hold my breath, though if he was anyone else in the Old World, I would have already leaned away with a few choice words.
But for some reason I let his fingers roam… let his eyes stare at the side of my neck as his gaze heats my body with its intensity. I know that he doesn’t give a damn about how improper his touch is right now, nor does he care if anyone is watching him while he does it.
“I bought them in Warrior’s Row today,” I tell him quietly, watching as his brown eyes remain entranced on the black and gold in his fingers. “They reminded me of the Shadow Oak.”
Keane’s brown eyes dart to mine at the mention of the oak, his hand finally dipping down and away from my face. He slowly moves my hair back to the front of my shoulder and shields the sparkling black from his view, the gesture genuinely confusing me as he leans away.
“They suit you,” he replies, voice hard and thoughtful as he signals for another round. I release the heavy breath I was holding and turn to my ale, willing my hand to stop shaking.
“Shall we get drunk tonight?” he asks suddenly, bringing his arm back to my chair as he glances at me with playful eyes.
I’m completely thrown off by the sudden change.
“That depends…” I reply slowly, eyeing the serving boy as he places two toddies on the table in front of us.
“On what?”
“We ride tomorrow,” I point out the obvious, “and I’d rather not do it with an aching head.”
Keane grins and turns to Desmond on his right.
“Brother…”
Desmond’s dark eyes quietly look at the Prince before they dart to mine, his features unreadable.
“Any qualms with postponing tomorrow’s travel to the late morning?”
Desmond looks back at his brother with a shake of his head, the hint of a smirk gracing his lips.
“It’s settled then,” Keane grins.
I roll my eyes and lift the toddy in reply. “It’s your court, Highness, I’m just passing through.”
Keane smirks and downs his toddy with me, another night of challenges slowly brewing between the two of us.
“He’s not coming,” Alanna moves to stand at my side as her cool grey eyes glance out at the rest of the room with me.
We’re pretty far along in the night and I’m now standing with the other ladies of the court in conversation, searching for Barnett’s hazel eyes so they can distract me from the brown ones I can’t stop looking at.