CHAPTER VII
CALM CONTENT
I wake under the Shadow Oak with its black and brown arms twisting harshly above me. The early morning sunlight is reflecting gently off its black leaves, all of them shimmering in greeting and bringing one of the largest smiles to my lips.
At some point in the early morning, someone, either Keane or Golem, laid my green velvet cloak over my body for warmth. It was a nice gesture that I now pull off, my gaze instantly landing on the Prince’s body from where we fell asleep after our conversation.
Keane lays opposite me, our two heads at far ends of the other, but he’s close enough that my knees are curved into the crux of his stomach while his thighs rest against mine.
He has an arm thrown over the top of my legs in a tight embrace, his brown hair looking a bit messed as if he just got back from a small ride.
His brows are furrowed like he’s pondering something in his sleep, but his full red lips are soft against the sharp angles of his Discerni face.
I let myself stare at him for a while, thinking again that he truly is the most beautiful man I have ever seen. The full sight of him makes me sigh, my body exhaling as I lay back down and let my thoughts drift to last night.
The first-born son of King Zander, heir to the Kingdom of Disce, is a formidable man.
He lives with such energy and life that his mere presence calls for you to live with him, to enjoy everything that the Old World has to offer.
It’s a standard for life that he’s passed on to his Court of Warriors, showing the people here how to embrace that call and live together as proud neighbors, not two distinct races.
It’s a call that greeted me last night, asking me to live as he does, to embrace his values and the values of his Court. Those values have led him to approach everything in life head-on, enjoying all of its challenges, big or small, and always seeking the pleasure that can come from them.
And isn’t that what life is meant for?
To find that pleasure in everything we do?
The sentiment definitely rings true for me as a human who only has so long to live.
Every decision I have made is rooted in the fundamental promise that I will find enjoyment in as much as I can during my short years on this Old World.
Cal embodies that sentiment as well, which is why we became friends so easily.
We’ve always just been happy to travel, smoke, and simply exist.
But that kind of life has no fire, and my friend has never challenged me as Keane does. He’s never called forth a burning curiosity so strong that it makes me want to kick my easy contentment to the wind.
Keane pushed me last night to embrace his call, and for some reason I held myself back and rejected it. For a Discerni to feel those types of emotions so strongly, to live a way of life that is so unlike the rest of his kind…
Ancients.
He’s formidable.
As are the people of Warrior.
The Discerni and humans of this city fraternize so openly.
They respect eachother. Move together as beings of the Old World, not thinking twice about the amount of magic in their blood.
It’s honestly how the whole of our Kingdom should act, not just Warrior, and Gaumond has become the beacon to promote that.
Granted, the capitol is far looser and more free-spirited in all social mannerisms, but it’s still a beacon. It’s a place where anyone can be themselves and experience the pleasures of life without any expectations, without the distinct social norms that usually hold them back.
“What are you thinking?” he asks, arm tightening around my legs.
I smile at the question and stare up at the black leaves waving down at me, watching as they wink against the morning sun like they’re replying to all my thoughts, listening and agreeing.
“Currently, I’m thinking that may be your new favorite question to ask,” I grin.
Keane chuckles, “before that, Alexis.”
I close my eyes and wonder how honest I want to be with the Prince. I don’t want to hold back, but I’m also unsure where my next words will lead us.
“I was thinking that you subscribe to the same philosophy in life as I do, which initially confuses me because you’re a Discerni.
It also confuses me that you’re showing me a different way to approach that same philosophy, and now I find myself second-guessing how I’ve lived my life in Knowledge.
I was thinking that I haven’t known you for very long and yet I still find myself pulled towards you despite that confusion.
I crave the new challenge you will bring to my thoughts and beliefs, and knowing that frightens me, because I truly am content with my life and how I hold it. I was thinking-”
Keane swiftly releases my legs to lean over me again, his brown eyes watching mine intently from above.
Always watching me.
“I was thinking that I may have met my match in you,” I continue quietly, “you say things, Keane. You say things in which you have no idea how close they come to the truth. Or perhaps you do know, and that’s why you say them, to help me formulate the thoughts in my mind that I’m trying to build but haven’t yet found the words for. ”
Keane listens in silence, his gaze dancing across my face with a new emotion… longing.
I shiver under that stare and sit up on my elbows, “you were right when you said it will come. I can feel it, pushing against the very being of who I am. I don’t have the words to give to you yet, and I don’t know where they will take me when I can finally say them, but just know that I do recognize the battle within me.
Its small right now, but it’s definitely there… ”
“You are wasted in Knowledge, Alexis,” he replies seriously.
He leans forward and brings a hand to my cheek, pushing my hair behind my ear.
“It will come,” he nods, “and I promise to be with you when it does. Because I agree with you… I also think I found my match in you. I began to recognize it the first morning on the road when you forced me to confront my issues with my father’s Golem.
You challenge me as well, Alexis, and while I have thoroughly enjoyed the ladies of my Court, I have never met a woman who has matched the same presence and being as mine to live. ”
My heart thrums in my chest.
Keane smiles and takes his hand off my face, slowly standing up.
“So let’s continue to live, Alexis,” he extends a hand down to me, “I know I will like where it takes us.”
Keane and I are packed and saddled on our horses by mid-morning. I take one last look at the Shadow Oak behind me and commit its beauty to memory, unsure when I’ll be seeing it again. Keane leads us through the woods and remains quiet as we ride, the two us departing at a leisure pace.
I take the time to watch his tall, dark figure in the saddle from behind, admiring his broad shoulders that stand so prominently under his black long sleeve.
His muscles are cut perfectly around his arms and back, the fullness of them all showing through the flow of his shirt.
He has a great body, and I feel no shame in blatantly watching him move as we make our way through the woods.
I even get a bit disappointed when we reach the edge and he brings Ash to the side in a gesture for me to ride next to him.
“But I was having so much fun watching you from behind,” I laugh, bringing Millie up to his left.
Keane’s playful brown eyes meet mine with a grin, “as was I when you wore that dress last night, Lady.”
My cheeks flush at the comment, making Keane chuckle in amusement.
“Can all Discerni summon moonslight?” I ask, thinking of the easy flick of his hand last night.
“For the most part,” he nods atop Ash, “many can in Knowledge and Woodlands. It doesn’t require that much magic and is one of the basics in summoning.”
“But most in Warrior prefer the light of fire and candles over it?”
“I do,” Keane replies casually, nodding to a few soldiers as they walk by, “Warrior used to have the bottled lanterns throughout its cities until I exchanged them for torches.”
“Why?” I ask in genuine curiosity.
The Prince finds my gaze with a small smile. “Any presence of magic is a reminder to humans that they are not able to wield it.”
The answer makes my heart skip a beat, but there’s also something missing from it…
“I’m surrounded by magic every day in Bardot,” I shake my head, “and I’m always in awe of what it can do.”
“The magic within us is awe-inspiring,” he nods in agreement, “and great, and terrible, and beautiful. But that doesn’t mean such power, whether large or small, needs to be flaunted at every chance. I think that’s something the Knowledge in you can agree with.”
“But that also doesn’t mean it needs to be hidden,” I frown, not quite agreeing with his words as I think of the magical staircases of the Palisades. Without that flaunt, the mountain would be completely inaccessible to travelers like me.
Keane watches me thoughtfully, remaining quiet.
“That can’t be your only reason for all the fire, though,” I smile, thinking of all the wood and iron crates that line the roads of his city, “you’ve revived an old economy.”
His brows dart up in surprise. “Perceptive, Alexis.”
I shrug my shoulder as he continues.
“But yes, you are correct. While the candle and wood-burning methods are a bit outdated, their businesses and economies have thrived in my Court and have benefited both humans and Discerni with livelihoods and income. Moonslight just seemed to be too easy of a crutch after that.”
Ancients.
Formidable and a good man.
We move down the hill and into the next rise of wood and poultry, Keane smiling and greeting the patrons of his city as they pass by.
Eventually we reach the large gate in the rise leading down to Warrior’s Row and take the main road through all of the bustling blacksmith vendors, the sharp smell of metal, wood and pepper spreading through the air.