CHAPTER VIII #3
My body shivers again before he directs Ash down the path, the two of us beginning our ride into the night as I tug my hood back down.
“Golem…” I turn back and peer into the woods.
Keane tightens his arms and pulls me completely against the front of his chest, his voice assuring, “he knows to meet you back in the room later.”
How?
My mind wants to wander to all the mysterious magic that accompanies Golem but my body is just too tired to let it. Instead, I find myself falling back into Keane’s embrace and enjoying the strength of his hold.
Keane moves the reins to his left hand and drops his right to my thigh, squeezing it softly as I close my eyes.
“How soon did you know we were following you?”
“From the first twig you broke where the road met the path,” he replies, fingers moving idly against the inside of my thigh.
“Why let us continue?”
I can feel his smile behind me. “I was amused. Daniel was properly interested. Desmond… well Desmond was hesitant but still curious.”
I nod and yawn again, “I’m going to fall asleep soon…”
“I know it.”
I turn my to the side and get comfortable against his chest, smiling when his hold tightens even more.
“But I want you to know that I know there’s more to this…” I smile softly to myself, “more to your hidden city.”
Keane’s fingers on my thigh still for a small moment before they resume their slow movements. I feel his touch inch inward and let it lull me to sleep, reveling in the comfort of his strong body. The last thing I remember before drifting off is asking him to wake me up when we got back to the inn.
The morning comes and I find myself stirring under the sheets of my bed. Cal is knocking against the door and telling me that the group is taking off soon, his voice laced with concern that I’m not already up and moving about.
I bring my hands to my eyes and rub away the sleep with a groan, trying to remember the rest of the ride through the woods.
I vaguely remember Keane hoisting himself from Ash and doing the same for me, carrying me in his arms as he walked us both through the inn.
Golem was already waiting in the room for the two of us just as Keane had said, my magical friend instantly shuffling to the bed to pull back the sheets the moment he saw me.
I barely remember Keane tugging off my boots before he let me fall asleep fully clothed, but I definitely remember the two of them standing over me as I drifted off again.
The room is bright now and the slats of the window are open and letting in the morning breeze. Cal knocks against the door a little harder this time.
“I hear you! I’m okay. Thank you. I’ll be out shortly!”
It’s a good thing I packed the night before. All I need now is to refresh and move out. It’s a simple enough task, but it’s one that’s made complicated by my thoughts of the hidden city…
Ancients.
Fumagalli is beautiful.
Absolutely stunning.
But there’s something else about it that caught my eye…
The hidden city is downright Warrior.
And not in the sense of the Court it resides in, but in the actuality of it preparing itself as a line of defense along the border of our Kingdom.
All of the trees that acted as pillars between the city were lined with bows and arrows of different sizes.
Not one section of the forest above was left without a weapon, and from the looks of the people who walked around, every single one of them knew how to use them.
The city is also built into the forest in deep stealth, hiding itself in camouflage from being seen by the naked eye.
It truly is a perfectly hidden line of defense for the western border of Disce, which makes me genuinely wonder, what in the Old World are Keane and his Lords defending our Kingdom from?
Are they just being cautious? Or do they know something secret that makes them want to prepare?
I quickly tear off my cloak and clothes and put on a clean set for the ride ahead, my thoughts moving in different directions as I consider just what the hidden city has been built for.
I splash my face with some water and hastily braid my hair down my back, letting it fall just between my shoulders as Golem waits in the room with me.
“Another few days on the road, Golem,” I muse, slinging my travel bag around my shoulder and letting the strap fall across my chest.
He nods in response, watching as I grab his clay pot from a hidden alcove under the bed and place it in the bag at my hip.
“I’ll let you know when we stop at midday and night tonight.
I hoist my saddle packs over my shoulder and reach for the door, stopping to turn around to give him a smile.
“I’m glad you were with me last night, Golem. It was something, wasn’t it?”
Golem bows his head in silent agreement as I snake my hand into the bag and fasten the lid of his jar.
The common room is nearly empty when I arrive.
The human woman behind the pub is chatting idly with a with another patron as he eats breakfast, her head dipping towards me in acknowledgement when I wave goodbye and thank her for the stay.
I push my way through the front door and spot the majority of our travel group already saddled atop their horses, the small boy who greeted us when we first arrived seeing me and running into the stables.
He brings out Millie shortly after with a pat on her neck.
“Thank you,” I smile and place a cinerin in his hand before throwing my packs across her back. I strap everything secure and give her a good rub down before hoisting up, bringing her to a stance next to Cal, Holis and Mana in the courtyard.
“Are we waiting for something?” I ask, looking around at the group, “besides me?”
The three human soldiers are all saddled, their small group waiting behind Alanna, Barnes and Claymore. All four of us from Knowledge are here, so that just leaves…
“Waiting on the Prince and his Lords,” Cal answers, turning in my direction, “you didn’t wake this morning for training.”
“Ancients, Cal, I’m so sorry,” I shake my head, “I slept like a rock. Let’s make up for it tonight?”
“We’ll see,” he runs a hand through his auburn beard, “I know nothing of the Bulwark Plains except that they’re open and flat. We may not have any covering.”
“True,” I sigh, “but what of your tent? Did you ever purchase the larger one? I know you mentioned it on our last travel but I didn’t see you set it up in the Green Valley.”
Cal shakes his head, “the man in the Palisades didn’t have one on hand. I would say we could wait until we get to Red Falls but I don’t know if we’ll have the time before we drop you off.”
“Impromptu, then,” I place my hand on his shoulder and smile, “we’ll figure it out.”
Prince Keane walks out of the inn the moment I finish the words, his eyes landing on my hand on Cal’s shoulder before he bounds towards the stables.
He’s clad in all black this morning, no accents of deep green anywhere in the ensemble, and there’s a hint of anger in his cool features that has me dropping my hand from Cal’s shoulder.
I watch as Desmond and Lord Daniel walk out of the inn behind him, both of their brows furrowed and looking just as upset as the Prince.
“Do they seem in a good mood to anyone?” Holis asks, his voice quieter than normal.
Cal shakes his head as all three Discerni move silently to ready their horses. Once done, Keane approaches the group and maneuvers Ash to the front, while Desmond takes up at his side and Lord Daniel rides next to Claymore.
“As you all know,” Desmond addresses the group, “we begin our ride for Red Falls today. We’ll stay overnight in the Bulwark Plains and ride tomorrow until we reach the fortress.”
A round of silent nods greets the Prince as Desmond pauses and eyes the full group.
“We will not be alone in our travel to Pyre,” he adds ominously, “I have scouted two separate groups of Leviathans roaming near the Great Road.”
There it is again.
He scouted?
How?
“Both groups are carrying the Riverlands sigil,” he continues, “and while their presence is curious, it is not surprising. We will continue with our travels but sleep tonight in shifts.”
The group nods again in understanding, all of them familiar in some capacity with sleeping in turns. Everyone except me.
“If the riders approach us for whatever reason,” Desmond finishes, “you are not to engage. The Prince, Lord Daniel and I will handle.”
“That has to be the third time he’s given the warning,” I note under my breath.
“He’s just being cautious,” Cal responds as the twins nod.
I glance over to Keane and notice his brown eyes are on me.
“You’ll still join my tent tonight, yes?” Cal asks.
“Your older and regular sized one?” I laugh.
Cal rolls his eyes, “yes, Alex, that one.”
“I will,” I smile, still grateful for the offer. Funny how my reaction to his question is so much easier to give this time.
Desmond turns to his brother and says something low, the two Princes sharing a small conversation before Keane tugs on Ash’s reins and rides out through the courtyard.
The rest of us follow the men in silence, our small group from Knowledge bringing up the rear as we ride into the village of Fumagalli.
The road is quiet with only a few patrons walking around, though Yara’s boy is crouched in the same spot as yesterday as he plays marbles with a human girl. He pauses their game to watch our group riding through, his eyes looking down the full line of horses until he spots me.
The Discerni boy quickly runs to Millie’s side, his brows furrowed as if he’s trying his best to look mad. He crosses his arms in front of his chest as I bite back a smile at the cute display of anger.
“Hello, little one,” I send him an apologetic look as he walks alongside Millie.
The boy gives me a scowl in return, the look too adorable on his face even though I know he wants to come off as upset.
“You tricked me,” he frowns, “Mommy told me I was tricked.”
I slow Millie behind the rest of the group and give us some space.