CHAPTER IX #9
“It was a term put into the Kingdoms Council by the Leviathans,” she replies sourly, “any time you travel to a foreign library you can only be granted two nights and three days in their shelves.”
“Ancients!” I bite my lip in worry, “do you happen to have any books on them, Princess? On the Kingdom of Livyatan that I can borrow?”
I think Clair can hear the desperate curiosity in my request because she nods quickly.
“I do. I’ll make sure to throw something in the bundle for you.”
“Thank you,” I sigh, wanting nothing more than to run to my room and open up a book on their history and current politics. I need to learn as much as I can about this Kingdom and why they’re so opposed to me finding the book for my King.
“I’ll have to turn in for the night soon,” Clair gives me a small smile, “but I will greet you in the throne room tomorrow before breakfast to escort you to the library.”
“Thank you again, Princess, truly,” I give her a small bow.
“Of course, Lady Alexis,” she nods, “until tomorrow.”
“Until tomorrow.”
I look down at the second glass of ale in my hands. There’s no way I’ll be finishing both of these, so I head back to my group and offer the second to Cal.
“This’ll be my last drink of the night,” I let him know.
Cal smiles down at me and accepts the extra ale, “tomorrow at dawn then? My room?”
“Tomorrow at dawn,” I nod, clinking my mug to his, “your room.”
At least his training will take my mind off things for a while.
“I really want to say that I don’t care what you two get up to,” Alanna gives a cool laugh, “but I can’t deny that my interest isn’t piqued.”
Cal looks at me with a knowing grin and then turns to Alanna.
“Maybe you can join us sometime, little Discerni,” he raises a brow,
“and find out.”
For the second time tonight, I choke on my drink again.
Is Cal flirting with her?
Alanna smirks at my big friend, as if genuinely considering the comment and what the three of us can do together. I quietly step away from the two and move around the fire as I let out a small chuckle.
Ancients. They would be a surprising duo.
I shake my head and walk to the ledge of the balcony and stare down at the city below.
“May I join you, Lady Alexis?” Lord Daniel asks from behind.
I turn around and find his eyes quickly leaving my lower back. I pretend not to notice and give him a smile.
“I would be happy for the company, Lord Daniel.”
Daniel smiles and moves to stand next to me, his brown hair and beard shining with the firelight behind us beautifully. I hold my mug to him in cheers and watch as he brings up his own toddy, the two of us taking a drink in greeting.
“What did you make of the Prince and Princess tonight? You seemed to be holding your own at dinner with the two.”
I let my hand run through my hair in thought, brushing it forward and in front of my face before replying.
“I enjoyed them a lot. Or Princess Clair, that is. I think I should like to be friends with her.”
Lord Daniel smiles, “a good choice in friends if you had to choose. She and her husband are powerful allies to the Kingdom of Disce. We learn a lot from them.”
“Do you often travel to Pyre?”
“The Princes do more than I, but I’ve frequented this city a few times. It’s always good to see friendly lands that don’t distinguish between races.”
“They do a good job of that here,” I agree, thinking that if I had not seen the flames under their skin, I would have never been able to tell the difference between a magical Pyrenese and a human one.
Lord Daniel leans in so that our arms are nearly touching on the balcony. He dips his head, a smile gracing his lips.
“And did you enjoy Fumagalli?” he smiles, “the real Fumagalli?”
I look around us, spotting no one nearby as I lean in closer with my eyes alight, “more than you know, Lord Daniel. Thank you for allowing that.”
I smile in appreciation, not forgetting his vote of confidence two nights ago.
“It was my pleasure,” he brings his hand up to his beard, “and I meant what I said that I believe we’ll be able to learn more from you. The value of Fumagalli rests in its secrecy, but oftentimes letting outsiders in on that secret provides for new insight.”
“Anything I can do to help,” I smile, enjoying how easy it is to have a conversation with the Lord, “I did ask His Highness if I could spend a night there sometime. He offered on our trip back.”
“He told me,” he nods, “we have ample space to accommodate you, Lady Alexis.”
“I would be beyond grateful.”
Lord Daniel smiles as I continue, “and it was a pleasant surprise to hear of you governing there. How long have you been Lord?”
His light brown eyes twinkle back on mine, “about twenty years.”
Ancients, almost since the day I was born.
I stare at him in amazement, always in awe at the Discerni aging compared to humans. Lord Daniel only looks a year or two older than Keane, maybe thirty, but he’s been around for almost one-hundred and twenty years, if not more.
“Do you enjoy it?” I ask.
“I do,” he gives me a genuine smile, “Fumagalli is much calmer than the rest of the cities in the Court of Warriors. Better suited for me.”
I eye him in agreement. “Quieter, but just as strong.”
Daniel catches my gaze and looks back at me in thoughtful affection. His eyes dip to the ale in my hand with a small smile.
“Can I get you another drink?”
“Thank you, but no,” I hold the mug up and look at what remains, “I promised myself that this would be the last of the night. I need to be up early tomorrow morning.”
“Understandable,” he smiles, turning his back to the balcony as he looks at the fire and court.
I turn with him, the two of us leaning against the ledge together and watching everyone interact.
Apart from Desmond and Keane, who are still being shuffled around, the rest of our group from Disce have chosen to remain with eachother.
Cal is still standing with Alanna, the two of them sharing glances over their drinks.
Holis and Mana are enjoying a conversation with Barnes and Claymore, the four of them laughing as Barnes’ pretends to stumble over something in his story.
I take in the rest of the court and notice all the beaming smiles on their faces.
Everyone is conversing and drinking with their neighbors so simply that it reminds me of a calm Gaumond.
There’s no distinction here, no side glances or small frowns like those you’ll subtly see in Knowledge.
Everyone just melds together as one people of Pyre.
“I’ll walk you back to your room,” Lord Daniel offers when he watches me take my final drink.
“Oh, that’s not necessary,” I blush slightly.
“I’m thinking of turning in, too,” he extends his arm to me, “and your room is on the way.”
“Then I would gladly enjoy your company some more, Lord Daniel,” I smile and fold my arm into his.
The two of us walk through the throng of people on the balcony and back into the mountain as I sigh.
“I’ve never seen so many crystals in my life.”
Lord Daniel leads us through the throne room and towards the stairs beyond one of the pillars. The chandeliers are still hanging low from the walls, the sparkles shining everywhere and illuminating everything in sight.
“The mountain peak beyond this one is called the Crystal Mountains. It’s rumored this Kingdom has more gems then the Pyrenese know what to do with.”
“I wouldn’t doubt it,” I reply as we walk up the stairs, “but I think I’ll stick to our gems in Disce. I love our emeralds, even the black granite that’s used in Warrior.”
Lord Daniel smiles to himself as we reach the top of the stairs. He continues to walk us down the hall towards my room, his movements slow.
“You were very brave with the tiger earlier today, Lady Alexis.”
I chuckle and shake my head, “trust me, I felt everything but brave. I considered reaching for my dagger in the beginning.”
“But you didn’t,” he smiles, “and instead greeted the beast as a friend.”
“After speaking with Princess Clair all night I’m glad I made that decision.”
“What a different night this would have been had you not,” he laughs.
“Indeed,” I smile, “I’d probably be sitting alone in a prison cell right now.”
Daniel turns to me with a serious look, “no, Alexis. We’d all come for you.”
I blush once again as the two of us reach the door of my room.
“Thank you for the company, Lord Daniel.”
The Lord takes a step back and releases my arm with a small bow. “The pleasure was mine, Lady Alexis.”
Ancients, he’s so polite.
Daniel gives me one last smile before continuing further down the hall to his room.
“I may not have had to hide you, Golem!” I push into my room, hearing his padded feet move quietly as he enters from the shadows of the balcony.
“If you had been there tonight I think the Princess would’ve been open to you entering the library with me.”
Golem nods as I turn back towards the door, peaking my head outside. The bath I had earlier tonight was too quick. I want to soak in the hot water again and take my time, especially after learning that I’ll be starting my search tomorrow.
A young girl stationed down the hall notices me looking her way and walks over in greeting.
“May I please have some hot water for a bath?” I ask, spotting a lick of flames on her neck under her tunic. She smiles at me and then closes her eyes for a brief moment, then opens them again.
“It is done, Lady.”
I stare at her in astonishment before peeking back into the room. Sure enough, white tendrils of steam are coming out from the archway in the wall.
“That’s amazing,” I whisper in awe.
She laughs, “it is, Lady. Can I get you anything else?”
“No, thank you. I appreciate it.”
The bath is relaxing and everything I need it to be. I sit in the hot water for what seems like ages and let my thoughts roam again to the conversation at dinner, unable to ignore the curiosity still burning through me.