CHAPTER IX #11
“Are there any other terms?” he turns back to Golem, “we know about his promise to share the knowledge with the other Kingdoms. I suspect he’ll have the book transcribed and copied?”
Golem nods in answer, but I know by now that Desmond’s questions were delivered too vaguely and the nod could be in answer to either of them.
“Are there any other terms to the agreement,” I glance at Golem, “other than the three we’ve listed just now?”
Golem looks back at me with a sad gleam in his eyes, almost as if he wished I hadn’t specified the question. He nods his head ever so slightly in answer, the subtle movement making me uncomfortable.
“It has to do with me…” I murmur.
His head sinks into another small nod.
I let my gaze fall to my lap and hear Keane curse and push off the settee.
“We need to navigate this properly, brother,” Desmond says softly.
“Fuck if I even know where to start,” Keane laughs.
I sigh and bring a hand up to my temple, taking another deep breath.
My thoughts drift to Princess Clair, to her warming smile and friendly eyes.
She mentioned wanting to spend time with me at some point down the road, even offered to loan me books with the expectation that she would receive them back.
Did she know or suspect that she would be seeing me again, under different circumstances?
“Golem…” I say quietly, “does the term have to do with me actually fulfilling the search?”
Golem eyes are steady on mine as he nods.
“So our father expects Lady Alexis to find the book?” Desmond asks, needing to confirm once more.
Yes.
“Here in Red Falls?” he continues.
I glance at Golem in anticipation and watch him give another nod.
“Shit,” Desmond exclaims quietly.
Keane extends his hands back to the settee, his grip so hard that it turns his knuckles white.
“Do we need to be worried about her finding this book?” he asks.
My heart thuds in my chest at the question. That’s not something I ever considered. I glance up at Golem and watch as he shakes his head, then nods.
“We do and don’t need to be worried?” I look at him in confusion, “is something going to happen when I find the book?”
Yes.
“To me?”
No, then yes, again.
Desmond frowns and eyes his father’s creation carefully. “We’re in friendly lands, Golem. Pyre is our ally.”
Golem remains still and glances between the three of us almost purposely.
“Our father wouldn’t send us into the hands of people he didn’t trust,” Keane states as Golem nods in the background, “nor would I. I don’t think our worries lie in this city or the people here, but perhaps in what comes next after finding the book.
My father has obviously deemed the text important, so much so that he’s kept Alexis and her travels a casual secret over the past two years.
Pyre is not our worry, though I am curious if traveling back with the actual book might be. ”
“The Leviathans?” Desmond inquires.
Keane gives a brief nod, “they were in the Plains from the moment we left Fumagalli. I have no doubt they’ll be waiting for us when we make the return trip home.”
“Wait a moment,” I eye them both, “you think this book is so important that the Leviathans will try to physically stop me from delivering it to your father?”
“Yes. But we won’t let that happen, Alexis.”
“Ancients,” I shake my head. We really were in danger in the Plains.
“Will it harm me?” I turn to my magical friend as a new worry settles in my gut, “the actual book. When I find it, will it harm me?”
I’ve read too many things in the past two years to know how harmful a book can be. Keane’s shoulders tense at the question just as Golem shakes his head vigorously. No.
“But some sort of anticipation or expectation will come once the book is found?” Keane pursues.
Yes.
“Was I on the right track in suspecting the Leviathans?”
Yes… and no.
“It’s regarding the term,” I remind him softly.
Yes.
“Are you expecting anything to happen here, Lady Alexis?” Desmond’s dark eyes find mine, “what have been your expectations during your past searches?”
“I expect nothing other than the job I am sent to do,” I shake my head, “search for the book and bring it home to the King.”
The room remains quiet as both brothers look at eachother in more confusion and anger. They’re hurt by their father’s actions and trying to navigate the best they can with what little information we all have.
“I suspect you two won’t see me,” I offer, glancing at Keane and Desmond before finally resting my gaze on Golem, “see us for all three days. I do have an expectation for this search- that I’ll need all the time I can get.”
“You’ll bring Golem with you?” Keane asks.
“Yes,” I nod, “its why he wasn’t at court tonight. I thought it best to keep him a secret should the Prince and Princess deny his entry. Though after meeting with Princess Clair tonight, I get the impression that she wouldn’t object to his presence, nor will her husband.”
Keane nods his head in approval, as does Desmond, the two of them looking a little relieved that Golem will be with me.
“But outside of time, I’m at a loss for anything else that may arise during my search. There’s been nothing of significance in the past two years that would lead me to believe something important needed to happen once the book was found, just that I need to bring it home.”
I pull my legs up to my chest with a sigh.
“But there is something else the Princess said…” I continue quietly, “something that hasn’t been sitting right with me all night. She mentioned that the reason for the meeting was based around the idea that only human hands could hold the book for fear of…”
I shake my head.
Too many damn coincidences.
“For fear of the book turning to ash,” Keane finishes.
“Yes,” I nod.
Ash.
This is now the second time the word has been referenced on my trip. First, in King Zander’s list of words for me to search for, bird of ash, and second in Clair’s comment, turning to ash. Is it just a coincidence?
“I take it to mean that the book cannot be touched by anyone of magical descent,” Keane replies.
“I do too,” I nod, sinking further into the cushions, “but there’s a parallel with the Princess’ comment and something your father reminds me of before I leave on every travel. It’s just not sitting well with me.”
“The book will not harm you, Alexis,” Keane says softly as Golem nods in confirmation.
“I know…” I murmur, “I don’t have a reason for what I’m feeling, only that there’s some connection I’m not putting together.”
Desmond clears his throat as I lose myself to that thought.
“We’ve confirmed that the Kingdoms Council occurred,” the Master Informer turns towards Golem, bringing everyone back on track, “and we know the way the votes landed curtesy of McQuoid. We also know of all of the terms that were set out by the leaders except one. We have an idea of who in Disce knows about the meeting-”
I sit up swiftly from in seat. “Do any members of my traveling crew know of the Council, Golem?”
Golem looks at me without expression.
“Cal?” I almost cry out.
No.
“Holis and Mana?”
Golem pauses slightly before replying, yes.
“Well that’s interesting,” Desmond murmurs.
Keane pushes off the settee in anger, “what the fuck is he playing at?”
The Master Informer shakes his head. “I don’t know, brother, but father always has his reasons.”
“He’s gone too far this time,” Keane shakes his head, “they know about the damn Kingdoms Council, Desmond. Next we’re going to be told that the whole of Knowledge knows besides us.”
“I’ll admit the twins are surprising,” Desmond runs a hand along his beard, “but I doubt the list is any longer. If they know anything about the Council, it’s for a specific reason.”
“You give him too much grace,” Keane scoffs, “father isn’t the omniscient man you always make him out to be in your head.”
“Let’s not-”
I stand abruptly and let the blanket fall to the floor as a thought forms in my mind. Keane and Desmond both turn at my sudden movement, the brothers watching me with narrowed eyes as I walk towards Golem.
“Golem…” I lift my hands to him with a small smile.
My new friend watches me with a deep sincerity, his head bowing in a slow nod as he lets me take his hands in mine. I squeeze them softly, so over the family tension and anger in this room, and give him a look of unriddled appreciation.
“For our love of adventure and all the mischief we’ve already shared on this trip together…”
He gives me a small smile.
“And for the many, many other adventures to come...”
His cool, clay hands squeeze mine in return.
“Will you please, to the best of your ability, answer this next question truthfully?”
Golem glances to Keane behind me and then to Desmond, then nods in confirmation.
“Thank you,” I bow low in respect. “When I return home, Golem, will King Zander explain himself fully?”
The magical creature’s smile is broad, as if he was waiting for someone to ask the question this whole time.
Yes.
“And will he do so in the presence of Princes Keane and Desmond?” I ask.
Yes.
My grin is large as I pull him in for a hug.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
Golem squeezes me in return.
“It’s settled, then,” I let him go and turn to the brothers with a smirk, “I’ll find the book and return home for answers. You’re both welcome to join if you’d like.”
Desmond stares back at me with a small smile of approval playing on his lips. He nods in answer, his dark eyes assessing me in a new light. I look towards Keane-
Ancients, why did I look at Keane.
He’s staring at me with such heated intensity that I nearly have to look away.
“I need to speak with Lady Alexis privately,” he says coolly.