CHAPTER XII
EXHILARATION
“You’re alive then, human?”
Alanna greets me with Millie’s reins in hand and a small smile gracing her cool face.
Golem and I are standing in a courtyard before the stables, an interesting place within the fortress that is stationed further down from the throne room.
All of the stalls and horses are settled within the mountain, but the courtyard we’re on protrudes out of the rock and under the open sky.
The group last night had a few more drinks on the balcony after dinner, with the Ancient’s baby beast quickly becoming the center of attention.
He was passed around the group in greeting and really took to Mana, Holis and Morose, the three of them interacting with him in absolute comfort and smiling every time he puffed out his chest for more affection.
When it came time for Keane to hold him, the two stared at eachother with proud shoulders and thoughtful eyes as the rest of us held our breaths.
I didn’t think the beast would hop onto Keane’s wrist, but the Bird of Ash eventually took a step and then another onto his pointer finger, letting Keane brush his chest in soft greeting.
As the night wore on, Prince McQuoid announced that him, Keane and Desmond still had a few more matters to talk over.
That statement quickly ended the small dinner party and sent everyone on their way.
Clair escorted me back through the private hall and to my new room, promising to see our group off in the morning.
I spent a long time in the tub again last night, scrubbing and soaking for the near two day ride it would take to get back to Fumagalli.
Golem took up his normal residence at the end of the bed when I finished, while the baby beast felt comfortable enough to leave the curve of my neck and sleep on the bedpost behind my head.
Sleep found me quickly the moment I got under the covers, though I do remember waking up to Keane splashing in the tub sometime late at night.
He joined me in bed after his wash and pulled my back against his chest as he did the night in the Bulwark Plains.
It felt right, the way his hips pressed into my rear and his arm tightened around my waist, and when he woke up, still holding me in a tight embrace, that feeling of rightness settled deep in my core as he pressed his lips to the back of my head.
“I have a few more things to take care of with Desmond this morning.”
“I’ll meet you when we all depart,” I mumbled, still half asleep.
It’s now the late morning and some of our group has already started to ready for that departure. I extend my hand to Alanna and take Millie’s reins with a grin.
“Still alive, Alanna. You get to put up with me for a little while longer.”
The blonde Discerni gives a half laugh before her eyes catch the side of my bruised face. She grimaces when I tilt my head in the opposite direction to hide the purple marks.
“Don’t turn away, Alexis,” she grabs my arm, “I was just thinking to myself that the bruises look good on you. They’ll fade soon, but I can tell they have a story. Wear those marks with pride.”
Hirovale’s beast chirps from under my hair, causing Alanna to loosen her grip before she takes a quick step back. I give her a small smile and lower my hood, pushing my hair away from my face in the process.
“Stormfall agrees with you.”
Alanna’s normally cool grey eyes are now wide with shock. She looks back at the Bird of Ash as he pinches my neck, hopefully in acceptance of his name.
“Why am I not surprised?” she shakes her head with a side smile.
I grin and bring my hand up to my shoulder, “would you like to meet him?”
“What?” she takes another step back, eyes narrowing as she watches Storm’s talons land on my finger. “No, that’s alright.”
“Scared of a little bird?” I chuckle as the baby beast unfurls his wings, “you’re not one to back down from a challenge, Alanna.”
Alanna scowls, “well played.”
I laugh and bring Stormfall to her outstretched hand, watching as he jumps from my finger to hers. The Warrior Discerni holds her arm as far away from her body as possible, the position so awkward that it sends me into a fit of laughter.
“I will put eggs in your bedroll tonight,” she grumbles.
“A bird?” I laugh, “of all things, you’re scared of a bird?”
“Don’t try to sell this thing as just a bird, Alexis. I can feel the power rolling off of him.”
I brush away my tears and hold out my hand with a quiet chuckle.
“Come on, Storm, you’re making the Warrior lady very uncomfortable.”
Stormfall jumps back onto my hand as Alanna quickly walks away with her horse.
“Eggs and fish…”
I laugh and turn to the brown mare next to me, giving her some love.
“I’ve missed you too much, Millie girl.”
Millie snorts in greeting and moves her muzzle into my chest. I rub the front of her nose and let her take in the scent of the newcomer with me.
“There will be no fighting between the two of you, alright?”
Stormfall chirps in agreement and extends his wings, flapping them easily as he starts to hover in the air.
I watch in amazement as he rises a bit higher and then lands gently on top of Millie’s mane, my gentle horse remaining still and unfazed as Stormfall raises his neck.
His proud head pops up between her ears and gives me a look as if to say not a problem here.
I shake my head with another laugh. This has been a beautiful morning so far.
“He seems to be fitting in well,” Princess Clair notes from behind.
I turn to her with a smile and dip into a curtsy.
“None of that,” she grins, reaching out for a hug.
I return her embrace and spot her holding a small bundle wrapped in cloth.
“Books for you. Two on the general history of Pyre, as told by the Pyrenese. An account of Livyatan and their Kingdom over the past seven hundred years, and last, a full text on the Ancient Ten. Morose said you’d be interested in reading into Hirovale, Damen and Windsor.”
Clair laughs when I take them excitedly.
“You and I will meet again in Red Falls, Alexis, and we will drink and read around the grand fire in the library. Perhaps this little one will even be in attendance,” she looks down at her belly with a soft smile.
“I would like that very much, Clair,” I grin.
“Me too.”
“It’s really okay that I left the library in tatters?” I ask, thinking of the mounds of books that were left on each of the heights we made a home, “Morose isn’t upset?”
Clair laughs again and shakes her head, “the books she can deal with, but I think she’s more so pondering how she’s going to restructure everything around your Prince.”
Restructure everything? Around my Prince?
What does Keane have to do with anything?
“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but I’m not sure what you mean?”
“His summoning,” Clair replies with a note of awe in her voice, “you were barely on the twenty-eighth height when he arrived. Cal had to use each staircase to bring you down and it was becoming tedious.”
The confusion must be showing on my face because she looks back at me in question, her blue eyes searching mine.
“Forget me,” she suddenly smiles, waving her hand in the air, “Morose will be happy to spend the next few months re-organizing and cataloguing.”
My smile is hesitant. She’s now the second person that has asked me to brush off that portion of the story, the first being Keane himself.
“I have a large canteen of brown ale to give to Cal, as well as some of our tobacco from the Crystal Mountains,” she smiles and looks around. The full of our group is now present on the courtyard and saddling up, though we’re still missing Keane, Desmond and Lord Daniel.
“He’ll appreciate that greatly,” I smile in goodbye.
Clair reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze.
“Until next time, Alexis.”
“Until next time,” I nod as she walks away.
“Wait, Clair!”
The Princess turns around, her long red hair flowing against the wind.
“Do you really have Tarragons here? I was hoping to see one.”
Clair’s hand reaches instinctively for her belly, her eyes turning soft on mine.
“But you have, dear…”
I shake my head in confusion, watching the red flames on her arms move under her skin as she caresses her stomach. She’s looking down so lovingly at her belly, and in that moment I spot another set of flames, these just barely visible but weaving their way around her larger ones.
“Prince McQuoid,” I exhale in disbelief as Clair smiles wide with a nod. “Him and Morose, yes? Their family line? Is it a part of their summoning?”
Clair nods again as I shake my head in wonder.
“That explains his tattered pants and boots… and the lack of a shirt,” I add in small amusement.
The Princess gives a spirited laugh, “we have a tailor in Breccia who can weave clothing for him that is fireproof, but Rion insisted on flying to Red Falls so that left us with little time to pack. He’s lucky his riding pants have lasted so long as they have.
They usually burst into flames when he transitions. ”
My mouth drops.
The Princess laughs again and turns around, “next time, Alexis.”
I shake my head in awe as a small smile plays on my lips. Next time, indeed.
We ride through the town of Red Falls and follow along the gushing river, the snow-covered homes looking more familiar now as I take it all in for the last time.
Lord Daniel had decided to ride in the rear with me the moment we left.
He quickly inquired into my health and looked genuinely concerned at the bruises marring the side of my face, even though I assured him all was well.
He was also deeply curious about Stormfall, the baby beast deciding every now and then to make an appearance from under my hair before he jumped into the sky above and flew around our traveling group.
“He’ll be your companion, then?” Daniel asks, watching the Bird of Ash take off.
“Yes,” I smile, “I believe so.”
He drops his gaze and turns to look at me with a grin.
“You never cease to surprise me, Lady Alexis.”