CHAPTER XVI #4
Our dinner quickly turns into the passing of drinks and smoke, with Cal, Alanna, Desmond and Barnes joining the rest of us.
The full of our group sits comfortably into the night, everyone enjoying each other’s company without any distinction to the two separate races.
The easiness of it all has now become so normal to me, just as I think it’s become normal to Cal as well when I spot him looking around the group in happiness.
There’s just no division between any of us, no side smiles from the Discerni when we talk to them of life, and no silent gazes that remind us our lives are shorter than theirs.
It truly is a beautiful night, and I find myself thinking that this is how the Old World should be.
Knowledge definitely has the potential for it.
I watch happily as Stormfall dips through our group in fleeting moments, the Bird of Ash off on his own adventure for the night but always letting me know that he’s doing alright.
Even Golem stands closer to our fire and away from the shadows, the magical creature watching us as a father would over happy children.
The night truly is an exceedingly good one, but it’s missing only one thing…
I reach for the thin slab of oak in the bag at my side, my fingers hesitating on the pen that wants me to pull it forward.
It shouldn’t be possible, but my mind can’t help but wonder if maybe it is.
Humans aren’t even allowed to practice magic under the Old World rule, something that is constantly reminded of us on a near daily basis, and I don’t know why I think I’d be any sort of exception to that rule, but my fingers still itch to try.
My hand shakes as I fiddle with the two pieces in my bag for longer than necessary, my mind unable to still the anxiety that is coursing through my veins. Eventually my curiosity wins out and I bring my knees to my chest, pulling the pen and oak from my bag as I lay them in front of me on my legs.
Think of the person you wish to write to, Desmond’s voice permeates through my anxiety, envision them in your mind. When you write, keep their likeness in your thoughts.
I settle the slab in my lap and envision the moment I saw Keane standing under the Shadow Oak for the first time.
His brown hair was sweeping atop his head beautifully, his brown eyes alight in curiosity as he looked at me sitting against the trunk.
I envision the tug of his lips when they moved up in a small smile as he looked at me, his hand reaching out to a falling black leaf in front of him before catching it so perfectly by the stem.
The words of my thoughts etch into the oak almost easily, but I realize too late that I’m writing about him, not to him like I intended…
Catching the black leaf gracefully, knowing of its sharp beauty yet avoiding it altogether.
The words slowly fade across the wood and disappear into nothing. My heart skips a beat just as my eyes widen in disbelief. I think it worked.
But how?
How could that be possible?
My whole body stills as a new message appears in the exact same spot where mine vanished. The words etched into the wood are not my own, the script tall and elegant and perfected in its slants.
Ancients, Alexis.
My eyes widen as I read his words carved into the oak, an utter sense of disbelief taking over the full of my being.
I quickly peer up to look at Desmond in wonder, noticing that his gaze is fixated on the oak pen barely peeking out from above my knees.
The Master Informer gives me a small nod in affirmation, his whole face looking deeply thoughtful before he flicks his glance back down to where he knows I’m writing.
You were thinking of me under the Shadow Oak, weren’t you?
Fuck me. How is this happening?
I grab the flask of toddy from Alanna and take a hefty swig, letting the drink still my nerves. My hand trembles as I watch his words disappear, my fingers holding the pen in a death grip as I write back without shame.
Yes.
No idea, trouble.
His words appear across the wood, the letters strong and tall.
No idea what game you are playing…
My breath catches in my chest. I can hear his voice so perfectly in the words.
No longer a game, Your Highness.
No?
Not even a little, I smile.
I like the idea of you thinking of me in the middle of the Green Valley…
My eyes shoot up past the fire to the valley around us, my heart racing as I look for any hint of the Prince. He’s not here, I know it, but I still can’t help but wish he was.
Keane’s location summoning suddenly tugs against my abdomen, his want and need dripping with heavy desire. I press my thighs close and shift on the ground, my hands trembling a bit as I focus on the oak slab.
That’s not fair.
His chuckle vibrates in my bones.
Where are the Leviathans?
Arriving any moment. He writes.
And you?
In my quarters and envisioning you in my bed.
I’ll take you there, too, Alexis.
Always.
Heat courses down the back of my neck. I look around our group in a flush and spot everyone still chatting into the night, seemingly oblivious to me and my messages with Keane.
I think I’ll get under my bedroll now… I smirk. It’s nothing close to your bed, but don’t worry, I’ll pretend my hands are yours.
Alexis...
I can hear the playful warning in that single written word. Keane pushes his summoning against me again, his desire flowing so fiercely through my whole body that I have to stifle a gasp.
Fucking Ancients, this man.
Not even near me and still making my blood heat.
I turn my gaze down to the curve of my hips and look directly at my center, feeling his want and need grow stronger as I do. I arch my hips slightly off the ground and bite my lip at the thought of him watching me, trembling when a small grin of amusement brushes against my bones.
This truly is not fair.
But just as quickly as his summoning elicits all kinds of wanton need in my body, it’s just as quick to disappear. Keane releases his hold and leaves me in an aching mess, a set of new words forming on the slab.
They’re here.
The Leviathans.
Don’t touch yourself until I see you in Bardot.
I sigh and fall back on my bedroll, closing my eyes to the night.
We ride in the morning for the twin river city of Dalloway, stopping at the break in the road as Sutton and Tripler ride past us in goodbye.
The black banners with the green emblem of Warrior soar high above the black granite buildings as we take the main road in, the patrons of the lively city awake and busting and smiling to Desmond as he leads our group to a large café for breakfast. We walk into the two-story business and are promptly seated on the top veranda that has a beautiful view of the River Poise below.
I lean against the ledge with a smile, watching as Discerni and human men ready their fishing boats for the day.
Farther down the river are the twin bridges that curve over it, the black banners on one side starkly contrasting the green and gold on the other.
The smell of pepper and cool water greets our breakfast just as the hint of cinnamon flows through the air.
We’re closer to the border. Closer to the Court of Knowledge.
Our group resumes its travel after breakfast. A decent amount of men stop in their travels to nod at Desmond while others stop to openly stare at Stormfall sleeping on my shoulder.
Those stares are filled with both curiosity and awe, eyes darting between me and the Bird of Ash as some people point and others hide their whispers behind their hands.
I try my best to remain as normal as possible, but it doesn’t take long to realize that soon the full Kingdom of Disce will be talking.
They’ll whisper about a human woman accompanying a Prince of the Kingdom with a magical black bird on her shoulder, and they’ll wonder if that’s even allowed.
The Discerni will ask why they can feel power emitting from the bird and why a human woman seems to be its commanding companion.
Will rumors begin circling as to Storm’s origins then?
And if so, will that lead to even more talk of his Ancient?
Our horses bound over one of the massive twin bridges in the late morning and weave between the travelers as they cross the cities. The river gushes below us as more fishing boats grace the waters underneath, the men hollering back and forth as they navigate downstream.
Agnor creeps into view once we reach the peak middle of the bridge, and I smile when I spot Moonsbay Lake in the distance.
Its silver and blue waters reflect the light of the sun and sparkle against the various greenstone buildings that line all the roads, the sight prompting my Knowledge friends to smile as they take it in too.
I steal a closer look at Holis and Mana, wondering if either of the brothers have families or lovers in Knowledge to come home to.
It’s something I’ve thought about here and there but have never brought up in our travels.
Cal may know, and when I glance in his direction, I can’t help but grin at the foolish smile he sends to Alanna at his side.
He’s watching her reaction as we move into Knowledge, pointing out different vendors and pubs as she nods in reply.
We ride through Agnor at a slow speed and eventually make it to the outskirts of the city at midday.
Desmond announces to the group that we’ll ride hard for the rest of the afternoon, aiming to reach Brierman just after sunset.
I smile at the announcement, always loving the ride between Agnor and Brierman, and greet the gushing waters of the River Poise with its cool breeze whipping through my hair.
We stop once in the late afternoon to give the horses a break, the seven of us circling around the bank and sharing our food. I drop a hand to my bag and reach for Golem’s jar, smiling once again as the vibrations of his hello tickle my fingers.