CHAPTER XVI #6
Will the King host court for the Leviathan delegation riding at our backs?
Will we sit around the room and discuss politics and gossip, all the while feigning ignorance to what they did to us in the Plains?
Will the Knowledge crowd dance into the night completely oblivious to the happenings outside their content lifestyle? Will I?
No.
That lifestyle was once mine, the beautiful nights surrounded by beautiful lights, but I can’t say that it is anymore.
Not after everything I’ve experienced in Warrior, or after everything I’ve experienced during this whole travel.
And while I still yearn for the beauty of Knowledge as my home, I can’t deny the shift in mindset that is routing itself deep in my soul.
We reach Bartley’s Clearing at midday, its forest standing tall and inviting in the far distance.
We stop at the same small pub as we did on our way out, all of us hiding our small laughter as the curvy human woman grins at Cal with sultry eyes.
Cal, to his benefit, doesn’t add fuel to the fire when she angles her chest in front of him, and instead just gives her a small nod in gracious thanks when she drops off our ales.
“It is not lost on me,” Cal looks around the table when the woman leaves, his eyes landing on Desmond, Alanna and Barnes, “that the last time we sat under this roof we were all sitting at different tables.”
The Warrior Discerni nod with a smile as my big friend lifts his mug, “to the eventful travel we’ve had together as friends. And to many others.”
Our group toasts together with grins.
We reach Bardot at sundown, the castle greeting us in a serene manner as the bottled moonslight shines softly against the massive greenstone walls.
We ride through the Queen’s white rose garden and towards the small welcoming village of shops and taverns, the patrons just getting started on settling down for the night.
Barnes bids us farewell at one of the inns along the main road as the rest of us continue towards the eastern gate.
“Lord Desmond! Lady Alexis!” Danny grins when we ride up, reaching for our reins, “you’re back!”
“We are,” I smile and hoist my leg over Millie’s saddle, “how has everything been, Danny?”
The boy shrugs, “all’s well, Lady. The same.”
The same.
The castle indeed looks exactly how I remember, though a bit of the sparkle is lost.
“You have a bird sitting on your shoulder, Lady Alexis!” he exclaims, watching as Stormfall extends his wings behind my back.
I chuckle and toss him a cinerin, “he’s my new friend.”
“Alanna,” Desmond’s voice booms from beside his horse, “you’re on the second level on the east wing. The rest of you, I trust, have your own residences to go home to.”
Cal, Holis and Mana all nod at the comment, glad to be home.
“My brother will be here tomorrow with the Livyatan delegation,” Desmond continues, looking directly at the men, “we both expect you all at court.”
More nods greet the Master Informer as the Knowledge crew unfastens their travel packs.
“Lady Alexis,” Desmond beckons.
I hoist my own packs over my shoulders and wave goodbye to the rest of our group and Danny. Desmond walks beside me, the two of us entering the east wing.
“This is unnecessary,” I tell him with a scowl.
Desmond looks at me with arched brows, “you will rest in your room tonight, Lady Alexis. No adventures.”
I narrow my eyes on the Master Informer and reach down to unscrew Golem’s jar. The magical creature immediately greets us from the shadows of a staircase we walk towards, his head dipping into a nod as he looks curiously at Desmond.
“She stays in her room tonight, Golem,” Desmond says in stern greeting.
Golem nods again.
“Completely unnecessary,” I huff, following the two up the familiar set of stairs that leads to the second floor.
Stormfall grips my shoulder hard as we move down the hall, the Master Informer leading us straight to my room before he stops in front of my door.
I scowl at the back of his head, not even wanting to know how Desmond knows which residence is mine.
“Lock this behind you,” he commands.
I roll my eyes.
“Lock this door behind her,” he repeats, now looking directly at Golem.
“Really,” I look between the two of them.
“Really,” Desmond responds, “no adventures tonight. No chance of Troy running into you unannounced.”
“Goodnight, Prince Desmond,” I huff, turning my key in the lock.
Desmond waits until I close the door firmly behind Golem and I, his footsteps only receding when I turn the lock once more.
I let out a deep breath and lean against the door, watching as Golem quickly moves past me through the small reading room and heads to the shadowy balcony.
Stormfall jumps off my shoulder and does the same, flying under the arch and gliding over Golem’s head as they both bound into the night.
“Not too far, Storm!” I yell.
. Stormfall caws in agreement just as I walk into my main room. I drop my traveling packs on top of the bed and sling my bag over my shoulder, hearing Golem’s jar rattle at the bottom.
“Golem?” I call.
He shuffles back inside, eyes finding mine in question.
“What do I do with your home? Should I take it back to the King?”
He shakes his head, no, then disappears outside as quickly as he came.
“Alright, then,” I mumble, “tomorrow.”
I sigh and lean down to remove my boots and daggers, then unpack all of my clothes and leave them in a pile for wash. I grab a blanket from the bed and move out to the balcony to join my traveling companion, his stoic features greeting mine before he glances at Stormfall in the distance.
“He certainly knows how to make himself at home,” I smile.
The Bird of Ash dips through the dark sky along the rose garden, his wings soaring just above the rows as he heads in the direction of the Bell Grove.
Golem gives me a small smile in agreement and then looks up to the moons above us, his brown robes swaying with the breeze as I lean into his side.
I look over the land I’ve called home for so long, letting it bring a sense of peace to my thoughts I haven’t felt in a while.
I should have known it wouldn’t last…
A heavy urge pulls at my gut, the feeling so strong and demanding that I have no words to describe it.
The urge pulls me to disband this sense of calm, to forgo any relaxation and contentment and instead replace it with the steady beat of an excited heart.
And with it, I can no longer stand still. I need to visit the Great Oak.
“Let’s go, Golem,” I push off his shoulder.
“Storm!” I yell to the Bird of Ash, “come back inside. You’ll be able to fly where we’re going!”
Stormfall’s yellow eyes meet mine in an instant from afar.
He flies out from the Bell Grove and lands gracefully on my shoulder, his beak caressing just under my ear as I turn back into the room.
I swiftly pull my boots back on and fashion both blades underneath, slinging my bag on my shoulder as I walk into the reading room with Golem following.
“We’re just going to the Great Oak… please don’t try to hold me back. I will quite literally attempt to cut through the door if you do.”
Golem considers my words in silence. He nods after a moment, then flicks his hand at the door as it unlocks.
“Thank you,” I whisper, stalking into the hall.
I don’t know why I’m rushing, nor what I’m expecting, but the sinking urge to visit the Great Oak is making me take the walk at a near run.
What am I looking for?
What do I even hope to achieve?
Golem follows behind as I rush into a staircase.
I’m looking for beauty.
Not the calming beauty that I found outside, but the type of beauty that only comes from accepting a challenge.
I’m looking for something daunting and grandeur, a way to reclaim all of the events of late.
I’m looking for life.
I’m looking for fire.
No more peace and calm.
My heart beats in anticipation when we leave the staircase and walk onto the ground floor.
You’re not going to find it, Alexis. You’re not going to find what you’re looking for here.
I walk with haste and push the feeling away, catching Golem’s look of concern from my side.
The massive oak comes into view before I have the chance to console him, the lanterns of bottled moonslight catching my attention in soft greeting.
I look around and see no one in the large room with us, just me, Golem, Storm and the massive oak that’s standing tall in welcome.
Too welcoming.
Take it, my mind demands as I look over the hundreds of brown branches that encompass the full of the ceiling. The mass of limbs no longer look intimidating to me, just inviting.
Claim it.
Make it daring.
I weave through the roots without hesitation, stopping only when Golem wraps a hand around my arm from behind.
His eyes dart over my face in almost near fascination, but once again he just nods in understanding before turning back around.
His gaze keeps watch for any incomers as I lean down to my boots and pull out both daggers.
I’m going to climb to the top.
I strain my neck and look up the massive trunk.
The thickest branches protrude from the middle, so I’ll need to use my blades to climb until I can lean on them for leverage.
Stormfall grips my shoulder in comfort just as I swing the larger blade over my head and pierce the bark, both of his talons holding on tight as I jump and do the same even higher with the other.
Fuck, this requires a lot of upper body strength.
My arms scream in protest as I hoist myself up, my leg lifting to the larger dagger as I rest my boot firmly on top of it.
I look down at the position I’m in and groan at what I have to do next, knowing that once I pull the blade out from under my boot I’ll lose my standing leverage.