CHAPTER XVI #9
“Such humble Warriors,” I tease, “modest in everything except your sexual activities.”
“Never those,” Alanna smirks back at me, “we enjoy that too much to hide.”
Don’t I know.
Alanna eyes the next stone, then looks back at me with a small frown on her lips. She quickly averts her gaze when she notices I’m looking at her, that frown disappearing in an instant as she schools her features into indifference.
“What’s wrong?”
She opens her mouth to reply but then decides better of it, jumping again to the next step before we even get close to it.
I hold back my gasp and watch her body fly over the empty space below her, instantly having to remind myself that she’s a Discerni.
Even if she falls to the darkness below, she’ll live.
I’ll probably have to find someone to set all of her bones back in place, but she’ll live.
“Alanna,” I sigh, cautious of the deep fall below as Golem and I hop on next to her.
Alanna smirks, “human.”
“Why do you do that?” I ask as the slab takes off, “why do you call me human like that, knowing what you know?”
“A habit formed from Woodlands, Alexis,” she looks at me in true apology, “both Princes have consistently asked that I knock it.”
I nod at her answer, not much caring for any habit that forces a Discerni to speak to a human in such a tone, but I know Alanna, and I know that she doesn’t think of me in that way.
“While I don’t like knowing where that habit comes from, I don’t mind that it comes from you,” I give her a small smile, “I’ll be your human friend, Alanna. As will Cal, I suspect.”
When and where this unexpected friendship formed between us, I don’t know. But in the small amount of time that I’ve known Alanna, I really have come to regard her as my friend. I hope she hears that sentiment in my statement.
“I was going to ask you about Cal just now,” she says softly, referencing her prior frown, “if you two have ever-”
“-No,” I shake my head vigorously, “it’s never been like that.”
Alanna sighs in relief as we move up the mountain.
“Though I do know of you and the Prince…”
The Warrior Discerni looks back at me in an instant. I smile at her cool grey eyes and shrug in answer.
Whatever was between her and Keane, was. I’m confident enough in myself to admit that Alanna is more than desirable with her cool fire, and I don’t blame Keane for wanting to experience a piece of it.
“You always surprise me,” she replies quietly, gaze questioning if my nonchalant gesture is genuine. I grin again, letting her know that it is.
“Ancients, Alexis,” she shakes her head, “I need to give you more grace.”
“On that, we can agree,” I laugh and jump to the next step with her.
Our small group finally reaches the large arch carved into the mountain and moves into the tunnel.
The late morning sun greets us at the end as the smell of cinnamon fills the air.
We step onto the small cobblestone pathway and into the hustle of the city, the greenstone buildings surrounding us lined with storefronts and taverns that have green vines and bright flowers lining each of their walls.
I lead us out of the side alley and onto the main road, smiling at the hundreds of people passing by as we head towards the Southern Park.
“Claron’s Way to the right, Butcher’s Block on our left. Claron’s will lead you to a more subdued and quiet setting that has some of the best views that overlook Bardot. The Block has a high rise three floors up that acts as a postwatch over the Barren Flats.”
I show Alanna around, ignoring the many glances that are stolen our way as we walk.
The patrons here are all whispering behind their hands, some of them even stopping in their everyday tasks to openly stare at us.
It takes me a while to realize that they’re not only ogling at the green and black of our combined attire, but at Golem striding next to us and Stormfall sleeping on my shoulder.
“I’ve been wondering why everyone is staring at us,” I start laughing, “but look at us. What a ragtag crew we are.”
“Let them stare,” Alanna gives a cool smile, “let them see Warrior and Knowledge, human and Discerni, walking side by side.”
Golem nods beside us in vigorous agreement.
We reach the park and head up the stairs to Sera’s Café, my eyes darting to the veranda when we enter as I spot Holis, Mana and Cal already seated at a table.
The three men are smiling and conversing with eachother under the sun, but there’s someone else sitting with them as well, someone who is all too familiar.
Sera.
She’s seated next to Mana, her light brown hair flowing behind her with the breeze as she leans in to the twin.
I stop in my tracks.
Mana and Sera?
The woman whose café I frequented at every travel to the Palisades.
Mana turns in my direction, noticing that I’m standing at the top of the stairs while Alanna walks onto the veranda. Sera looks at him in question, then at me, and whispers something in his ear before standing up and planting an affectionate kiss on his temple.
I remain still as she walks my way.
“Alexis,” she nods, remembering my name.
Or perhaps she’s always known it, I have no idea now. My thoughts are scattered in every different direction.
“My husband has been telling me stories of your recent travels,” her eyes dart to Storm sleeping on my shoulder.
Husband?
“What an adventure you’ve all had!”
I look back at the beautiful Discerni woman in open confusion. Until this morning, the longest conversation I’ve ever had with her was the day before I left for Pyre, but now she’s chatting so openly that I don’t know how to react.
Sera’s eyes turn kind as she takes a step forward, her friendly smile understanding. “You found this café on your own, Alexis. A pull within you. Apologies for not mentioning anything sooner, but we were not going to ruin that.”
Her words tug deeply at my heart. I glance over her shoulder and look at Mana, the quiet twin nodding at me from afar in agreement. Everyone else at the table is watching us quietly, and I realize with a frown that I’m being impolite, shocked into my emotions and unmoving.
“This is Golem,” I offer in awkward greeting, averting my eyes back to Sera and pointing next to me. Sera gives Golem a deep bow as her long hair moves in front of her shoulders. “An honor.”
“And Stormfall,” I bring my hand up to his beak, stroking it in his sleep.
She looks at the Bird of Ash in wonder, nodding softly, “I should like to meet him when he is awake. Perhaps tonight,” her eyes sparkle.
“You will be at court?” I ask in surprise.
“Yes,” she smiles, “the invitation was extended to us all.”
“Tonight then,” I smile back at her.
Sera runs a hand over her glittering gold apron, “I’ve got some coffee settling. Let me bring it out for you all.”
“Thank you.”
Golem and I quietly make our way over to the table on the veranda and watch Mana stand in greeting.
“But you don’t wear a ring, Mana,” I say curiously.
His blue-green eyes crinkle in warmth as his hand reaches under his shirt. He pulls out a gold chain that has a gold ring attached to the bottom, the full of it simple in its beauty.
“And you, Holis?” I look at his brother.
“No suitor and living in the Palisades, Alexis,” he replies with a small smile.
“Why have we never done this before?” I ask quietly.
“The timing was never right,” Mana replies.
“Though we’re glad it is now,” Holis adds.
I look at Cal, “and you, Cal? Whereabouts in the Palisades are you?”
“Slumming it above Drinker’s Row,” my big friend smiles, “we’ve always been near, Alex.”
My heart sinks as I look at all three men. They’ve always been near. Just above me. Ready for the next notice of travel so that they can escort me to the library entrances. They’ve always remained close, even when we weren’t traveling.
I sit down with a small nod and turn to hide my face, pretending to look at Stormfall sleeping on my shoulder as I hold back the tears that threaten to fall from my eyes.
We spend all of late breakfast and into midday on top of the veranda overlooking the Southern Park.
My heart is full. Sera and Mana are so obviously in love.
There’s no denying the affection shared between them.
Their stolen glances and small touches below the table make my heart sing, their interactions reminding me so much of the King and Queen.
Eventually, both Cal and Alanna announce that they need an ale, and I promptly agree with the statement. Sera takes no affront and laughs as she clears our plates.
I stand with her, remembering something she said from the first time we had a conversation, and grab a few more plates before following her back inside.
“Sera,” I walk at her side, “did you notice the Discerni man following me that day? The last time we saw eachother?”
Sera peers over my shoulder and looks at Mana, urging me behind the counter as she drops her plates down.
“I just wanted to put him on your notice,” she nods quietly, “I didn’t know his intentions, only saw the way he was looking at you too often.”
“Your gut told you well,” I reply, my voice just as quiet as our group begins walking towards us, “he is no longer of this Old World. The Ancient has him.”
I hold her eyes in genuine appreciation, “thank you, Sera. He was not a good man.”
The Discerni woman smiles and takes the dishes from my hands.
“I know you’re in the safety of the castle below, but just know that you can call on me, us, if you ever need anything.”
I nod in agreement and smile at the rest of the group when they catch up to us.
Mana decides to stick behind with his wife, no doubt wanting to spend as much time with her as possible, but affirms that we’ll see them both later tonight for court.
Cal, Holis, Alanna, Golem and I all walk back down the stairs and onto the main road, letting Cal lead our small group to whatever tavern he often frequents.
“Actually,” I pause in our walk and turn to Alanna, “what are you wearing tonight?”