CHAPTER XVIII #11
Cal catches my eyes before he turns from his chair, his features softening as his gives me a gentle shrug from afar, a silent goodbye. I smile at my friend and look at Holis and Mana in their departure, both of them watching me silently.
“I will see you tonight, Holis,” I nod to the Discerni in confirmation, “and you, later, Mana.”
The twins give me a small, timid smile that doesn’t quite reach their eyes. I can’t even envision the thoughts going through their minds right now- Do they dislike me for resenting their blessed Ancient so much?
Desmond gives me a curt nod before bowing to his father and Keane, walking around the table to guide the Knowledge men out of the meeting room before he shuts the door behind them.
I reach out for Stormfall and stroke his chest in apology to my earlier outburst, smiling when his yellow eyes greet mine.
“You can go back to sleep now, Storm.”
Stormfall takes a hesitant step onto my wrist but lets me bring him gently up to my shoulder. I know full well that this beast has taken the brunt of my anger all morning and am surprised when he leans into my neck and purrs in acknowledgement to my gesture.
I slowly push my chair back from the table and look at the two remaining Bardot men in front of me.
“I need to stretch,” I tell them and step away from the table. I walk the length of it before turning back to the father and son, noticing that all three of our glasses are empty.
The King and Prince silently watch my movements, eyes following my hands as I reach for our drinks and begin to pour. I push two glasses their way and grab my own with a deep breath, glancing into Zander’s blue eyes and hoping they return my gaze with kindness.
“I’m sorry for the things I said to you earlier,” I sigh to my King, “I let my emotions take over. I do not blame you for what has happened, nor do I hold any ill will towards you. I just don’t care for the secrecy of it all and wish I had been better informed. Forgive me, Your Grace.”
Keane lets out a small exhale and leans forward to grab his drink.
Zander continues to hold my gaze, that subtle sadness creeping back into his features.
“I fear, Alex, that you will indeed hold ill will towards me after this conversation, and I will not blame you for it, if so.”
No, I shake of my head, opting to greet whatever he tells us next with calm resolve. It truly can’t be any worse than what we’ve already heard...
“That remains to be seen,” King Zander extends his arm to the table, “please, sit back down.”
Keane and I watch his father in deep curiosity, watch as he takes a small sip of his whiskey and then sighs before leaning back in his chair.
“I told you earlier that the Leviathans were quick to cast their declining vote at the Kingdoms Council. They set their three-day term in hopes, and I’ve only just come to this conclusion today from our talk, that they would stall you from finding Hirovale’s Bird of Ash, not his words.”
Keane and I both nod.
“The fourth and final term also came from them,” the King turns to look directly at Keane, “it is custom for the Council, son, that any Kingdom not on the side of the majority be given another term, a balance of sorts, as the requesting Kingdom who called the Council is not allowed to vote nor dictate any terms.”
Keane nods to his father as Zander looks down at the drink in his hand, continuing quietly, “the Leviathans’ next term surprised me. Isham had the instinct to look forward, to dictate action in the event should the magical book be found…”
My heart thumps rapidly against my chest.
“What did they ask of me?”
Zander sighs heavily, his eyes turning to hold mine and asking for forgiveness again, “they’ve dictated, Alexis, that the human who traveled the Old World libraries not be allowed to practice magic, in any shape or form.”
I exhale at his words, the breath leaving my body and taking all of my anxiety with it.
That’s not bad at all.
I can live with that fourth term. Had planned on living with it already.
“They knew,” Keane scoffs, gripping his glass in anger.
“Yes,” King Zander frowns at the smile on my lips.
“And you’re bound to this term?” Keane continues coldly.
“Yes,” Zander nods, “I claimed all of Lady Alexis’ actions during and after her travels. The term is bound by the magic of the Old World.”
“It’s okay,” I tell Keane, feeling Stormfall’s talons grip my shoulder hard, “as Cal mentioned earlier, the desire is not there.”
“Alexis,” he replies in quiet warning.
I glance up to my Prince with the same smile I gave his father.
It truly is okay.
Whatever the Leviathans thought I’d do once I acquired Hirovale’s Bird of Ash would be put to rest. I have no desire to practice magic, and if that means giving up the oak wood and pen and giving up the small push of summoning to have Keane find me, then I can live with that wholeheartedly.
“The use and practice of magic could extend your human life, Alex,” King Zander responds softly. Too softly.
Again, I shrug to myself, that desire has never been there.
It would not be natural, nor would it be the way of things.
Unless…
I slowly glance to Keane across from me, my heart beating at an unsteady rhythm. His brown eyes find and hold mine in open question, his features searching for an answer that I cannot give.
Unless I wanted a longer life with Keane.
Ancients. It’s too soon to be thinking of that.
It’s not, my heart calls out to me, you’ve known what you’ve wanted from him since the Shadow Oak. Since Pyre. You’ve heard the things he’s said to you, the little hints he’s dropped when he’s with you. He wants you. He wants you with him, fully.
Ancients.
Fucking Ancients.
“I see things,” I tell the King quietly, breaking away from Keane’s intense gaze, “feel things. I can see the fire under the skin of the Pyrenese and the snakes hidden in the hair of the Leviathans. I can feel summoning when it is used on me…”
Keane’s heated gaze continues to scorch me from across the table.
“You’ve been referenced as the Human Reborn, yes, Alex?” Zander nods.
“Yes,” I reply.
“Then I believe what you are experiencing is only a fraction of what the Ancient intends for all humans in his plan to restore. Either that, or you are experiencing things as he can. You are the first, his trial. I have yet to hear of any other human in Disce experiencing the same. And so long as you are not actively practicing magic, summoning,” he continues, glancing over to his son, “then the term is held.”