CHAPTER XIX #6
The boy just nods and hurries around the rest of the table, dropping off everyone’s drinks of whiskey and ale before taking off to grab another round. I sigh at his reaction and reach for my mug, thinking that Storm might be too foreboding for his own good.
“Did I hear you order another round of whiskey, Lady Alexis?” Tripler leans forward with a smile, his deep blue eyes sparkling.
“Just for you, Tripler,” I laugh and tip my ale at him, “both you and Sutton have a good deal of catching up to do from last night.”
Tripler and his sister laugh and raise their mugs to the center of the table, the full of our group saluting to the night.
“Those Warriors have had too much of an impact on her…”
“Look at the way she dresses.”
“So improper.”
“Is she even Knowledge anymore?”
“The way she walked into the room with that beast of a bird, as if we lived in an atrium…”
“No. The way she walked into the room with the King’s Golem.”
“What a slap in the face to His Grace.”
“He should immediately demand him back.”
Holis moves closer to me in his seat, as does Alanna. I straighten in my chair and take another long sip of ale before letting my eyes roam to the head table.
The Queen averts her stare on me when I find her first, her husband moving an arm under the table to casually grab her hand.
Troy is engaging in a silent but fervent conversation with Prince Isham and Edam, the three of their eye’s flicking back to our table with every tilt of their quiet conversation.
Edam openly catches and holds my gaze with an intense hatred, then turns back to the men and continues with the huddled conversation.
My gaze darts back to the Queen, who now looks calm and serene.
She smiles at something her husband says and squeezes his hand under the table.
Past the King and to his right are the brown eyes I’ve felt on me since the moment we walked in.
I finally take a deep breath and meet that intense gaze, ready to greet my Prince.
Keane hits me with his location summoning the moment our eyes lock.
My lower abdomen instantly flushes with his want and need, the pull so strong that my hips quite literally rock in the chair.
I hold back a moan and quickly reach for my mug, wanting to scowl at him over the rim but all I can do is give him a lust-filled look.
He smirks from afar, eyes dipping to my chest where I know he’s focusing in on the sound of my racing heart.
He’s wearing another dark ensemble tonight, though this time he’s in a simple deep green satin shirt, the fabric so rich and thick that the color nearly looks black.
He casually leans back in his chair and reveals the long cut down the middle, causing some of the eyes from the women close to his table to swoon at his muscled chest. I find myself focusing on that black chain around his neck and cross my legs to the building ache that needs him between my thighs.
The women here can look all they want, but my hands were on those sparkling black and fluorite gems this morning, pulling him closer to me.
I place my mug on the table and absently fiddle with my own ring as I look over the sleeves of his shirt, taking in the full muscles of his arms under the tight satin.
Keane’s hand reaches down to grab his glass of whiskey and I notice with a smile that a thin sliver of white is shining against his tanned skin.
It’s the scar from the gash he picked up in the Bulwark Plains, and fuck me, it looks good on him. Damn good.
“Your whiskeys, Lady,” the serving boy announces again.
I turn to him with a sigh and remove my gaze from the Prince.
“For the table, please.”
Sutton and Triple beam as the three human soldiers all grin in unison. We all grab the half glasses and raise them again as Sutton toasts our group to a good night ahead.
“To an eventful night in the Court of Knowledge that is filled with so much gossip that we simply do not have the time nor energy to care about,” she grins, “and to our missing friends, Cal and Mana, who we will see later on in the Palisades. ”
“Here, here,” we all down the drink straight. The full of our group crashes our glasses on the table in Warrior fashion when we finish, myself and Holis included.
Sutton and Tripler laugh in enjoyment, rolling their eyes when the loud clank causes many to begin whispering again. Holis leans over and bumps my shoulder with a grin, the two of us sharing a look of amusement at how easily we’ve fallen in with the Warrior crowd.
“And this came from Chef, Lady,” the boy adds.
He leans over my shoulder next to Alanna and drops a small plate filled with raw red meat on the table.
“Thank you…?”
“Jesse, Lady,” he gives me a small smile before turning his hesitant gaze back on Stormfall.
“Thank you for your help tonight, Jesse,” I smile, “and for last night.”
“Your Lady remembers me?” he asks shyly.
“Of course,” I grin, “you were so helpful.”
“Thank you, Lady. Whatever you need, just let me know.”
“I will, Jesse,” I smile and watch him walk away. My eyes roam past Keane, who is speaking with his parents, to Desmond sitting beside him. The Master Informer is engaged in a conversation with Daniel as the Discerni Lord strokes his brown beard in thought.
“Lady Alexis,” a calm, new voice states from behind.
I turn in my seat with a smile.
“Sir Miles,” I greet the man, then frown as I notice his Discerni features of indifference looking back at me.
Miles’ face is sharp when I stand up to greet him with a questioning look.
He gives me a small smile that doesn’t quite reach his normally sparkling blue eyes, then angles his body to the right before he glances at his table a few ways down.
“We should all like to hear of your travels, Lady Alexis,” he nods to the older Discerni men who are watching the two of us, the lot of them openly staring.
I peer over their quiet faces to the wives at their sides, each of them maintaining a stoic look.
I try not to let my frown deepen when I notice the general ambiance of the table, an ambiance that asks me not to refuse Miles’ gesture for risk of social suicide.
The sound of padded feet coming to my side has me smiling at the older man.
“But of course, Sir Miles,” I nod, “I’m sure you’re acquainted with Golem?”
Sir Miles remains indifferent as he turns to the magical creature and bows his head. “A pleasure, as always, Golem.”
Golem gives the Discerni the smallest of nods in return.
“Will you join our table, Lady Alexis?” he asks again, his face still unreading.
“I would be honored,” I nod and then look back to Holis, “may I leave Storm with you, Holis?”
My friend eyes Sir Miles for a brief moment before quietly nodding his head. He reaches his hand out for Stormfall and brings him to the table.
“Eat,” I command the bird, letting my fingers run down his back as he gives a small caw in recognition.
I pick up my glass of whiskey and catch both Sutton and Tripler looking over Miles with small grimaces, the brother whispering something to his sister as she nods over her drink.
I take a deep breath and turn back to Sir Miles with a smile, nodding for him to lead the way.
I know this is an ambush. Know that some of the whispers I’ve been hearing tonight have come from Miles’ table, but choose to deal with it head on.
A number of glances follow the three of us, most prominently on Golem, and when we reach the table of older men, the group has an empty chair waiting for me next to Sir Miles’ wife.
“You’ve met my wife, Sanora,” he sits down at my right, “and the other men here, Sir Thomas and his wife Maryann,” I nod and smile to the two, “Sir Petarch and his wife Constance, Sir Kirke and his wife Jordyn, and Lord Alexander of Mare.”
Miles smiles at a younger Discerni Lord who looks to be just a few years older than Keane.
“Lord Alexander is our newest addition, though, hopefully, one that will last.”
The Lord tips his whiskey to Miles and then catches my gaze, his hazel eyes peering back at mine in hidden amusement.
He’s a handsome Discerni, with light brown hair that waves across the top of his head just as Keane’s does.
But where Keane’s is cut shorter on the sides, his is a bit longer and falls just over his ears.
“Your dress looks like one that was made from Amara’s shop in the Western Palisades, Lady Alexis,” the black haired Discerni wife, Constance, notes from across the table, “but different.”
“Yes,” I smile at her, “I had to have it altered when we arrived at the Court of Warriors. Their fashion at court is a bit different than ours.”
“We can see that,” another Discerni wife, Maryann, gives a small grimace, eyeing my exposed shoulders and chest, “you didn’t think to wear something more suitable for Knowledge tonight?”
“I can’t say the desire ever came to me, Lady,” I reply.
Maryann shifts in her chair, turning to look around the room at the normal attire gracing the rest of the women here as Lord Alexander hides a smile behind his whiskey.
“And the court there?” Constance asks in curiosity, leaning forward in her seat, “we have not visited since His Highness took over as Leading Lord.”
I smile at the woman, thinking of the smokey room of Gaumond and the open stars in its ceiling. Then I think to the people there, all who live and enjoy life.
“Lively,” I grin.
“And you and your crew were hosted by the Prince?” Sir Petarch asks, leaning forward with his wife.
“We were,” I nod, remembering the anxiety that coursed through me on that first night, “a properly nervous night for me as you can envision.”
“We can envision,” Constance chuckles, giving me a knowing smile.
“And where exactly did your travels take you this time, Lady Alexis?” Maryann’s husband, Sir Thomas, asks coolly, “what part of Pyre?”
“Through the border of Disce and Livyatan, into the city of Red Falls.”