CHAPTER XIX #8
“I have met him,” I nod, thinking of the amused golden eyes and youthful features that rest behind a man who once walked the Old World, “he is very much awake. But he’s different from what the history books describe. He’s not someone or something that I would actively seek out.”
“Any interaction with an Ancient is something to be wary of, Alexis,” Daniel nods, “and as Hirovale is the strongest of the Ancient Ten. The things he can do…”
I open my mouth to tell him that it’s not fear that consumes me in Hiro’s presence. Perhaps in our first meeting it did, but not since.
No. The thing that trouble’s me the most is how much his presence doesn’t actually scare me when I know it should.
“We’ve spoken a few times since he’s been awake. He confirmed that Stormfall was gifted on his behalf as a protector of sorts.”
“We’ve seen that in the Plains,” Daniel muses.
“Yes.”
“Is he still seeking you out, then?”
“He is. Whenever he chooses. He visited in Fumagalli on both nights I was to stay in the Hidden City. That was why I couldn’t make it. I’m sorry I wasn’t honest.”
“Alexis…” Lord Daniel shakes his head, taking a step closer.
“It is his magic that provides the sleeping air in the forest,” I tell him softly, “the rumor, or suspicion, was correct. He’s agreed to let it continue.”
“That’s generous...” he nods, looking at Stormfall, “but what did he tell you? Before I interrupted.”
I look down at my ale with hard features, “when he was telling me of his plan to restore magic, he told me that he wanted to restore it to its proper form, alluding to the ways of the past.”
Lord Daniel openly scoffs. “As if humans aren’t proper and of this Old World.”
The animosity in his tone tugs at my heart.
“I can see why you would battle, Alexis,” Lord Daniel continues coolly, his features reverting into the hard lines of a Discerni. He takes a large drink from his ale and then looks at me in narrowed thought.
“Do you want that for the humans of the Old World? Are you aligned with the Ancient’s plans?”
“You are the first person to ask me the question directly, Lord Daniel,” I reply softly, looking over the Lord in new assessment.
Everyone else has been unbothered by the Ancient’s words, and even though they all allude to knowing my inner thoughts, none of my friends have openly asked for my opinion on the matter. Keane knows. He understands the battle that rages through me. But even he has not asked me directly.
Lord Daniel takes another step forward, his hard eyes peering into mine as he repeats, “do you want that for the humans of this Old World, Alexis?”
“I do not,” I whisper, “nor do I want to be at the forefront of his plans. There is no reason to promote what he wants. Humans do not need magic to be worthy of this Old World.”
Daniel eyes me in agreement, “I suspect that many others of your kind will share the same sentiment.”
“Yes,” I sigh, then shake my head, “but I also recognize that I cannot speak for all of them, just as another cannot speak for me. There will be those who align with the Ancient as well.”
Lord Daniel grabs my ale and places it gently on the ledge behind us. He steps towards me again and grabs both of my hands.
“What can I do? What can I do to assist you?”
My heart pounds in my chest at the offer.
“I truly don’t know,” I exhale honestly, “the Ancient commands my travels now, leads me to another portion of the prophecy…”
I turn to Stormfall on my shoulder out of habit, noticing that he is watching Lord Daniel with narrowed eyes. “But I do know that I want to move forward. Not for him, but for myself. I’m deeply curious where the path will lead and I cannot deny that. The King calls it destiny…”
Lord Daniel grimaces, releasing my hold as he turns to the Bell Grove behind us.
“Destiny be damned, Alexis. The Ancients have been asleep for far too long. If they wanted to see change then they should have enacted it themselves centuries ago.”
Dear Ancients, Lord Daniel. Yes!
“I agree,” I nod, finding my own animosity within him, “I do not understand his timing of it now.”
“Desmond mentioned you’ll travel to Woodlands,” he says quietly, looking out to the night.
“I will, but that travel is my own. After everything I’ve experienced in Gaumond and the Court of Warriors, after everything I’ve heard about relations in Woodlands, I know I’ll need to see for myself what is going on there.”
“As you should,” he grimaces, finally turning his glance back on me, “and what of after?”
I look into his light brown eyes and shake my head, “we may have to travel into Livyatan after. Prince Isham has already extended his welcome. It’s rumored the second half of the prophecy rests within his lands.”
“I will be with you, then,” he gives a strong nod, his features set.
You need to tell him of Keane, my mind screams, noticing the deep affection in his gaze.
Tell him, now.
“There’s something else you should-”
The sound of heavy footsteps pounds against the balcony behind us.
Lord Daniel and I turn from our conversation to watch as Prince Isham bounds forward with both Prince Keane and Troy flanked at his sides.
The brothers have the standard look of indifference on their faces, though their eyes are darting curiously back and forth between the Lord and I.
“Later,” Daniel murmurs.
“Lord Daniel,” Keane states simply, his cool gaze watching his Warrior Lord as he nods to him in greeting.
“Your Highness,” Daniel bows first to Keane, then again to Troy. I lower my head in small recognition of the three, the night around us becoming tense.
“Prince Isham would like a word with our Lady Alexis,” Troy gives a small smile to the Leviathan as Stormfall grips my shoulder hard.
“Of course,” Lord Daniel nods to the foreign Prince. He turns to me with a final nod and then takes his leave, walking back inside.
I quietly turn to the ledge and grab my ale, feeling Isham’s hazel eyes on my back. When I turn back around his gaze instantly finds mine, his lips turning into an amused smile before he looks at Stormfall on my shoulder.
“May I meet him, Lady Alexis?”
I look towards Isham’s braids, noticing that they rest behind his back and are choosing not to make an appearance.
“I’m afraid Stormfall sleeps through the night, Your Highness,” I lie.
Stormfall spreads his wings softly behind me and brings them inward, ducking his head into his chest in mock sleep.
“A pity,” Prince Isham grimaces, still eyeing Storm.
I take a small sip of my drink, “if that is all, Your Highness?”
“No,” Isham replies quickly, his faux friendly gaze returning to mine, “I wish to speak privately with you again tonight, Lady.”
I slowly lower my drink and wrap my fingers around the mug in a tight embrace before taking a step towards Keane.
“But I do not wish to speak with you again tonight, Prince Isham.”
Isham’s eyes widen before he gives me another dark smile in amusement. I look back at him with a knowing glance and then nod to Troy and Keane, leaving all three men behind.
“Alanna,” my cry is filled with exasperation, watching as she leaps from the stepstone in the mountain.
We’re ascending up the Southern Stairs and heading to the Palisades.
Sutton and Tripler have just gotten their bearings of the magical stones, as has Barnes, but Alanna is taking the jumps in stride.
The three of them stand with Holis and I on a separate slab of rock as it juts forward, greeting Alanna who waits impatiently on the next step.
Golem opted not to join us up the mountain tonight, instead spending the rest of court with the King and Queen. Stormfall glides well ahead of all of us in the darkness, his black body darting high into the mountain where the dim lighting consumes him.
“We’ll barely make the fight if we continue at this speed,” Alanna grumbles, watching our small group transfer over to her step.
We’re more than halfway up the mountain and can see the small sliver of light from the tunnel up ahead.
“Let’s go then,” Tripler laughs in challenge, looking at the blonde Discerni as they both turn their gazes to the next stone high above.
“You all go,” I look over to Holis, Sutton and Barnes, willing them to move forward without me, “Holis knows the way. I’ll be just behind you.”
Holis looks back at me with a concerned glance.
“How many times have I taken these stairs, Holis?” I shrug.
“More than either of us care to count,” he chuckles, eying the stone in the distance. There’s no way they can make it.
Alanna takes a few steps back and then turns around, running into a jump before she launches herself and then lands hard on the stair above.
“I shall will this stone to move without all of you,” she promises.
Triple grins, promptly moving back on our stone and making the same jump as Alanna. Sutton and Barnes quickly follow suit, both of them smirking as they embrace the thrill.
“Go,” I nod again to Holis, wanting him to enjoy the night and meet up with his brother, “I have Stormfall. We will meet you there.”
Holis grimaces and then looks back up to the rest of the crew, the stone already beginning its rumble as it sets to depart.
I push him forward with a smile and watch as he takes a few steps back on our stone.
He runs and makes the landing jump the moment the stone departs, the full of the group laughing in bewilderment at his near miss.
“I expect an ale ready and waiting for me for when I get there!” I yell.
All of the Discerni grin down at me before turning their glances to the next stone in challenge, because, of course.
I chuckle and sit patiently on my step, waiting for the other stone to come back down as I think on the night.
Ancients.
The gossip, the stares, the conversations.
Lord Alexander and Lord Daniel, the two new surprises of the night…