CHAPTER XX
KING
“Go” I tell him breathlessly from the ledge of the tunnel, “you’re quicker on your own on these stairs and I still need to get Golem from my room.”
“Golem is waiting for us at the bottom,” Keane grimaces, also looking down the mountain in hard consideration, “Desmond says he wants us both.”
Keane turns around and takes my hand again, pulling us onto the top stair as we wait for it to start its slow descent. He gives an impatient shift and looks for the other stone below, considering his options.
“Go, Keane,” I tell him again, scowling at the situation but understanding the urgency. Something is wrong with his father, the King. He needs to make it back down to the castle as swiftly as possible.
Stormfall takes a fast dive down the mountain next to us, knowing where we are headed.
Keane looks back at me when he does, at my wind-blown hair and my heart pounding out of my chest. His own breathing is barely out of turn, as if we hadn’t just ran through the full of the crowds of the Palisades in a sprint.
“We’ll go together, Alexis,” he takes a commanding step towards me, “close your eyes if you have to but I’m bringing us down together.”
“Close my eyes, what-” I breathe out before being caught in his arms.
“Keane, no,” I moan, realizing exactly what he has planned.
“Hold on to me tight,” he demands, taking a few steps back on the stone as I crash my forehead into his shoulder. My arms and legs wrap around his body for dear life, feeling as Keane takes the stone at a run and then leaps into the air, the two of us falling squarely on to the second below.
“Ancients,” I murmur, gripping him even tighter as the stone begins to move.
Keane takes another confident step back and then leaps down the mountain again, the two of our bodies falling with the cool mountain air.
I shudder at the movement, the feeling unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.
It’s a free-fall into nothing, and the only thing assuring me of the non-committal fall to my death is Keane’s strong arms wrapped around my waist.
Ancients.
We continue down the mountain swiftly, each leap and jump sending my stomach straight to my chest. But then, as we’re about half-way down the mountain, I lift my head from Keane’s shoulder in anticipation of his next jump, embracing the thrill of our descent as a heightened exhilaration takes over.
I try to hide my excitement, knowing that right now is not the moment to be happy, but I can’t conceal the feeling as I push up higher in Keane’s arms and look over his shoulder with a small grin, watching the darkness fall around us.
Keane notices my reaction, his hand reaching for my rear as he gives it a small squeeze in approval. I don’t say anything but let myself fully relax, wiggling higher in his arms with every one of his jumps.
When we finally make it to the last stone at the bottom of the mountain, Keane releases me from his hold but steadies me by the shoulders.
My legs are too weak from the continuous falls and being held up for so long, but once I’ve collected myself he moves his hands to the front of my dress, tugging and pulling it back into place and covering my breasts more fully.
I fiddle with the bodice and smooth it down before looking up anxiously, giving him a small nod of readiness.
Keane is quiet and calm when he turns around. He grabs my hand and leads us through the cave, the two of us bounding into another run as Stormfall flies above.
The Great Oak comes into view and the sight of it and the room is a complete commotion.
We run past the scattered patrons of the castle, with each of them giving Keane a solemn and knowing look when we rush by.
I stare at those faces in nervousness, still not understanding the situation, and notice a full company of soldiers walking swiftly out of the large room held for court, all of them urging the residents back to their homes.
Everything is a mess, and while some people are following those soldiers’ orders and walking away, others are sitting quietly in the alcoves of the Oak, holding their heads in heavy hands.
Women are openly crying in the halls while the men talk in huddled conversations, their eyes going wide when they see the Prince rush past.
Keane picks up his run as I attempt to do the same, knowing full well that he could be with his family right now if he wasn’t waiting on me. Golem comes into view by the main staircase off the side of the Great Oak, his hand reaching out in urgency as he beckons us to follow him.
I catch my breath when Keane slows down, pulling me in front of his body and pressing me to stay behind Golem.
To my surprise, Golem’s face doesn’t look solemn or nervous, he just keeps his eyes steadfast as he starts climbing the stairs.
Stormfall swoops down just as I step under the arch, perching himself on my shoulder and gripping on tight.
Golem doesn’t stop at the second floor, nor the third, and continues up the steps until we reach the door to the royal family’s fourth floor residence.
This isn’t good.
Keane bounds past me, greeting Desmond in the middle of the reception area as the feeling of severe unease takes over.
I notice another company of Discerni soldiers standing guard at the west wing of the hall, my heart dropping at the look on each one of their solemn faces as they take in the Prince’s arrival.
“Castle Bardot is on lockdown,” the Master Informer says, following his brother, “you were the only two allowed to take the stairway down. I’ve closed off the other two passages as well.
The village is on guard and we’ve cut off all exits and entries into Bardot.
The soldiers are directing residents of the castle back to their quarters and any patrons from the Palisades will remain here for the time being. ”
Keane nods to his brother with a hardness I’ve never seen before, his features growing colder with each step.
“He’s in their room,” Desmond continues quietly, “they have about four different healing priests from Cohen in there now…”
Desmond turns and places a hand on Keane’s chest, forcing him to stop his walk.
“It’s too stuffy in there, Keane.”
Keane’s eyes flick to Desmond before he nods again. He then resumes his walk towards the west wing as I slow my own, not wishing nor needing to be here in this moment. It’s too intimate.
“Mother is a mess, brother,” Desmond whispers, following besides the Prince, “Troy is with her now.”
I stop in my tracks at the settees in the seating area, deciding to wait here and possibly leave for my own room once Keane greets whatever is behind the soldiers. Golem stops next to me and gives me a slight push towards the two brothers, but I shake my head and hold onto the cushion, unmoving.
“No,” I tremble in a whisper, “this isn’t my place.”
Keane’s strong footsteps stop at my words. He squares his shoulders and slowly turns back in my direction, leveling me with a harrowed look.
“The King has requested you both, Lady Alexis,” Desmond replies next to his brother. He takes a step towards me as Keane remains standing in place, deathly silent.
My heart, my damn heart, is beating so fast that I don’t know if I can take another step forward. I’ve heard Desmond’s words but can’t will my body to comply, truly not understanding why I’m here.
Keane takes a small step behind his brother, his gaze telling me that if I do not walk towards him right now he will throw me over his shoulder. I look at those eyes in absolute nervousness, feeling Golem push me forward again and urging me away from the settee.
“We’re wasting time,” Desmond scowls, urging me towards him.
I give him a stiff nod and lift my shaking hand from the back of the settee, feeling Golem take it in his before he tucks it into his arm.
Keane releases a small breath when he see us walking and then turns back to the soldiers standing guard.
The three of them part for the Prince and let Keane through, their faces curious as they watch me pass with Golem and Desmond.
We follow Keane all the way down the hall, to a large door that I didn’t notice on my last visit. It’s rounded, just like the door that leads to the King’s study, but this one is larger and has all three emblems of the Courts of Disce entwined in their circles.
Keane places his hand on the door as the emblems flash a vibrant black against the wood. He pushes forward without hesitation and steps into a room filled with complete disorder.
In the middle stands a large and elegant green and gold bed, something so rich and perhaps beautiful if not for the four Discerni healers in white robes clamoring around it.
Their movements are clouded and debating on the next course of action, two of them holding some sort of swaying goblet in their hands as they let it swing around the bed with smoke rising from the top.
Two human healers also stand at the foot of the bed, one of them holding a grip of thick and bloodied bandages in his hands as he yells at his counterpart.
To the left and situated on a large plush green chair by a roaring fire is the Queen, her soft sobs piercing my heart as Troy kneels in front of her with a frown.
He has an arm on her lap and is trying his best to console her, but the look on his face says there’s no use.
The two of them immediately glance up when they hear Keane’s arrival, the look of genuine shock passing over the Queen as she spots me behind him.
I avert my glance from the family as Keane takes a commanding step inside and levels the room with a scowl.
“Out,” he orders.