CHAPTER XX #4
“How long?” I ask, bringing my trembling hand to my lips.
I look down at my attire and notice I’m still in my emerald dress from court, another one ruined.
“It’s been two full days since the night at court, since the night of his passing,” Cal replies quietly.
“Death’s Bonfire will begin today at the sun’s apex,” Alanna adds.
I nod at the news and take a heavy swig of ale, letting the drink rush through my body and fill me with warmth. I glance outside to my balcony and notice that it’s near the dead dawn of morning, the cool air breezing through my curtains with a slight urge to begin the day.
“How are you two in the castle? What have I missed?”
I hear the words fall out of my mouth, though my heart truly doesn’t care to know.
“The castle is still in lockdown,” Alanna sighs, “though various Lords from the Courts have been allowed entry and are meeting with the Princes. Her Grace remains secluded in her quarters, in mourning, as is the rest of Castle Bardot’s residents.”
“And the assassin?” I ask quietly as both Cal and Alanna shift in their stances.
“Not found,” Alanna shakes her head, “though the rumors spreading through Bardot give indication that the man was dark skinned and dark haired, attacking the King on the large balcony outside before dropping down to escape.”
“Leviathan?” I ask with narrowed eyes.
“It’s unconfirmed, Alex,” Cal says softly beside me, “but their delegation has been confined to their guest residences for now.”
“Desmond says all of their men are accounted for.”
I scowl at the dark sky beyond. I turn to look back at my big friend and notice sorrow etched into his face.
He’s mourning as well, mourning the loss of the King who also gave him kindness and care.
I give him a small smile, though the gesture isn’t enough to thank him for his presence with me last night.
Cal nods his head in acknowledgement, his brown eyes still soft and sad.
“Did you win your fight?” I ask, hoping for some good news.
He gives a small shrug as Alanna replies, “he did.”
“Though that boy will take over my mantle in a few short years,” Cal adds, bringing his hand to his beard, “he’s the real deal.”
“He’s asked to train under Cal,” Alanna grins, looking at my friend with fiery grey eyes. I nod at Cal, understanding anyone’s desire to train under him. He took my body and molded it into something I’m proud of, something no doubt the young fighter desires as well.
“What happens next? You said the bonfire is today?” I take another large drink.
“Yes,” Alanna replies, “with the coronation of Prince Keane to take place a fortnight after that…”
Coronation.
“Delegations from all of the Kingdoms will be arriving in Bardot…”
Keane.
“The Leviathans are already here, but the rest will come with the announcement…”
King.
Stormfall nips my shoulder hard, following my thoughts. He’s willing me, just as his Ancient has done so many times, not to go down that road. My heart skips a beat as my blood boils under my skin. I nearly drop the mug in my hands at the realization, my eyes going wide as I sit up.
Cal and Alanna watch me cautiously, both unsure of what has come over me. I turn back to Stormfall on the bed and glare at him in anger, sending a demand to the Bird of Ash in my mind.
Bring him, Storm.
I’m furious, my body shaking as I step out of bed. Stormfall caws in
denial behind me as I turn again to the Bird of Ash and stare into his yellow beady eyes.
He needs to come here. Now.
Stormfall takes one final look at me and caws loud, pushing off the bed and swiftly flying out the room. I run to my balcony hot on his heels and ignore the bewildered faces from Cal and Alanna.
“Bring him, Storm!” I yell to his back, “you can’t hide from this. He cannot hide from this! He will meet with me!”
I hurriedly place my mug on the balcony ledge and watch as Stormfall flies into the darkness of the Bell Grove.
“I’ll find you!” I scream at the bird, “I’ll find you both!”
I run back inside my room as Cal and Alanna look at me with worry.
I shuffle to my armoire and hastily grab my undergarments, pulling down the straps of my dress as Cal swiftly turns around to avoid seeing me bare.
I step out of my dress and pull up new lace bottoms, then jump into my riding pants and a clean shirt before pulling on my boots as I strap them and my daggers on with deathly precision.
“Stop this, Alexis,” Alanna grabs my arm, pulling me towards her, “whatever this is. Let it be.”
“I will kill him,” I fume, pulling my arm out of her grip, “I will fucking kill him.”
“Who?” Alanna asks wildly, “Stormfall?”
I turn my hard gaze to her cool grey ones and reply menacingly, “Hirovale.”
Alanna looks at me with wide eyes and then turns to Cal for help.
I move swiftly to my door and then bolt down the hall, rushing to the stairway as I take it down to the first floor.
I pass the Great Oak and stop in front of several soldiers who are standing at the entry of the Grand Receiving Room, the three of them blocking the large double doors that lead outside.
“My name is Alexis Deveren,” I state with hard determination, “I am and have been a resident here for the past ten years. I wish to take a walk to the Bell Grove.”
“Lady,” a Discerni soldier looks at me with cool eyes, “we are on lockdown. The full of the castle and city is.”
“I don’t give a damn,” I reply heatedly, taking another step forward as the men tighten their hands on their swords.
“Write to Prince Desmond,” I tell them impatiently, “tell him of my request. He will allow me through.”
One soldier looks at me curiously, nodding just slightly to the rest of the men, “she visited His Grace with the Prince that night. She is acquainted with the family.”
Acquainted with them?
I laugh out loud.
Ancients, I know the whole fucking family!
“Write to him,” I demand again.
“Alexis!” Desmond’s voice booms from beyond the Great Oak.
I turn around in anger, “tell these jesters that I’m allowed to take a walk to the Bell Grove, Desmond!”
“Not today, you’re not.”
“Desmond,” I warn, “I will leave Castle Bardot. Whether that means walking out now or fashioning a rope from my bedsheets down the balcony of my room. You will not stop me.”
Desmond’s eyes narrow on mine as he reaches for my arm and pulls me towards him.
“Then I will have you thrown in a cell below the castle, Lady Alexis, if that is what keeps you from leaving.”
“You wouldn’t,” I scoff, pulling out of his hold.
“Look at you,” he says quietly, eyes roaming over my disheveled and shaking body, “have you eaten? Slept?”
My body trembles as I push past him for the stables on the east end, “have you?”
“This isn’t about me,” he follows swiftly.
“You’re right,” I laugh, running my hand through my hair, “it’s not about you. And it’s not about me. But there is one person behind all of this and I intend to make him pay.”
“Stop this, Alexis,” Desmond takes a large step in front of me, his eyes hard.
I move around him angrily.
What is it with everyone tell me to stop!
“You don’t know, Desmond,” I shake my head, “you don’t know.”
“I know that you need to pull yourself together before the morning rises,” he says sternly, “I know that you need to be present and conduct yourself properly for the bonfire, when the castle will be given a slight reprieve from its lockdown to allow for Death’s mourning.”
I stop in my tracks.
Is he hinting at something?
“When?”
“The doors will open just before apex today,” he nods in confirmation.
I consider his comment and watch as he closes his eyes with a deep breath. He opens them again and stares back at me, silently demanding I don’t take this any further right now.
“I’m going to kill him, Desmond,” I whisper to the Master Informer.
Desmond watches me with concern, his head shaking softly.
“You can’t kill Death, Alexis.”
I had eaten, bathed, napped and changed, and now sit waiting in my room just moments before the sun hits its final turn to apex.
I had fully downed the mug of ale Cal brought me as well as his half drunken one that still stood by the bed, letting its liquid courage course through my veins for what I needed to do.
I had put on the deepest green shirt that I owned, pairing it with dark brown riding pants that slid into my boots, both of my daggers still strapped.
And Stormfall still hadn’t returned.
I pace in my reading room until it’s just the right moment to leave, swinging my door open so violently that it bounces off the wall.
But my departure is stopped by a tall black mass, his shoulders hovering over me broad and strong, the man blocking my exit with a look of seriousness that tells me he knows exactly what I intend to do.
“He knew, Keane,” I step into his chest angrily, “he knew what would happen, even alluded to it, and yet he did nothing to stop it!”
Keane looks down at me with cool brown eyes, still blocking my exit as I glare at him in a rage.
“Why do you defend him?” I yell, hands pushing into his chest, “what has he done for us except bring sorrow and confusion to every fucking moment of our lives since he’s been awake?”
Keane takes a hard step inside, forcing me back into my room.
“This isn’t a defense of him, Alexis,” he replies, features cold and quiet, “this just isn’t the right moment.”
“When will it ever be!”
Keane takes another step, angling me towards my reading room as he swiftly closes the door behind him. His whole demeanor is tense and cold, his body hovering over mine in assertion as he looks at me with calm resolve.
“Give me your blades,” he demands.
“What?” I scoff, “no fucking way.”
“You’ll only end up hurting yourself.”
I turn back towards my room, wishing more than ever that Golem and Storm were with me now. Keane is too calm and cold for me to handle. Too intimidating. I don’t know what to make of it.
“I will not,” I reply steadily, taking another step away from his daunting face.