CHAPTER XXII #7
“A pleasure, Lady,” his green eyes hold mine, the depths of them so cool and collected.
His glance darts to Stormfall on my shoulder, eyeing the beast for just a moment before he averts his gaze back to Keane.
I notice a few silver hoops in his cut ears, the jewelry flashing prettily under the bottled moonslight in the room and matching well against his pale skin and hair.
Stormfall grips my shoulder and follows the Woodlands man with his own gaze, the two of us watching him stand before Keane.
“My cousin’s request was too ill-mannered, Your Highness,” he bows softly to the Prince, “I, however, would be grateful to share a drink with you and the Lady, if you would accept my company.”
I hold back my confusion and continue watching the blonde man quietly, his posture remaining proper and polite as he holds Keane’s gaze without emotions. If Keane is surprised by the man’s gesture he doesn’t show it, just gives him a calm smile that actually aims to reach his eyes.
He extends his hand to the end of the small table and offers the empty seat.
Arens gives Keane a small but grateful grin, pulling the chair across from us and sitting down gracefully.
Keane lifts his hand from the back of my chair and flags down a serving girl behind us, smiling when she walks over to our table and bows in greeting.
“Highness.”
“Whatever this man would like to drink,” Keane nods.
The girl smiles and turns to Arens in question, waiting for his order.
“Whiskey, thank you,” the Discerni replies without looking at her.
I want to scowl.
I hate that I have to notice… hate that I even have to bring this up in my head, but I make a note as the serving girl walks away. She’s human. She’s human and he didn’t even spare her a curtesy glance.
“Where in Woodlands are you from, Sir Arens?” I ask the Discerni politely, wondering if he’ll even give me the time of day.
The young man lets his green eyes move away from Keane’s to hold mine, his voice just as cool as when he spoke to the girl.
“Just Arens, Lady Alexis. And I hail from Aeria. Though recently I have found myself spending more time at court in La Cour.”
Far north, then.
“A court I hope to visit soon,” I reply. I give him a small smile and bring my mug to my lips, watching as his eyes round ever so slightly before he hides them behind his calm Discerni features.
“We would, of course, welcome you and the Prince graciously,” the Discerni nods in response.
I didn’t mention Keane in my comment, he just assumed. Interesting.
I shake my head at the Discerni and give an exasperated chuckle, “I doubt the King to Be will have the time to join me. I plan to take the travel on my own…”
Arens’ eyes definitely round at my comment again but he quickly replaces the look with a narrowed gaze that matches his cool smile.
“Then we would welcome just you, Lady,” he nods, the two of us trying to read the other.
“Do you often travel on your own, Lady Alexis?” he asks, voice still cold yet hinting at actual curiosity.
“Very often,” I nod, “and you?”
Arens shakes his head, his gaze still holding mine, “this is the first time I’ve traveled out of Woodlands Court, Lady.”
Interesting again.
A Discerni man of about my age that has yet to travel out of his Court. Do the Discerni of Woodlands seclude themselves purposely because of the nature of how they run their lands? Or is there a genuine lack of interest and desire to even travel at all?
“Your first time visiting Knowledge and you come to Brierman?” I ask, letting out a small laugh as my eyes sparkle in amusement, “I’m hoping the people here don’t dissuade you from traveling again. They can be a rather rowdy crowd.”
“I have noticed,” Arens nods, surprisingly trying to hide his own small grin, “but I’ve found this town to be quite interesting so far. Heavier drinkers than I’m accustomed to, but interesting, nonetheless.”
“Heavy drinkers indeed,” I laugh in agreement and look behind him. Arens’ other two Woodlands companions are both openly watching our table in silence, no doubt listening to the conversation from afar.
“It’s a fantastic beast you travel with, Lady Alexis,” his voice pulls my gaze back to his cool green one.
I feel Keane lean forward in his seat as his hand leaves my chair.
Stormfall grips my shoulder and then steps onto the Prince’s hand, the two of them working in silent sync as Keane pulls the Bird of Ash away.
“Stormfall,” I nod to the Woodlands Discerni, watching as Keane deposits Storm on his shoulder, “we found eachother in Pyre.”
Arens slowly averts his eyes from mine to look at Storm now resting casually on the Prince. The two of them look regal together, both remaining quiet and ignoring the rest of the curious glances in the room.
“Whiskey,’” the serving girl returns to our table, placing the drink in front of Arens. The Woodlands Discerni thanks her, still not looking at the girl in his response.
“Might we also get a glass of water?” I ask, smiling in apology to our guest’s cool ways.
“Yes, Lady,” she nods, letting her eyes fall on the blonde Discerni with the smallest of frowns.
“Did you say Pyre, Lady Alexis?” Arens turns his cool gaze back on me, “your travels took you into another Kingdom?”
“They did,” I nod and bring my mug back up to my lips, “my travels took me to the city of Red Falls, just below the Charred Mountains.”
Arens looks back at Stormfall still resting on Keane’s shoulder, his gaze perceptive and quiet as he considers his next words.
“The beast is magical, Lady Alexis,” he brings his gaze back to mine, looking at me in deep question, “are you aware of that?”
It’s a bold question to ask, yet I think I see another hint of genuine curiosity behind his eyes. Is Arens actually interested in an answer, or is he condoning me?
I eye the blonde Discerni over my drink, recognizing the sincerity behind his curious glance.
It’s so genuine that it almost reminds me of myself.
There’s that subtle spark of excitement in his eyes that only comes from finding out more about the unknown.
He’s truly interested in the dynamic of me and Storm.
“I am aware that he is magical,” I smile broadly at the man for the first time tonight, ready to see how far his curiosity goes, “as was the place I found him...”
Arens narrows his gaze on mine, silently working through my equally bold answer. I hold his gaze and give him an inviting nod, feeling Keane’s leg press against mine in caution.
“Forgive me, Lady Alexis,” Arens replies in small astonishment, “but are your travels your own? Born of your own desire?”
“Lady Alexis traveled on behalf of my father,” Keane replies as Stormfall extends his wings behind the Prince’s back, his black mass again causing the room to look at us in awe, “and she will continue her travels on behalf of the Kingdom.”
Arens finally removes his inquisitive gaze from mine to look at Keane, weighing his answer in silence.
I can only envision the thoughts running through his head right now, no doubt still curious and wondering what a human woman is doing traveling to magical places and returning with magical beasts.
I hide my amused smile and take a sip of ale, turning my gaze to Keane and Storm.
The two of them look so at ease in their bodies, two proud beings that command the room as they sit in silence. Keane relaxes in his chair and looks upon the Discerni with Storm on his shoulder, his face giving nothing away as he remains quiet for the majority of the conversation.
The Prince notices my gaze on him and turns to me with a smile.
He brings his arm back around my chair with a small smirk and lets his fingers skim my shoulder, prompting me to roll my eyes at both him and the gesture.
Arens watches the Prince’s movements just as quietly, his Discerni features retreating back into a mask of indifference as he slowly lifts his cool gaze off of Keane’s hand and looks back at me.
The glance behind his eyes wants to ask more questions, so I brush my leg against Keane’s under the table, willing him to see that hidden look of curiosity, as well.
“Water, Lady,” the serving girl returns to the table and places the glass down. I nod to her in thanks just as Keane brings Stormfall down to the middle of the table with his hand.
“Excuse me for a moment,” he nods to Arens and then glances at the human girl with a smile, “I’m going to inquire into dinner.”
Keane stands as Arens promptly does the same, the Discerni bowing his head to the Prince as Keane walks away with the girl.
The two of them don’t venture too far in the room and I notice that Keane angles the side of his body to me, smiling at both the girl and the innkeeper in a small conversation even though I know he’ll be listening to ours.
I give the Woodlands Discerni standing in front of me an inviting smile, knowing without a doubt that he’ll take his seat again and continue our small conversation.
His glance is cool in return when he looks at me, though I’ve come to the understanding that the gaze is just a mask for the many thoughts running behind his eyes, just like Keane.
I give Arens a firm nod, letting him know that I’m open to listening to those thoughts.
Arens’ small grin only affirms my suspicions again as I watch him take his seat, angling his back fully to the companions behind him and placing his elbows on the table in front of us.
Stormfall puffs up his chest at the sight of the Discerni leaning so openly towards me, his wings spreading across the table once more as he stares back at him.
Let’s hear him out, I tell the Bird of Ash and tip the water in his direction, I’m curious to see where this goes.
Stormfall looks at me for a brief moment before he turns and leans his beak into the glass, relaxing just slightly as he takes a few hefty drinks.