CHAPTER VI #6
Keane’s summoning leaves me in the next instant, the absence of it in my lower body making me place a hand over my stomach and look back at the mist. The Ancient’s air is thicker around the row of roses now, rising higher to just under our knees.
My heart pounds in my chest as I spot a dark figure ahead, watching as the air thickens before it parts in two. The Ancient takes a step through the heavy blockade, his black boot landing strong on the ground and claiming the path with me and Renate.
Hirovale strides forward slowly, his boots hitting the dirt as his lean body commands the Queen’s attention, calling her to turn to him.
He angles himself proud in his walk, his golden eyes finding mine directly and holding them without any shame.
He’s wearing a rich, deep grey tunic without sleeves, the muscles from his arms cut though not overly large.
His wrist is still graced with the same black circles around it, four in total that grow wider as they inch up his forearm.
His grin on me is one of amusement, as if hiding a knowing secret, while the features of his face are so perfectly outlined in their youthfulness.
His dark brows lift to mine after hearing the thought, the two of us knowing that he’s a man of many, many years, the strongest of his brothers and sisters to ever walk the Old World.
That’s better, he chuckles.
Why are you here? I glance at him.
Because I felt your desire to have me here, Alex, he smiles, eyes sparkling over mine.
His black hair waves down his face as he finally flicks his gaze to the Queen. Renate gasps and dips into the lowest of curtseys, while I myself stand proud and unmoving, asking again.
Why are you really here, Hiro? I told you I had this handled.
Didn’t seem like it, he laughs, then looks down at Renate with a new seriousness. She has too many doubts…
“Queen Renate Lynn Gauthier Bardot, Leading Lady of the Court of Knowledge,” Hiro takes her hand and guides her up. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“And I, you, Ancient,” she bows her head.
“May I walk with you three?” he asks in slight amusement.
Three?
Hirovale crinkles his eyes as Keane’s bounding footsteps come up from behind. I roll my own at the Ancient and watch him grin in response, his golden gaze flicking over my shoulder as Stormfall glides from Keane’s shoulder and lands on the Ancient.
“King,” Hiro nods in small affection, bowing his head just slightly.
Ancients, this is not where I saw this conversation going.
She needs convincing, Hirovale shrugs in my mind.
How many times, Hiro? I scowl at him. How many times do I have to tell you to stop reading my thoughts!
“You can keep requesting, Alex,” he replies out loud, drawing the Queen next to his side with her arm in his. “But my answer will always be no.”
“I’ll find a way,” I narrow my eyes on his back, feeling Keane take a stance next to me. “Your brother found the idea amusing but not impossible.”
“Hmm,” the Ancient grins, “a wager I’ll gladly set with him, knowing that you’ll be unable.”
Bastard.
Hirovale laughs, a cool and confident laugh that somehow matches the friendliness he gives to Queen Renate. He sends her a calm smile, walking the two of them through the roses.
“I do have an interest in these two, Your Grace, and the road they take will not be an easy one...”
Keane reaches for my hand at his side, taking it with his as we walk quietly behind his mother and the Ancient. I sigh and lean into him, grateful for his presence as I squeeze his hand in gratitude.
“My sons have told me that you wish to remake the Old World,” she watches Hiro with a perceptive gaze, “but to what extent? To what end?”
I grin behind the Queen, appreciating her bluntness.
“To whatever extent it takes to thwart my sister Rivian and her plans to use the mortals of this world to her pleasure,” he replies.
I don’t think she knows, I tell the Ancient silently from behind.
“I don’t understand,” Renate admits. She looks over her shoulder at Keane in question, eyes drifting to his hand in mine.
“The Ancient Rivian is awake, mother,” Keane replies softly, “though she is not the same Ancient we know from our texts of history…”
Renate stops in her walk at the comment, frowning as her and Hirovale turn towards each other.
“Then how should I know her?”
Hiro’s eyes are solemn as he looks back at the Queen.
“You should know her as she is now, an Ancient who called upon the Princes of Livyatan to use dark ritual summoning to wake her. Summoning that required the sacrifice of their human young.”
Renate’s full face turns colder than I’ve ever seen before, her pale and blonde features so sharp in their icy beauty that I nearly look away.
I watch as her body stiffens next to the Ancient’s while I myself stiffen next to Keane, the reminder of the atrocities in Livyatan never ceasing to surprise and sadden me.
I sigh and notice Hirovale’s thick white air begin to grow higher, surrounding our small group from any possible intrusion or wandering ears.
I look behind me curiously, towards the row of roses from which Renate and I came, and spot Canon and the Discerni soldier that stayed with the Queen both talking casually from down the road, seemingly unaware of the Ancient’s presence.
My brows lift at the sight, slightly impressed.
I turn back to Hirovale, watching as the tips of his lips form a small smile.