CHAPTER VII
THE ROAD TO WOODLANDS
A chill breeze flows into my room from the open balcony, causing the sheer tan curtains to billow inside as I stir under the sheets from the cold. It’s dark all around, in the room and outside, with the sky showing no trace of the moons.
I’ve awoke well ahead of the turn of dawn.
The plush green comforter rests high on my shoulder as I shiver again to the chill.
It dips down and across Keane’s waist next to me, his warm Discerni body not needing any shield from the breeze.
I smile and rest my fingers casually on his chest, holding onto the black jewel as he sleeps peacefully on his back, completely undisturbed.
I spent the rest of yesterday by myself and found that I was grateful for the solitude.
Keane spent a good portion of the late afternoon and evening with his mother, calling on Desmond to join the two of them as they finally and fully explained everything they knew regarding the Ancient’s prophecy.
For once I was happy not to be a part of that conversation.
I needed to be alone, needed to push Hirovale to the back of my mind again, to push his other words into the neat little corner of my thoughts that they claimed.
I welcomed my final dinner in Castle Bardot in quiet solitude before Chef and Jesse came to join me.
Chef still didn’t have an answer about Gaumond, but I could tell that Jesse was excited at the possibility of seeing Gail again.
I didn’t press the plump man, just smiled with a yawn as I enjoyed my last night with him.
I did inquire into Jesse a bit more, bringing up his time in Woodlands Court in simple conversation.
The boy remained unbothered and smiling during my questions, though I could tell that his lack of memory didn’t stem from his own desire to forget.
The young boy simply could not remember his life, something that had me frowning deeply as I made my way back to my room.
My walk was slow and without haste, stepping around the trunk of the Great Oak absently, lost in my thoughts.
I let the full of the castle sink into me last night, admiring the greenstone walls and the many vast trees and limbs that lined every single space.
I walked through the Grand Receiving Room, smiling at the memories that consumed the better half of my life and growing up with this court.
I knew I’d see all of this again, but something told me it’d be few and far between.
I packed for the rest of the night, doing as Keane advised and setting my belongings into three different groups.
All of my dresses and books would travel to Gaumond separately, as would the full box of cinnamon and vanilla soap that I ordered from the Palisades.
The majority of my day clothes would stay with me, though I left a few sets behind to be transferred up to Keane’s residence to the Palisades.
I even packed the emerald cloak that I bought for my travels to Red Falls, though I knew I wouldn’t need it for our travel through Woodlands.
Disce now rested in the thick of Spring, the most beautiful season to grip the lands.
The brown edge of a robe catches my gaze from bed, the fabric flapping with the breeze behind the sheer curtains. I smile at the sight and pull myself slowly off Keane, reaching for my own robe as I head outside.
Golem greets me as I step into the cool morning, turning his clay Discerni face my way with a slight question in his eyes.
“Couldn’t sleep,” I whisper and move to stand next to him.
I place my hands on the edge of the railing and look out to the quiet Bell Grove.
“Is Stormfall out there?”
Golem nods, turning his own gaze to the thin, dark woods.
I smile, content in our silent stance, and let my thoughts roam to the travel ahead.
It will take two days to reach the border between Woodlands and Knowledge and enter the Forest of Quiescence.
The court itself is known to be completely covered in thick woods and rolling hills underneath, the lands also hosting ample water supplies of lakes and streams hidden carefully under the trees.
Many people who speak of Woodlands talk of how beautiful the lands are, claiming that they’re the most pristine of the three.
They speak of how everything seems to glow under the sunlight, that the forests will quite literally sparkle in beauty.
It always paints a pretty picture, but now it’s one that’s almost hard to believe.
How can such a place exist given what I know of the people who reside there?
And why should they be allowed such beauty?
Thinking of the travel makes me apprehensive, but I still hold on to a small sliver of hope, reminding myself of Arens. We’re traveling for him and others like him, to fight against the injustice of being born different.
That is the sentiment that pushes away the anxiety as I stand on this balcony. I let it fuel me with determination, knowing everything will be put in motion starting today.
Woodlands… Livyatan… Hirovale…
No, I remind myself, everything was put in motion the moment I set out for Red Falls.
I scowl, thinking of the Ancient’s many reminders that I could not fight the path he gave me. Even King Zander called it my destiny, aiding me in his own way along the road that would lead me to take on the mantle of being Hirovale’s Human Reborn.
Forget it, my heart beats loudly to my mind. Push that thought away for another day. Focus on Woodlands.
But I can’t forget it, because Hirovale has been so sure of himself, too confident in his resolve as he guides me towards his future.
Yes, the path is always offered under the pretense of giving me a choice, but I’ve noticed that it’s an almost faux choice, one that seems to come with an amused smile and vibrant golden eyes that look at me knowingly.
Hirovale knows, rather correctly, that I will continue down his path simply because my own heart yearns for a better life for all the humans of the Old World. He’s played into that emotion by urging me to take the travel into Woodlands, making sure I see the quality of life there myself.
He’s also planted the seed of Livyatan, knowing that any harm to the human young will only fuel me more. Coincidently, that travel also leads to finding his sister’s words, once again pushing me down the path of his prophecy.
So yes, he’s sure of himself, but at this point, why wouldn’t he be? Everything I’ve done thus far has been playing perfectly into his plan…
And then there’s the matter of his other words, the words he spoke in front of Keane that night in the Southern Park.
Hirovale is in love with me.
I knew it the moment he retold his time of being asleep. He followed my life, let the visions from Sianoa hold him in his dreams. He lived with me as a silent observer while I grew up to be the champion he foretold.
I saw that love when I let myself dip into those hidden thoughts in my mind, when I found myself looking back at my memories with him in Fumagalli or on the couch in Keane’s room when he nearly stilled at my thigh brushing against his.
I saw it every time he looked at me bare, his eyes holding the same proud desire as Keane’s did.
I even saw it yesterday, in the way he looked at Keane with affection and the way he held my gaze far longer than proper etiquette dictated in our conversations.
He’s in love with me, and I still have no idea what to do with the information. Because if everything Hirovale has been doing is coming to fruition, what does that mean for us?
Golem reaches an arm around my back, drawing me close as I release a heavy sigh into his side. I let my head fall on top of his shoulder, closing my eyes to the heavy thoughts, and push them back to their neat little place tucked far away in my mind.
“Have you ever been to Woodlands, Golem?” I ask quietly, feeling his cool hand press against my robe.
My magical friend pauses before he nods his head.
“Often?” I inquire.
No.
“Once?”
Yes, he nods again.
I sigh, opening my eyes to the Bell Grove beyond. “Then you and I will both be learning as we go. I’m glad you’ll be with me, friend. It seems we’re always on to another adventure.”
Golem gives my arm a small, affectionate squeeze before he releases his hold with a smile. I lift my head gently off his shoulder as two strong arms snake across my waist and pull me backwards in a tight embrace.
Our full traveling group sits quietly atop our horses at the eastern gate of Castle Bardot waiting in the silence of the early dawn. I look around to my companions, noticing the small changes that have taken place from our last big travel to Red Falls.
We’re missing Barnes, Claymore and Lord Daniel, though I know the Warrior men are helping with the escort of the Leviathan delegation back across the border. Claymore had already stayed behind in Fumagalli during the coronation and would no doubt connect with them when they arrived in the village.
The same three human soldiers from Warrior are with us, however, each smiling in greeting as the leader, Nathanial, grins broadly at my new attire. Bryson, the stalkiest of the three, even thanks me with a shy smile for having Chef bring him soup while he was sick at Death’s Bonfire.
We have two new additions to our group of travelers this time around.
The first, of course, is Canon, who is now a steady and quiet presence at Keane’s side wherever he goes.
The Discerni opted to remain in the solid green of the Court of Knowledge, the colors pairing well next to the second newcomer, Lord Alexander.
I let my eyes drift to the handsome Discerni, watching his quiet yet thoughtful hazel eyes move across the group in his own assessment.
His light brown hair waves neatly across the top of his head, remaining long over his leaf-cut ears but cut shorter at the nape of his neck.