CHAPTER VII #4
“I’ve met her,” I smirk and look up to the sky, “though she wasn’t much to look at.”
Crisjan gives a warm chuckle as I call out to the Bird of Ash.
Can you come down and greet my friend, Storm?
Stormfall gives a loud caw from high above the city, pulling Lord Crisjan’s gaze towards his massive black body. I smile and watch the Bird of Ash glide down the center tower, circling once above us before he lands strong on my wrist.
“Ancients,” Lord Crisjan breathes in astonishment. “A magical beast indeed.”
“You may not believe it, but he used to fit in the palm of my hand not too long ago,” I smile and bring Storm up to my shoulder.
“A story I cannot wait to hear about later, Alexis.”
I turn into him slightly, keeping my voice low. “I also wish to pick your brain on something else tonight…”
Lord Crisjan nods, acknowledging my request before he stops before the tower. He turns back around to the rest of our group, his smile only going wider.
“Your Grace,” he looks at Keane, “I am honored to host you and your guests tonight. However, you know I must first give the newcomers a few rules before their stay…”
Keane gives the older man a small tilt of his head, grinning broadly.
“Might be best for us all to be reminded of them, Crisjan.”
“Yes, yes,” the Discerni nods, eyes sparkling as he points over his shoulder. “This tower behind me will be your home for the night. I’ve asked a few of our young boys to guide you to your rooms once we’re done situating the horses. Please listen to them closely…”
“Our city is unique, spreading wide at each side of this tower much like the Palisades above Castle Bardot. While you may find the call to venture out, I must ask that you remain in the outpost, or else you will surely become lost to us all.”
The three human soldiers all look at Crisjan as if in jest. My grin is wide at Crisjan’s side as I hold back a small laugh, knowing the real warning that comes with his words.
“Feel free to move up and down the tower at your leisure, but do not take any side door, staircase, or hall that leads you beyond. I would be grateful to have you all for dinner tonight and will send our boys to your own doors when it is time to retrieve you.”
The full of the group remains silent, staring at Lord Crisjan as he claps his hands joyfully at his front. He looks around at the quiet faces, expecting questions, then turns back to the entry with a shrug. “That’s it.”’
I grin and follow next to the quirky Discerni, thankful for his lively presence amongst a group that’s still steeped in quiet anxiety.
“Alexis,” Keane says my name sensually, closing the door to our room.
“Keane,” I smile, watching Stormfall fly to the guest bed and landing on the corner post.
“You didn’t tell me you knew Crisjan…”
I grin and lift my travel packs off my shoulder, walking towards a small table that rests to the right of the circular walls.
“I’ve met many people in my travels for your father, though Lord Crisjan and I have spent most of our time together at court in Bardot. He’s a good friend of Sir Miles.”
“Alexis…” he repeats playfully, still standing at the door.
“Keane,” I smirk, dropping my packs on the table as I reach inside for a bar of soap.
“He called you one of his favorite minds in Knowledge,” he takes a small step forward, his heated gaze landing on my back.
“I’ve been known to have some smart days in my time,” I grin.
“Stories of a beautiful young human woman…” Keane continues, walking in my direction as I bend down to tug off one of my boots.
“I certainly try to look good on the other days,” I laugh.
“Gold,” he says steadily, his voice nearer as I reach down for my other boot. “Or perhaps black. I’ll let you decide.”
“I’m afraid I don’t follow, Your Grace,” I laugh again, loosening the green agate blade from its strap.
Keane moves directly behind me, his presence large and silent as he replies with a hard voice.
“Your crown, Queen.”
My eyes widen at the comment, my boot falling from my hands and onto the ground in a small clatter. My shoulders press back instinctively, standing tall with my heart pounding out of my chest. I turn nervously towards Keane, catching his intense brown eyes as they look back at mine in pure desire.
“I should have found you sooner,” he lifts a hand to the side of my face, his voice guttural.
I shake my head and bring my own hand to the back of his neck.
“No, Keane. We found our way to eachother perfectly.”
“It shouldn’t surprise me…” he leans down, “but you continue to amaze me at every moment, Alexis.”
I close my eyes with a smile and brush my lips against his. “And how about you, Keane?”
My tongue clashes against his first. Keane wraps a hand around my lower back and pulls me closer, the two of us deepening the kiss. I moan just softly when his hand runs up my back, feeling it reach for the braid between my shoulders before he tugs off the small tie.
“What about me?” he smirks, fingers playing with the bottom of my hair.
“Your crooked builds. The young King’s early summoning…”
I grin and run my own hand through his own hair. “I have half a mind to go find them tonight.”
Keane smiles and nips at my bottom lip. “Always wanting to break the rules, trouble.”
“Well at least that doesn’t surprise you,” I laugh and place a hand on his chest, pushing him away.
Keane tsks and watches me take a step back towards the table, his brown eyes alight and playful as he reaches again for my waist.
“Want to help me out of these pants?” I grin.
“You know I do,” he smirks, eyes raking over the black lace that covers my breasts. His hands reach for my waistband when a sudden knock pulls both of our glances towards the door in the room.
“Lord Crisjan would like to meet with you before dinner, Your Grace,” a young voice announces.
“Of course he would,” Keane mumbles under his breath, eyes falling back on my breasts.
“I’m here to escort you, Your Grace.”
I laugh at the King’s heavy sigh.
“I’ll be out in a moment.”
I’m bathed, dressed and stepping out of our guest room in the tower, greeting Holis and Mana as they stand behind a young human boy who looks up at Stormfall with wide eyes.
I smile at the boy, asking if he’d like to greet the Bird of Ash, but he just shakes his head quickly and turns back to the steep set of stairs, remaining silent.
Holis eyes my attire with a quiet smile as I walk in front of him, the two of us following Mana and the boy as we move up the outpost. I’m wearing one of the new black satin tops provided by Gail, one that has a deep cut down the middle and allows for far more skin to show than I’m used to.
I’ve paired it with one of my older sets of brown Knowledge riding pants that has two gold bands down the sides, still loving the color combination.
We make our way silently up the stairs that circle around the tower, passing by too many doors and scattered hallways that lead into dark and dim depths beyond.
The young boy finally stops in front of a large mahogany door and knocks gently, his knuckles rapping against the emblem of the Court of Knowledge before he opens it inwards.
I follow behind Mana into a large circular room, one that seems to encompass the full of the tower.
The space around us is vast, able to fit a group of forty or more if needed.
My eyes widen at the many lines of bookshelves that grace the grey walls at our sides, all of them curving towards a large opening in the far wall that leads to a balcony.
This room almost looks to be a large study of sorts, but instead of an old working table for writing or plush settees for reading, a thick and intricately designed mahogany dining table rests in the middle of it.
Keane stands out on the balcony with Lord Crisjan and Desmond, the two of them wearing dark black satin shirts next to Crisjan’s vibrant green robes.
Golem stands peacefully a few steps behind Keane, looking out towards the lands beyond in quiet contentment.
Lord Alexander and Canon are here too, though they’re both wearing the green of Knowledge.
I smile and move towards a small counter to my left, asking the twins for their drinks as Stormfall pushes off my shoulder to fly into the night.
I’ll ask for dinner, Storm, I tell the Bird of Ash as he lets his wing brush against Keane’s shoulder in his flight. I’ll call to let you know if they can accommodate.
Stormfall caws loud in response before he takes a sharp dip below the balcony and moves out of view. Holis, Mana and I all walk towards the balcony with whiskeys in our hands just as the three Warrior soldiers enter the room behind us.
“Lady Alexis,” Lord Crisjan smiles broadly, “and the brothers from Knowledge. Welcome. I trust Auclair is just as recognizable as your last visit?”
“For the most part,” Mana smiles.
“Easier now that we aren’t trying to navigate outside the tower for the library,” Holis grins.
“Naturally,” Crisjan chuckles, “though had you entered our library, you would have found it more daunting than our halls.”
Holis pushes his shoulder gently into mine. “You did spend the most time here in Auclair then any other city.”
“Over a month,” I nod, eyes flicking to Crisjan with a grin. “I distinctly remember you sending one of your men to come find me.”
“No one had seen you for nearly three days,” the Lord shakes his head. “I had to make sure you weren’t properly lost. Or dead.”
I eye the whiskey in my hand with a small smile. “Did the man ever tell you what I told him when he found me?”
“You told him to leave you alone with your books,” Lord Crisjan chuckles, “and that if he came back again it had better be with a whiskey in hand.”
“Sounds like you,” Holis grins just as Mana shakes his head.
Lord Crisjan turns his sparkling brown eyes on the twins. “His Grace and Lord Desmond were just giving me an account of your group’s recent travel to Red Falls. What an adventure you all have shared!”
“One of many,” Holis nods at my side, “and hopefully more.”