CHAPTER VII #7
We continue down the small road for a while until thousands of lanterns of bottled moonslight start to line the tree limbs around us.
Those lanterns add even more sparkle to the forest, everything around us truly a sight to see.
What’s even more magnificent are the fabled argents of Woodlands, the small birds now greeting our group as we ride farther into the lands.
I eye them in my ride next to Keane, watching as their white wings stretch daintily across their backs with streaks of silver feathers glittering off of them.
They’re absolutely beautiful, just like the forest from which they hail, their bodies darting quickly in every which direction as they remain unbothered by our group.
I continue to watch the birds in curiosity, birds that Arens warned me not to trust. Looking at them now and hearing as they call to each other so soft and elegant, I can’t help but think he must be mistaken.
They don’t look magical, don’t even look threatening, just peaceful as they keep to themselves.
“Eight up ahead,” Desmond says quietly, “two sets paired off at either side of the road and casual in their stance. The other four are roaming the woods, also in pairs.”
Keane frowns next to his brother, his brown eyes hard. “How far ahead?”
“We’ll reach them just as the sun dips,” Desmond replies, eyes flicking to me.
I shift in my seat just as Keane gives him a brief nod. The Master Informer’s stealth suddenly surrounds the three of us, both brothers turning in their saddles as they look at me impassively.
“Um?” I look back in confusion.
Were they meaning for me to say something?
“King Voland and his son ride to Etter about a half day behind us,” Keane begins, his voice steady as he watches me. “They’ll arrive with their delegation in the late morning tomorrow and continue on the Road of Silver back to their Kingdom.”
My brows furrow in question.
While that is interesting news, what does it have to do with me?
“Our brother rides with them,” Desmond adds coolly.
Troy.
“And…?” I continue to look at the two, not quite catching what they’re trying to get at.
Keane holds my eyes with his silent brown ones. “And we may be asked to stay another night in the village. We’ll know tomorrow…”
I shake my head, still not understanding why that information prompted a secret conversation with me. Desmond looks behind us, glancing quickly at Lord Alexander and Canon in their rides, his summoning flaring stronger before he turns his gaze back on mine.
“Tell me about your suspicion of Hadrill, Alexis.”
Ancients, they want to do this now?
I look at Keane, understanding now that he’s told his brother of the small conversation I had with the young Prince at Elliot’s Tavern.
“It started just after my conversation with Isham,” I sigh. “I was mulling through all the possibilities in my mind.”
Desmond nods, not taking his eyes off me as I lean forward and rub Millie against the neck.
"I believed the Prince when he told me he had an interest in keeping your father alive. That Livyatan had an interest. I still believe him…”
“Isham is cunning,” Desmond replies quietly. “How can you be sure he wasn’t telling you what he thought you wanted to hear?”
“He is cunning,” I frown in agreement, gripping Millie’s mane as I think of the dark-skinned Prince and his moving hair.
“Yet he has never hidden from me that he knows it. Isham and mine’s conversations have been many things, but they have never been one of dishonesty.
From the beginning we’ve both agreed to speak freely with the other.
Openly. I have no other reason to give you except that my gut tells me he was telling the truth. ”
Keane watches me quietly, as does his brother.
“And Hadrill?” Desmond asks.
“Ruling out Livyatan and Pyre only left those from Disce and Aireal who knew of the Kingdoms Council,” I shrug to the Master Informer. “It was simply a list that I kept crossing out.”
Keane turns to his brother slowly, his voice cool.
“Aireal stands to benefit the most from humans regaining access to the magic of the Old World. While we don’t believe that Voland played a hand in this, I think we can all agree that as a father and King, he has shared things with his son that are important to the Kingdom and the people he is set to inherit.
It is completely within the realm of possibility that Hadrill is aware of the Council. ”
“But to suggest that a boy just reaching adulthood could not only think of such an action, , but act on it…” Desmond shakes his head, his jaw going tense.
“Not so far away in age from our first kill, brother,” Keane replies.
The Master Informer turns his dark eyes to the King, nodding in agreement as I think on Hadrill.
Desmond brings up a good point. Did we really believe that the boy Prince had the nerve to order the assassination of a King? That he understood enough of the Kingdoms to even attempt such an act that could throw his own into open war?
He certainly had the arrogance for it. And the way that he spoke to me, of me, prompted me to believe that his youth and lack of maturity could cause him to do things without fully thinking of the repercussions.
“It was only a suspicion,” I say quietly, eyeing a few argents as they dip gracefully through the trees around us. “Something that I wished to press into on the night of Cal’s fight.”
I can feel Keane’s gaze back on me, his reply continuing my trail of thought.
“A suspicion that grew, given his answers that night.”
“Yes,” I sigh and look at the brothers in small resolve, “without a doubt. He knew of me, alluded to me. You should have heard him when he talked to Tripler and Sutton about the summoning used to mine the black granite. The interest is there.”
“This needs to be navigated carefully, brother,” Desmond turns to Keane.
“I agree.”
“I have men in their court,” he adds, “though only one of them is close to the royal family.”
“I hate saying this,” my heart dips as I lean forward and avoid Keane’s gaze, “but you need a woman…”
My thoughts drift to the cocky Prince, of the way he spoke to me so unabashed and let himself touch me, smug in his title.
“A human woman. Someone that can catch his eyes and hold his interest. Someone with her own interest in magic and the possibilities of what it would be like to wield it.”
Desmond’s eyes narrow on mine, considering my words.
“She’s right,” the King says coolly. “Play to the young Prince’s arrogance and his affinity for beautiful and special women.”
I frown, finally letting myself look at Keane. His whole body is stiff as he gives Desmond a sharp nod.
“And if you get the answers you’re looking for?” I ask the two, watching as Keane turns his cool brown eyes back on me. “What happens then?”
The brothers remain silent, their glances giving me their answer without saying any words.
The young Prince will pay with his life.
Our slow ride through the Forest of Quiescence remains unbothered until the sun slowly begins to fade from the sky.
It’s then, at the beginning of the evening and under the thousands of glowing lanterns of moonslight, that two Woodlands Discerni stand farther along the small road as we head in their direction.
They don’t seem surprised by our arrival, nor do they seem interested.
They just stand with indifferent features and watch us walk their way, their long blonde hair falling straight behind their backs and the pale green of their tunics.
Two.
Only two.
Which meant the six others remained hidden and out of sight.
“Your Grace,” the older of the two looks at Keane without emotion, bowing his head just a fraction.
“We ride for Etter tonight,” Keane responds steadily. “Lord Kaven is expecting us.”
The Woodlands Discerni nods, flicking his gaze off Keane and towards the rest of our group.
“You’ll reach the village soon,” his icy blue eyes land on mine, “just continue down the path for a while longer.”
Keane angles Ash forward as both Discerni move to the side of the small road, letting us ride through. I watch them with my own impassive gaze, wondering curiously why they didn’t offer to escort us to their Lord and why they chose to remain in the thick of the woods.
“He’s writing,” I grimace, turning back to Keane.
“Alerting Kaven,” he replies, unsurprised.
I take a deep breath and feel Stormfall waking up on my shoulder. The Bird of Ash ruffles his body, his wings spreading behind my back as he takes a few steps towards my neck.
A cool breeze settles over the group as we all remain quiet, tense, continuing down the road.
Many of the argents have chosen to retire for the night, though a few continue to lend their small songs from the trees.
I can feel a hum from their calls now, a small vibration that graces just under my skin.
It’s a friendly sound, something that warms my body to the small chill as I grip Millie’s reins even tighter, finally hearing the quiet clatter of everyday life down the road ahead.
It takes a small moment, but we finally ride into the village of Etter, and the sight before me makes my eyes go wide.