CHAPTER VIII #2
The man at his right has the same build as Cal, making Lord Kaven look puny at his side.
He’s broad shouldered, wearing a tight pale green satin shirt as he nods just briefly to the King before letting his eyes roam over our group.
There’s a hardness to his face, to the full of him, everything so large and muscled that he looks completely different from the thin and proper Woodlands Discerni next to him.
He catches me looking at him, my gaze narrowing on the thick scar that runs from the top of his temple and down the side of his eye, ending at his jaw.
He sneers in open disgust at the mere sight of me before he turns back to the King.
“Your group can turn in to the stables,” Lord Kaven says loud enough for us all to hear. “We also have dinner waiting in the kitchens for the humans.”
Desmond turns and tilts his head to our group, urging for us to follow him. Keane remains at the Lord’s side, his face so cool and cold that I shiver at the sight.
Dinner for the humans? Were they already separating us from the Discerni of our group?
“Of course, we would also like to host the rest of you for dinner,” Kaven gives a barely noticeable smile, letting his gaze fall on Keane.
Yes. Yes, they were.
“Settle your horses in first and then we’ll show you to your rooms.”
Alanna brings her mare next to mine, walking quietly to my right as Canon stays close on my left. I peer over at my short friend, noticing the anger hiding behind her eyes as she watches the three Discerni in front of us with open hatred.
We’re all walking quietly to the stables when I realize Stormfall hasn’t left my shoulder since we’ve arrived.
He normally always flies off at the sight of any new land, but right now the Bird of Ash chooses to remain with me, his talons gripping my shoulder hard as we move through the wooden doors that lead into the various stalls.
The mood around us is tense as we situate our horses— Could be cut with the dullest of knives. But we continue in our movements and send each other knowing glances, all of us prepared to never once leave each other’s side.
Canon escorts me back out of the stables with the rest of the group, and it’s then that the Bird of Ash decides to make himself known. Stormfall spreads his wings wide behind my back, his sharp yellow eyes falling hard on Lord Kaven as I notice his wife glance at us in hidden curiosity.
“This is everyone?” Kaven ignores Hiro’s right hand, turning to Keane.
“It is.”
“Rooms and dinner,” the Lord says coolly, walking through a side door as he lets his wife trail behind him.
Golem joins our group quietly from the shadows of the forest beyond, moving next to Keane as we enter a large hall. My eyes go round again, marveling at the pristine white walls and the way they glitter so proper around us.
A few human servants walk down the hall, their eyes trained on whatever task they have at hand. Most of them are girls, about Gail’s age, each of them wearing dull grey dresses that have seen better days. They all bow their heads to Lord Kaven when he passes, completely ignoring the King.
“The kitchens are through the double doors on the right,” the Discerni Lord points to the middle of the hall, “we only have two rooms available for the humans in your group. They can share as they see fit.”
I blanche as the Lord speaks so casually in his words and turn to Cal with frown. There are five of us total. Five that will likely have to share two beds.
Cal remains quiet, as do the Warrior soldiers, all of us unable to hide the surprise in our faces as we step towards the two rooms, waiting to be sectioned away from our group.
It could be worse.
My mantra for the night.
Canon grabs my wrist, stopping my walk before it even begins as Keane turns coldly to the Lord.
“Lady Alexis will stay with me.”
All three Woodlands Discerni turn slowly from their walk and glance at the King.
Their features are indifferent, eyes moving to Canon’s hand on my wrist before he drops it back to my side.
There’s a tension in the air, the thick of it coming directly from Kaven as he eyes Keane for challenging his authority.
Alanna breaks the silence, moving towards Cal and the soldiers with her own cold features as she proudly walks to one of the doors in the hall and opens it.
She’s not happy right now, none of us are, but she turns to Cal and the three men and gives them a hard grin, titling her head inside the room as they all move to follow behind her.
My heart surges with pride, watching them enter the single room together before she shuts the door loudly behind them. The full of our group turns back to the Woodlands Discerni with quiet smiles, even Lord Alexander grinning as he gives the Lord a satisfied look.
“I’m afraid the room we have reserved for you, Your Grace, was meant to be shared with His Highness,” Lord Kaven scowls.
“The three of us will make do, Lord Kaven,” Keane replies coolly.
Kaven’s wife shifts on her feet as her husband stares back at Keane in surprise.
“That is highly improper, Your Grace.”
“Indeed, it is,” Keane nods to the Lord, ending the conversation as he continues his walk.
Desmond, Golem and Lord Alexander follow closely at his sides as Canon remains by mine with Holis and Mana.
We walk to the middle of the residence, to the full of the entry room opening up to high arching walls and even higher slanted crystal windows. Two large, white marble staircases curve against the sides, the stairs leading to another floor that rests elegantly above us.
Curiously, the sound of small chittering starts to fill the room, the songs echoing off the vaulted ceilings.
I glance around for the sound and spot a large atrium resting just under the sweeping stairs, the silver metal and glass walls hosting a plethora of trees and small water fountains, the structure creating a perfect encampment for a group of argents.
Kaven’s wife smiles openly as she peers towards the birds, the features of her face softening with a look of affection. I eye the atrium in curiosity, noting that the argents have ample room to fly around, and smile as their songs provide a beautiful melody in an otherwise horrible situation.
Kaven rolls his eyes at his wife and leads us up the staircase. We follow him to the top as he turns left and into another hall, the lanterns of bottled moonslight still shining against the pristine white walls.
“Show His Grace and his brother to their room, Esme,” he tells his wife. “I will escort the others to theirs.”
Esme gives a small bow before meeting Keane’s glance timidly. “If you’ll follow me, Your Grace, Your Highness.”
Both Keane and Desmond remain unmoving.
My heart beats hard against my chest as they turn to me instead, their eyes expecting.
I take a slow step forward, moving to Keane’s side as he reaches out and takes my hand in his, gripping it hard.
Esme frowns, as does her husband and the looming Discerni next to him, but continues in her silent and soft walk down the end of the hall.
The Discerni woman opens the last door for us just as Keane places his hand on the small of my back and urges me inside.
I walk into the room. It’s larger than what I envision was afforded to Alanna and the men downstairs, but it’s not nearly big enough to host the King of Disce and his brother.
To the left rests a small bed, its sheets an emerald green with small grey and white pillows on top, while to the right is a small reading nook, complete with a settee and a small writing table.
Apart from those three pieces of furniture, the rest of the room is bare, leaving the stark white marble walls glimmering around me in feigned welcome.
Keane walks into the room with Golem and takes the travel packs off my shoulder, placing them at the foot of the bed along with his own. Desmond walks to our right and does the same next to the settee, the Master Informer forced to spend the night on a cushion barely big enough for two.
The two brothers look at eachother quietly as Esme stands silently at the door. They hold each other’s gazes for just a brief moment before Keane reaches for my back again, leading us back to the woman.
“Thank you for the accommodations, Lady Esme,” Keane gives her a small nod, walking us through the door with Desmond at our back.
“Of course, Your Grace,” she replies quietly, her voice soft and airy. “Dinner will be on the third floor. I will show you there.”
I eye the Discerni carefully, watching as she walks next to us with the same demure presence as she did with her husband. The only difference now is that her eyes are staring straight ahead, not trailed low next to Kaven and his man.
I frown, wondering what her role in the governing of Etter is, if any, and follow as she leads us up a smaller staircase from an open arch in the hall.
We’re the first to arrive in a large dining room on the third floor, though there are a handful of human servant girls all moving around the large table.
They all curtsey at our arrival, the greeting directed mostly at Lady Esme.
“Rose,” Esme smiles, “can you pour us some sparkling toddy?”
“Yes, Lady,” the blonde girl curtsies again, placing the small stack of silver plates in her hands on the table.
She reaches for a few long-stemmed crystal glasses as Esme approaches her, the Discerni woman helping Rose with the glasses as the girl grabs a decanter of light, tanned liquid and begins pouring.
Keane moves close to my side as the door opens again. The three of us peer behind as Lord Alexander, Canon, Holis and Mana all walk in with Lord Kaven and the other Discerni man behind him.
“Six more,” Lady Esme whispers to Rose.
The two start pouring the extra drinks as the other servants continue to set the table, one even pulling out a chair for Lord Kaven to sit down on.
What in the ever-loving fuck?