CHAPTER VIII #4
I scowl, hating the way Kaven uses the word so flippantly in his tone...
Hating that we have to sit at this table with hidden glances and conversation, pretending that we don’t see the clear distinction that has been set between the two beings of this small town.
Everything about this dinner is a farce.
From the stiffness that surrounds us all to the way Keane has to continue in small conversation with the Lord while the rest of us remain silent.
I also hate knowing that my parents raised me here, right down the road in a village consumed by people who look like they hold no capacity for joy or happiness.
I just hate it all. But mostly I find myself hating that Keane’s father allowed such a village to exist for so many years.
I couldn’t care less if this was their way, I just knew, as I sat next to the current King, that I would do something about it.
Keane’s arms are wrapped tight around my waist as I wake up in the dead of night.
He’s pulled my body into his, letting my back rest firmly to his chest as his grip holds me without release.
I open my eyes, spotting Desmond laying across the settee with his feet over the edge.
A single lantern sparkles dimly in the room, but it’s enough to light the white walls around us, reminding me of where we are.
I move against Keane, trying to angle my body out of his as I look around for Golem.
I need to get out.
Need to go back to the village and see it again. Something in my core is pulling at me to venture, to roam the small homes that are crammed together and speak to someone who will look at me without shielded eyes.
Keane stirs behind me when I try to move out of his hold, his arms flexing and tightening around my waist without release. A small shuffle of robes catches my glance as I spot Golem moving to the foot of the bed, my magical friend feeling my urge to explore as I subconsciously call to him.
I catch his gaze pointedly before looking back at Keane, hoping he understands that I’m looking for a way to disentangle myself from his arms. Golem’s eyes flick to the small door at the end of the room where a small bathing chamber resides before they fall back on mine.
I nearly laugh at my friend, loving that he’s always so willing and ready to assist in my next adventure, and push softly against Keane’s arms and chest, this time having a valid reason.
“Where are you going, Alexis?” Keane’s voice is hard in his sleep.
I turn to him and plant a small kiss on his shoulder. “Just need to use the bathing room.”
Keane nods and brings his hand against my back as I sit up from bed.
I take a deep breath and walk towards the door, feeling Golem follow behind me.
His movements are so quiet that I wonder if he’s using his own magic to shield the noise of his feet.
I open the door and let the creak of it fill the room to alert Keane of my whereabouts, then hold it inwards until my magical friend passes through with me.
Golem and I look at each other quietly for a few moments before I tilt my head back to the room in question. He gives me a small nod, letting me know that it’s okay to speak.
“Just a quick walk to the village, Golem,” I whisper. “Are you game?”
He nods, lips turning up in a small grin.
“Good. I’ll need my cloak and boots and perhaps a pair of pants. We can grab Stormfall on the way out.”
Golem points to himself.
“Yes, please,” I smile shyly, “if you don’t mind.”
He shakes his head and reaches for the door, disappearing quietly behind it.
I wait in the small room until he comes back, my grin growing when I see him enter again with Stormfall on his shoulder and my clothes in his hand.
I change hastily into my pants and boots and fasten the large dagger under the strap at my calve, throwing my emerald cloak over my body and grinning at the feel of it around me.
I draw up my hood and reach out a hand for Storm, bringing him to my shoulder before I give Golem a small and nervous nod.
This goes against everything Arens warned me about, but I’ll be damned if I just sit around on my ass.
Golem opens the door for the two of us, letting me step out before we both make our way silently across the room. My heart starts to race as I lay a hand on the door, watching as Golem gives me a nod of assurance.
I turn the handle slowly, holding my breath, and let the door open quietly to the hall.
“No!” I gasp out loud, eyes going wide as Canon quickly turns around with furrowed brows.
What is he doing here!
A set of loud steps greets me from behind as Keane swiftly grabs my wrist and pulls me back into the room. Desmond moves for the door at the same time, closing it shut with a thud as my body starts to shake with rage.
“That’s ten cinerin, brother,” Desmond chuckles, turning his dark gaze on mine as I look at him in bewilderment.
“You put Canon at the door!” I turn to Keane angrily.
I nearly lose all posture at the sight of his face, sagging just slightly at the blazing brown eyes that burn in their own fury.
Ancients.
Keane looks like he could throttle me right now.
I hold my ground and pull my wrist out of his grip, watching as Stormfall flies off my shoulder and back for the bed.
Even Golem takes a few steps away from me to disappear against a shadowed wall, leaving me to deal with the King and the silent features of rage that are now settling across his face.
“You had Canon guard the door!” I repeat angrily, crossing my arms against my chest as Desmond’s stealthing summoning shoots up fast around us. Keane watches me in a near deathly silence, the look so intense that I turn my anger on his brother.
“Let me out!”
“Not on my life, Alexis,” Desmond shakes his head in amusement, turning his back on me as he walks to the settee. “But it was a valiant try, I’ll give you that. Didn’t expect Golem to come to your aide.”
I turn towards my magical friend still standing in the corner of the room, watching as he gives me a shrug, eyes crinkling in silent laughter.
“Get back in bed, Alexis,” Keane finally says, his voice literally dripping in anger.
My eyes find his, holding them steady as I set my shoulders straight.
“No. I think I’ll take my walk.”
Keane takes an intimidating step towards me, his gaze quite literally telling me not to fight him on this. I take a hesitant step back, and then another, until my back is flushed against the door and his chest is hovering against mine.
“No, Keane,” I turn around and reach for the handle again.
Keane’s palm hits the wood hard above my head, causing me to jump as my body shakes in even more anger.
“How are you both okay with this!” I push past him and look towards Desmond. “How can you both even think of sleeping right now? Let’s get out! Let’s go see what is going on in the village. Let’s go talk to someone.”
“What are you expecting to find, Alexis?” Desmond looks at me from his stance, folding his arms across his chest. “You saw what we saw riding in, and you’ll see it again tomorrow.”
“Oh, you mean the humans that can’t even look in our direction?
” I scoff, narrowing my eyes on the Master Informer.
“Or perhaps you’re referencing the village we saw that was without an ounce of life?
They couldn’t even look eachother in the eyes, Desmond!
Someone or something is making them that way! ”
Desmond shakes his head. “That is how it’s always been.”
“It’s disgusting,” I turn in anger to Keane, “I don’t care if that’s the way it’s always been. Something needs to be done!”
“And you were about to do what, Alexis?” Keane asks coolly, taking a hard step towards me again. “Just waltz down the road and rally the humans around you?”
“What!” I yell at him. “No, of course not. I just needed to see it again. Yes, I was hoping to speak with someone, but I wasn’t looking for more to come of it. Something isn’t right about this village, Keane. I can feel it in my soul.”
“Nothing is right about Etter, Alexis. That is why we’re here.”
“Ah, yes,” I laugh, taking a step away from his silent stalk towards me.
“We’re here to sit around a dinner table and pretend like everything is okay even though we know it’s not.
That feigned action is what keeps this village standing!
This fucking pretense where we all act like everything is okay! I don’t know how you two do it.”
“Because we have to,” Desmond responds quietly. “While you were busy paying attention to the humans in the village, we were assessing their defense.”
“What…” I look at him confused, feeling Keane take a large step at my side.
“No Discerni came out to greet us,” the Master Informer holds my gaze steady, “instead, they kept to the woods. They were assessing us themselves. They watched us quietly from above through pathways they have fashioned between the trees. They move through the forest unseen, Alexis, much like we do in Fumagalli. Had you gotten out tonight for your little walk without Golem hiding the two of you, they would have certainly saw you. And neither of us want to think of what they would have done…”
“That’s outrageous,” I reply in disbelief.
“As outrageous as the humans in the village not lifting their eyes?” Desmond replies with a sad smile. “They know, Alexis. They know they are being watched from above.”
“How long?” I fume, my body trembling. “How long has Kaven been Lord of Etter?”
Desmond’s eyes flick behind me as Keane reaches a hand for my arm, gripping it tight. I stiffen in his hold, turning in deep resentment as I look back into his brown gaze.
“Forty years,” he replies, his voice cold.
Forty fucking years.
He was the Lord of this village when my parents were slaughtered. And if he’s still hanging around, then that has to mean the two Discerni men who took their lives are still here as well.
Are they all living unbothered in their lavish homes in the woods? Waiting for more humans to fight back just so they can sharpen their swords?
No.