CHAPTER IX #2
I slept fitfully at the edge of the settee in the room shared by Holis and Mana, slagging into the corner with my feet drawn up towards the middle.
Holis sat with me at the other end, opening his eyes every time I moved.
Both brothers offered me the bed but I couldn’t take it, not when my thoughts roamed to the night before with Keane holding me so strongly in his arms.
I prayed to Hirovale multiple times that Golem would be successful, though with every passing turn of the moons, I lost the hope.
Every part of my being knew that if Keane was back in his right mind, the first thing he’d do is send his location summoning to find me.
The fact that he hadn’t done so once set my troubled anxiety even higher.
My Keane would never return to his room without inquiring into my whereabouts, nor would he let there be any possible scenario in which himself or Canon wasn’t at my side.
My heart yearned hard for him the whole night, but I quickly had to push it away.
I didn’t have enough control over my wild emotions to be certain I wasn’t pushing my own summoning into him and distracting him from what Golem was doing.
At some point in the early morning, Holis wakes me with a gentle nudge. I open my tired eyes and spot his brother moving around the room quietly, situating our packs together.
Holis steps back, letting me stretch as I feel the restless lack of sleep weigh over my whole body. I’m still in the same clothes from last night and my hair is a mess, but today is a new day, and I’m determined to start it headstrong.
I move towards my traveling packs and pull out a solid black ensemble, letting the Warrior attire fuel my heart.
“Alanna moves with Cal and the soldiers to the stables now,” Mana says quietly. “Lord Alexander will meet us at His Grace’s room along with Canon now.”
My heart beats quickly, turning to both of the brothers as they meet my glance with their calm blue-green eyes.
They stand tall and strong with a determination of their own, the three of us slinging our packs over our shoulders before we head out the door.
The Bird of Ash spreads his wings wide from my shoulder, gripping me hard, his body taught and ready for whatever is to come.
Both Lord Alexander and Canon stand outside the door to Keane’s room when we arrive.
Alexander is holding a set of packs on each shoulder, letting Canon’s hands remain free as one holds steady to the broadsword at his hip.
I let out a deep breath at the sight of the two, their eyes telling me that they’re okay as they hold themselves as normal.
Lord Alexander gives me a determined nod, stepping to the side as Canon places his hand on the handle and quietly pushes the door forward.
Ancients, the nerves taking over my body are too heavy.
My eyes immediately scan the dimly lit room for Golem, looking for his brown robes against the pale white of the walls. He moves out of the shadows to my left as the door closes behind Canon and I, his features taught.
Fuck me, that’s not the face I was hoping to see.
Golem raises his robed hands in front of him as I gently lay my packs on the ground, feeling his summoning surround us.
“Were you able to…?” I whisper, unable to finish the sentence.
Keane stirs in bed, the sheet resting against his torso as normal as the bare of his chest rises softly with each small breath.
Golem nods, sending my heart into a whole new frenzy. I grimace and take a few steps towards the King, feeling Golem follow at my side.
I lean down, my body trembling, and reach a shaking hand for Keane’s jaw. I let my fingers cup the side in small caress and watch as he turns his head into my hand. I quickly glance over to Golem, catching his eyes with a hard nod as his summoning leaves us.
“Keane…” I say breathlessly, standing in heavy anticipation as I move my thumb over the side of his lips. “It’s time to leave.”
Keane’s hand shoots up from his side and grips my wrist hard, his eyes opening wide as he stares back at me with his intense brown gaze. I hear Desmond move slightly behind us, also waking up to the sound of my voice.
“Alexis,” Keane murmurs, his voice laced with heavy, heavy guilt.
A cry of relief spills from my lips just as Keane pulls on my hand and envelopes me in his embrace.
“I’m so sorry,” he wraps his arms around my back as I fall onto his chest. “So, so, sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” I start to cry, letting all of my emotions run out of me and into his arms.
Keane groans, feeling the heavy sobs that escape my lips as I try to hold back the tears.
He tightens his grip and brings his hands to the back of my head, pulling me into the crux of his neck as he starts kissing the top of my hair.
His steady arms are so strong and unwavering that I shudder in his hold, feeling his lips move to my cheek and then to the side of my jaw, gripping me tight.
“I’m going to fucking kill him,” Desmond swears from across the room.
Keane stiffens around me as I hear the sounds of footsteps heading towards the door.
“Get in,” the Master Informer demands to the three standing guard outside.
I shift in Keane’s arms, hiding my head against his shoulder as I try to regain myself, not wanting anyone to see my tears.
“Give us an update,” Desmond demands again, his tone dripping in anger as Keane sits up in bed, taking me with him.
“Alanna and Cal wait at the stables with the soldiers,” Lord Alexander says quietly, “events have transpired last night. We need to leave Etter, now, without rousing any suspicion.”
“Events?” The Master Informer replies coolly.
Keane tightens his grip as I feel, but don’t see, Desmond’s hard gaze land on me.
I open my eyes to the room and take a deep breath, pushing off Keane’s bare chest as I set my shoulders straight and look back at the dark Discerni.
“This is not the place nor the time to discuss. We can show you when we leave.”
“What happened, Alexis?” Keane places his hand on my back with a coldness in his own voice.
I shiver just slightly and turn towards his gaze, watching as his intense brown eyes turn into something deeper.
There’s a cold fire there, and I know if I tell him the truth of what happened in the pub, it’ll turn into a pure and unbridled fury upon the whole of this residence.
“I need you to trust me when I say that we will show you exactly what happened… far away from here and at the edge of the village.”
Keane eyes me quietly as the rest of the men in the room remain silent. He finally nods and reaches a thumb over my cheek, brushing away a wayward tear before his hands grip my hips.
“Alexander,” he says calmly, lifting the two of us out of bed, “take Holis and Mana and go check on the rest of our group. Have Nathaniel ready our horses if he hasn’t already…”
He pauses, the two men holding each other’s gaze hard. “Write to Auclair. Have the men begin their ride to the border.”
Lord Alexander gives Keane a deep bow, moving swiftly for the door as the twins move quietly behind him.
“Brother…” Desmond turns to Keane, his voice still hard. “We cannot let Troy get away with this.”
“No,” Keane’s reply is just as cold, “but we’ll have to deal with him at another time.”
“Or now,” Desmond takes a commanding step forward. “Let me and Canon grab him and bring him with us in our departure. You know as well as I that once he reaches La Cour he will be guarded by his men for some time.”
I watch the Master Informer with wide eyes, looking at the seriousness that covers the full of his face. Keane turns from the bed in a slow movement, looking at Desmond with that calm fire behind his eyes.
“You ask me to sanction the kidnapping of my brother, the Prince of Disce?”
“The same brother that used his summoning on said King and lowered his guard,” Desmond nods without hesitation.
I hold my breath, watching as they stare at each other in their own quiet anger.
“This isn’t some childish prank like he’s used on us in the past, Keane,” Desmond notes, “he actively altered the emotions of the King and Master Informer of Disce. His action cannot go without punishment.”
Ancients.
Keane stands completely still, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths as the two of them continue to stare each other down. Canon shifts on his feet as I do the same, hating the discord that’s now sowing between the brothers.
“Troy cannot hide forever,” I find my voice, looking to the Master Informer, “and I agree that what he’s done is beyond abhorrent.
But remember this anger, Desmond, because it will not go away.
Please trust me when I tell you that this anger will become tenfold once we leave this residence.
There will be bigger problems to face than Troy… ”
“Bigger problems…” he scoffs.
Desmond eyes me for a long moment before he turns around with a shake of his head, reaching for his pack on the ground as he slings it angrily over his shoulder.
He moves towards the door in the room as Keane watches him with narrowed eyes, the King tilting his chin to Canon for the Discerni to follow his brother.
The First Guard bows, moving quickly out the door as the two of them disappear from view.
I let out a deep breath and walk towards Keane’s own traveling packs, feeling his gaze follow me.
“Alexis...” he says my name softly, sadly.
“Later,” I grimace, pulling out a rich black tunic and riding pants with shaking hands. “We really do need to move. The man Carsen saw us last night. I don’t know if or what he’s said to Kaven, but at the very least he is suspicious of us…”
I frown and bring my hand up to my head to still another ache, remembering the blonde Discerni’s words in the forest as I begin to shake uncontrollably.
It’s the lack of sleep that has me so heavy, not to mention the anxiety of what I know and what I’ve heard.
It’s this damn Ancients place as a whole, and I need to get the fuck out of here.