CHAPTER X
JUDGEMENT
“You surprised me…” my voice is low as I ride next to Keane. His knee is nearly touching mine, angling Ash so close to Millie that I’m amazed the horses don’t begin to move in unison.
The King turns to me with a smirk, his brown eyes dancing across mine.
“Oh, trouble. I’ve come to learn that no words or doors or extra guard will keep you away from something you set your mind to.”
“Not for lack of trying,” I laugh quietly, catching as Canon hides a grin to my left. The First Guard also moves his horse close to my side, the two men keeping me strategically between their protective stances.
“You deserve to be here, Alexis,” Keane adds in seriousness, “I wouldn’t hold you back even if I could.”
I grip Millie’s reins tight, bowing my head to the King in appreciation as we continue our ride into Etter. Lord Alexander and Crisjan are on Keane’s right, the three of them plus Canon and I leading the small company of men that follow behind.
We move slowly through the forest, passing under the many lanterns of bottled moonslight that glitter along the road. A few argents dip in and out of the woods above, their calls quiet and hum calm as they glide around the soldiers in curious greeting.
After the meeting with the men, I changed into a deep green long sleeve that was provided by Gail.
The satin emerald flowed beautifully around my body, accentuating my chest and tightening around my waist as the sharp black shadow oak leaves moved from the top of my shoulders down to my wrists.
I paired the top with a set of rich black riding pants that were also graced with the oak stitching, admiring the way they tucked perfectly into my brown boots with the gold buckles.
Everything was well put together, all the way down to the black and gold of my shadow oak earrings to the emerald fluorite of my rings.
Keane approved of my attire, eyeing it quietly as we both got dressed.
He didn’t say a word about the near Warrior of my outfit this time, but he also didn’t need to.
His heated eyes on my body were all I needed to feel as he changed into something similar.
He wore an open black tunic that hosted the shadow oak designs throughout, and underneath was a deep green silk shirt, the color nearly matching my own as it tucked into black riding pants and boots.
He looked regal, as he always did in the dark of Warrior, before settling his features into a commanding coolness as we walked out of the tent together.
The scar on top of his right hand shined a thick white when he took his hand in mine, the King leading us into the night with Golem at our side.
I was ready to greet Etter again, confident and headstrong, but my full body stilled the moment we moved out of the tent. My heart started beating a bit too fast against my chest, because all I could see were the silent gazes that greeted us from around the camp.
Keane, of course, was used to this. I had witnessed countless taverns and groups of people throughout Disce who all stopped in their movements to acknowledge the King.
But there was something different about the silence that greeted us now— something about the gazes that prompted me to squeeze Keane’s hand in small nervousness.
The two of us stood tall next to each other as a unit, matching in our dark Shadow Oak sigil and attire. It was all I could do but force myself to take a deep breath and nod to Canon when he walked forward with our horses, focusing on him instead of the camp that all seemed to dip into a bow…
For the two of us…
As a collective.
But it feels right now, riding at Keane’s side with those same men guarding our backs. His determination to make sure everyone sees the two of us together is unwavering, and I find myself that much more in awe of him.
“We’ll reach the edge of the village soon,” Keane announces to the Lords.
I turn in my saddle, noticing both Discerni twins and Cal at my back, the three of them narrowing their eyes on me with a nod of readiness. Stormfall grips my shoulder, spreading his wings large as I turn to face the road again, spotting Lord Crisjan’s eyes roaming the woods in small confusion.
Soon, Crisjan.
Soon those eyes will be filled with disgust, not question.
The air around us is cool, moving with our group down the road in a slight breeze.
I hold my breath as we make a turn, watching as the road expands and the trees surrounding each side push back, allowing for the clustered grey and white stone homes to come into view.
Each of those fake homes have their wooden shutters drawn closed, with no bundles of logs gracing their front doors.
Keane slows Ash to a stop, his eyes narrowed on the homes with me as he keeps his voice calm in announcement.
“The people are awake but they keep to their homes. Their heartbeats are irregular. Nervous. Two Discerni move in the trees farther down the road towards the square, no doubt to alert Lord Kaven...”
My own heart is pounding in my chest, marveling at his Discerni hearing as I stare at the dark and quiet homes that have no light coming from within.
The humans are all awake? But they choose to remain in their homes? And why didn’t they leave any bundles of wood in front of their doors?
Can’t they see the King of Disce and the small army that rides behind him, ready to defend them? All they have to do is look. To raise their cowering heads from the ground to see that we ride for them.
Keane urges Ash forward, grimacing alongside me at the non-sight of wood at the front of the homes. He raises a hand slowly and deliberately at his side, causing the ground to rumble up ahead and shake the homes and trees around us.
If anyone was unaware of our arrival, they aren’t now.
Keane’s summoning draws carefully from the ground, pulling hundreds of thick roots out of the earth so that they twist together into small piles before the doors.
We watch quietly as dark and hidden faces begin to peer out through their windows, everyone still hiding behind the shadows with their eyes wide on the King.
Keane flicks his hand to the side with a hard look in his eyes, sending each of those roots up in flames. His summoning lights both sides of the road quickly, the fires roaring with their flames and casting heat over the doors.
“The true Etter, Lord Crisjan…” Keane’s voice is cold as he turns to the Discerni.
I hold my breath for the briefest of moments, watching as the illusion begins to break. Spark by spark and flame by flame, each lick of fire starts to tear away at the faux homes.
The lush green of the grass is the first to go, replaced by dying patches of dirt and weeds that catch to even more flames.
Those flames lick dangerously close to the fake stone walls of the homes, each tendril so pure in its fire that it doesn’t take long for them to break through the illusion completely.
Gone are the semi-decent residents afforded to the humans, replaced quickly by the dirty hovels they truly are.
Keane slows our company’s walk to an almost stop, making sure every single man in his group sees the living conditions clearly.
Lord Crisjan’s eyes go wide, watching as all trace of green and color is removed from the road around us, the entirety now covered in dirt and muck.
More faces begin to peer out of their homes, some angry and scared while others look out their windows in downright disbelief.
They watch the flames carefully as they tear down the illusion that has held their town for too long, not knowing what to do.
“Dear Ancients…” Lord Crisjan’s voice is full of sorrow.
I can feel the men behind us all stirring in their saddles, their hushed voices murmuring in the same tone as the Lord’s as we continue down the road.
Keane lifts a hand again to his side to continue his summoning, aiming to draw more roots from the ground so that the fires follow us all the way into town.
I quickly place my own hand on his arm after spotting an older man in front of his door, willing my King to stop as I tilt my chin in his direction.
The old man looks straight at Keane with determination in his eyes, his frail arms holding a bundle of wood before he drops it all at his feet.
The illusion of his home still stands strong behind him, but the look he gives the King from afar tells him to burn it all down.
Keane nods to the man and flicks his fingers without hesitation, lighting the wood to a large fire.
The flames roar against the man’s boots, lighting his body and the pale green and greys of his attire.
I gasp at the sight of him, my eyes widening in disbelief as even his clothes begin to change against the flames.
Gone are the sturdy boots below him, replaced by tattered sandals that look near to falling apart.
His grey pants become covered in dirt and grime, looking like they haven’t seen a proper wash in ages, while the green of his tunic becomes tattered and torn, resembling a rag more than it does anything else.
The full change is drastic, gripping my heart as I stare at the old man who stands with such bravery. He lets the flames warm his front and wash away the summoning that somehow consumes the people here, his head held high and standing without shame.
“Remember him,” I whisper, letting the man fuel my anger.
Keane hears my quiet plea, nodding his head in agreement as both Lord Crisjan and Alexander watch the change with the same look of horror behind their eyes.
We’re all appalled, from the front line of this company all the way to the last man riding in the rear.
I can feel everyone’s sorrow, hear their hushed voices as they shift in their saddles, completely uncomfortable.
But that uneasiness is good.
There will be no more days in which the people of Disce ride through Etter without concern. Tonight, everyone’s eyes are filled with disgust. As they should be.