CHAPTER X #5
“Desmond wants you,” Keane’s voice is amused as he walks into the room that we stayed in previously.
I turn from the bed, clad only in my emerald night slip as I watch the Master Informer roll his eyes behind Keane, shutting the door to our shared room.
“Brother,” Desmond voice is warning, though his lips turn up in a small grin before he turns to the settee.
My glance is one of confusion as I look back at Keane, noticing his brown eyes sparkling on mine as he walks towards me.
“I think he’s even considered the option of sending you to young Hadrill.”
“No chance in the Old World,” I glare at the Master Informer from afar.
“He does look at you with desire,” Desmond laughs as he rummages through his packs, shrugging his shoulder casually. I glare at him harder just as Keane plants a heated kiss on my frowning lips, chuckling with his brother.
“In another life, Alexis,” Desmond turns my way, nodding in approval. “Any woman who can watch what took place tonight is someone I would covet.”
“In another life, I’m working with Chef,” I huff and get into bed, “so come find me then and I’ll bake you a shortbread.”
“I prefer a loaf,” Desmond smiles.
“What of the man, Matthias?” I smile as well, hiding a yawn.
“He admitted openly,” Keane replies and pulls off his tunic, “needed no persuading.”
Well that all falls into a nice little box…
“And you believe him?” I narrow my eyes on the King, watching as he tugs his shirt over his head just as Desmond does the same.
“At the moment, yes,” Keane nods and reaches down for his boots. “We will question the three again tomorrow, separately.”
“You won’t get anywhere with Kaven,” I yawn again, letting my head relax on the pillow as I start to drift off to sleep.
Keane walks forward and pulls back the sheets, dipping into the bed before Golem flicks his hand from the shadows of the room, dimming the bottled moonslight for us.
I smile at the feel of his strong arms surrounding my body, missing them so much last night, and fall asleep easily after one of the longest days of my life.
Both Keane and Desmond were out the door early this morning, though not before spending the better half going over their plans for Etter.
I feigned sleep and listened to the two talk by the settee, both of their heads bowed and writing messages to all of the prominent Lords and Sirs within Knowledge and Warrior.
There was a company of men that resided in I’Nir that was being brought up to the Forest of Quiescence.
They were to guard and assist Etter as it began its rebuild, traveling with the much needed basic living supplies such as blankets and new clothing.
They also traveled as seasoned soldiers, ready to defend the Woodlands town should anyone from the bordering cities retaliate once word began to spread.
Commander Linden and his group of three hundred men were to break off.
Half would also stay in Etter to help the rebuild, mainly the human soldiers, while the other half escorted the Woodlands Discerni who took up arms against the King to the prison in Gaumond.
The men would be allowed to say goodbye to their families, while the women were afforded the choice of relocating within Disce or staying in the new Etter.
The brothers wrote to every Lord of Warrior and Knowledge, appraising them of the events of last night and what was to come.
Warrior, of course, was understanding and ready for more battle, situating their armies on the western border cities of Brassard, Backer and Dalloway.
The Lords from Knowledge were anxious in their curiosity, with every single one requesting permission to travel to Etter to view the village for themselves.
The permission was granted swiftly. It was high time Disce started opening its eyes.
I listened quietly as both brothers battled on how to reach out to Troy.
Desmond was still heated from the summoning used against them, as was I, but Keane was adamant about dealing with that situation another day.
They needed Troy and his invaluable knowledge of Woodlands Court, he argued, and planting any discourse between the three of them would only hinder the cause.
They would ignore the summoning, for now, and focus on Etter and any other cities within the court that needed their help.
I lay nervously in bed listening to them argue.
Desmond was still angered, rightfully so, but that anger was quick to turn into anticipation once Keane began writing to Troy.
He asked his brother if he knew of the summoning that possessed the village, and if so, why he didn’t make it known, and it was then that Desmond, still in his contempt, asked what Troy’s punishment would be, if so.
Around and around they argued, both of them having heated thoughts as to their brother that neither of them could agree on. But in the end, the final communication they wrote to Troy was a mixture of both of their needs…
Troy was to placate the Woodlands Discerni in Airea and La Cour while our small traveling group continued its tour through Alston, Dankworth and Fensby, assessing the rest of the western cities.
He was to hold steady in the resolve that any Woodlands lands that shared the same summoning or lifestyle as Etter would be replaced and rebuilt on the spot.
The full of Woodlands Court was now on warning, as was its Leading Lord.
They were to no longer abide by their traditional values of treating humans as second-class beings and instead begin the change that was needed on their own.
Troy himself was to appear in Gaumond in a months’ time to give the King an update on his court and to also answer for his summoning.
Queen Renate was to join her three sons at Disce’s new capitol and would hear all sides of the disputes as an arbitrator.
It was a good middle ground, though one that left me anxious knowing that the tensions between the royal family were growing even deeper still.
Lord Kaven, Carsen and the man Matthias were to be executed before noon for their crimes, a decision that, contrary to Keane’s words last night, I did not make.
I was grateful to him, and only understood this morning that Keane uttered those words to get the men to turn against eachother.
Neither liked the idea of a human deciding their fate.
Lady Esme, to my small dismay, was to be given a pardon, as she expressed interest in being a voice for the Discerni who chose to remain in Etter. She also had a long-standing knowledge of the village and the land surrounding, something that Keane pointed out reluctantly.