CHAPTER XII
NEWS AND REPERCUSSIONS
“The King is betrothed…”
“To whom?”
“A human woman.”
“The one who has been seen riding with him recently.”
“A Discerni King and a common human…”
“She is from Knowledge.”
“I heard a rumor that she’s actually from Woodlands.”
“Carries a large black hawk on her shoulder…”
“Some say its magical.”
“But she wears black?”
“The King is to be married to a human.”
“The first in over nine hundred years…”
News spread like wildfire not only throughout Woodlands Court but the full Kingdom.
Desmond had the word sent through his channels the moment we walk out of our room the next morning.
Both him and Elena sat at a small kitchen table, greeting us with broad smiles as they noticed the new sparkle on my hand.
“About damn time, brother,” the Master Informer stands with a grin.
He extends his arm to Keane and pulls him into a tight embrace. Stormfall pushes off my shoulder and lands on the small table between us all, his yellow eyes watching the brothers as I look down to the ring on my finger.
Ten perfectly cut ovals of black granite sit shining back at me.
The gems aren’t small but they aren’t flamboyantly large either.
The edges of the ovals touch each other’s sides, the ten of them forming a wide ring around my finger that’s outlined and held together by a sparkling gold setting.
The black granite is buffed and shines brighter than I ever thought possible, twinkling back at me as a claim from the man of Warrior who wants everyone to see.
The first question on my lips when we woke this morning was to ask him when he had the ring made. My curiousness was too strong as Keane smiled back at me knowingly, his arms wrapping around my waist under the sheets as he kissed the top of my hair.
“When we got back to Gaumond from the Bulwark Plains,” his voice was steady in its reply.
I sighed in amazement and hid my head against his chest. My heart was pounding too hard, unable to fathom the idea.
Ancients.
He knew even then.
He had the ring made before we even found ourselves under the Shadow Oak. Before we spoke to his father and saw his visions.
“Congratulations, Alexis,” Elena’s soft voice pulls me out of my thoughts.
She’s walking towards me with a small smile pulling at her lips, her quiet eyes dancing across mine.
“Mother will want a full and grand wedding, you know.”
My eyes dart to Keane and his brother as Elena takes my hand and looks at the ring. The King shrugs apologetically as Desmond tries to hide his smirk, both of their features telling me their sister isn’t wrong.
“Have fun with that,” Desmond clasps Keane on the back in laughter.
“This is very you,” Elena says, squeezing my hand. “Well done, brother. And welcome to the family, Alexis.”
My heart surges at her words as Desmond makes his way over to me, his dark demeanor and features less foreboding now as he smiles and brings me in for a hug. I hesitate before doing the same… he’s still the Master Informer in my eyes.
“Not many know this about me, Alexis,” he pulls away with a grin, “but I thoroughly enjoy children. I can’t wait to become an uncle to your young ones.”
I stare at the man in silence, not sure if I heard him correctly.
Desmond?
Good with kids?
No way.
A joyous laugh hits me hard as my eyes widen in disbelief. Both Keane and Elena watch on with smiles of amusement as Desmond narrows his own, thoroughly affronted.
“I’ll believe it when I see it, Your Highness,” I pat his shoulder.
“Breakfast to celebrate,” Elena announces, moving into the kitchen.
“She’ll need a Queen’s Guard,” Desmond looks at Keane as the three of us take a seat at the small table. I glance at both men curiously and bring a hand out to Stormfall’s back.
“A man at your side,” Keane explains, “like Canon is for me, but for you.”
He turns to his brother and sits casually in his chair, a King thoroughly content.
“We can wait until we get back to Gaumond. Select from the Warriors there. We were supposed to do this in Bardot but things got busy.”
Desmond nods in agreement, also relaxing in his chair just as a cool set of fingers press against my shoulder. I smile to Golem behind me and stand up, feeling his arms wrap tightly around my shoulders in a caring hug.
“More adventures for us, my friend,” I whisper quietly. “Looks like you’ll have to put up with me for a few more years.”
My magical friend grins into my shoulder, his strong arms holding me tight before he pulls away.
Keane’s eyes are on the two of us as I sit back down, his gaze watching Golem and I with such affection that it tugs at my heart.
I scoot my chair closer to him and smile as Elena places a full plate of muffins on the table.
A First Guard for me.
Queen’s Guard, they called it.
What a thought.
But no matter how daunting the idea is, I can’t help but think of the blue-green eyes of my friend. I already have a guard, have had one since my travels began two years ago.
“Holis…” I smile to both brothers as Elena places a steaming kettle on the table. “I want Holis.”
“Holis couldn’t work,” Desmond shakes his head. “You need someone who is adept with a broadsword or a close encounter weapon. As far as I’ve seen he’s only held the bow.”
I frown at the Master Informer, considering his words.
“He trains with Cal in hand to hand,” I offer, “and his brother masters the kedge. I’m sure he’s picked something up in his life other than the bow.”
Desmond turns to Keane with a quiet glance, the two of them communicating silently.
“I can inquire with him,” he finally shrugs his shoulder. “See if he’s even interested.”
The King nods, smiling softly before he turns his gaze on me. “He’d have to leave his life in Knowledge, Alexis…”
I frown again and reach for a mug.
I hadn’t considered that.
Do I want to ask that of Holis? I knew he had his bookstore in the Palisades, as well as his brother and Sera there, and Cal. Would he be open to leaving the court? To stay by my side for the rest of his life, protecting me?
Yes.
Or at least I hoped.
And perhaps it was a bit selfish but I couldn’t imagine anyone else but him.
Holis was already there, always riding next to me and lending a hand, whether that hand came with food or training, it was always there.
He and I worked so well together and were comfortable with each other. I truly wanted no one else.
“I’d like to ask him,” I glance up to the Master Informer, holding his gaze steady.
The heavy request would come from me.
“The person also swears an oath to protect your life,” Desmond’s voice is calm as he looks back at me. “Are your sure this is something Holis would want?”
“No,” I answer honestly, “but I’d still like to ask.”
“It is an honor, regardless,” Elena smiles as she sits down at the table, “one that Holis will take in heavy regard and pride knowing that you asked him.”
My heart sinks just a bit as I sit back in my chair, hoping he’ll say yes.
“So where am I taking you two today?” Elena turns to the brothers, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
“Alexis as well,” Keane drops a hand to my thigh, noticing my small deflation. “She can tour some of the city before meeting with Sianoa. Desmond and I will need to meet with Alma and Mina. Are they still heading your small council?”
“Yes. The three of us.”
“Why is Alston allowed to have a governing council?” I ask the two of them curiously. “Why promote a Lord in Etter when they could have done the same with Maude, Rae and Esme?”
Elena smiles from across the table as Keane watches me with perceptive eyes.
“Etter needs a strong and unifying hand right now. Someone who can listen to both sides without any special interest. It also needs someone who knows how to command the men we left behind for its defense.”
“Plus,” Elena leans forward with a side grin, “Alston is not the same as the other cities in Disce. We’ve never allowed a man to have single rule over us. That has been the way for thousands of years and won’t ever change.”
Desmond rolls his eyes at his sister while Keane shakes his head with a small smile, lifting his brows mockingly. His glance calls on her to recognize his own rule.
“Let’s ride through Nolan and Rivian’s quarters before lunch, then come back up the hill to drop Alexis off and meet with your women only council.”
“As you command, Your Grace.”
I smile at the sister quietly.
I think I’ll grow to like Elena more.
Our group is saddled and waiting at the stables, ready to depart under the steady morning sun that pushes through the glittering and quiet woods around us.
Nathaniel, Bryson and Sam left earlier, moving down the hill for an early breakfast as they toured Alston on their own.
I smiled at the news, knowing that the three men had their own curious interest here.
Alanna stands next to me, the two of us eyeing Keane and Cal in their lively conversation not far away.
Cal had picked me up swiftly after seeing the ring on my finger, turning me in his hold as he laughed excitedly, the vibrations from his chest pushing deep against mine and warming my heart.
He dropped me to the ground with an even larger grin before he turned right around and threw his arm over Keane’s shoulder, embracing him like a brother.
The King laughed with him, shaking his head with a knowing grin when Cal asked him to take a walk.
Holis and Mana also greeted me with deep affection, offering their quiet congratulations with extremely formal and low bows of their heads.
“Please don’t,” I pleaded. I wasn’t ready for the formalities of everything just yet, especially among friends.
Holis grinned wide in response, forgoing the stiffness before throwing his arms around my back as he pulled me in for a tight hug.
“This is fitting for you, Alex. The two of you together. And who you are becoming.”
I smiled into my friend’s shoulder, nodding softly.
“We’re happy for you, Alexis,” Mana added. “Sera will be happy to hear.”