CHAPTER XIII #7
“We could find you a proper bed, brother,” Keane chuckles as Desmond drops his packs on the settee.
“Save it,” the Master Informer shrugs, “give it to the Ancient. I’ve grown pretty fond of my cushions.”
Desmond’s eyes catch mine, a dark sparkle resting behind them.
“Unless you two are looking for some more privacy?” he raises a brow.
“You know that won’t stop me, brother,” Keane smirks.
I flush and walk quickly back out of the room, hearing both of their small laughs as Golem’s padded feet join us.
“We’re back in Etter, Golem,” I turn to him in welcome just as Keane closes the door.
The magical being looks quietly over the men standing in the hall as his gaze turns solemn. Keane folds his arms over his chest, eyes narrowing first on Heysan and then again on his brother, the atmosphere swiftly turning grim.
“Who do we want to approach first?” he asks in cold question.
“I say we talk to the younger again, first. See if we can find out anything else before approaching Esme,” Desmond replies, just as cool.
The men look at each other silently, the three of them considering the terrible job that now has to be done.
Interrogating people is what the Master Informer does, but it’s also something Keane has a knack for, a revelation I stumbled upon in Fumagalli.
Even looking at Heysan tells me the Ancient isn’t na?ve as to what happens behinds the closed doors of questioning.
His face is one set in resolute, understanding just like the rest of us that this has to be done.
That necessary mindset is what keeps me moving with the men as we walk to the third floor.
There’s just too much going on behind the scenes in Etter, in all of Woodlands, and I’m desperate for answers.
It can’t be forgotten that the court actively started its own dark market trade of green agate the moment after Zander’s death.
And it’s also become apparent that they have their own network of people, just like Desmond does on behalf of Disce.
So who is behind all of that? Someone has to be the leader. Is it Esme? Or someone else?
Don’t let yourself forget about the third brother, Stormfall replies. He is the Leading Lord of this Court. Can you truly expect that he knows nothing? That he is in the dark?
My step falters next to the men as we walk down the hall.
Troy is a cluster of thoughts and feelings that always pulls me in different directions.
Anger, forgiveness, more anger and confusion.
I thought I knew who he was, but my perception of him just seems to change nearly every day now.
He was the first person from Woodlands to not ignore my being, though at the time I truly didn’t appreciate what that meant.
He’s also someone who stood at my door in Bardot, summoning my angered emotions at him with furrowed brows while telling me not to believe everything I heard of the court.
And I can’t even comprehend his relationship with the rest of his family.
Elena has a deep love for Troy in her heart, always advocating for the benefit of the doubt when it comes to him.
Him and his mother have a profound connection, one that I suspect runs deeper than what Keane has with her.
And then there is the matter of the brothers themselves, so polite and calm in front of the Kingdom that you’d never know of the issues that sulked behind closed doors.
So do I think he’s a questionable character? Absolutely. Especially after everything that went down at dinner not so long ago. But do I think he’s malicious enough to order for my kidnapping? To collude with Esme here on keeping the true human village hidden from outsiders?
I have no answer for that yet.
He’s in my thoughts, Storm, I sigh, but I don’t know what to make of them just yet. I don’t doubt that he’s aware of the things happening in his court, on some level, but I don’t think I’m ready to put him in league with Esme and Kaven.
And if that time comes?
I turn to the Bird of Ash on the third floor with a hard glance.
Then I’ll need you to protect me, Storm. Because help me Ancients, things will not go well for Troy. I’ve wanted to hurt him in the past and that feeling has not left.
Stormfall grips my shoulder in understanding, his own yellow eyes sharp as I take a deep breath.
Everything on this new floor is quiet and still, the glittering white marble walls just as bleak as the others below it.
I spot Nathaniel standing guard outside a door in the middle of the hall, the young man bowing first to the King before turning to Heysan and Desmond.
“Bryson’s inside. Sam is sleeping. We’re taking her watch in intervals of two…”
“Has she said anything since we arrived?” Desmond takes a hard step forward, reaching for the door.
“Nothing.”
“Thank you,” Keane’s voice is calm. “We’ll send Bryson outside now. Continue your guard throughout the night and tomorrow.”
Desmond opens and walks through the door with cool features. All three men do. Golem follows behind me with Bryson nodding to the two of us before he steps out of the small room.
It’s not much to look at, just a storage space filled with shelves of towels, soap, and other bathing room products, but my eyes immediately fall on the young Woodlands Discerni girl as she sits bound in a chair against the far wall.
She’s looking at me with mock laughter in her eyes, her mouth and the back of her head still covered by Heysan’s silver bangle and preventing any sound.
I stay at the back of the room with Golem as the three men approach her, watching as my magical friend’s hands lift at his side to mute the coming conversation.
Heysan casually lifts his own hand towards the girl as Desmond takes his typical stance behind her chair, the silver bracelet around the girl’s mouth loosening and dropping down her lips to rest as a collar around her neck.
“Come to end this, Your Grace?” Her eyes finally move off mine as she smiles sweetly to Keane at her side.
How is a young girl already so hardened?
She’s barely a few years older than Gail.
“No, Alyson,” Keane gives her a small smile as he takes a commanding step forward. “We’re going to draw this out as long as possible. We have the years, as do you, and I do not mind waiting.”
The girl scowls at the King.
“Do you know who stands in this room?” Keane turns his eyes on Heysan, then to Stormfall on my shoulder, “who rode with us today and now graces your presence?”
The girl narrows her eyes on the Ancient in assessment. I can see Heysan’s body and shoulders hold himself proudly, can feel the small drip of power exuding off him and towards the Discerni.
“He’s an Ancient,” Alyson shrugs her shoulder as Desmond takes a quiet step behind her.
“And the bird on Lady Alexis’ shoulder?” Keane inquires calmly.
The blonde Discerni flicks her eyes back to me with a smile, ignoring Storm. “No idea.”
Desmond is quick to press his blade at the girl’s hands bound behind her chair, the tip coming under her fingernail as he rips it off in a swift move.
“Ah! Fuck you!” she yells.
“Are you familiar with the Ancient of Death, Alyson?” Keane moves closer, towering over the girl.
Death and Exploration, Stormfall sighs in my mind.
No exploration for her, Storm.
“Everybody is,” Alyson rolls her eyes, trying to hide the discomfort from her face.
“Hmm.”
Keane’s next step is hard, heavy, his boot landing perfectly on the girl’s ankle as a large pop reverberates through the room.
The sound makes me flinch. Alyson’s breathing turns hard, her whole chest heaving against the bindings as she glares at the King.
Beads of sweat start to roll down her brows, the young girl trying so hard to remain calm even though her ankle has just broken under the weight.
Desmond’s blade yanks up hard, the width of it severing two more nails as the girl tries to hold back another scream.
“The bird in this room is the Ancient of Death’s right hand,” Keane continues calmly, pressing his full weight on her ankle as her foot juts out in an unnatural angle. Alyson’s eyes find mine again, the grey filled with such hatred and pain that it’s hard to stare back at her.
The King leans forward, bringing his full upper body in front of the Discerni’s to block her view of me.
“They walk with us, Alyson… They protect me and mine and the plans that I have for the Kingdom of Disce. You are not on the winning side.”
Desmond yanks off another nail as the girl gives a harrowing scream of pain, still glaring at the King.
“Fuck. You.”
“Who are you,” Keane continues, “except for a nobody who’s been recruited by those to do their bidding? Your life means nothing to them, but it can be redeemed in the presence of the Ancients…”
She will get no redemption, Stormfall notes.
No, I nod quietly, but she doesn’t need to know that.
“Tell us who ordered you to take out the Woodlands Discerni,” Keane’s voice stays calm, his boot leaving her ankle to reach for the other.
“Fuck you all!” the girl breathes heavy.
The brothers move in unison, with Keane breaking her other ankle just as Desmond slices off a finger. The blonde Discerni sags into the chair, holding back her next scream.
She’s been trained, I tell Heysan and Storm just as Desmond frowns, coming to the same conclusion. The Ancient gives a small nod in response and takes a step forward.
Ask the questions, Alexis, and let me catch her thoughts.
“I don’t like your mouth, young one,” Heysan grimaces out loud as he takes a knee in front of her, “nor the things you said earlier to your Queen to Be.”
“Woodlands will bow to no human,” she spits on the ground, eyes darting to mine as Stormfall grips my shoulder.
“But she is no human,” the Ancient chuckles softly, drawing Alyson’s eyes back on his as I shift on my feet. “The power of the Ancient of Death rests within her.”
For the first time in this room, the blonde Discerni’s eyes show the slightest hint of fear, widening on Heysan.