CHAPTER XIV #2
“Everything is all right,” I give him a genuine smile. “The summoning is a revelation of its own that is also new to me. I’m still coming to terms with it myself.”
“Are there others like you?” he asks. “Are we to anticipate more humans with the ability to summon soon?”
“I don’t know,” I shake my head again, truly not knowing Hirovale’s plans. “I’m only two months into this and still learning as I go.”
Crisjan visibly stiffens in front of me, his hands turning rigid.
“Alexis…” he whispers, gripping my fingers hard as I spot Keane stand up from the table. “You mean to tell me that you’ve only been summoning for two months and were able to do what you did before the residence?”
I shift in slight nervousness before nodding my head.
“Ancients,” Crisjan lets go of my hands timidly. “That kind of power should not manifest so quickly.”
I’m thrown off by his quick release and the way he seems to be looking at me in a new light.
“I don’t know what to tell you, Crisjan,” I reach out for his hand again. “I’m still me. Nothing has changed. There’s just a calling that comes to me now, when I’m in need…”
“Had Lady Alexis not acted on that call, the argents would surely have attacked you,” the King’s steady voice greets my side.
Keane presses his shoulder strong against mine, his brown eyes watching Crisjan and the troubled look he’s still giving me.
“But to summon the air out of a living being?” Crisjan leans forward in a hushed whisper.
My full body goes stiff at his words, remembering what happened in the woods.
“My Lord Crisjan,” Keane says solemnly, “what do you think the Leviathans have been doing all this time? Their men siphon the water from another’s body.
They attempted the maneuver just recently on Lord Daniel in our travel across the Bulwark Plains.
Should we discontinue relations with them?
Or find solace in the fact that our own Lady is pure of heart and will not use the magic for malicious means. ”
My means were definitely malicious in the woods after Arens’ death.
Yes, Stormfall sighs heavily in my mind, but he doesn’t need to hear that.
I watch Crisjan consider the King’s words.
Do I tell him the power is Hirovale’s?
No. It is also yours.
So you all keep saying.
“You’re right, of course,” Crisjan dips his head to the King before his friendly gaze finds mine. He squeezes my hand hard. “If there’s anyone in the Old World who is fit to command the reborn elemental air, it is our Lady Alexis. It makes sense now why you inquired into Lord Von Baeyer.”
I smile at the Discerni. “A little bit of my own curiosity, Lord Crisjan, mixed with even more curiosity from the Princess of Pyre. They want to recreate the Southern Staircase in their own mountains.”
“Then I will set the boys to task even harder,” Crisjan grins, returning to his joyful self.
The full of our traveling group departs the Bonfire well into the night.
We all walk together down the road leading towards the residence, the eleven of us tipsy and laughing with every step.
Both Cal and Heysan have a full tankard of ale in their hands, arms slung across the other’s shoulders as they walk side by side.
Alanna is behind them with me, the two of us laughing at how easily they look like old friends.
I still have deep reservations about their wager, but haven’t yet found the right moment to approach Cal with everything going on in Etter.
Both Holis and Mana walk with Keane and Desmond, their conversations low and untroubled, smiling every time the Ancient or Cal nearly trip in the road.
Canon walks alongside Nathaniel, Bryson and Sam, the three soldiers speaking to him of Gaumond and the Court of Warriors, the new land the First Guard will eventually make his home.
Travel was to resume tomorrow, though both Desmond and Heysan were staying behind. The Ancient approached the brothers yesterday, offering to help the Master Informer in his pursuit of the silent group that was causing so much trouble here in Woodlands.
“One more drink!” the Ancient pounds his mug against Cal’s.
We’re all laughing when we walk into the residence through the side entrance. Cal, Alanna, Heysan and the three soldiers begin making their way towards the kitchen doors, my big friend shaking his head as his eyes crinkle in mirth.
“Just one, Ancient,” he replies, “and then I’ve promised my lady a decent night’s rest.”
Alanna grins and walks past Cal, letting her fingers run across his broad chest in the process.
“A decent night’s rest, huh?” Heysan raises a brow.
Keane moves his hand in mine, leading me down the hall as the rest of us head up to the second floor.
We say our goodbyes to Canon, Holis and Mana, and agree to meet them at dawn tomorrow for our ride to Alston, then continue along the hall with Desmond at our side.
The Master Informer reaches for the door to our shared room and opens it quietly, letting me walk through first as I spot Golem standing at the foot of the bed.
“Took the quick way back, huh Golem?” I laugh at the magical creature.
Golem gives me a brief smile, but the gesture fades when he looks over my shoulder to the brothers and their now serious features. I look back at them, puzzled, until Keane catches my glance.
“We need to catch you up on everything we know, Alexis…”
He’s referencing what him and his brother have learned since the fallout of Esme. It’s only been three days, but I knew the brothers were still interrogating Alyson for any new information, and nothing has been shared with me save the small tidbit about the man named Callous.
“Can we also discuss Crisjan?” I ask them, “and his comments tonight?”
Stormfall flies off my shoulder to his normal perch as Desmond walks towards his settee and the little nook there. He takes a hard stance against the wall just as Keane urges me to follow, the King standing at my side when I take a seat.
“Crisjan first,” Desmond nods me forward.
I take a deep breath. “I guess I’m just curious as to both of your thoughts on what Crisjan said tonight.
He’s right about word spreading. Soon the people of Disce and the three Kingdoms will hear of my use of a green agate blade to kill a magical being, breaking the Old World Rule.
They’ll talk of the same human who also manipulated the elemental air, another Old World Rule that’s been broken, not to mention the fourth term… ”
“Are we ready for that?” I ask in small nervousness. “Are we ready for the repercussions?”
Both men shift on their feet, as does Golem.
“I wouldn’t doubt a Kingdoms Council will be requested soon,” Desmond eyes his brother from the wall.
Keane nods. “Most likely called by the Leviathans.”
“They’ll want her to stop practicing,” the dark Discerni continues, “and for you to uphold our father’s agreement.”
“That term died along with him. They have to know that by now.”
“Isham does,” I remind both brothers, “he all but admitted it to me in Bardot. But if they still decide to call a council on my use of magic then they’ll be out-ruled, yes? Disce and Pyre would cast their votes in my favor, so why even bother?”
“That’s a good point,” Desmond raises a brow.
“We still need to prepare ourselves should they do so, regardless,” Keane adds.
“Then how will we word it? How will we explain my continued use of the magic?”
“All of those leaders have read the same prophecy as we have, Alexis,” Keane looks at me steadily. “My father had the text sent to them after our meeting. Anyone who reads those words knows that change is coming to the Old World. Your use of summoning explains itself.”
“Summoning that is spearheaded by the Ancient Hirovale,” Desmond considers, “through Alexis. They’ll need to be reminded of that.
She is the Ancient’s champion in the change that is coming.
Her actions are sanctioned by him. Who would dare to argue against the use of the summoning if it was foretold? ”
“Livyatan,” I scowl.
“But again,” Desmond shrugs his shoulder, “outnumbered.”
“What of Aireal?” I ask them. “The interest is definitely there with Hadrill but doesn’t Voland want to distance himself from anything of the sort? He already made that clear at the last Council.”
“He would,” Keane grimaces, “that man wants nothing to do with magic.”
“If they vote against us and Pyre,” I glance at both men nervously, “then as the out-numbered Kingdom they’ll be afforded a second term, right? That’s what happened with Livyatan.”
Desmond lets out a breath. “Fuck, I forgot about that. Who knows what demand they’ll make.”
Keane folds his arms across his chest, his brows furrowing as he looks at Desmond.
“We’ll need Troy…”
Ancients, that’s a problem of its own.
The Master Informer remains quiet, looking back at Keane as he considers his brother’s words. It takes a few moments but he finally nods, his face emotionless and his voice cool.
“I hate to say that I agree. He has a good relationship with Voland and Hadrill. We’ll need that diplomacy.”
“And our mother’s…” Keane replies steadily, “her and Voland are fond of eachother.”
Dear. Fucking. Ancients.
Troy and Renate?
After what Esme told us?
I understand needing their help, even agree with it, but how is that going to be navigated in light of everything? Esme’s story did what was intended, making us doubt the Queen Mother.
“The green agate?” I ask, treading away from the delicate subject.
“You are a human of Disce,” Keane shakes his head, “only the King can enact punishment over you for its use. But you are also a human of the Old World, in which I suspect your use of the stone will again be brought up at a Kingdom’s Council with the votes leaning in your favor.”
“But the word still travels in Disce. Won’t that spark others to think they have the same leniency?” I argue. “What if more humans decide to take up arms using the stone? Am I the only one who gets a reprieve from punishment?”
Keane eyes me curiously. “Do you want to be punished?”