CHAPTER XIV #10
I bring my hand quickly in front of my torso, angling it at the Ancient as I keep my eyes on Keane and his mischievous grin.
Hirovale’s boot stops midway in its walk, stilling him to the ground as he looks down at the air holding him in place.
Keane’s brown eyes sparkle in pure desire at the action, the smirk never seeming to leave as Hiro flicks his own hand against his boot, releasing my summoning.
The Ancient doesn’t add any more comments after that, only smiles as he watches on. I’m now able to channel the same sensation that he showed me, feeling his summoning as I move the air around the tree on my own.
“We leave tomorrow for Dankworth,” Keane walks side by side with Hirovale as the three of us make our way back to Sianoa’s small quarters.
“I will meet you there when you’re settled in,” the Ancient nods. “I’ve done all I can to assist Nolan. Sianoa will need to visit him next while my brother stays with yours.”
The Ancient turns to Keane with a cool glance. “Tell me more about this Woodlands group.”
“Hopefully I’ll learn more tonight,” Keane’s features hardened, “but we do know that it’s spearheaded by my mother’s father.
Four or five in total, working with Livyatan in some capacity.
We suspect their main goal is to thwart yours.
To leave the humans of Disce as is and, to that extent, get their hands on Alexis to further their attempt. ”
“That will never happen,” Hirovale’s reply is cold.
“No,” Keane looks at the Ancient steadily, “but we both know it will continue to be attempted, especially here in Woodlands. I’ll take a deep breath when we finally reach Warrior.
Dankworth will be the last city we asses in our travels, one that I haven’t seen in a while.
Desmond and I have Fensby in hand, though I don’t know how far this group’s reach extends within the court.
They’ve already crossed a line by breaking the neutrality of Alston... ”
The neutrality of Alston?
“Your mother’s father,” Hiro mulls thoughtfully. “It will be interesting to hear her side of the story.”
“Yes,” the King replies without emotion.
“And the others in the group?”
“From what we’ve gathered, Esme was the messenger and used the argents as silent communication.
There’s a man called Callous who acts as the muscle or the secret keeper.
Desmond suspects both. Another that’s referenced as the Sleeper, though we don’t have his given name yet.
Gauthier, my grandfather, resides in court in La Cour.
Desmond has him watched day in and day out.
He’s tracking any frequent visitors and conversations he holds. ”
“How is your brother involved?” Hiro presses as the top of Elena’s cottage comes into view, “aside from being the Leading Lord.”
Keane’s features quickly revert into the standard Discerni indifference, replying heavily.
“Of that, I plan to find out.”
Keane left me with Holis and Mana as him and Canon made their way down the hill for a late afternoon meeting with Alma, Mina and Elena.
He asked me to stay put at the inn with the twins, but after a few turns of the sun and not doing anything to stop the anxiety that was taking over me, I was resolved to get out and clear my thoughts.
The Bardot family meeting would happen tonight.
Both brothers follow me to the stables with a sigh, knowing there’s no stopping me in my pursuit to see more of Alston.
I’m still too exhausted to meet with Sianoa, so I reason with them to just head down to Damen’s temple city, a quick ride away.
We would be back at the inn before sundown with the King not knowing any wiser.
The roads are filled with patrons and the shops bustling, everyone moving out of our horses’ way as I eye the side of town that’s meant for Discerni.
I can tell that both Holis and Mana know what I’m up to, can feel their heavy sighs once again when I approach a vendor selling roasted nuts in front of her store.
She eyes me in open surprise that I even dare to approach her, so I keep my smile sweet and ask for a small bag, not giving her a chance to decline before I reach out with coin.
Her full body stills, eyeing the two Discerni men behind me before her gaze finds my coin again, considering her next options.
The lady can rebuff my advance and let it be seen by the people on the road that she adheres to the rules, or she can take my money and let me move on, ending this small commotion.
She chooses wisely, quickly outstretching her hand for my cinerin in trade for the small bag. I thank her with another sweet smile and toss the nuts to Holis, continuing down the road with the same determination.
“An ale, perhaps,” I announce, moving Millie towards a small pub in the middle of the town circle.
Holis chuckles, popping a roasted nut in his mouth as Mana shakes his head, a small hint of a smile trying to push through.
But something else catches my eye before we reach the pub, a small toy shop with two Discerni children running in front of it carrying makeshift broadswords that are likened to the Ancient Damen’s.
I peer through the glass windows, spotting a small counter inside with what looks to be another toy of interest and quickly hoist myself off Millie.
“Willem,” I give Holis a small smile as Mana takes our reins. The Discerni nods, eyes twinkling as we walk to the door, still feeling those hidden glances on us both.
Holis peers inside before letting me in. I walk straight for the blonde Discerni behind the counter with a large smile, ignoring his open frown as I look into the glass case in front of him.
“I’m sorry, miss,” the man’s voice has a feigned friendliness about it, “but our shop is closed.”
I look up to him abashed as Stormfall grips my shoulder, slowly turning to the few people inside before they all look away.
“I won’t be long,” I shake my head at the man and look down to the marbles, “just want to purchase this set.”
The stones are beautiful, pale green with a few grey and silver swirls, each glittering under the light and glass. I reach into my bag for a few cinerin as Holis takes a supportive step at my side.
“Those are not for sale, miss,” the Woodlands Discerni stares back at me.
“Then the ones next to it,” I shrug my shoulder, placing the coins on the counter.
The man openly grimaces. “Nothing is for sale to you here, miss.”
“Oh,” I reply quietly as the room goes still around us. “I see.”
I look back around the shop, my gaze questioning as each set of eyes quickly looks away from mine again, not wanting to interfere.
“Well, actually, no, I don’t see,” I turn back to the man. “You provide goods, and I, as the customer, pay for them. What is the problem?”
“The problem is that my products are made to be held by Discerni hands and will not be sold to a human.”
“Hmm. And what makes Discerni hands different from humans?”
“Alexis,” Holis eyes me softly as I look back around the room. No one catches my glance, still pretending to be interested in whatever rests in front of them, secretively listening to our conversation.
“You know exactly what makes them different, miss,” the man replies coolly.
“Perhaps I did…” I turn back with a solemn sigh, “once.”
The man continues to watch me with a hard glance, hand reaching towards the coins as he pushes them away. I take a deep breath and turn away from those cool grey eyes, wanting nothing more than to show him just what my human hands are capable of.
“Your cinerin, miss,” he replies at my back.
“Keep them,” I tell him without turning around, “perhaps they’ll buy you some manners.”
Holis smiles as he opens the door, the two of us walking out.
“That was the Queen to Be, Orem, you dumb bastard,” someone says before the door closes. “She can summon.”
Mana drops me and Holis off at Elena’s cottage a full turn before the sun sets.
I quickly bathe and change into my gold and black ensemble, the long sleeved satin shirt hugging my waist and curves beautifully.
I let my hair dry straight, bringing it in front of shoulders as the ends reach just above my chest, perfecting the full ensemble.
I don’t want to be in the home when the Bardots arrive. The family needs space for the words that are to come. So both Holis and I head back to the inn with wide grins, opting to meet Cal and Alanna and his brother again over easy drinks and smoke.
The three of them have already begun when we arrive, lifting their mugs loudly to us in cheers as we walk through the door. My smile is beaming when I see the rest of the traveling crew sitting with them, the group even complimented by the new Knowledge soldiers.
The early evening passes well into the night with our group the only ones at the inn, the lot of us pulling our tables together as we all enjoy our last day in Alston.
I’m still a bit sullen about what happened in the city but resolve myself to letting Keane handle it with Elena and her council.
As was the same in Etter, the humans here had to learn to stick up for themselves, and without their own desire to do so, it was hard to help them.
Those in Etter had to be shown what life could be like, Stormfall reminds me silently, you had to force them into action. The same will need to take place here. Your own small display already raised some awareness.
Perhaps I just don’t have the patience to help them when they choose not to help themselves, I stroke the back of his neck.
It is all they know, Alexis. All they are accustomed to. They will not seek change unless they think it will be welcomed.
I sigh and accept the smoking hose from Cal, removing Alston from my thoughts as I relax in my chair. The crew goes silent as I inhale, turning their gazes to the front doors of the inn as I do the same.
Shit.
That face.