CHAPTER XIV #14
“He is not, Alanna,” Keane shakes his head, “he is known throughout Woodlands and Bardot as the Sleeper.”
Wait…
“Wait.”
I’m just remembering… something so vague.
Alanna’s sister inquired about their brother before we left Gaumond, when she learned we were traveling to Woodlands.
“Marybeth asked you to visit his grave,” my voice comes out louder than I intend, watching Alanna as I take a step next to Keane. “When we met at her tavern before departing for Knowledge. You told her we were traveling to Woodlands and she asked if you’d visit his grave…”
“He’s dead,” Alanna repeats in strong resolute.
“How can you be sure?” Keane asks.
The blonde Discerni’s eyes glance towards the other royals at the table, frowning just slightly before she shakes her head hard at her King.
“Alanna,” Keane’s voice is deathly cold, “if you don’t tell us now, you know what comes next.”
My eyes widen as I turn to Keane before taking a heavy step towards Alanna.
Keane’s arm reaches for my waist, stopping me again before I can make my way to her side.
My breath catches in my chest, looking down at Keane’s arm on me in genuine disbelief.
I bring my hands up and try to push him away, the action having no effect against his Discerni strength.
Alanna stands quietly, eyeing the two of us with a new appreciation in her grey gaze that’s directed purely at me. I press my nails into Keane’s skin, hating him and his brother so much for even considering this of our friend.
“I know he’s dead,” Alanna glares at the King, eyes briefly flicking back to the royals at the table before she looks again at Keane, “because on the night before my father and I departed for Warrior I snuck into his home and killed him in cold blood.”
Desmond pauses in his silent steps behind her back as Keane’s hand loosens just slightly around my waist. Both brothers assess Alanna and her words as I push Keane’s arm away from me in his hesitation, taking a swift step to finally stand at her side.
Alanna gives me a small nod in respect.
“My brother was not a good man,” her cool voice turns hard.
“Malicious. Did things to Marybeth that cannot be spoken of in this room. And he did those things because she took after our mother’s features.
Human features. I have no regrets for what I did to him, only that I could not give the man the hundred deaths that he deserved.
He no longer walks this Old World, Your Grace, and Disce is better for it. ”
“But he does, Alanna,” Keane narrows his eyes on her, “the absolute chance that there are two Woodlands Discerni who can summon memories and has two sisters and goes by the name of Joshua is not possible.”
“I slit his throat with a green agate blade in his sleep. There is a chance.”
Renate turns slowly from her seat, her own eyes going wide.
“The man we know has a large scar covering one end of his neck to the other. He wears a high collar that covers most of it but at times you can see it. You can see the thick white.”
“This is impossible. There is no coming back from what I did.”
“No,” Keane frowns, “there isn’t. What about the grave?”
“A story I told my sister,” Alanna spits on the ground, “who still thinks the man is worth forgiving. I tossed his body in the woods for the wolves to greet him in the dead of night.”
“You’re sure it was green agate you used?” the King watches Alanna carefully as Desmond takes a quiet step to his side.
“I am.”
“It’s the same man,” Desmond turns to Keane, “though how he survived an attack like that is beyond me.”
“It can’t have been green agate,” Keane reasons quietly, “perhaps a blade that looked like it but not pure in its properties.”
“If this man is still alive then I will leave now with you to find him,” Alanna turns her glance on Desmond. “It will be my hand that ends his life.”
“He has a small cut on his right eyebrow,” Queen Renate looks at my friend, “another scar. Small but visible.”
Alanna furrows her brow, her head shaking.
“I don’t remember anything of the sort,” she glances back at Desmond, “but I will know his face when I see it.”
The brothers look at each other quietly, considering their next move. I don’t know why, but my gaze takes me back to Troy, frowning as he looks upon the conversation with a hidden grin.
Is he enjoying the show? Does he like seeing the discord between the four of us?
Or is he smiling now because he has yet again deflected from his own relationship with these people?
I openly scowl at him, hating that smug face no matter what he’s done to help the humans of Woodlands.
“You’ll ride with me tomorrow, before dawn,” Desmond turns to Alanna.
“And you will not leave the inn tonight,” Keane adds. “We’ll both be watching.”
I quickly reach for her hand and squeeze it tight, watching as she bows deeply to the King and his brother, her pale blonde hair flowing in front of her face. Alanna stands and turns to me with her own hard grip, her eyes piercing mine as she leans forward.
“Disrupt it, Alexis,” she whispers, “don’t ever forget.”