CHAPTER XV #3
I quickly look towards Keane again, my eyes glancing instinctively at his hands. He’s calm, fingers holding his reins steadily and without nervousness, his stance at ease. I sigh and turn back to the road, reminding myself that he can get us out and over the wall if needed.
The two soldiers ahead of us nod to another set that stands guard at the wooden gate.
We move past them and under the wall into a vast green field, the full of it circling around a high-rise castle that juts sharply into the evening sky.
The castle itself isn’t nearly as large as Gaumond, less than half its size, but it stands as the single biggest thing in all of Dankworth, commanding the city that circles around it.
A full delegation is waiting for us as we move down the cobblestone road.
There’s about eight Discerni men and women in total, all of them standing still and proper, their cool blue eyes and sharp features waiting for us to arrive.
Each of the five men have their blonde hair straight and either pulled back behind their ears or resting long in front of their chests.
They’re clad in thick pale green tunics, all of them hosting patterns of white and silver argents somewhere on their clothing.
The women nearly all look the same, with their long blonde hair running down their backs in the standard Discerni curls, their dresses modest and covering their full bodies in green and white.
I shift just slightly in my saddle, quietly eyeing the tight black blouse and the black and gold riding pants I wear as my shoulders push back instinctively on their own.
Keane smirks at my side, eyeing my proud stance as he moves Ash just a tad closer to Millie.
He’s cool and collected, his own Discerni features sharp and angular above a deep green tunic that opens into a black satin shirt. Perfectly Warrior.
Keane notices me eyeing him, lips turning into a small smile before I scowl and look away. He shakes his head, that small grin still remaining.
“Your Grace,” a man walks forward with a woman at his side. “Welcome to Dankworth.”
I eye the blonde man and woman in front of us, their features completely stoic and giving off no emotion.
“Lord Sandam,” Keane nods. “Lady Tove. Thank you for hosting us.”
The two bow as the King turns his glance on me, swinging his leg off Ash. I do the same as the rest of the men behind us follow, Holis approaching with an outstretched hand and taking Millie’s reins.
Keane holds out his arm to me, hand snaking around my lower back before his thumb moves gently across my shirt.
“Allow me to introduce my betrothed, Lady Alexis Deveren of Bardot. Alexis previously worked for my father and spent time in my mother’s Ladies in Wait.”
Lord Sandam gives a low bow, the gesture surprising me as his wife does the same. I smile softly at the two of them, noting that they both look younger, a few years under Keane’s age and perhaps around mine.
“I mimic His Grace’s sentiment,” I catch the Lady’s green eyes. “Thank you for hosting us. Your home is beautiful.”
And far too large for only eight people, Stormfall sighs in my mind.
“It is our pleasure, Lady Alexis,” Lady Tove replies. “If it’s not too late we have dinner ready for your full group, though I understand if you’d like to rest for the remainder of the night.”
“Dinner sounds lovely, thank you.”
“Stables, then,” Lord Sandam turns around as two small Discerni boys and an older girl of about twelve press through the group. “Kids, assist the King and Queen to Be with their horses.”
The three children all move with proper and quiet stances, their hands reaching for Keane and Holis’ to take the reins before they begin walking to a large wooden stable around the side of the castle.
“Our children,” Lady Tove gives me a small smile. “Eleanor is the oldest, with Baran and Mikeal twins a few years under her.”
“Very well mannered,” I give her a genuine smile.
Keane keeps his hand at my back as we walk with the Lord and Lady, the full of our traveling group following the kids to the stables. I turn to look at the rest of the Discerni that greeted us, watching as they all walk quietly back through the tall double doors in the middle of the small castle.
“You’ll stay tomorrow night as well, Your Grace?” Lord Sandam asks politely.
The King nods to the younger man. “If it’s not too much of a burden.”
“Not at all. We have room for your full crew. I think you wrote twelve total?”
“Twelve,” Keane affirms as we stop before the stables, watching the kids lead Millie and Ash into the wooden stalls. The twin boys take Millie together with Eleanor directing Ash, the rest of our group following the three of them as Keane and I wait outside with the Lord and Lady.
“Some of the men will have to room together,” Sandam turns to the King in apology.
Keane drops his hand from my back to reach for my fingers, thumb playing with the inside of my palm.
“That is not a problem, Lord Sandam. Most of the men with us spent years in our barracks. A shared room is more than they’re used to.”
The Lord chuckles. “I can imagine. We have our own barracks beyond. Sir Merrick commands your army here in Dankworth. I can make the introductions at dinner, though I believe you’re already familiar with him?”
“I am.”
Whatever I expected upon entering the high walls of this castle residence, this is not it. Our group has been properly greeted by the Lord and Lady, both of them keeping their standard features of indifference but remaining polite. They seem kind. Slightly cool, but kind.
Just be wary, Stormfall stretches his wings as we wait for the rest of our group to return.
Always.
“We’ve heard much of your companion, Lady Alexis,” Lady Tove turns her green eyes on Stormfall, “he is indeed a magnificent creature.”
“Thank you,” I bring my free hand up to Storm and stroke his chest, “his name is Stormfall. We found eachother in the Kingdom of Pyre.”
Lady Tove’s eyes sparkle as she turns to her husband.
“One day, my love,” he chuckles before turning to Keane and I. “Tove is a slight adventurist. She’s always wanted to visit the Kingdoms surrounding.”
I can’t stop my brows from lifting in surprise. “I’ve only been to Red Falls in Pyre but I’m happy to share of my experiences there.”
“I would love that,” she grins.
“I’ve got it,” one of the twins pulls Keane’s packs from his brother as they walk out of the stables.
“No I’ve got it!” the other tugs it back from him.
Keane and I smile at the sight as both parents quickly walk towards the boys.
“You’ll share, boys,” Lord Sandam tells them sternly as his daughter walks out holding my packs over her shoulder. She rolls her grey eyes at her younger brothers before walking towards me, lifting them up with calm strength.
“Thank you,” I smile.
She remains quiet, turning her gaze back to her brothers as Sandam moves them towards the King, the two attempting to hold the large pack between them.
“A heavy load,” Keane raises a brow at the twins in astonishment. “I’m impressed you’re both able to carry it.”
“I could have done it by myself,” one of the boys scoffs.
The second shoves his arm. “You wish!”
I laugh easily at the two as Lady Tove walks to my side with a grin. “Well mannered, huh?”
Keane and I are situated in a large room at the height of the castle, the white marble walls glittering around us.
A full four-poster bed rests to our left where Storm sits high in his perch.
There’s a large table to our right that can fit eight for an easy dinner, as well as a reading nook and fireplace on that side of the room.
A tall glass window sits between each of the three bookshelves, and another, larger, next to our bed in the middle of the room.
The space is circular in its entirety, resting in one of the tall towers that jut out of the castle.
I rummage through my packs on the table and pull out the neatly folded gold dress from my second night in Gaumond.
It’s absolutely perfect for dinner tonight, completely modest in the front with my full arms and chest covered.
I want to at least try to match the women I saw earlier, not for conformity or because I’m ashamed of my riding gear, but because I want to greet their small custom of traditional clothing with respect.
The dress still holds a bit of me, of course, leaving the full of my back completely bare.
“Tell me of them,” I ask Keane next to me and let the beautiful gown flow over the table.
The Lord and Lady seem amiable, perhaps the friendliest Woodlands Discerni I’ve met so far. I’m still wary, as Storm suggested, and who wouldn’t be after the way Lady Esme fooled us all?
I smile at the glittering gold beneath in my hands as Keane pauses with his packs at my side. The King turns his gaze on the dress, watching as I try to smooth out a few wrinkles before his own hand reaches for mine.
“Alexis…”
He says my name so softly that it pulls at my heart.
I turn to him slowly, my breath catching in my chest as I find his intense brown gaze.
“I’m sorry,” his hand grips mine hard. “I’m not proud of myself.”
I sigh to my King, not proud of his actions either. But neither of us are perfect. And his apology to Cal earlier was genuine.
“You were in the thick of the moment,” I take a step towards him and shake my head. “How many times you’ve caught me in the same position. I know the feeling…”
“But Alanna is our friend, Keane,” I give him a troubled look. “What if that had been Holis? Would you have treated him the same?”
“I don’t know,” he answers honestly, “but Alanna is Warrior. She’s my subject and my responsibility. Desmond and I took her and her family in personally...”
“Your subject?” my voice goes quiet.
Keane nods, his brown eyes looking at me hard. “She is a woman of the Court of Warriors, Alexis. She knows of our customs.”
Ancients.
I pull my hand quickly out of his. Is that all he thinks of her? As just a subject living under his court?