CHAPTER XVI #4
Starc and Mal weren’t forgotten, with Keane greeting both men late each night and perhaps at other times in the day that I didn’t know of.
He didn’t allow me to come with him on any of those encounters, and instead kept their whereabouts hidden so that I couldn’t find them myself.
I had questions of my own, naturally, and argued with him each night when he ordered me to stay in the room before he left.
My own anger towards Starc for everything he did that night still consumed me, and I wanted to hear from his lips exactly who gave him the order to take me.
So I resounded myself to falling into a steady routine in our days in Dankworth, trying to take my mind off those two men.
Our group trained at dawn as usual, with both Keane and Holis helping me with my air summoning before the King took to training my Discerni friend with the broadsword personally.
But just as it was with my trainings with Hirovale, my summoning was slow to come without any emotional incentive.
It seemed that I was at my best when I was in the moment, actually needing a purpose to use the magic and relying heavily on the emotions that came with it.
It was a dangerous gamble, using my summoning that way, but deep down I was also okay with it.
I was still battling with the use and what it meant for me to be human, and a part of me even suspected that my subconscious was fighting against any unnecessary use of summoning, truly wanting to remain as mortal as possible.
Each morning our large group would take breakfast at the castle, meeting with Sandam and his men and the human council to go over the plans for the day.
The humans of Dankworth were hesitant to move into the unoccupied homes in the Discerni sections of the city, opting to live on the roads or find shelter with friends who still had a roof over their heads.
It took four whole days for the first human family to finally make their way timidly into the white city filled with white buildings.
The mother and father were holding the hands of two young girls, eyes darting back and forth as they looked for someone to guide them.
Sir Anders and Lady Dame were quick to ride to them, smiling as they showed the parents to a temporary house.
Once word made it across the city that the family was now living peacefully, surrounded by Discerni, it only took the rest of the day for others to follow suit.
Death’s Bonfire was held at the start of the noon apex on the sixth day for the full of the city.
Everyone who lost their lives under Merrick’s leave was now wrapped tightly on top of dozens of scaffolds that lined the roads, their bodies burning into the night sky as their souls were sent to Hirovale.
The Ancient himself chose to make a small appearance that night before the final turn of the moons’ apex.
He stood tall at the King’s side at the border between the two parts of the city, his features calm and collected with his golden eyes looking over the people of Dankworth.
No one knew what to do at his arrival, and most eyes that looked upon him were mixed with genuine fear.
No one, save Lord Sandam and Lady Tove, approached him, but even their greeting was timid and filled with nervousness.
Hiro kept himself to Cal, Holis and Mana, speaking quietly as all the patrons looked on, marveling at the Ancient’s presence through hushed whispers that were sure to travel through Disce at quick speed.
His arrival was short and to the point, bowing his head to the King in goodbye and taking my hand to his lips before he walked into the smoke-filled night.
And while the people of Dankworth didn’t have the courage to approach him, the whole city stood up at his departure, speaking in the days to come of the King and Queen to Be who were revered by the Ancient of Death and Exploration.
“Heysan and Sianoa just arrived in La Cour,” Keane tells me from his chair, head bent and writing over the now fixed table. “They’ll stay two days in the capitol before moving on to the Kingdom of Aireal. They remain hidden except for their meetings with Troy.”
“And Golem?” I look at him quickly, holding a black satin night slip in my hand.
Keane looks up from his writing with a small smile.
“Golem is still making recovery in Nolan’s temple with the priests. Hiro has been checking in. He told me earlier tonight that he expects him to be fully well and in our presence by the time we reach Gaumond.”
I let out a heavy sigh of relief and walk back to the bed to sit down. I had taken earlier to packing our traveling bags for our departure the day after tomorrow, but quickly gave up on that venture to get into my comfortable silk.
“What will you do with the Airea brothers?” I ask him quietly from across the room.
“They’ll come with us to Gaumond,” Keane’s eyes turn a hard brown, giving no other information as he continues his writing.
My hands reach for my shirt, drawing it over my head as I consider the possibilities of traveling with the men.
Keane had now stopped me four times from visiting them in their confinement, tasking Nathaniel, Bryson and Sam with sending me away whenever I got close to their hiding place and alerting him every moment I tried.
I still don’t know why he won’t allow me to speak with them, especially when he used my help in the past with those in Etter.
I stand up in my thoughts and shrug off my pants, folding them neatly before I walk slowly back to my pack on the table, grabbing a blanket from the bed in the process.
My eyes roam to Keane sitting at the opposite end, fingers trailing up the sides of my bare stomach as I lift the lace bralette off my breasts with a small grin.
“There will be no hiding the brothers from me on the road, Your Grace.”
Keane looks up from his seat, brown eyes finding mine before they move down my grinning lips to my perked breasts. He drops the oak pen slowly on the table and leans back against his chair, shaking his head in amusement.
“This won’t change my mind, Alexis.”
“What won’t?” I raise my brows, “I’m just changing.”
“Mhmm,” he chuckles, hand running through his hair as he watches me pull the lace on my hips down my thighs.
“I want to speak to Starc, Keane,” I stand up tall and look him straight in the eyes. “I don’t understand why you’re keeping him from me.”
Keane’s fingers move across his lips, eyes sparkling as they travel over my bare body that’s now angled perfectly for him from across the table.
“I take back my words, trouble,” he replies, gaze slowly dipping between my thighs, “this may change my mind after all.”
I smirk and place a hand delicately on the table, letting my fingers trail slowly against the wood as I walk towards him.
“If I had known this was all it’d take, I would have undressed for you much, much sooner.”
Keane pushes his chair back when I reach his side of the table, patting his hands on his thighs in a beckoning gesture.
“Tell me why you won’t let me see him, Keane.”
“Both men are not in any state right now to meet with anyone,” he shakes his head, eyes dancing over my breasts and the golden brown hair that falls above them.
“But they will be in a state to ride in two days?” I lift a brow again.
Keane nods, hips lifting slightly in his chair as he shifts in his seat.
“He bound me, Keane,” I fume quietly, “dragged me across the room to him. He and I are long overdue for a chat.”
Keane’s jaw flexes, his body going stiff as he holds my small glare.
“He will never summon against you again, Alexis,” he replies coolly.
My eyes widen in quick surprise.
What has Keane done?
Did he do what I think he’s alluding to? And if so, is he nervous for me to see the man? To see what all of his questioning has led to?
I scowl and fold my arms in front of my chest.
He should know by now that his violence does not frighten me. That my own desire to speak to the man would have eventually led to the same.
“Why won’t you let me see him, Keane?”
Keane narrows his eyes on my arms covering my chest.
“Come here, Alexis,” he demands, hands patting his thighs again.
I shake my head. “Tell me, Keane, because it makes no sense. You’ve let me join in the past.”
Keane sighs and replies in the steady voice of the King. “I’ll allow you to speak to him the morning we depart for Fensby.”
What in the Old World?
What has Keane done?
I can tell my face is full of confusion, can see him watching me as I try to contemplate what exactly he’s been up to with those men over the last six days. I know in my heart that it can’t be good, not if he needs to give them a full night and day’s rest before letting me see them.
My shoulders push back strong, eyes still narrowed on his beautifully sharp face.
“I’m going to hold you to that, Keane…”
“The morning after next, Alexis,” he agrees with a small nod, “not any sooner.”
I drop my hands from my chest and quickly reach for the blanket, knowing that Keane can always see a lie in my eyes before I even know I give it.
I glance towards the night slip I left in the middle of the table and move towards it, also knowing that Keane is always in his heaviest sleep the moment he finishes his writing.
I’ll wait for those deep breaths to fill his chest before I make my way out of the room. I need to see what he’s done.
Keane’s eyes follow me to my packs, watching as one hand pulls the blanket up while the other darts hidden into the bag, pulling out a shirt and pants at the top for the ready.
I turn towards him with a small smile, his glance darting to my lips and then heatedly down my body before I wrap the blanket around my shoulders, forgoing the night slip completely.
Keane smirks and watches me walk slowly back his way, settling into his chair more comfortably as that fire comes back to his eyes.