CHAPTER XVIII #6
I turn towards him in heavy expectation, waiting for him to agree that we’ll move back on Woodlands together and forgo Livyatan until the time is right.
But no promises wait for me behind his troubled gaze.
If anything, there’s a look of deep thoughtfulness, the look of a King considering every option.
“Absolutely not,” my voice is angered now, keeping Keane’s stare for a moment before I turn my glare back on Hirovale. “The words can wait. What is there to know so soon that we don’t already suspect?”
“She would have to be properly wed before we even step foot across the border,” the Ancient ignores me and looks at Keane.
The King nods. “That was always the plan.”
“This isn’t happening,” I whisper.
There’s no fucking way they’re actually talking about this.
I stand abruptly in my chair, my voice loud. “This is not going to happen.”
“It is an option, Alex,” Hiro turns his gold eyes on mine, the look of cool and calm power taking over him, “and you will not be without your own if it’s chosen. My brother will still take the travel with us-”
“-As will mine,” Keane states, his voice hard.
Hirovale keeps his gaze on mine. “And I suspect that Pyre will send its own company of men. McQuoid will want to see firsthand what his grandfather called a Kingdoms Council over.”
“Alexis would travel with a guard of thirty Warrior men,” Keane continues, “mix that with McQuoid’s own, you and Heysan and our regular traveling crew, the force would be a strong one.”
“Keane,” I plead, shaking my head violently.
“What of Sia and Nolan?” he replies without looking at me, the muscle in his jaw tightening.
“My sister will remain in Woodlands to assist you,” Hirovale nods his head, “but Nolan will need to remain in Aireal. This is more news that I bring to you...”
I’m fuming, unable to focus on Hirovale and whatever news he wants to share, instead focusing on the deathly serious features holding Keane’s face right now. He is truly considering this option.
“There are talks of a great chill coming from the northern regions of the mortal Kingdom,” the Ancient continues.
“It brings with it a sickness that the Aireals have begun to call The Rotting. The cold takes to the humans’ bones, dropping their temperature to an unnatural state before their bodies begin to stiffen and turn lifeless.
Nolan needs to remain in that Kingdom to prevent the spread. ”
Keane grimaces in his chair while I still cling to my anger at the prospect of traveling to Livyatan without him.
It is not foreign to hear about a great sickness consuming the Kingdom of Aireal every few years.
In fact, it is quite common. The humans there do not have any magic running through their veins to prevent them from falling ill as the rest of the Kingdoms do.
And while my heart tugs at the idea of Aireal being ravaged with sickness, it’s not enough to pull me away from the bigger problem at hand, the one in which Keane just moments before gave a thorough consideration to.
“You should know that there is another reason for why my brother will remain in Aireal,” Hirovale holds Keane’s glance. “He also aims to keep an eye on Hadrill.”
Keane’s features harden, voice going cool. “For what reason?”
“The young Prince is ambitious,” Hiro sighs, “and word has traveled slowly to the Kingdom of Aireal of its potential revival. Sia and Heysan tell me that there are whispers moving throughout the Kingdom, ones in which glorify that potential rebirth.”
“Desmond’s men have been hearing the same.”
“Then you understand why I ask my brother to remain,” Hirovale’s glance is serious, “I have tasked him to watch over Hadrill’s father, for fear of the King’s safety…”
My mouth nearly drops, fingers gripping the edge of the table as I look at the Ancient in more disbelief. Hirovale fears that Hadrill will usurp his own father? But that can only be attained by death.
The King and his brother already suspect he is capable of that, Stormfall’s old voice fills my mind, flying down from the pine above us to land on the table.
You’ve seen that ambition yourself, the cockiness, he reminds me. Would you put it past him?
Cockiness, surely, I scowl in agreement, as well as greed. But to have his own father killed? He is but a boy just over eighteen.
A boy of eighteen who most likely made the decision to end Zander’s life, Stormfall replies.
I reach for the back of his head with a grimace, my thoughts overcome with both sadness and anger.
Hadrill certainly has the ambition to recreate Aireal to the Kingdom it was before they were stripped of power.
And the biggest hinder to that desire is his own father, a humble man and King that only wishes to continue Aireal’s prosperity as a Kingdom of mortals.
“There is something else that was heard by my brother and sister in their travels through Aireal…” Hirovale shifts in his seat again as my eyes move sharply to his.
Dear Ancients, what now?
“We’ve known that the young Prince has an interest in you, Alex,” he continues, eyes flashing a dangerous golden in my direction, “for reasons we can only guess are aimed to use you and your standing as the Human Reborn.”
Keane leans forward in his chair, watching the Ancient carefully.
“That aim is still the same,” Hirovale holds my gaze hard, “however, there are rumors that he wishes to use you legitimately…”
Hiro turns to Keane in anger. “As his wife.”
Keane visibly stills in his chair, hand gripping his glass of whiskey while I hold onto Stormfall in viscous anger.
Deep breaths, Alexis, the Bird of Ash presses his head against my wrist, your King and the Ancient will never allow that to happen.
Never, Hirovale’s strong voice echoes behind my door.
“Though the desire makes sense,” he continues coolly, holding Keane’s fiery gaze with his own.
“Claim the Human Reborn at his side as the pinnacle of a new Kingdom to come, one that will revive the air summoning they’ve lived so long without.
With Alexis as his Queen, the people of Aireal will surely rally to his side and their devotion to the young Prince will only grow stronger. ”
My emotions are reeling as I turn to Keane, body tensing as I notice the look behind his features.
Fuck.
Keane looks like he’s angling to commit murder.
And I know, for the first time in my life, that if he somehow gets a hold of Hadrill, I will hold no sympathy for the pain he chooses to inflict.
Because I know in my core that Hadrill is involved in the order that ended Zander’s life, and by ensuring our King’s death, he eliminated the fourth term, releasing my bind to Keane’s father and the promise not to use magic.
And now he aims to make me his wife against my will?
I will hurt him if I get my hands on him.
Who the fuck does the young Prince think he is?
A crafty one, Stormfall sighs.
But the marriage would never happen, I glare back at the Bird of Ash.
Regardless if Hadrill was able to steal me away to Aireal, I would never willingly give myself to him. I would never say the binding vows that are steeped in Old World magic.
“There are always other ways to force your compliance, Alexis,” Hirovale replies quietly.
“No,” I shake my head in deep resolute, “the words will never fall from my lips.”
“They wouldn’t have to,” Keane’s voice is as cold as the ice in Red Falls’ library. “All Hadrill would need is a priest of Heysan’s to bind the ceremony, with or without the vows.”
“Well it’s a good thing we have that Ancient on our side,” I throw my hands in the air at the two of them.
“Honestly, I’m surprised you’re both taking this rumor seriously.
I won’t be taken, you’ve both assured me of that, and in the very slim chance that I fall into Hadrill’s hold, we have an Ancient who can forbid his priests from administering the union.
Let’s just add Hadrill to the never-ending list of those who wish take me and move on. He’s too high on himself.”
Keane locks me with a heated glare before he stands up slowly from his seat.
“All of that is beside the point, Alexis…”
Dear Ancients, I’ve never heard this tone of voice coming from Keane before.
“It’s the knowledge that Hadrill would even consider the option that is damning. First he comes for my father, then he comes for my woman...”
He turns to the Ancient sharply, brown eyes searing with anger.
“We have many of our own men in Aireal. Desmond has seen their armies. They would stand no chance if we were to invade. So what is he playing at?”
“My best guess is that the young Prince is gambling on two things,” the Ancient replies.
“First, the turmoil in your own court, and second, the travel he knows will be taken that will pull you in another direction. He has allies in Livyatan, with Prince Isham being one of them. He’s watching to see what happens next and where the Human Reborn will go. ”
Ancients, it’s all coming back to Woodlands and Livyatan.
Keane’s features are sharp, his full face constricted in deep thought. I have to pull my gaze away from him and his anger and turn towards Hirovale, watching as he slowly stands up from his chair, his eyes meeting mine.
“I know that you two have talked briefly of your own union with the understanding that it will happen soon,” he looks at me quietly before turning back to Keane, “but I need assurances that this will take place swiftly. The protection it will bring Alexis is two-fold. She will be a legitimate royal protected in foreign lands, with the Leviathans thinking thrice about doing anything to her, less they want a war on their hands. The marriage will also act as guard to a potential second marriage. Hadrill will have to annul your union under the eyes and hands of Tomo’s priest before he can move forward with Heysan’s. ”