“Sorry I’m late,” someone intervenes.
A tall Discerni woman steps from behind the fountain and gives Lord Daniel a small smile. She then turns to the Prince and offers a bow, Keane returning the gesture easily and with a nod. The woman is beautiful, with her black hair woven in intricate braids that are pulled behind her leaf-shaped ears and fall down the full length of her back. She has beautiful ebony skin and is bit taller than the average Discerni woman, her angular face complimenting the sharp use of her toned and muscular body. She’s wearing a long black tunic that is very unique, the top of it cut throughout the bodice and revealing the skin of her full hips and the sides of her ribs. Her eyes and brows are as strong as the rest of her as her gaze falls on mine in question.
“So you’re the human who stumbled into our city in the thick of night?”
I stand, noticing that there is no hint of remand in her use of the word human.
“I blame Golem for the stumbling. No one truly understands the size of feet he hides under his robes.”
Both Lord Daniel and Keane smile at my jest while Golem gives a me a brief scowl. The woman remains stoic, and I doubt anything other than frankness will charm her.
“Alexis,” I extend my hand.
The Discerni looks down at my gesture before slowly raising her hand to mine, her grasp firm. “Yara.”
“Yara,” I repeat.
Yara…
Fuck.
I glance too quickly at Keane and watch as the Prince tries to hold in a laugh.
“Yara is second in command here,” he notes with a grin, “she’s in charge of all things pertaining to the city and the village when the Lord is away.”
I nod in respect, seeing so much of her features in the little Discerni boy from the road.
“And who is the Lord?”
Yara sends me a curious glance as I sit back down next to Lord Daniel.
“I am,” Daniel turns to me with a kind smile.
What?
I turn and stare into his light brown eyes, watching them sparkle in friendly amusement.
I guess it makes sense that Lord Daniel governs a city in the Court of Warriors- he wouldn’t have the title of Lord if he didn’t. But for some reason I never thought to ask him which of those cities he called his own, not even when I spent time with him on both those nights at court.
I should have.
It would have been the polite thing to do, but now I’m kind of glad that I didn’t. There’s something special about learning the information in this moment, something fitting about Daniel and the hidden city he’s chosen to lead.
“Fumagalli suits you, Lord Daniel,” I tell him quietly.
Daniel brings a hand up to his lips, fingers slowly running down his beard as he watches me in thought.
“And you as well, Lady Alexis.”
Dear Ancients,I think I’ve just blushed.
“Did I miss anything earlier?” Yara clears her throat, eyes moving off me and Daniel to glance at the Prince.
Keane nods, “the emptiness of the village, which is something we know but haven’t yet resolved.”
She grimaces and looks back at me, “what else?”
I give Lord Daniel a final look of respect before turning my gaze back to the woman.
