She rolls her eyes, “it’s for your protection, Alexis. If we’re caught in these plains, that tent is the safest place in the Old World for you to be.”
I lift the toddy to my lips and take a deep swig.
Everyone keeps referencing about how powerful Keane is, and yet the most I’ve seen him do is conjure moonslight in the dark. He doesn’t carry any weapons on him as far as I can see, and he doesn’t talk about his summoning outside of locating someone.
So what exactlycanhe do?
“So everyone keeps telling me,” I mumble, turning to Cal, “I guess we really will have to impromptu at Red Falls, then.”
He nods and passes the pipe my way, “yes, it’ll have to wait until then. I’m fine if we meet in whatever bedroom I get, or we can meet in yours, but that’s assuming we do get rooms when we arrive. And don’t think I’ve forgotten about this morning. Your body will be sweating tenfold when I’m done with you.”
Alanna chokes on her drink at his words.
I laugh and look at my big friend, fully understanding what his comment must sound like to an outsider. Cal and Holis chuckle in response, while even Mana has a slight curve to his lips.
“It’s none of my business,” Alanna shakes her head.
“I’m afraid we’ve finally been made, Cal,” I laugh, bringing the pipe to my lips. Alanna looks away and into the flames, her features falling back into the standard Discerni indifference.
The five of us hang around the fire for some time, long enough to see the three human soldiers finally drift off to asleep. Cal and Holis talk to eachother and make a plan to stay awake until their shift, while Alanna and Mana decide they’re going to try for a nap when the Prince and Desmond come back from their shift. Once everyone’s minds are set, Cal runs back to his tent and grabs a deck of cards and we spend the rest of our night drinking and smoking and enjoying the game. Or at least, I enjoy in the drinking, everyone else is pretty responsible as they have shifts to attend to later.
At one point, after it feels like we’ve been sitting for a while, I look up at the night sky for the moons. They’re just a few turns away from reaching apex, the stars shining brightly around them. Come this time tomorrow we’ll be in Red Falls, and either tomorrow night or soon after I’ll be walking into the city’s library and continuing my search for the King.
Ancients,what happens if I actually find the book?
Zander seemed a bit confident that the library at Red Falls would have what he was looking for. Does he expect me to smuggle it out of the city, if so? And what happens once the search is fulfilled? Will my travels be done?
I’ll need to find different employment when my travels for the King ends. I could take Yara up on her offer and make residence in Fumagalli’s Hidden City. That would be nice. Or I could head to Auclair’s Outpost and work in the multiple human libraries that they have in their depths. Both prospects mean I’ll be farther away from Cal and my life in Bardot, farther away from the only life I’ve ever known…
I stop the unnecessary worrying and decide to cross that bridge when I actually get there. There’s no use adding to the anxiety I’ve already been feeling today.
“Desmond is waiting for you just outside the boulders. He’ll fill you all in.”
I’m shaken out of my thoughts by the Prince’s voice. Cal and Holis are now standing in front of the fire and giving Keane a small bow, the two of them walking towards the outskirts of camp and disappearing between the boulders. Keane gives Alanna and Mana a curt nod before turning to me with a look of expectancy in his eyes. I ignore his gaze and remain seated on the spot.
The Prince sighs when he sees I’m not giving up and walks around the fire to enter his tent. Mana leaves not shortly after just as the blonde Discerni stands up to do the same.
“I’ve got to get a nap in, too,” she stands, “and you should get some sleep.”
My eyes trail to the tent behind the fire.
“I don’t want to go,” I admit quietly.
Alanna looks behind her and follows my gaze, shaking her head in disbelief.
“You are probably the first woman in all of Warrior history to not want to enter a tent with that man.”
I scowl and watch her walk away, hating the only two choices that remain with me now. I can either fall asleep in the dying grass by myself or join the Prince in his tent.
Fucking Ancients.
I’m half tempted to just fall asleep here, but I know I’ll look like a fool come tomorrow morning.
I slowly look at the tent again, spotting Golem standing beside the entry as Keane’s shadow moves behind the fabric. That shadow gets closer to the entrance before he slips his hand around the flap and pulls it aside, his brown eyes immediately landing on mine and commanding me from afar.
Ancients, he’s really making me do this.
I sigh and brush myself off, timidly making my way around the fire. I stop at the entrance again and turn to Golem, that desperate look coming back to my eyes.
