“My father and I stayed in Woodlands for a few years after they left,” she continues, still staring into the fire, “and we only took the trip to Gaumond when we received word that my mother was aging and growing ill. I was what would be considered sixteen in human years when we arrived in the capitol, and spent the rest of my mother’s years in the tavern until she passed.”
I watch the blonde Discerni next to me with a new sadness.
“Marybeth took over the tavern after my mother’s death, while my father secluded into himself and left for Fumagalli. I saw him briefly when we were there a few days ago, but his heart and mind were distant...”
Her cool grey eyes retreat farther into the fire before she shrugs, “I decided to join the army and found my summoning in archery. When we return to Warrior I will show you.”
I can tell her story has more levels than what she lets on, but I still nod to her in genuine appreciation that she’s even shared this much with me.
“It’s not common though, for a human and Discerni to engage with eachother and start a family, right?” I ask the thought that’s pressing in my mind, “aside from Desmond, you are the only other Discerni I know who is born of half race.”
Alanna nods and finally looks back at me.
“It’s not common in the Kingdom, but there are quite a few couples living in Warrior that choose that path of life. When you find love, when my parents found love, it didn’t matter to them what was in their blood or that they could only spend a small amount of their years with each other… they justloved,” her grey eyes spark on mine, “as if they found the missing half of themselves in the other.”
I believe it. I’ve seen the way the King and Queen look at eachother, like they’re half of a soul peering back at the other. That kind of love is hard to find, no matter a person’s mystical ability or lack thereof.
“So it’s only natural that when my father experienced the loss of that love,” she continues quietly, “he secluded himself to Fumagalli. I don’t think he’ll ever get over the grief.”
Alanna takes a sip of her whiskey in silence.
What a hard life it has to be for a Discerni to only spend a few fleeting years with their human partner…
“Hello ladies!” Cal walks up behind us in greeting.
I’m grateful for his interruption and let his large smile pull Alanna and I away from the somber conversation. Both Holis and Mana stand with him, the three clad in deep green tunics with gold stitching as I smile at them all.
“The cat greeted you,” Mana says softly as him and his brother move to stand next to me. Cal takes up next to Alanna with a small look of concern in his eyes, noticing her features.
I glance back at the blonde Discerni and raise my brows.
“The cat didgreetme. I considered going for my blade but let the spirit of friendliness will out.”
“No one in that room would have let it get to the point of you needing a blade, Alexis,” Holis replies while his brother and Cal nod next to us.
I smile softly in appreciation, “it was a magnificent creature, though, wasn’t it?”
“The thing stood as tall as your waist, Alex. Magnificent isn’t exactly the word I would use,” Cal scoffs just as Barnes and Claymore join our group around the fire. I smile to them in greeting and note the simple black of their attire. Both of their heads turn down towards the fire, their glances watching the undying flames with small frowns.
“Snow tiger,” Alanna says simply to our group, “that magnificent thing is called a snow tiger. They used to roam the Charred and Crystal Mountains to the north of Pyre. They’re royals just as much as the McQuoid family line is, and oftentimes present themselves to the women of Pyre who become the next Princess.”
“Alba presented herself to my wife in the forest of Grove three years ago,” Prince McQuoid approaches our group with Keane, Desmond and Daniel next to him, “we were married not shortly after.”
McQuoid’s pale blue eyes land on mine, his long auburn hair flowing back from his face before it knots at the nape of his neck. His beard is no longer as rugged as it was earlier, with the ends clipped perfectly along his jaw and framing his red lips. He’s wearing another lush black fur coat over his bare chest again, a leather strap jutting from one shoulder to his hip before it stops at a buckle on his deep maroon pants.
Our group bows to the incomers as I take my eyes off McQuoid and look at my own Prince. Keane is standing tall in a deep green tunic with a high neck. I notice again that the fabric hosts a number of black Shadow Oak leaves etched intricately across it, the color complimenting his dark brows and brown eyes and the sharp angular lines of his face. His brown hair is flowing easily with the breeze, the sides cut short along his ears and framing their shape.
Ancients, he’s breathtaking.
Memories of his hair in my hands and his back rippling under my nails makes me flush red in the cheeks. I quickly try to look away, only for my eyes to land on his lips. They tip up in a sensual smile, the hint of amusement smirking at the corners.
I clear my throat and turn to the Pyrenese royal.
“Were you and your wife familiar with eachother before you became betrothed?”
McQuoid shakes his head and moves to stand between Holis and Mana.
“I was unaware of who she was until a hunting expedition led me to her in the woods. Alba was guarding her at her side.”
