I turn to greet the Discerni woman, Alanna. She has her packs slugged over her shoulder in a similar fashion, her pale blonde hair flowing down her back with the front tucked behind her leaf-shaped ears. Her cool grey eyes stare directly into mine, her blonde lashes reaching just under a set of high arched brows. Her cheeks are slim, complimenting a sharp jawlineand thin lips and giving her whole face a cold look. She’s strikingly beautiful in that cool way, her features very similar to the Discerni who live in Woodlands Court.
She passes by my side and heads for the inn, not bothering to see if I’m following behind her. She’s short for a Discerni, a good head shorter than me, though she doesn’t carry herself as if the lack of height holds any consequence.
I walk behind her and let her lead us into the common room pub, taking in how boisterous and loud it is as mugs are pushed in my direction. I nearly lose the Warrior woman to the crowded room, but end up spotting her black attire at the last moment as she moves towards a separate corner of the pub.
Alanna’s black shirt hugs her curves as she walks down a quieter hall. The rich satin is pulled against her body in a tight fashion I would never wear, but what’s even more curious is the sight of her well-toned arm and back muscles that are visible underneath the shirt. The girl is physically more toned than any woman I’ve seen in Knowledge, and has a brazen fluorite green cuff around her left hand. I’ve seen many women in the southern cities of Warrior publicly flouncing their fluorite in the same way, but where that Court is bold in its attire, my Court tends towards the modest, hiding the stone in more simple settings on our fingers and ears.
Alanna stops at a door and lifts her hand to the small encircled oak that’s cut into the wood. The door glows a vibrant black before it swings open to our room for the night, the small residence quaint but cozy and complete with two beds at opposite ends. A small vanity with a mirror leans against the wall next to us, and at the back of the room is a small archway that leads to the bathing chamber.
I walk to the bed on the left and toss my packs on top. Alanna moves to the other and does the same, her hands tugging on her boots as her cool gaze lands on mine to begin her own assessment.
“This travel is because of you?” she asks directly, the words nearly mimicking Cal’s from earlier.
“Seems like it,” I nod.
“Don’t be coy. Desmond told us this ride is sanctioned on behalf of his father.”
“Then why ask?”
“Because I can,” she smirks, “because I’m curious.”
I ignore her and pull out a brush from my packs.
“It seems you know how to ride for a Lady who lives at the capitol. Do you travel often?”
If only she knew.
“A bit here and there.”
“Right,” she rolls her eyes and pulls her shirt over her head, “and those Knowledge men, they ride here and there with you, too?”
“Whenever the King directs us.”
“Hmm,” her eyes narrow, “well far be it for me to question the King. I’m going to take a bath. Did you need one too or can I take my time?”
I turn in her direction and instantly gaze at her body in awe.
I lied about her muscles being well-toned. They’re utterly cut to perfection. Her arms, back and stomach are completely muscled, her full physique so immensely impressive that I can’t stop staring as I watch her slide off her pants.
Fucking Ancients,even her thighs and calves are in perfect condition.
“It’s interesting that you look upon me so unabashed,human,” Alanna’s cool grey eyes narrow again as she slips the black lace off her breasts.
“It’s interesting that you stand in front of me flagrantly,” I shrug.
“I’m from the Court of Warriors,” her lips quirk, “weareflagrant.”
“I’ve just never seen a body like yours,” I offer in truth.
“And do you often look at the naked bodies of Discerni women?” she laughs.
I roll my eyes and turn back to the bed. “Take as much time as you need. I won’t be bathing tonight.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“It doesn’t warrant one.”
Alanna laughs again, this time from inside the bathing room.
