“Yes,” I smile, “I believe so.”
He drops his gaze and turns to look at me with a grin.
“You never cease to surprise me, Lady Alexis.”
I spot Keane’s head tilt to the side at the comment, as if he’s angling better to hear Lord Daniel from all the way at the front of the group.
“Trust me, Lord Daniel, I was just as surprised as you.”
The Discerni Lord chuckles and moves a hand to his beard.
“Lord Daniel, can you settle something for me?”
“Of course, Lady Alexis,” he replies, light brown eyes sparkling on mine.
I feel no guilt at the lie I’m about to tell, mostly because I’m truly interested in the answer that will come from it.
“Princess Clair and I were speaking earlier about the standard magical abilities between the Pyrenese and the Discerni…”
We weren’t.
“I thought I told her everything I knew on the Discerni side, but she mentioned something else, something I wasn’t aware of.”
“Like what?”
“Well, I told her what I knew about you all in general. That the Discerni are quick, quicker than the average human, and that the Discerni strength is tenfold that of any human as well…”
“Our hearing and sight is also heightened,” Lord Daniel adds, giving me a small smile.
“Hmm,” I smirk inwardly, watching as Keane’s lips tip up in a knowing laugh from afar, “that’s what Princess Clair suggested, too. I guess I was wrong on that bet.”
Keane’s location summoning suddenly graces my bones, his amusement vibrating down my body and making me grin in response.
“Those attributes are less noticeable than speed and strength,” Lord Daniel replies with a nod, “so I can understand why you wouldn’t know of them.”
Always so polite, I smile.
Once we reach the large wall surrounding the city, the three human soldiers in our group lower our banners. We pass under the large gate and into the forest surrounding just as Stormfall flies down from his glide to rest on my shoulder. He walks across and steps closer to my face, his head and beak leaning through my hair before he nips the skin of my neck.
“You’re hungry?”
The Bird of Ash chirps in response and lets his beak rub against the skin of my cheek. I scan the forests around us, not liking that the trees are still thick.
“Be quick about it, please. And try to stay in sight of our group.”
Stormfall chirps again and pushes off my shoulder, his black body and tail angling for the forest.
“Excuse me, Lord Daniel,” I give him a small apology, “I need to ask Holis a few questions.”
“Of course, Lady Alexis,” he nods.
I guide Millie to the middle of our riding group and stop next to the Discerni twin.
“You hungry?” Holis asks on the spot.
“Always feeding me, Holis,” I laugh.
“Just trying to add some extra weight to those bones,” he shrugs.
