“So you’ve claimed the King’s Golem, Alexis,” he smiles quietly.
“I haven’t claimed anything,” I reply quickly, reaching out for Cal’s mug. I take a deep swig of his ale and watch as my friend lifts his hand from his beard to flag down the lady behind the pub.
“I take it my father knows he’s here?” Desmond asks, leaning forward in his chair.
“He does,” I nod, taking another hefty sip.
“And will he remain with us for the whole trip?” he continues, dark eyes narrowing on Golem behind me, “into Pyre?”
I nod at the Master Informer and quickly down the rest of Cal’s ale. The big man lifts his brows but remains silent, nonetheless.
“Does His Highness know of this?” Alanna asks coolly.
My answer is genuine as I reply, “how should I know?”
Cal smiles at the lady who’s arrived and grabs both mugs from her hands. He places one in front of me and keeps another for himself, chuckling in amusement at the desperately grateful smile I send his way in thanks.
“How about a horse?” Desmond asks.
I glance at him in confusion.
He’s been around his father and Golem his whole life. Shouldn’t he already know the answer?
“No horse,” I shake my head, “Golem will travel with me.”
“And how will he do that?” Alanna presses, her eyes forever narrowed.
Once again, I glance at the two in genuine confusion. Is the nature of Golem’s home not known? Is Desmond even aware of his clay jar?
Mana’s cat-like eyes catch mine from across the table. He gently shakes his head, the look in his blue-green gaze telling me not to disclose.
“That is not for me to share,” I tell the Discerni woman.
Alanna huffs and turns to Barnes and Claymore in annoyance, joining the two in their separate conversation as she ignores the rest of us.
“I ordered you chicken and vegetables,” Cal pushes his shoulder against mine.
“Thank you.”
“Where were you?” he leans in with a whisper, “the river?”
I nod and start on the new ale.
“Then let’s meet there tomorrow at dawn,” he replies quietly.
My eyes quickly dart to Desmond. He’s now in a small conversation with Mana, also ignoring the two of us.
“I purchased a new blade,” I whisper over my mug.
“Oh you did, did you?” Cal’s smile widens under his beard, “well I haven’t seen any proof of that, Alex. You must be hiding it well.”
“Learned from the best,” I give him my own smile.
Dinner ends with the full of our group about five ales deep. The Warrior crew has mostly kept to themselves for the night, though Desmond is now debating with Mana about which weapon is stronger in the thick of battle, his broadsword or Mana’s double-edged staff. The full of the conversation is making me frown, not because of its nature but because this is the most I’ve ever heard Mana talk in the past two years.
Holis passes me a slice of warm spiced bread and pulls my attention away from the two, the smell of cinnamon making me smile and think of chef. I tip my ale at him in thanks and laugh when he raises his brows in challenge, the two of us promptly finishing our mugs until there’s nothing left to drink.
Eventually the group begins discussing where in Brierman they want to go next, so I turn in my chair and glance back at Golem, my curiosity fixated on getting more answers.
