Alanna gives a cool laugh and flicks her reins, turning to greet Desmond as he moves out of the stables. I scowl at the back of her head and ponder on her comments...
It’s true that I don’t hide my fluorite as much as the typical women of my court, but what she doesn’t know is that the reasoning is pure selfishness. I genuinely like the look of the gold and green against my tanned skin, so much so that I kept my old fluorite ring and transferred it my other hand, not caring if the properties of the stone no longer worked.
As for her comments on Cal, Holis and Mana…
Go into battle for me?
Any talks I have with Holis are friendly in nature, while Mana continues to remain politely quiet as he has over the last two years. Neither of the Discerni twins have ever given any indication that they revere our relationship as something more than traveling companions, nor do they ever look like they would go into battle with me. Cal, on the other hand, is definitely a close friend, and I would absolutely fight alongside him to the best of my ability. He’d probably handle the full fight himself while I just stood at the side and cheered him on, but I’d be there, nonetheless.
As for the sexual innuendos…
Well I’ll just leave them alone like the insinuations they are.
I pat Millie on the neck and eye Alanna from behind.
“How do you feel about leaving that Warrior Discerni alone for the remainder of the trip, girl?”
My perfect mare snorts in agreement.
Our ride north to Agnor is uneventful but breathtaking. The road itself follows directly along the River Poise, its crystal blue waters following our group with every step of the way. Desmond stops us for a break when the sun reaches its noon apex and leads our horses to a small inlet in the water about halfway down the river. I steer Millie to the woods just next tothe inlet and dismount by the waters, looping her reins over the saddle horn and giving her a thankful pat to let her know she can roam free. I smile at my brown horse that was gifted to me from the King and watch her wade into the shallow water to cool off on her own.
“Jerky?” Alanna’s cool voice startles me from the side.
Fuck me.
“No,” I shake my head, “thank you.”
I reach for the bag at my hip and open the flap, my fingers brushing against Golem’s jar as I reach for the book I borrowed from Bardot’s library. His clay home vibrates in hello just as I sit down and settle against a tree.
“Are you sure you’re allowed to have that book,human?” Alanna flicks her grey gaze to the title.
A History of the Old World: Ancients and Their Summoning
“Why don’t you ask the King yourself and find out?” I shrug, not even trying to hide the small smile that takes over my lips.
Alanna narrows her eyes and flips her long blonde hair away from her face, stalking away without another word.
“Just keep rebuffing her advances,” a quiet voice greets me, “she’ll get the hint eventually.”
I give Holis a smile and tilt my head to the ground at my side. “Join me?”
The Discerni twin grins and gracefully takes a seat, his shoulder nearly brushing against mine as I look at Alanna standing next to Barnes.
“She’s watching me, Holis,” I whisper quietly, “I don’t like it.”
The Discerni nods and pulls out some bread from his bag. “They’re watching all of us.”
“Why?”
He breaks the loaf in half and hands me a piece, “we’re travelers sanctioned on behalf of the King. They’re most likely curious as to what we travel for.”
“And do you ever get curious?” I ask after a small pause.
“No,” he shakes his head with another grin, “we all have our reasons.”
The twin city of Agnor is large, the second largest city in the Court of Knowledge outside of Bardot and its greater Palisades. It’s a city nestled between the River Poise and Moonsbay Lake, the lake twice the size of the one we have just outside the capitol, Loughty.
Agnor is a fishing city, with each road lined with multiple villages and docks that surround both the lake and river. There’s always a cool, freshwater breeze that blows through the town at any given point in the day, and at night, the massive lake shimmers in silver from the moons above. It’s a peaceful city, very calm and serene. A distinct change from the drunken ale town we just came from.
