And I am happy to be with him as I fall asleep in his arms, relishing in it all.
CHAPTER XVI
OAK SLABS AND WATER SHOWS
I walked out of Keane’s room the next morning with Stormfall sleeping on my shoulder and Golem at my side. I felt half naked walking down the dark hall without my blades, but I quickly pushed the feeling away knowing there was nothing I could do about it. Keane had to exact a punishment as Leading Lord of the Court of Warriors. His ruling was law and I had to accept that without fight. I would get my blades back the moment we stepped outside the gates of Gaumond and not a moment sooner.
The hall of Castle Gaumond that hosted Keane’s room had a dark ambiance that was dimly lit by a few torches lining the walls. There were only four other doors in this hall, one, that Keane told me belonged to Desmond’s quarters, and another, that acted as a larger room for the two of them and other leading warriors to host private meetings. The other two rooms were guest residences for any of his family members that chose to make the travel to his Court, something I suspected rarely happened.
Before I left this morning he told me that he had to stay behind in the meeting room to get updates on Fumagalli and the other cities in Warrior and that he’d meet me at the gates. It worked out well as I needed to visit Gail and wanted to spend some time with Millie before we departed. So, after a passionate kiss that ended with his hands thoroughly memorizing every inch of my body, I continued through the dark hall alone and down a steep flight of stairs with my travel packs slung over my other shoulder and Golem following quietly at my side.
“Stairs, second hall, sharp right into another hall and down another set of stairs,” I mumble Keane’s directions in my walk.
At some point I’ll get used to all the twists and turns here, but until then, I found myself yearning for the simplicity of Castle Bardot’s east and west wings with only four levels in height.
Eventually we find ourselves in the receiving hall that leads to the outside double doors and the room used for court. I notice a number of people giving me passing glances when I walk by but ignore them with my head held high. I begin retracing the semi-familiar halls that lead to Gail’s workshop just as the strong scent of the kitchen’s cooking tells me I’m close.
“Just a moment!” Gail’s girlish voice yells from behind the door when I knock.
She flings it open with a huge grin plastered across her face, that smile going even wider when she sees me.
“Lady Alexis!” she welcomes me inside.
I spot a young Discerni girl sitting at the table in the far corner when I walk in, her head bent and hands working diligently on a black dress in front of her. My eyes widen at all the different fabrics that are strewn left and right in the room. It’s been a busy morning for Gail already, and I can’t help but love the chaotic mess.
“New orders,” Gail grins foolishly, “I’ll be busy until fall.”
“Which is well deserved, Gail,” I grin, pulling the thigh-high boots and dress pieces out of my travel packs. I give her a little apology glance at the wrinkled ensemble, but she just laughs and takes them away with a flourish of her hand.
“Nothing a wash and a few steams can’t fix.”
“So, has it been mostly women here this morning?”
“Allwomen,” she nods, “they aren’t deviating from the black, but they do want the two-piece style and boots. And for the skirt to be a bit shorter…”
“Of course,” I laugh.
Gail walks over to me, her smile dropping and replaced with a concerned frown.
“Are you okay, Lady Alexis? The whole castle is talking about what happened last night.”
I sigh and give the girl a genuine smile, “I’m okay, Gail. I was never going to let him get too far in his pursuits. But thank you for asking.”
“A lot of us are happy you stood up to Lord Tadeo, Lady,” she continues quietly, “he has always been a bit too forward.”
While I have no doubt about her words, the fact that someone as young as Gail would take notice to that irks me. I glance to the other Discerni girl in the room and watch her eyes quickly avert from mine. She bows her head and continues stoically with her work.
Ancients.If anything good came away from my altercation with Lord Tadeo, then it is this, knowing that he will never grace the halls of Gaumond or be around these girls again.
“There will always be men like him in this Old World, Gail,” I catch her hand in mine, speaking loudly for the two of them, “do not let them take advantage of you.”
Gail’s eyes harden as she nods in understanding.
“I don’t know when I’ll next be in Gaumond,” I continue, “but when I am, I’ll be sure to find you.”
“And I’ll be sure to handle your request first, Lady,” she beams, and then shrugs, “who knows, maybe another inspiration will hit me while you’re gone. I just may have another piece waiting for you when you arrive.”
“I look forward to it,” I reach out for a hug, “thank you again for everything, Gail. Until next time.”
