“Again,” Alanna sighs, “it’s a well-kept secret. Anyone who travels from the other two Courts sees only what the Discerni wish for them to see.”
“But what is beingdone?” I fume.
“I know Desmond has men situated throughout the Court who quietly spread word on behalf of the Prince. They talk to the humans of a better life just outside their borders, but those words are quick to fall on deaf ears. The humans view that life as a fantasy they can dream about, but not quite find the will to actually believe. He relocates at every chance he gets, but Woodlands also actively stops its humans from leaving its lands.”
I take a deep breath and stand in hard resolve, my body trembling with anger over everything I’ve just heard. It almost seems unreal, truly incomprehensible, and yet I know without a shadow of a doubt that what Alanna just told me only scratches the surface.
“This is not how the Old World is meant to live,” I say quietly,steadily, “andeveryonewill become aware of what is happening inWoodlands when I am done with it. I will disrupt every piece of their cherished land until the tradition is burned to ash.”
Alanna gives me a hard look in approval and stands up as well.
“I know it, Alexis,” she nods solemnly, “it is the sole reason I agreed to take this travel with you.”
We leave Brierman the next morning without haste, already a day above schedule. Holis and Mana join mine and Cal’s exercises at dawn, the four of us getting one more training in before we part ways in Bardot. It’s weird to think of our traditional travels officially ending, even weirder when I think about how our lives always took separate paths in the capitol until we were called to meet again.
Our group rides along the Great Road with the intention of not stopping until we reach Bartley’s Clearing. By sundown we’ll be in the capitol, and by nighttime I’ll be in the small room that I’ve called my own for the past ten years.
Will the King host court for the Leviathan delegation riding at our backs? Will we sit around the room and discuss politics and gossip, all the while feigning ignorance to what they did to us in the Plains? Will the Knowledge crowd dance into the night completely oblivious to the happenings outside their content lifestyle? Will I?
No.
That lifestyle was once mine, the beautiful nights surrounded by beautiful lights, but I can’t say that it is anymore. Not after everything I’ve experienced in Warrior, or after everything I’ve experienced during thiswholetravel. And while I still yearn for the beauty of Knowledge as my home, I can’t deny the shift in mindset that is routing itself deep in my soul.
We reach Bartley’s Clearing at midday, its forest standing tall and inviting in the far distance. We stop at the same small pub as we did on our way out, all of us hiding our small laughter as the curvy human woman grins at Cal with sultry eyes. Cal, to his benefit, doesn’t add fuel to the fire when she angles her chest in front of him, and instead just gives her a small nod in gracious thanks when she drops off our ales.
“It is not lost on me,” Cal looks around the table when the woman leaves, his eyes landing on Desmond, Alanna and Barnes, “that the last time we sat under this roof we were all sitting at different tables.”
The Warrior Discerni nod with a smile as my big friend lifts his mug, “to the eventful travel we’ve had together as friends. And to many others.”
Our group toasts together with grins.
We reach Bardot at sundown, the castle greeting us in a serene manner as the bottled moonslight shines softly against the massive greenstone walls. We ride through the Queen’s white rose garden and towards the small welcoming village of shops and taverns, the patrons just getting started on settling down for the night. Barnes bids us farewell at oneof the inns along the main road as the rest of us continue towards the eastern gate.
“Lord Desmond! Lady Alexis!” Danny grins when we ride up, reaching for our reins, “you’re back!”
“We are,” I smile and hoist my leg over Millie’s saddle, “how has everything been, Danny?”
The boy shrugs, “all’s well, Lady. The same.”
The same.
The castle indeed looks exactly how I remember, though a bit of the sparkle is lost.
“You have a bird sitting on your shoulder, Lady Alexis!” he exclaims, watching as Stormfall extends his wings behind my back.
I chuckle and toss him a cinerin, “he’s my new friend.”
“Alanna,” Desmond’s voice booms from beside his horse, “you’re on the second level on the east wing. The rest of you, I trust, have your own residences to go home to.”
Cal, Holis and Mana all nod at the comment, glad to be home.
“My brother will be here tomorrow with the Livyatan delegation,” Desmond continues, looking directly at the men, “we both expect you all at court.”
More nods greet the Master Informer as the Knowledge crew unfastens their travel packs.
“Lady Alexis,” Desmond beckons.
I hoist my own packs over my shoulders and wave goodbye to the rest of our group and Danny. Desmond walks beside me, the two of us entering the east wing.
