“We’ve never really met up outside of our travels,” I continue, “I don’t even know where they reside.”
“That’s…” Alanna begins.
“Unbelievable?” I offer.
“I was going to say sad.”
Her words cut me harder than I care to admit.
I remain quiet and lead us out to the ground floor.
“So the four of you only engaged with eachother when you traveled?”
“For the most part. Cal and I have met up occasionally. I’ve been to a couple of his fights. Mostly we just meet in the Palisades for a drink or sometimes he’ll come down for a night at court. But I’ve only ever engaged with Holis and Mana during our travels.”
Alanna scowls at my side as we enter the receiving room, her eyes narrowing on the Great Oak that waves back to us. I stop in front of one of its roots and smirk at the little incisions my blades made in the trunk, the cuts barely visible but there if you know where to look for them.
“I always forget how massive it is.”
“Yes,” I nod, “magicked ten times larger than any normal oak.”
We walk around the roots towards the backside of the castle, our small group passing by the large room that will be used for court tonight. Castle servants are already moving in and out at a fast speed, many of them holding white roses in their arms while others place gold decorations and greenery along the tables inside. Everyone looks rushed and busy, and with the delegation from Livyatan expected to arrive soon, as well as all three Princes all under one roof, court tonight will surely be a grand setting.
I briefly spot the Queen as we pass by, her pale blonde hair sweeping low behind her back as she points towards the ceilings, directing a few of the helpers.
“Tonight’s court will be impressive, then?” Alanna asks, noticing the same.
“Seems like it,” I nod and lead her farther into the cave.
We walk through the darkness until Alanna stops just before the southern staircase, her gaze going wide to the mountain above.
“What is this?”
“Moving rocks,” I grin, “it’s the staircase that’ll lead us up to the Palisades. We’ll step on the first slab and wait for it to take us to the next…”
I point to the second stone jutting out higher above. “That one will take us to the next stone and so on until we reach the top.”
“It’ll take all day,” she scowls.
“No,” I laugh, “it’s a fairly quick trip up, considering. You’ll see.”
I hop onto the first step as Golem does the same, the two of us turning back around to look at Alanna.
“If you don’t get on quickly the stone will leave you behind.”
The blonde Discerni hurriedly jumps onto the rock as it cracks and rumbles below us, the stone starting its diagonal tread up the mountain a moment after. She takes a stronger stance on her feet and glances up to the next stone, her gaze narrowing in quiet thought.
“We don’t have anything like this in Warrior.”
“I don’t know,” I laugh and jump onto the next step, “I swear every time I’m in Gaumond the stairs change directions.”
“You would think that,” she smirks.
“But you are right,” I grin, “I haven’t seen anything like this in the Court of Warriors. Knowledge uses its magic a lot. You’ll see at tonight’s court and in the Palisades above. Summoning is coveted here. We enjoy it.”
“We do too,” Alanna jumps onto the next step before I can, “we just don’t feel the need to show everyone how much we enjoy it.”
“Such humble Warriors,” I tease, “modest in everything except your sexual activities.”
