“Never those,” Alanna smirks back at me, “we enjoy that too much to hide.”
Don’t I know.
Alanna eyes the next stone, then looks back at me with a small frown on her lips. She quickly averts her gaze when she notices I’m looking at her, that frown disappearing in an instant as she schools her features into indifference.
“What’s wrong?”
She opens her mouth to reply but then decides better of it, jumping again to the next step before we even get close to it. I hold back my gasp and watch her body fly over the empty space below her, instantly having to remind myself that she’s a Discerni. Even if she falls to the darkness below, she’ll live. I’ll probably have to find someone to set all of her bones back in place, but she’ll live.
“Alanna,” I sigh, cautious of the deep fall below as Golem and I hop on next to her.
Alanna smirks, “human.”
“Why do you do that?” I ask as the slab takes off, “why do you call me human like that, knowing what you know?”
“A habit formed from Woodlands, Alexis,” she looks at me in true apology, “both Princes have consistently asked that I knock it.”
I nod at her answer, not much caring for any habit that forces a Discerni to speak to a human in such a tone, but I know Alanna, and I know that she doesn’t think of me in that way.
“While I don’t like knowing where that habit comes from, I don’t mind that it comes from you,” I give her a small smile, “I’ll be your human friend, Alanna. As will Cal, I suspect.”
When and where this unexpected friendship formed between us, I don’t know. But in the small amount of time that I’ve known Alanna, I really have come to regard her as my friend. I hope she hears that sentiment in my statement.
“I was going to ask you about Cal just now,” she says softly, referencing her prior frown, “if you two have ever-”
“-No,” I shake my head vigorously, “it’s never been like that.”
Alanna sighs in relief as we move up the mountain.
“Though I do know of you and the Prince…”
The Warrior Discerni looks back at me in an instant. I smile at her cool grey eyes and shrug in answer.
Whatever was between her and Keane, was. I’m confident enough in myself to admit that Alanna is more than desirable with her cool fire, and I don’t blame Keane for wanting to experience a piece of it.
“You always surprise me,” she replies quietly, gaze questioning if my nonchalant gesture is genuine. I grin again, letting her know that it is.
“Ancients, Alexis,” she shakes her head, “I need to give you more grace.”
“Onthat, we can agree,” I laugh and jump to the next step with her.
Our small group finally reaches the large arch carved into the mountain and moves into the tunnel. The late morning sun greets us at the end as the smell of cinnamon fills the air. We step onto the small cobblestone pathway and into the hustle of the city, the greenstone buildings surrounding us lined with storefronts and taverns that have green vines and bright flowers lining each of their walls. I lead us out of the side alley and onto the main road, smiling at the hundreds of people passing by as we head towards the Southern Park.
“Claron’s Way to the right, Butcher’s Block on our left. Claron’s will lead you to a more subdued and quiet setting that has some of the best views that overlook Bardot. The Block has a high rise three floors up that acts as a postwatch over the Barren Flats.”
I show Alanna around, ignoring the many glances that are stolen our way as we walk. The patrons here are all whispering behind their hands, some of them even stopping in their everyday tasks to openly stare at us. It takes me a while to realize that they’re not only ogling at the green and black of our combined attire, but at Golem striding next to us and Stormfall sleeping on my shoulder.
“I’ve been wondering why everyone is staring at us,” I start laughing, “but look at us. What a ragtag crew we are.”
“Let them stare,” Alanna gives a cool smile, “let them see Warrior and Knowledge, human and Discerni, walking side by side.”
Golem nods beside us in vigorous agreement.
We reach the park and head up the stairs to Sera’s Café, my eyes darting to the veranda when we enter as I spot Holis, Mana and Cal already seated at a table. The three men are smiling and conversing with eachother under the sun, but there’s someone else sitting with them as well, someone who is all too familiar.
Sera.
She’s seated next to Mana, her light brown hair flowing behind her with the breeze as she leans in to the twin.
