“I do come to Disce on an apology tour, Lady Alexis,” Isham says as we walk away from the group, “my brother is not known for his clear and rational decisions in the heat of moments.”
“The night would not have been heated if not for your brother,” I point out.
“True,” he nods, “and I’ll always be there to remedy his messes. So please do not hold the actions of a few against me and mine. I come with good intentions.”
His words are smooth, sounding so authentic that I can’t help but peer at him in curiosity. Is he truly genuine, or is he just saying all the right things to make it appear so?
“And what are those good intentions?” I ask, watching his smile widen into a grin, “surely you don’t need to pull me aside to offer a personal apology?”
“Oh, but I do, Lady Alexis,” he stops us at the corner of the veranda and leans against the railing. I take my arm out of his hold and do the same, spotting Desmond not too far away as he gives me the tiniest of nods.
“I wanted to catch you personally,” he continues.
“And why is that?”
“Because I want to know how many of the men following you are aware that they’re harboring Hirovale’s champion.”
I stiffen at the comment and turn my back to the crowd, placing my whiskey on the ledge.
“You can speak freely, Prince Isham. I am not one to entertain the grey.”
“No,” he smiles, “I don’t think you are.”
I sigh and look out to the Bell Grove, already regretting this conversation.
“When I heard of what my brother did in the Bulwark Plains, I nearly tried him on the spot…”
That catches my attention.
“But when he told us what he saw, what he thought he saw, my curiosity was piqued. The woman of King Zander’s Kingdoms Council was finally traveling across foreign lands. The same woman, who, for the first time in two years, came home one hand heavy. Or should I say, one shoulder heavy.”
He glances down at me in curiosity.
“You found something else besides your friend, didn’t you?”
I take a sip of my whiskey and consider my answer. The words will have to be shared eventually, as they’re bound by the rules of the Council.
“I did,” I nod over my glass, “though we both know there is no use in sharing them with you tonight.”
“True again,” he gives a small chuckle and leans towards me, “but you do know that after they’re shared, your travels will take you into Livyatan, right?”
I can’t stop my gaze from landing on his, watching as Isham gives me a look of surprise before he masks it over with friendliness.
“Another of my intentions then, Lady Alexis,” he smiles, still leaning forward, “to offer my welcome and assistance when the time comes that you’ll need to travel past the Riverlands and deeper into my home.”
There’s no fucking way.
No fucking way I’ll ever intentionally travel into Livyatan.
Isham looks at me with an intensity, as if knowing that regardless of my feelings the travel will still be made. I scowl at the look and decide to change the subject.
“Do they have names?” I ask casually, eyes flicking to his braids.
The Prince laughs, a deep laugh that is filled with such genuine amusement that it makes the people on the veranda turn to us in curiosity.
“You know as well as I do, Lady, that I cannot answer your question in full right now.”
His gaze falls behind us and glances at both Keane and Desmond who stand at opposite ends of the veranda.
