Zander turns to his son, “a general knowledge, nothing more. Only that a Kingdoms Council was called by me. He is unaware of the talks we had within, of my wish to make an amendment to the Old World Rule not allowing humans to enter the ancient libraries within the Kingdoms.”
“Nothing more?” Keane asks.
“Nothing more,” the King affirms sternly.
“And Elena?” Desmond continues, “how and why is she aware of the Council?”
Zander shifts just slightly before replying, “your sister had a vision of a human woman holding a large black book in her hands…”
His eyes flick to me, “the vision was vague, scattered in its surroundings, but she felt the human presence holding the magical text. Her vision is the reason why I called the Council in first place.”
Hirovale alluded to traveling to Woodlands and meeting with Elena. Apparently she’s much more involved in all of this than we know.
“Golem confirmed that you knew from the beginning that Lady Alexis would be the human you would be sending along for the travels,” Keane watches his father carefully, “you mean to tell us that this is because of Elena?”
“Yes,” Zander nods softly, “while the vision was not clear in whole, she was still able to sense who belonged to that human presence.”
“She was the one who gave you the words, then,” I murmur.
If she saw me holding the book, then she had to have seen the words that formed on the last page, not just the four terms that he provided. Why couldn’t she just share them with her father?
The King turns to me and shakes his head at my thoughts. “She was only able to make out a few of the words from the text that she saw. The vision was hazy and clouded, but she did say she saw the book do something miraculous. Something of deep power and Old World magic…”
Zander leans forward, his eyes holding mine intently, “she claimed, before the vision released her, that she watched the book turn to ash in your hands.”
I watch the King quietly and take a sip of whiskey, feeling the familiar pull of emotions whenever I think about my time on that thirty-second height of the Red Falls library.
“The book did turn to ash,” I nod, bringing my finger up to Stormfall in comfort.
“Will you share that time with me, Alex?” the King asks softly, “of all that happened in your pursuit?”
Stormfall purrs against my finger as I recount the events of the three days within the library. I tell Zander about the pull I felt on the third day that took me higher, into the top of the chilly mountain and where everything was frozen over. I tell him about the book and how it was alive, how what should have been an inanimate object felt warm in my hands. I tell him how itbreathedand how the pages were all blank but one. How after reading the small text from within, the book slowly started to turn to ash in my hands. I tell him how that ash gave life to a small ember, a fiery egg that birthed Stormfall, and reveal that the bird is the Ancient Hirovale’s creature of the night.
King Zander listens intently, his full body engaged as he considers my account. He finally sits back in his chair with a small nod, “I had hoped,believedthat you would find the book in Red Falls.”
“Did you know what would come from it?” I ask, my gaze desperately curious.
The King gives another small nod, his eyes alight in small wonder. “We suspected.”
“You and Elena?” Keane asks pointedly.
Zander turns his gaze to his son, “yes, myself and Elena. Your sister is quite knowledgeable in the Ancient Ten, as are many of her Sisters. There are only two beings in the Old World that can turn something to ash without the use of fire, and one of them is currently sitting at the table with us…”
We all turn our heads to Stormfall resting on my shoulder, but the King, however, glances down the table to look at Holis and Mana.
“Hence my addition of the two of you to the crew.”
The twins smile and give a quiet nod to their King in understanding.
“And you, young Cal,” Zander looks to my big auburn friend, “were also meant to be at Lady Alexis’ side during her travels. A decision that Ihave come to appreciate immensely, as recent stories from your travels have already made their way here. I am deeply happy to know you have taught her so much already.”
Either Zander is referencing the Leviathan I killed in the Plains or my run-in with Lord Tadeo. Or both. Regardless, I, too, am grateful for Cal and his trainings. For Cal and his general friendship.
“Who else knows,” Keane demands, “who was present during the Council and who knows outside of it?”
King Zander sighs and looks back at his son, “everyone at this table. Your brother, your sister and the leaders of the Four Kingdoms.”
“Which comprised of?”
