“The Prince and Princess of Pyre, the three brother Princes of Livyatan, and King Voland of Aireal. I am unsure if he has shared the meeting with his son.”
Keane scowls at his father, “why keep it hidden from Desmond and I?”
Zander looks up to his son with a hardness behind his eyes.
“Respectfully,son, you are not the leader or King of Disce, yet.”
I watch as Keane’s face reverts into the standard Discerni indifference. He gives his father a brief nod as Desmond shifts in his chair next to me, the rest of us remaining quiet.
“You know I would have allowed Lady Alexis into our libraries without any contest,” Keane continues.
“I do,” the King nods, “but for my own selfish reasons I wished for this crew to travel as quietly as possible.”
“Does mother know?” Desmond asks after taking a drink.
“She does not.”
That’s surprising, but then again, maybe it’s not. While Prince McQuoid and Princess Clare engaged in their talks and spoke of Old World politics as equals, perhaps that wasn’t the same for our King and Queen. Perhaps King Zander doesn’t share that type of relationship with his wife, which is still okay in its own right, if so.
“It would seem cruel if she was to find out this secret on her own, a secret in which the full of her family is already aware of,” Desmond states softly.
“I agree,” Keane nods to his father.
“Another discussion, then,” King Zander sighs to his sons, “one we can have following your days here.”
I take a large sip of whiskey, quietly observing this family’s dynamics.
“Confirm to us the votes,” Keane replies, “and the full terms that came from the Council.”
King Zander nods and looks over the table, speaking to us all, “the votes were as suspected. Pyre was a quick and easy yes, advocating that the Old World rule be overturned completely, no amendment needed…”
I smile at the comment as he continues, “Aireal battled, but eventually agreed. Livyatan was a swift no from the beginning.”
We all nod at his assessment.
“And the terms?” Keane prompts.
I feel Golem shift behind me.
“The first came from Pyre and was agreed by all, that the text of the book would be shared with the Four Kingdoms. I was not to harbor or hide any knowledge and agreed to have it transcribed and sent to each of the leaders. The second term was Aireal’s, who asked that I claim Lady Alexis’ actions as those of the Kingdom of Disce. Voland wanted a stark separation to be known, that these actions had nothing to do with Aireal. He insisted that their Kingdom did not agree with the mix of a human and magical knowledge, but ultimately relented when I swore all responsibility for Alexis during her travels and any actions that came after…”
An uncomfortable weight falls on my shoulders at the King’s words.
After…
As if I’m to be doing things now that aren’t agreeable?
“Prince Isham spoke for his brothers when he dictated the third term surrounding Alex’s travel into foreign libraries. I’m sure you know by now that she was only allowed three full days in their depths.”
That was Isham’s idea?
Ancients,I dislike the man even more.
All of us nod to the King and await the fourth term, the tension rising once again as Zander remains quiet. Desmond glances to his brother and then looks back at his father, his shoulders setting straight as he leans forward in demand.
“We know there is a fourth term, father.”
Golem shifts behind me again.
