Sir Miles and Lord Alexander each try to hide their smiles, their gazes looking anywhere on the table but at me and Kirke.
“But surely you must understand why we are all confused,” Kirke’s wife glances stoically between Golem and I, “for you to walk into court with our King’s Golem. The look on the Queen’s face was one born of shock.”
“Our entry tonight was not meant to slight the Queen,” I reply genuinely, “but rather, it was an entry between two friends who only wish to enjoy each other’s company tonight.”
“Friends?” Thomas scoffs from across the table as Golem shifts behind me, “you were only gone for less than a month, Lady Alexis. That’s not nearly enough time to make friends with the King’s Golem of over a century.”
My next inhale is slow and measured as I try to still my raging heart. I know, without looking behind me, that Golem is also trying his best to maintain his indifference.
“How very wrong you are in that sentiment, Sir Thomas.”
“Is this even allowed?” his wife huffs, tossing her hand into the air, “a human with a magical being?Twomagical beings?”
“Lady Alexis is sitting at a table filled with magical beings right now, Lady Maryann,” Lord Alexander reminds her.
“This is different,” the woman scowls, her eyes glancing back to me and Golem as I grip my drink in front of me.
“How so?” the Lord inquires.
He keeps his tone simple and relaxed, letting no emotions through. I steal a glance in his direction and watch as his toned body leans forward, truly seeming interested in whatever answer Maryann has to give. The Discerni woman looks over to her husband for help as the rest of the table remains quiet.
“What I’ve learned from my recent travels, Lady Maryann,” I push down the resentment I already have for this woman and try to give her a genuine smile, “and something I hope will transfer into my presence back here in Bardot, is that no amount of magical ability will stand between two people,two beings, who genuinely want to appreciate the time they have here on this Old World.”
“Well said, Lady Alexis,” Sir Petarch smiles, as does his wife.
“It is a sentiment held by the Court of Warriors,” I push calmly, turning back in my seat to nod to the swath of black in the room, “they do not discern between magical ability. Nor, do they seem, to care.”
“But your lives are so short,” Lady Jordyn shakes her head softly, truly curious, “why would you want to be reminded of those of us who live longer?”
I give the Discerni woman a small nod, recognizing her question as genuine.
“If it is a reminder, Lady, I hope it only serves as one to you all,” I slowly look around the table, “as humans, we seek to embrace our limited years and thrive within them, to experience everything that the Old World has to offer without idleness and withoutpatience.We seize each day, knowing that it truly may be our last…”
The ground below me begins a small rumble, “and the people I have met along my travels, those from Warrior and beyond, act as no reminder to a shortened life, but instead as a reminder to a life worth truly appreciating as one to live.”
The glasses on the table begin to shake, their vibrations causing the seated Discerni to look around in confusion. A few of them steady their hands on their drinks as I hastily push back in my seat, recognizing the movement for what it is, whatheis.
Sir Miles stands with me as I bow to the group in departure, “if you’ll excuse me…”
I quickly make my way from the table, though not before noticing Lord Alexander’s hazel eyes looking quietly in the direction of Keane.
“Another water show…”
Lord Daniel moves to stand at my side at the edge of the balcony, the two of us the only ones outside as Edam manipulates a fountain within the large room for court. It’s a beautiful spring night filled with the bright moons and stars above us, but the presence of the Leviathans seems to take away the glitter that usually resides.
“Lord Daniel,” I smile, catching his light brown eyes with mine. Daniel reaches for my hand and brings it to his lips, nodding in greeting.
“Hello to you too, Storm,” he smiles at the Bird of Ash. Stormfall gives a small caw from my shoulder as Lord Daniel hands me a new ale, the two of us continuing to watch the crowd indoors.
“I was surprised to see you bring him tonight, Lady Alexis.”
Lord Daniel glances at me in question. I take in our position on the veranda and then look back to the entranced crowd, thinking this may be just as good a moment as ever.
“I’ve actually been meaning to speak with you, Lord Daniel,” I smile, tilting my head farther down the balcony. Daniel takes the hint and walks at my side towards the ledge, the two of us resuming our quiet view of the crowd.
“This has to do with your comments from last night, yes?” he asks curiously, taking a sip of ale.
“Yes,” I affirm, turning to him in open gesture, “and everything that has happened since we departed from Gaumond. There are things that happened along our travel that I wish for you to know, things that only a certain few between us are already aware of.”
