Alanna takes a few steps back and then turns around, running into a jump before she launches herself and then lands hard on the stair above.
“I shall will this stone to move without all of you,” she promises.
Triple grins, promptly moving back on our stone and making the same jump as Alanna. Sutton and Barnes quickly follow suit, both of them smirking as they embrace the thrill.
“Go,” I nod again to Holis, wanting him to enjoy the night and meet up with his brother, “I have Stormfall. We will meet you there.”
Holis grimaces and then looks back up to the rest of the crew, the stone already beginning its rumble as it sets to depart. I push him forward with a smile and watch as he takes a few steps back on our stone. He runs and makes the landing jump the moment the stone departs, the full of the group laughing in bewilderment at his near miss.
“I expect an ale ready and waiting for me for when I get there!” I yell.
All of the Discerni grin down at me before turning their glances to the next stone in challenge, because,of course.
I chuckle and sit patiently on my step, waiting for the other stone to come back down as I think on the night.
Ancients.
The gossip, the stares, the conversations.
Lord Alexander and Lord Daniel, the two new surprises of the night…
Lord Alexander looked to be in his early-thirties if counting by human years. He was much younger than the group and definitely seemed to question the status quo of the Old Boy’s Club, though he did so with equal parts grace and indifference. He never asked his questions out of malice or spite, but instead in a deep desire to listen to the answers given by the Discerni. He was a pleasant surprise, one that I wouldn’t mind speaking to again.
And Lord Daniel…
Ancients, Lord Daniel.
Speaking my own words back to me, as if my heart had passed on to his. He asked me what I wanted and inquired into my wellbeing concerning the Ancient. That concern touched me and made me appreciate him all the more, and I know without a doubt that I would quickly accept his presence into any travel within Livyatan. He has a resentment for the group that matches my own.
Ancients.How in the Old World is he still single?
A beautiful and strong Discerni Lord with a heart made of pure gold. The thought genuinely baffles me.
I sigh and watch as the stair previously hosting my Discerni friends makes its way back down and across the mountain, bounding towards me. I push myself up in the darkness and look for Storm, not finding him in the black and grey mass above as I make the jump forward. Stormfall finally glides into the open mountain just as I’m moving to the next step, his caw ofassurance somehow letting me know that the rest of the group has safely made it to the tunnel.
I continue up the mountain, moving from step to step until the sound of strong, landing footsteps grace the stairs below me. I glance down to see someone else climbing up, the way their leaps carry them forward alerting me that it’s a Discerni. I quickly reach down to the dagger strapped across my thigh and maneuver my hands behind my back, not really believing that I’ll need it but pulling it out, nonetheless.
The Discerni below takes the stairs quickly, nearly two steps higher from when I first noticed. My eyes narrow on the familiar flowing brown hair and dark green attire when he comes into view.
“Keane?” I grin into the darkness, watching as he takes another leap onto the stair in front of him.
“It’s me,” he replies in amusement, head tilting up from three stones below, “you can put your blade away, Alexis.”
“I’ll meet you at the top,” I reply with another grin, glancing towards the final step that’ll lead me to the tunnel.
I leap off my stone and onto the last, smiling as I catch a draft of cinnamon and flowers. I quickly sheathe my dagger and watch as Stormfall circles around me before taking a steep dive down the mountain to greet the Prince. He flies around him in greeting as Keane’s dark figure leaps from one stone to another without a care, his own grin beaming back at Stormfall.
My final stone reaches the top of the mountain and I jump off into the tunnel, turning around to watch it move back down and towards the man I’m waiting breathlessly for at the top.
“I didn’t think you’d be able to join us.”
“Desmond and Lord Daniel are staying behind tonight, though the Leviathans have noticed our group’s departure. They may inquire and join us.”
“Ancients,” I roll my eyes.
There’s nothing less in the Old World than I want to see happen. That group does not deserve to grace our Palisades.
Keane stands strong on the final step, letting it carry him to the top.
