I catch my breath when Keane slows down, pulling me in front of his body and pressing me to stay behind Golem. To my surprise, Golem’s face doesn’t look solemn or nervous, he just keeps his eyes steadfast as he starts climbing the stairs. Stormfall swoops down just as I step under the arch, perching himself on my shoulder and gripping on tight. Golem doesn’t stop at the second floor, nor the third, and continues up the steps until we reach the door to the royal family’s fourth floor residence.
This isn’t good.
Keane bounds past me, greeting Desmond in the middle of the reception area as the feeling of severe unease takes over. I notice another company of Discerni soldiers standing guard at the west wing of the hall, my heart dropping at the look on each one of their solemn faces as they take in the Prince’s arrival.
“Castle Bardot is on lockdown,” the Master Informer says, following his brother, “you were the only two allowed to take the stairwaydown. I’ve closed off the other two passages as well. The village is on guard and we’ve cut off all exits and entries into Bardot. The soldiers are directing residents of the castle back to their quarters and any patrons from the Palisades will remain here for the time being.”
Keane nods to his brother with a hardness I’ve never seen before, his features growing colder with each step.
“He’s in their room,” Desmond continues quietly, “they have about four different healing priests from Cohen in there now…”
Desmond turns and places a hand on Keane’s chest, forcing him to stop his walk.
“It’s too stuffy in there, Keane.”
Keane’s eyes flick to Desmond before he nods again. He then resumes his walk towards the west wing as I slow my own, not wishing nor needing to be here in this moment. It’s too intimate.
“Mother is a mess, brother,” Desmond whispers, following besides the Prince, “Troy is with her now.”
I stop in my tracks at the settees in the seating area, deciding to wait here and possibly leave for my own room once Keane greets whatever is behind the soldiers. Golem stops next to me and gives me a slight push towards the two brothers, but I shake my head and hold onto the cushion, unmoving.
“No,” I tremble in a whisper, “this isn’t my place.”
Keane’s strong footsteps stop at my words. He squares his shoulders and slowly turns back in my direction, leveling me with a harrowed look.
“The King has requested you both, Lady Alexis,” Desmond replies next to his brother. He takes a step towards me as Keane remains standing in place, deathly silent.
My heart, my damn heart, is beating so fast that I don’t know if I can take another step forward. I’ve heard Desmond’s words but can’t will my body to comply, truly not understanding why I’m here.
Keane takes a small step behind his brother, his gaze telling me that if I do not walk towards him right now he will throw me over his shoulder. I look at those eyes in absolute nervousness, feeling Golem push me forward again and urging me away from the settee.
“We’re wasting time,” Desmond scowls, urging me towards him.
I give him a stiff nod and lift my shaking hand from the back of the settee, feeling Golem take it in his before he tucks it into his arm. Keane releases a small breath when he see us walking and then turns back to the soldiers standing guard. The three of them part for the Prince and let Keane through, their faces curious as they watch me pass with Golem and Desmond.
We follow Keane all the way down the hall, to a large door that I didn’t notice on my last visit. It’s rounded, just like the door that leads to the King’s study, but this one is larger and has all three emblems of the Courts of Disce entwined in their circles.
Keane places his hand on the door as the emblems flash a vibrant black against the wood. He pushes forward without hesitation and steps into a room filled with complete disorder.
In the middle stands a large and elegant green and gold bed, something so rich and perhaps beautiful if not for the four Discerni healers in white robes clamoring around it. Their movements are clouded and debating on the next course of action, two of them holding some sort of swaying goblet in their hands as they let it swing around the bed with smoke rising from the top. Two human healers also stand at the foot of the bed, one of them holding a grip of thick and bloodied bandages in his hands as he yells at his counterpart. To the left and situated on a large plush green chair by a roaring fire is the Queen, her soft sobs piercing my heart as Troy kneels in front of her with a frown. He has an arm on her lap and is trying his best to console her, but the look on his face says there’s no use. The two of them immediately glance up when they hear Keane’s arrival, the look of genuine shock passing over the Queen as she spots me behind him.
I avert my glance from the family as Keane takes a commanding step inside and levels the room with a scowl.
“Out,”he orders.
Everyone pauses in abrupt silence, turning to the Prince before bowing their heads. Golem and I swiftly step away from the door and watch them pass through, letting them take their blood and smoke-filled haze with them until a calm silence permeates the room. Keane swiftly walks towards the large balcony and pulls the curtains apart, letting in the night air with another scowl and shake of his head.
Keane finally turns back towards the luxurious bed, his face cool and calculated as he looks at the man laying beneath the sheets. King Zander is beyond pale, the color completely draining from his handsome face as he watches Keane walk towards him. He attempts to sit up in bed but grasps at his chest in pain, the small movement making the sheets slip down to his waist as I gasp in shock.
Blood. Heavy red blood.
It’s seeping out of his bandages at an unnatural pace.
My eyes go wide.
Blood should not be coming out of a Discerni in that manner. A wound should not be affecting him like this- His body should already be healing.
Keane moves quickly to his father’s side, pulling the sheet back farther and assessing the wound with a scowl.
