Cal’s smile is broad as he stands up with a nod.
“Should we pour for everyone?” I ask when we reach the barrels.
“Yes,” he nods, reaching for two whiskey glasses, “but lets you and I share a drink first, Alex.”
We both cheers to the King and down the whiskey straight.
“Alright, now we can bother with the rest of the group,” he laughs.
I place a hand on my friend’s shoulder and stop him from pouring, “Cal…”
Cal turns in my direction.
“Thank you for staying with me,” I tell him softly, “it meant more to me than you know.”
Cal frowns and drops the empty glasses in his hands, wrapping his arms around my waist. He pulls me into a big hug and replies steadily, “always, Alex. I am with you.Weare with you. Now, and for whatever is to come.”
I let out a breath and nod into his chest. “We definitely have a road ahead of us.”
“We do,” Cal agrees, “but we are prepared and ready. As are you, I suspect.”
“I am,” I reply in strong resolute, pulling away from my big friend to look into his light brown eyes.
“Then we will do this, Alex,” he smiles, “we are all behind you.”
Cal and I turn to look back at our group in unison. The majority of our friends are engaging in conversation, though Holis, Mana, Alanna and Lord Daniel are staring straight at us. They’re looking at the two of us with an equal mix of hard looks and small smiles, all four nodding their heads in silent agreement that they are ready for whatever is to come.
The afternoon passes quickly with drinks, laughter and lunch. Our group stays together, a perfect mixture of Knowledge and Warrior and human and Discerni. We’re certainly one of the loudest tables in the crowd,no surprise there, and find the day passing easily in our comfortable company.
The royal family has been given their own large table, one that sits closest to the bonfire. Many of today’s guests have been lining up to pay their respects and share stories of their time with King Zander, each of them smiling and laughing and reveling in the memories they have of him. At one point during the late afternoon I spot Lord Alexander making his way to the table. He gives the Queen a deep bow before turning his gaze to Keane and his brothers, leveling them with another respectful bow. Keane and Desmond both stand simultaneously at his greeting, nodding at him with small smiles before Desmond tips his head for a side conversation. Lord Alexander accepts, and I watch as the three men converse behind the royal table with Keane laughing at something the Lord says.
I smile at the sight and turn my gaze back to the head table, catching Troy’s cool blue eyes on me from afar. My body stiffens as he holds our gaze, and I can’t stop the vision of him kneeling down to my younger self from completely clouding my mind.
I sigh and look past him and his mother to Elena, not wanting to dwell on those memories today. She sits quiet and proper and gives the patrons a small smile when they approach the table, but she never fully engages in conversation with them. Her polite demeanor has me remembering Troy’s words about his sister before I left for Pyre, how he called Elenaweird. I think on that as I look at her, noting that she’s certainly a bit quirky and holds herself differently then everyone around her.
But just like in the past, I don’t get the impression that Elena’s weird. Light and airy and cold at times, but mostly just content in herself and her thoughts and needing nothing more.
“Lady Alexis,” a youthful voice pulls me away from my gaze. I turn in my seat to the young human boy, Jesse, with a smile.
“This is from Chef. The last of our meals before we set up for dinner and can join in the celebration.”
He sets a plate of meat on the table for Stormfall.
“Thank you, Jesse. You surely should not be working now.”
“I’ll be done soon, Lady,” he grins, turning his gaze to Stormfall sleeping on my shoulder, “does he sleep during the day?”
“He does,” I nod, “though I expect he’ll wake up at the start of sunset.”
“I should take this back, then,” the boy reaches for the plate with a frown.
“That’s okay,” I stop him with a grateful smile, “it will be a good treat for when he wakes.”
“Are you sure, Lady? I don’t mind.”
“I am.”
Jesse bows and reaches for some empty mugs on our table.
