For once I’m not annoyed to see her face.
“Lord Daniel,” she offers, “one of the strongest of our Court.”
I shake my head in awe and watch as the Lord steps forward in attack. The boulder flies straight overhead and hits a large tree in the forest, the crack of the stone hitting the wood so deafening that it sends a thunderous boom up the rise.
“Can all Warrior Discerni summon like that?” I ask in wonder.
The sight is both mesmerizing and terrifying, and I find myself unable to look away as he repeats the motion again.
Alanna’s cool grey eyes narrow on mine. “As I’m sure it is in Knowledge, only the strongest of Discerni can summon.”
Of course I knew that, but my astonishment got the better of me.
Whileallof theDiscerni in the Kingdom of Disce possess magic, only the strongest of them can summon. The typical magic that lives within the Discerni allows for them to perform simple, everyday tasks that cater to the elemental earth of our Kingdom. But in some instances that magic can manifest into something more powerful, oftentimes at a young age, and when it does it’s a tell-tale sign that a Discerni will be strong enough to summon.
Lord Daniel, if I can guess from the show below us, found his summoning in the stone and rock of the earth, manipulating it to his will in a way not many can do. And while summoning isn’t rare in Disce, it’s also not common, and those that are powerful enough usually align themselves within the army or take various titles of Sirs and Lords throughout the Kingdom.
King Zander is able to summon, as can Troy. Both of them summon the thoughts and feelings from the mind so long as their feet and the others are resting on earth. That gift of magic is rumored to pass along in the Bardot family line, a branch of summoning that came directly from one of their ancestors who struck a deal with one of the Ancient Ten, Sianoa. I also know from rumors that both Prince Keane and Desmond can summon, and it’s even whispered that the eldest son of the Bardots is the strongest Discerni in over eight centuries.
“Is it only the rock he manipulates or can he move more of the earth?” I ask Alanna, glancing back at Lord Daniel as I envision him flinging a tree through the air.
The blonde Discerni scoffs. “Is the boulder not enough for you,human?”
“It’s definitely more than enough,” I nod fervently, “it’s outright amazing.”
“It is,” she replies, giving me a rare smile.
We continue to ride next to each other at the back of the group and move up the incline towards another encircled wall and gate. The massive castle of Gaumond bursts into view once we pass through, the black of its façade both imposing and proud like it’s trying to warn and welcome us at the same time. Everything about it is mesmerizing… a castle unlike anything I’ve seen before in my life. There’s hundreds of twists and turns that protrude from the black granite and reach for the clouds in open challenge, the castle extending itself with towers, stairs and glass windows that are larger than anything I’ve seen before. The whole of it is ominous and lively, dark and yet sparkling. It’s a contradiction of a castle that I have no word for yet…
I have to pull my eyes away because the main road on this new rise suddenly becomes so dense that it feels like we’re riding through an outdoor festival. There’s no doubt in my mind that this is the heart of the city, as every person that walks past us is bustling in a way that reminds me of a darker Palisades. There’s a shift in the air. Energetic and lively. Though it still surprises me when I see that almost everyone is walking around with mugs in their hands. They dip between pubs and greet neighbors at their homes, take simple strolls past the stores with their arm’s slung over their friend’s shoulder. Everyone is talkative and joyful as if they know everyone else, the smiles and downright friendly faces never ending no matter where I look.
There’s a difference here than there is in the Palisades, and I’m starting to think it’s attributed to the Discerni and humans that call this rise home. The pubs that we pass by are more raucous and rowdy than anything I’ve seen before, so much so that it puts Brierman to shame. Voices yell from inside the taverns, the doors swinging open as clanking mugs and glasses greet us loudly from the road. The early night is in full swing, with every single person embracing the call to justlive.
I laugh as I spot a drunken Discerni male standing outside one of those loud pubs, his wobbly stance swaying under a door markedMary’s Tavern. His arm is flanked around another drunken human man in tight embrace, the two of them laughing as they both salute their ale and decide where next to go.
It’s a rare scene to watch, the sight of a Discerni and human so affectionate with eachother, and it’s one that I look on with both confusion and happiness. I’m not accustomed to this type of exchange- The two men look like they’re friends who’ve just had the time of their lives.
“I want to stop here,” I say aloud.
Alanna glances at me in shock, her grey eyes roaming over the pub and back on me with quiet suspicion and hesitation. I give her a look that lets her know I’m going with or without her company, then steer Millie into the crowd and away from our group.
I think the Discerni sees my commitment because she quickly urges her horse to follow mine.
“We can go in,” she glances at the group disappearing down the road with a frown, “but we don’t have much time. They’ll notice we’re not with them once they reach the castle.”
I send Alanna a grin and watch her roll her eyes, her head tilting to the side as she angles her horse down a small alley to the right of the pub.
“I know the owner,” she says off-handedly, “we can leave our horses in the stalls below her townhome. Your packs can stay with Millie. It’ll be safe.”
I ignore the curious fact that she happens to know Millie’s name and situate my mare in the small stall next to hers.
“I don’t think you’ll want to come out for this one, Golem,” I pat the bag at my hip as we walk back towards the pub. The magical creature vibrates in agreement just as Alanna stops at the pub door. She turns around, her cool eyes darting to my wind-blown braid and the satin green shirt I’m wearing, then to my dark brown riding pants and boots.
“It’ll have to do” she sighs before pushing through the door.
A crowd of black, brown and green overflows the large room, the full of the pub crowded under a thick, smokey haze as we walk inside. The walls of black granite around us are intertwined with brown vines, each of them littered with hundreds of green leaves and candles protruding throughout. There’s a massive fireplace that sits against the middle wall, it’s flames illuminating a counter of black granite to the right that hosts too many barrels of drink behind it. The Discerni and humans around us are all smoking out of pipes of various sizes, the puffs of white clouds creating a thick air in the room that makes me think of Cal.
I study the patrons of the pub more closely, noting that both the female Discerni and human women are wearing dark and low-cut satin tops, the swells of the breasts peeking out from the middle as the fabric fits tightly around their waists. Some of them are wearing dresses unlike any I’ve ever seen, the fabric looking as if they’ve took an evening gown and cut itstraight across their upper thighs to make it the shortest possible without revealing their ass. The males of the pub are all wearing tunics and satin shirts of various sleeve lengths, most of them in black but all hosting deep cuts down the middle that expose a good portion of their chests.
