“You two figured yourselves out, then?” she asks.
I blush and close the door behind us, heading straight for the whiskey sitting on the mantle above the small fireplace.
“We did,” I reply quietly.
“We all suspected, Alexis,” the blonde Discerni says softly, walking forward to take the decanter of whiskey from my shaking hand.
I turn to her quietly and watch as she pours us two glasses.
“What do you mean you all suspected?”
Alanna gives me a sly grin and shrugs, “suspected. Though confirmed when we heard from Desmond that the two of you had left on your own.”
I slowly nod back to my new friend, not knowing what to say.
Who’s part of thewewho suspected? Her and Cal? Or the full of our traveling group?
“Should I begin curtsying to you now?” Alanna laughs, passing me a whiskey and moving to one of the seats next to the fireplace.
“Alanna!” I look at her sharply, shaking my head in disbelief.
“Human,” she grins up at me, still laughing, “should I?”
“Please don’t ever,” I take a hefty drink and walk over to the second chair, “ever, Alanna. I mean it.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” she chuckles.
I glare at her cool and mocking grey eyes. “I hate you right now.”
Alanna shrugs and sits back in her chair, taking a deep sip of whiskey.
“Tell me what I’ve missed.”
The Warrior Discerni grins and flicks her hand into the air. “Oh, this and that. Most notably the Queen throwing a tantrum throughout the castle at the news that you two were spotted in Gaumond.”
“No,” my eyes widen on her.
“Yes,” Alanna laughs again, “have fun winning that one over.”
I groan and take another long drink, “and you and Cal? Everyone else? What’s been going on?”
Alanna shifts in her chair, “I have moved myself up to the Palisades for the time being. Until we depart for Woodlands…”
I laugh, “and does your residence in the Palisades happen to reside in Drinker’s Row?”
“Perhaps,” she looks at me coyly.
“And everyone else?” I chuckle.
Alanna sighs and leans back in her chair, “Desmond lifted the lockdown a few days after Death’s Bonfire. The castle has resumed to normal and preparations are being made for the coronation while delegations are traveling into Bardot for the event. Rumors are whispered in the halls of the castle that the King to Be was seen with a Lady of Knowledge. Anything else I can provide,Your Highness?”
“Alanna,” I huff.
“We’re all moving along, Alexis,” she smiles and takes another drink of whiskey, “the Old World just continues to move along.”
“What of the Leviathans?” I inquire, “have they remained?”
“Yes,” Alanna scowls, “Prince Isham and his small group have chosen to stay until the coronation. They don’t much leave their guest quarters here at the castle but I did spot them once in the Palisades roaming around.”
