And he would.
Cal loves the smoke and collects pipes and tobacco throughout our travels. He’s an old soul who often smokes long into our nights without saying a word, always content to just rest on top of his bedroll and look up at the stars.
I’ve been waiting for him to get comfortable enough on this trip to finally indulge- it’s been weird not smelling the tobacco on his clothes.
“You miss it,” he grins, gently pushing his shoulder against mine.
I must’ve been staring at my friend for a while because he gives me a knowing look.
“I do,” I smile and rest my head on his arm, feeling the Prince’s gaze on me.
On us.
I look anywhere else in the room then at him and the girl on his lap, and let my eyes roam to Alanna again. She’s still flirting with the blonde Discerni from earlier, the two of them enjoying whatever it is that they’re chatting about as I watch his hip lean into hers.
Hmm…
The soldier is wearing a broadsword at his side, the same that Desmond has been wearing throughout this trip. Mana has his kedge and Holis has his bow and various arrows affixed to his saddle, while Cal… well Cal has his fists and the daggers he’s hidden strategically throughout his body.
I even remember seeing both Barnes and Claymore with similar swords at their hips and can vaguely recall Alanna sharpening a few arrows before I fell asleep at our campsite in the Green Valley. So that just leaves the Prince, a man without any apparent weapons on his body since I met him.
What does he use to defend himself?
My gaze reluctantly falls back on the handsome Discerni, watching as his lips dip towards the Discerni woman’s neck again. I don’t know if he feels me looking his way but his head immediately tilts in my direction, thesmirk he sends as he removes his hand from under her dress making me flush all over again.
“You look like you have a question, Lady Alexis.”
Keane’s eyes hold mine in amusement, his hand now skimming up the side of her waist to her breasts. I subtly shift on my feet and nod into my drink, desperately willing the heated tug between my thighs to go away.
Ancients.
“I was just wondering,” I do my best to settle my features, “what your preferred weapon of choice is, Your Highness?”
Whatever question he thought I was going to ask, that was not it.
His hand stops just below the curve of her breast, while the woman tilts her head to look at me with a laugh.
“You’re funny.”
I frown and look back at Keane. The Prince offers no answer except the sight of his fingers resuming their travel up the girl’s body. He watches as I follow his hand to the high arch of her neck, his fingers grabbing a small fistful of her hair before he tugs down.
“Perhaps I prefer mysofthands, Alexis.”
Bastard.
I need to look away.
Thank the Ancients that Marybeth has just sent over one of her barmen with a pipe for Cal, because the two of us now have a reason to move to a table a bit farther away from the others.
“Why did that woman laugh at me when I asked about the Prince’s weapon?” I ask my friend quietly.
Cal takes a matchbook from his pocket and strikes it against the table.
“He’s the Leading Lord of the Court of Warriors, Alex. First in Command of Disce’s army. You don’t get that title by not being powerful in your own right.”
He places the flame over the pipe and inhales deeply. “I’m sure he uses some sort of weapon in addition to his summoning, but if he’s not going to share, he’s not going to share. Even a Prince can have his secrets, too.”
Cal offers me the pipe but I quickly shake my head. He raises a brow in question, surprised at my refusal, then shrugs all the same and takes another puff of the tobacco I so desperately want to join in.
