“What was that back there?” I ask, jutting my head to the Shadow Oak behind us as we walk through the woods.
Keane looks at me in consideration before replying.
“The tree is magically created.”
“I gathered that,” I nod, reaching into my bag for Chef’s cinnamon almonds, “but was it holding me on its own?”
“No,” he replies.
I open the pouch and offer it to him. “Then it was you?”
Keane slips his hand in the bag with a smile.
“I’ve missed these almonds,” he drops one in his mouth, “Chef is one of the best in the Kingdom. I’ve asked him countless times to move to Gaumond and cook for us here. Even offered him double whatever my father is paying him.”
I smile at the thought but shake my head.
“He’d never leave Bardot, and we know a good thing when we see it. There’s no way your father would let you out bid for him.”
“True,” he agrees just as the woods begin to thin, “how did you come to know my father?”
He asks the question in genuine curiosity, not as if he’s inquiring for information.
“King Zander approached me with a job a couple years back,” I reply as the barracks come into view, “but I’ve known him loosely since I was a teen. I used to be in your mother’s Ladies in Wait when I was younger, so when that ended I took his offer for employment.”
“Traveling,” he adds, “or so your big man says. And the twin Discerni men join you on those travels from time to time?”
I glance at him quietly now, wondering if he is indeed inquiring for information. Is this why he’s been catching me in conversations ever since Agnor? Is he trying to put together details that Desmond is unable to?
I grimace at the thought.
“Holis and Mana travel with us regularly, not from time to time,” I reply, speeding up my walk.
“Where do you travel? Outside of what you told me of Warrior.”
I sigh at the question.
“We’ve been to every city, town and village in the Court of Knowledge, as well as the southern portions of your Court that I mentioned.”
“Dalloway, Varon and Dardar,” he nods.
“Yes,” I confirm softly, grateful to hear the yells of men not too far away.
I tuck the almonds back in my bag and make my way towards the fenced arena, spotting a good little audience already waiting in attendance. Cal nods to us in quick greeting before returning his glance on Desmond and Mana, the two men looking like they’re just about ready to spar as I settle in.
I move to stand next to Cal and smile at both of our green shirts with the gold accents, propping my boot up on the wooden fence as the Prince moves to my side and crosses his arms over his chest. His eyes land on Desmond just as brother bows to Mana, the Discerni twin accepting the respectful gesture and moving his kedge to do the same.
Both men watch the other carefully, while I, like everyone else in the crowd, wait in anticipation for the first to make a move.
Desmond lunges towards Mana, his broadsword glinting under the late morning sun as my friend dips his hand down in defense, wood quickly meeting steel. Mana brings his staff up and around his chest gracefully, pushing Desmond’s sword away while moving to his right. The Master Informer pushes forward again, lunging as his sword darts left and then right in quick succession, but Mana elegantly dodges the maneuvers and dips his kedge in both directions, the staff blocking the sword with ease and grace.
“Cat…” I whisper to Cal, “he’s a cat with a kedge.”
My big friend grins and nods his head.
Desmond continues an offensive onslaught, gauging Mana’s reactions and seeing just how quick the Knowledge Discerni can move. He presses Mana with attack after attack, each one harder and quicker than the next as he moves his sword in different angles to find an opening in Mana’s defense. Mana blocks each attempt easily and maintains his defensive pars, sidestepping Desmond and swinging his kedge in such a quick motion that it almost looks like a blur. And while the fight seems to be evenly matched between the two, I long to see Mana move into offense.
Desmond lunges and is blocked again, a frown deepening on his face as he quickly brings his leg up to the staff and plants his boot on the wood. He pushes it hard into Mana’s chest and makes him lose his balance, the crowd roaring in excitement as the Knowledge Discerni stumbles back a few steps.
