He holds my dagger tight in his hand as I take the seat next to him, his eyes focused on his father with just a hint of demand.
“It is,” the King nods, “Alexis been handling it with my blessing.”
I hide my next smile and reach towards the Prince, silently asking for the blade to be returned. Desmond stares at his father for a moment longer before he hands me the hilt, his previous look of demand disappearing behind the typical Discerni mask of indifference. I secure the blade back under my shirt sleeve and shift in my seat to face the King.
King Zander Bardot of the Kingdom of Disce, Leading Lord of the Court of Knowledge.
His blue eyes are kind as they look back at mine, his gaze framed by dark lashes and brows that sit gently against his lightly tanned skin. A few wrinkles rest on his forehead that are justbarely there, his brown hair peppered along the top with a tinge of white that, again, just barelystreaks through. He’s much older than he looks, with his leaf-shaped ears a tad longer than Desmond’s, an indication of the many years behind a Discerni. And despite King Zander’s age, he still looks good. Handsome, even. Still the same man I remember since I was fourteen.
I smile at the man and promptly receive a grin in return. That grin lights up his face and gives him a welcoming look, one that invites you to share in a conversation with him or do something simple that’ll leave you enjoying his company. For as long as I can remember, he’s always been like that, welcoming and a good listener. He has the air of the ultimate companion about him, someone who genuinely loves listening about the people and the Old World around him and wants to share his time with others.
I’ve always felt completely at ease in Zander’s presence, and over the last two years I’ve even found myself wanting to share in those conversations with him, especially over a glass of whiskey.
“Forgive me, Alex, for delving into your thoughts earlier,” the King’s grin turns into a sigh, “that was intrusive of me.”
He’s referencing his use of summoning. While all Discerni have access to the magic of the Old World and can harness it for simple tasks, only the strongest can actually summon. The King’s own summoning allows for him to read thoughts so long as his and the other person’s feet are grounded to the earth, and as the greenstone of this castle is made from the mountain at its back, he has complete access to every resident and visitors’ thoughts if he so chooses.
A powerful King indeed.
“You know it’s no problem at all,” I nod.
I’ve never felt any qualm over his use of magic on me. It’s a small price to pay in return for the kindness him and his wife have showed me over the years.
Zander gives a small smile before he folds his hands on the table and leans forward.
“I’m sure you’re both wondering why I’ve called on you so suddenly…”
I’m not, but I’m sure Desmond is.
“I’m sending you both to Pyre.”
The Master Informer straightens in his seat next to me. “MyselfandLady Alexis?”
“Yes, you and Alex.”
“For what reason could she possibly have to travel to foreign lands?”
“The reasons are my own,” Zander replies, gently ending the line of questioning before it can even begin, “I need Alex safely escorted over the Bulwark and into Pyre, and as you and your brother know the road to Red Falls better than most…”
I let the King’s voice fade into the background as I pull up a map of our Kingdom and Pyre in my mind.
Red Falls.Red Falls…
I don’t know much of the city except that it sits on the outskirts of Pyre, not too far into foreign land. It rests at the bottom of the Charred Mountains, the smallest mountainscape within the Kingdom of Pyre, and has a large waterfall that flows directly into the river Livyatan. If I am indeed to travel to Red Falls then it will be the farthest I’ve ever traveled on behalf of the King, not to mention my first time ever leaving Disce...
“Prince McQuoid is expecting Alexis in a fortnight from tomorrow,” Zander’s voice pulls me back again.
Desmond considers the timing with a nod. “We can make it to Gaumond in four days, three if we ride hard. That will leave us with a few days in the Warrior capitol before we need to cross the border. Shouldn’t take the full fortnight.”
The King smiles in agreement and reaches for his temple in thought. “I believe your brother is currently in Dalloway at the moment, yes?”
“He is.”
“I want you to connect with him on the way to Gaumond. You will both make the travel with Lady Alexis to Pyre and represent Disce on my behalf.”
Desmond openly grins at the addition, the bond between him and Zander’s first-born son known widely throughout the Kingdom. The two of them are brothers and best friends, just as their fathers were before them. Men who would die for eachother without any hesitation regardless of their lack of shared blood.
“And her?” Desmond asks as if I’m not sitting right next to him, “just deliver her to McQuoid?”
