The woman smiles and lets me hold the jewels to my ears. They’re a bit larger than what I typically wear, dangling off the bottom of my lobes in a bold statement, but they’re no less perfect. They’re a perfect mix that payshomage to the Court of Warriors I’m visiting while still leaving a small golden reminder of the Knowledge that is my home. I pay the woman for them graciously.
Golem and I continue exploring the lower rise,Warrior’s Row, as called by the locals, until well after the noon apex. I spend a good deal of that time watching all of the blacksmiths, fascinated by the work around me and how the men meld the black granite into different objects over their fires. Every one of them seems to share a common love for the job, each of them smiling over the roaring flames and using their muscles to shape the stone and metal. It’s a wholesome sight to see, one that I’m not soon to forget, as is the surprising new display that currently grips the Row’s attention.
A young man is on his knee in the middle of the main road, his soot-stained hand reaching out to a young brunette while a large crowd gathers around the two of them. He smiles and speaks to her with a look of pure love in his eyes, a single red rose hidden behind his back while the other holds out a ring. The woman cries and says yes as the full of the crowd cheers, the man quickly standing up and grabbing her with a kiss. He dips her low and finally hands her the rose, the two of them looking back at eachother in pure happiness
Immediately, as if the people around the couple knew this event was going to take place, the full of the crowd begins to offer their own red roses to the woman in congratulations. The woman walks down the road and accepts them all with the biggest grin on her face, the couple enjoying what is no doubt one of the happiest moments of their lives.
I engrain every detail of the display in my mind, every feeling of love that comes from the Discerni and humans who celebrate in attendance. Even Golem is smiling at my side as I guide Millie back up to Castle Gaumond, our grins staying with us all the way until we arrive at what I’ve now dubbed as the soldier’s rise.
Holis and Mana join me when I reach the fields, the twins quietly smiling when I offer them company and a break from training. We find a decent tree to sit under and trade the small snacks we have packed in our bags.
“Have either of you been told when we’ll leave tomorrow?” I ask, still anxious for the travel ahead.
“I assume at dawn,” Holis replies, reaching over to grab one of Chef’s chocolates from my hands.
“There’s no way,” I shake my head, “everyone will still be drunk from court.”
“True,” he laughs, “I’d like to see how they tackle that.”
“As would I,” I sigh against the tree at my back.
The twins return to their exercises after our break, the two of them parting ways as Holis heads for the archery field again and Mana walks back into the small arena. Golem, Millie and I remain under the tree in quietcontentment, the two of them standing next to me leisurely while I pull out my book for reading.
“Lady Alexis,” a voice pulls me from the text.
I look up at the man standing in front of me, his blonde hair shining in the sunlight.
“Lord Tadeo,” I nod in greeting, hiding my grimace with a small smile.
His eyes flick to the book in my hands as I quickly shield the title in my lap.
“How is your day so far?” I ask.
He looks down at me with a small smirk, his eyes flicking from the book back to my face.
“Better now that I’m talking to you. Did you enjoy your first night at court?”
“I did,” I nod in reply,though not in small part for actively avoiding you the whole time.
“And can we expect you again tonight?”
“I believe we will all be there, Lord Tadeo,” I flick my eyes to Mana and Holis in the fields behind him.
“Grand. I look forward to seeing you,” he grins.
I give him a tight smile and watch as his eyes land on my book again, the Lord saying nothing else as he walks away. I make sure he’s well out of earshot before I whisper to Golem.
“There’s something off about him, Golem.”
The magical creature nods in silent agreement.
“Are you ready to make our way back to the castle?” I ask, “we can stop at Marybeth’s for a drink and then head back up before the night starts.”
Golem nods as I stand up and move to Millie. The three of us head back up the hill towards the main road but turn around when a whistle calls from behind us at the barracks. I smile in my seat and spot Barnett waving at me next to a couple of his buddies
“I’ll see you tonight!” he yells.
“See you tonight!”
