“No,” I agree, thinking of our thick forests. Anyone not familiar with our woods would get lost trying to navigate them on their own without the use of the road.
“Why do you ask?” he asks.
“This place just seems like too much of a small town to rest so near the border,” I frown, “it’s too peaceful to be the first village that greets or defends against visitors.”
My friend laughs, “Ancients,Alex, what would it need defending from?”
I shrug, “I’ve seen delegations from Livyatan and Pyre visit Bardot occasionally.”
“And I’m sure some of those groups do travel through here as their first stop,” Cal nods, “just as the Kingdom of Aireal passes through our Woodlands Court in the north.”
“So they would have to ride through this village…” I step over a large root as the smell of cold, damp stone reaches my nose, “and see a quaint and cozy sleeping town that’s nearly defenseless?”
“Again, Alex, I have to ask, what would the people here need defending from?” Cal chuckles.
I shrug again, genuinely not having an answer for that. The Four Kingdoms have been at peace for over a thousand years now, the only attack close to breaking that peace being the one that took Desmond’s father.
“Is that cinnamon I smell?” Cal hurriedly walks past me.
I shake my head, “I can only smell the wet road ahead.”
“Your nose is off, then, because the air tastes like home,” he smiles, “let’s go find it.”
The little shop on the side of the road is indeed cooking early breakfast with cinnamon when we find it. Cal and I are quick to take up two seats in the outdoor courtyard at a small table with Golem standing not too far behind us. The owner, an elderly Discerni woman with long brown hair and white streaks falling from her temples, just as quickly greets us with a smile. Her eyes flick to the noticeable green of our attire and her features come alight.
“It’s been a long while since I’ve seen any brothers and sisters from Knowledge in this neck of the woods!”
Cal and I promptly stand to greet her.
“It was the smell of cinnamon,Duhni,” my friend replies.
Duhni is a word of respect for the elder Discerni in our Kingdom, one that appreciates the wisdom of their many years on this Old World. It’s origins come from the Old Tongue, the language first used when the Elder Father and Mother formed our world.
The woman’s eyes crinkle in a soft grin, the many wrinkles around her brows and temples fitting her friendly personality perfectly. Her glance flicks to me with another smile, then darts over to Golem who is standing at my back.
“And traveling with the King’s Golem, no less,” she bows low, “it’s been a while since I’ve seen you in the halls of Castle Bardot with King Zander, Golem. What are you doing out here? You never leave his side.”
Golem bows in response, eyes flicking back to me in answer. I smile and turn to the woman in greeting, holding out my hand.
“Alexis.”
“A bit of a ways from home, young Alexis. I suspect you and your friends are just the very beginning of a long list of interesting people that will be traveling through these woods in the upcoming seasons.”
“Friends?” I smile in confusion.
The woman drops my hand and looks over my shoulder, her eyes landing on the main road as her smile widens, “more from Knowledge.”
Cal and I turn and spot Hollis and Mana quickly making their way towards us, the hint of excited grins playing at their lips.
“We smelt the cinnamon!” Holis laughs.
He opens the small gate to the courtyard and gives the owner a smile, then bows to Golem and takes the chair next to mine. Mana, in all his quiet and reserved excitement, also bows to Golem and then turns to the owner with a low nod.
“Duhni.”
The older Discerni smiles at the twins and takes in all the gold and striking green of our group’s attire, looking at it with deep appreciation.
“A beautiful sight,” she murmurs, “I’ll get a pot of hot tea and coffee for the table, then we’ll work on your breakfasts.”
