The Blood King - Chapter Twenty-Three (Patreon)

Nymira

Cassian is angry. I don’t need to be close to him to see that. His muscles are tense, and his pace is brisk as we head back to wherever his men were left with the Thrae who attacked us over his shoulder. As I take in his intimidating size and strength, I can’t believe I held a weapon to his throat, and he let me. I shiver as I recall the way Cassian threatened Caderyn. If I hadn’t stepped in, he would have struck him down where he stood without a second thought.

It makes me weary of Cassian. I’ve come to lower my guard around him recently, especially since his mood near the river. But he is dangerous, all the same. And I can’t forget that. I’m glad that his back is to me as I shudder from the expression on his face as he came seconds from taking a life. It makes me think of the first day I encountered him, when the men who captured me brought me into the castle he was occupying. The sounds, the stench of blood… I’ve yet to actually see that side of Cassian in the flesh. It’s hard to believe he was acting so bashful earlier from seeing me naked.

“Stay close. We’re in Thrae territory. And you clearly lack the ability to counter their fumes,” Cassian says ahead of me, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I put on a light jog to catch up with him, looking around in confusion.

“Fumes?” I ask, looking at Caderyn’s unconscious form.

Cassian scoffs, grumbling to himself in a different language before he stops walking, turning to face me. He studies me in irritation before speaking.

“That woman did you no favors raising you the way she did. She failed you as an Ancient. What were you supposed to do once you outlived her? Did she expect you to navigate this world you know nothing about? Had you not been brought to me, you’d be long dead by now,” he says.

I bite my tongue, fighting the urge to argue with him over Peyra. Even towards the end, we fought constantly over her keeping things from me. She even admitted to having taken an oath, though I don’t know how that’s possible as a human. But I don’t think the plan was ever for her to raise me for so long. My brother was supposed to come back to teach me everything I currently don’t know. But I don’t tell Cassian that. Not when he’s only just revealed his name to me.

I cross my arms over my chest.

“Are you going to tell me or not?” I ask.

“Your brazenness knows no bounds, does it? You were just holding a weapon to my throat, which, before today, you allegedly had no idea how to conjure. And now you are demanding answers?” he asks, his tone incredulous.

“You know I can’t control it. I didn’t mean to, you were just so focused, and you were about to kill him, and I didn't think—I reacted. I was just trying to get your attention. I wasn’t trying to hurt you,” I say.

“As if you could,” Cassian says, narrowing his gaze. I knew that drawing a weapon would have consequences. He barely trusted me before. Now, he has more ammunition against me. I hold his gaze, the discomfort in my gut growing as I stand before this dragonborn. I don’t know that I can ever get used to that gaze. We are surrounded by life and a lush forest, and still he exudes death. His presence here is out of place.

“The Thrae have a connection to nature. This forest, that meadow, the plants are all remnants of their time here. That includes the ability to create a toxin that can lull you into a sense of peace.” Cassian jostles Caderyn, looking at him briefly before continuing. “This one was releasing toxins when we passed by. It should have been useless. All Ancients have learned to combat this. But you are no ordinary Ancient. And you easily fell prey to it,” Cassian says, studying my reaction.

I look away, disappointment in myself blooming in my chest. I am a liability. I couldn’t even defend myself against a kid’s toxins. My dependency on Cassian and his men continues to grow as the world does, and he is right. I am not prepared for it. I always felt disappointment in being so detached from my culture, but to be so detached from the extension of my culture is even more devastating.

Cassian releases a sigh, his finger drifting under my chin. He gently coaxes my gaze to his, and I am shocked to see his expression softening.

“My words were harsh. It is not your fault that you know nothing. That is why I am here, to protect you,” he says.

He doesn’t wait for a response as he removes his fingers from my chin, and I release a soft breath as the area tingles from his touch. But he’s already walking again with his back to me. Pleasant warmth settles over me again, until I am touching the underside of my chin in confusion, reminiscing the brief touch.

“You’re falling behind again,” Cassian calls to me.

“Hm,” I murmur to myself, forcing my feet to move as we continue through the thick forest of the Thrae.

It doesn’t take us long to reunite with Cassian’s men. They are waiting by the trail, and I note there is relief in their gazes when I join him through the brush. Caius is the first to greet us, his smile refreshing.

“I thought for a second we had lost you to the Thrae,” he says, looking at me.

I give him a soft smile, gesturing to Caderyn, who Cassian is placing over his horse.

“He wasn’t trying to hurt me,” I say. Caius follows my gaze, his smile dropping. He looks back at me, his smile weaker.

“Well, I’m glad nothing happened,” he says, moving to where Cassian is.

I note that Cassian begins speaking to Caius in their language, once again cutting me out of it. His tone is level, and Caius’s is as well, so I think nothing of the conversation until Cassian narrows his gaze, leaning closer to Caius. His tone is threatening as he speaks to him, and Caius steps back, bowing before moving to his horse.

“No one but me will speak to the Thrae once he awakens. The Ikniri will know nothing of why he attempted this!” Cassian shouts to his men, but I have no idea what was said. They all respond in unison, understanding, and Cassian looks back at me once he is pleased with their response.

“Are you going to stand there all day, or are we leaving?” he asks.

I look around in confusion. Cassian’s men all look straight ahead, ready to go. No one is questioning what’s happening right now. That Cassian is taking a Thrae away from his home.

“A-are we going back to camp? For Krea to see him?” I ask.

Cassian raises a brow, scoffing. “Why would we do that? We’ve already lost enough time as it is, dealing with this inconvenience. He’ll be fine,” he says.

“You’re taking him with us? If this is their territory, won’t they be upset you are taking one of their own?” I ask.

Cassian laughs, lowering his head as genuine amusement washes over him. His smile is stunning, revealing his dimple, and as he looks up at me, I ignore the brief flutter in my chest.

“Thrae do not engage in battle. It is their law. They are nomads—peaceful people, charged with the natural world’s balance. Those who break these laws are putting their people at risk. And so, they are forsaken by their people, never to be acknowledged again. They are to live their lives in solitude. Judging from this one’s clothes and lack of nourishment, he was abandoned long ago. If we leave him, he’ll die,” Cassian says.

I study Caderyn, my pity growing. This close, I can see what Cassian sees, especially now that his face is uncovered. He is malnourished, his cheeks gaunt. Even still, his clothes are worn and tattered down to ribbons. I wonder when he was abandoned, and how long he lived his life in solitude. He obviously has a strong spirit—a warrior’s spirit. It also explains why no one stepped in when Cassian attacked. They were going to let him die.

“That’s disgusting,” I say, looking around. The beauty of this forest is now tainted, covering the fucked up way of life they have curated.

Cassian laughs, pulling me from my thoughts. “That’s rich, coming from an Ikniri.”

I don’t know what he means, and I know he won’t tell me. So, I move closer to Caderyn, pushing his hair away from his face. His breath is shallow, and there’s blood crusted under his nose. He must have known he was no match for Cassian, and still he attacked, leaving me with a bigger question. Why did he? Why put himself at risk?

“I neam somt yera menyr,” I say, aloud.

I look at Cassian, and he’s still watching me.

“What does that mean?” I ask.

I can see that whatever it means, he doesn’t like it. His gaze darkens, and the air warms up uncomfortably.

“I thought you said he didn’t speak to you,” he says.

I fight the shiver that tickles my spine as he speaks.

“I said I didn’t understand him. But he kept repeating that phrase,” I say.

Cassian looks at Caderyn, and I am scared he’s going to decapitate him right here.

“I am not your enemy,” he says, shifting to grab his horse’s reins. “Let’s move out. We have a lot of ground to cover.”