The Blood King - Chapter Twenty-Four (Patreon)

Nymira

The travel for the rest of the day is uncomfortable. It is drenched in silence, the tension from Cassian making the air feel like a suffocating weight. I am shocked that he gave up his horse for Caderyn’s unconscious body, instead of making me do it. Besides, I am the one who begged for his life. And as the greenery grows thicker and more intricate, I am reminded of the Thrae who have abandoned this kid to a Dragonborn.

I shift my attention from Cassian to Caderyn. He’s still unconscious, draped over Cassian’s horse. He’s been unconscious for hours. And still, no one has stepped forward to claim him. They remain hidden, content to ignore him for stepping out of line. I am beginning to see similarities between the Ancients and humans.

It’s no wonder we fell into war.

“Are we going to keep traveling? Shouldn’t he be awake by now?” I ask aloud, calling to Cassian. He keeps his back to me as he responds.

“Yes. He will wake when he wakes,” he says.

“You are being cruel,” I say.

Cassian scoffs, but still doesn’t turn.

“Are you the one giving up your horse to carry the stranger that attacked us?” he asks. “We are already behind schedule because of him, and now that I am on foot, it will take even longer.”

“He should at least see a healer—”

“He is a Thrae. His body has already begun healing. The Thrae are a resilient people,” Cassian says. I can hear his irritation mounting, and I know not to continue pressing him. Caderyn may be a kid, but he still attacked a king. Even I know that is grounds for instant death.

I quickly jump down from my horse, patting him gently. I hold on to his reins as I move to Cassian’s side. His eyes remain straight ahead as I stand next to him. He is an intimidating Dragonborn. Even now, when there is no threat, my body wants to shrink away from his presence. The heat alone is enough to bring me discomfort. But he towers over me, his powerful build a frightening reminder of how close Caderyn came to death, and so easily, too.

“Were you really going to kill him?” I ask, breaking the silence.

“Yes,” Cassian says without missing a beat. I hold back the shiver threatening me from his tone.

“But you knew he was a child, right?” I ask.

Cassian shrugs. “One less enemy.”

I scoff. “That is cruel,” I say.

“Oh? As cruel as the mother and son you saved, who brought you to my doorstep? Mercy isn’t always the best decision,” he says.

I don’t respond. He is right. Peyra lost her life because of my mercy.

“What will you do with him when he wakes? Will you let him go back home?” I ask.

Cassian laughs. “Why? Do you want a Thrae as a pet?” he asks.

“No,” I say quickly. “I just wanted to know.”

“What I do isn’t your business, Nymira. Remember that. You are too bold these days,” he says, his tone warning.

“I’m only asking questions,” I say.

Cassian is silent, and I look behind him to Caderyn. His skin is pale at this point. He looks sickly.

“How much farther until we reach?” I ask.

“A few days at this pace,” Cassian says.

“Why not let him ride with me. Zephyr can handle the weight,” I say.

“I won’t have you running off with the boy once he awakens and he aids you in that escape,” Cassian says as if I am ridiculous for suggesting it.

It’s funny that Cassian would mention escape. It’s been a far option from my mind lately. I’ve been more drawn into the world Peyra kept me from, eager for Cassian to reveal more of it to me.

“I won’t run. Haven’t I already proven that?” I ask.

Cassian scoffs, finally looking at me. “You mean when you held a weapon to my throat earlier?” he says, low enough that a human wouldn’t hear it. I shiver as his eyes glow with the promise of burning me if I keep pushing him, and I look away.

“I told you I didn’t mean to…I just needed to get your attention—”

“Can you do it again?” Cassian asks, pulling my attention. His gaze is intense as he studies me, and I am suddenly aware of how close we are.

I shake my head.

“No…it was instinct,” I say.

“Show me,” he says.

“What?”

“Show me that it was instinct. Try to do it again,” he says.

I take a deep breath, my embarrassment coming to the forefront as I try to conjure my power in front of this Dragonborn who could burn down this forest if he wanted.

I hold my hand out in front of me, focusing in my palm. I ignore the heat of the forest, focusing on the small chill that forms in my chest. My palm trembles, and I grunt as the chill moves through my body, settling in my palm.

“Ngh!” I groan.

A small shard of ice slowly builds in my palm, rising to the sky no more than a few inches. The tremble in my palm grows, shifting to my arm as I struggle.

Suddenly, Cassian’s hand appears over mine, slowly closing around it. The heat from his touch is intense, and steam forms as he quickly melts down the little shard I created.

I jerk my hand from his as the heat becomes too much, and his laugh fills the air. My embarrassment is amplified by his humor, and I squeeze my hand to my chest, furrowing my brow.

“You are cruel,” I snap. I don’t wait for a response as I quickly mount my horse, falling back in line.

A few months ago, it was imperative that I remain hidden from the world. Especially Dragonborns. If Peyra could see me now, surrounded by Dragonborn who laugh and converse with one another around the firelight, she would make another pit to douse herself in smoke and prayer.

I gently grip the tattered edges of her cloak as I study the men who serve Cassian. They seem to have become comfortable with my presence. They no longer stare, and they’ve stopped avoiding me as well. I can still see the look of relief on their faces when I returned with Cassian. I’m curious about these men who would willingly harbor an Ikniri even though history says they should have killed me long ago.

I look away from them, taking in my palm. My hurt from today hasn’t disappeared, making me even angrier with myself. Cassian clearly doesn’t see me as a threat. And why would he? I am an Ikniri only in name. It is something that has bothered me my entire life. Looking this way, but being so far detached from my people, I might as well be human.

I know that is why he hasn’t killed me yet. Outside of having no markings and no power, I am not a threat. But it doesn’t explain why he’s keeping me around.

“It’s natural that you don’t have your power, you know,” I’m pulled from my thoughts as Caius approaches with a mug. He holds it out to me, smiling. I slowly reach for it, hesitating, but I put the negative thoughts out of my mind as I take it from him.

“That doesn’t make it any less humiliating,” I say.

Caius laughs. “But it does make you alive.”

“Hm,” I murmur. Cassian said something similar in the past. The only reason I am alive is because of how pathetic I am. They say it as if I should be glad for it, but I am not.

I look away from the men to seek out Cassian. He disappeared long ago with Caderyn. I know it isn’t my place to push Cassian, which is why I asked Caius. I'm still curious what possessed him to attack someone like Cassian. Especially if he knew he had no chance of winning, let alone living. I look around the forest, my awe dampening as I am reminded of the Thrae. How they could abandon one of their own so young sickens me. And that they were going to sit back and watch as he was killed deepens that sickness.

Now, he has been dragged into whatever plans Cassian has, making me anxious for him. I hope I didn’t damn him by trying to save his life.

“Has he still not awoken?” I ask.

“The Thrae boy? He’s showing signs of awakening. Cassian is going to speak with him before he allows him to travel with us, conscious,” he says as if it isn’t a big deal.

“…Will he be safe? Cassian won’t…” I trail off, unable to finish my sentence.

Caius keeps his gaze ahead.

“Did he tell you he was going to spare him?” he asks.

I nod.

“Then he’ll be fine,” he says.

I take a deep breath, looking around the empty forest. For his sake, I really hope so.