Leeson snorts out a laugh. I’ve fallen off this horse more this last week with these people than I have in the last century at thewhims of the king. I’d do anything to have my own mount so as to not look so damned idiotic.
“Leeson, I know you’d find immense joy in watching me fall squarely onto my face. I can say I’d find the same humor watching it happen to you.”
Silence meets me as a response and Alora’s back straightens.
Gods. I actually started a conversation with the pale sprite that strikes more fear into me than even some of the most formidable generals of King Euron’s.
Her cunning golden eyes would slice me in half if they were sharpened blades.
“The thing is Kassiel, all of us would be laughing if you fell, and only you would be laughing if I did.” Damn she’s ferocious, possibly more so than my little warrior.
My little warrior.Fuck. I need to stop being so reckless.
Caym just smirks at me. He’s a bastard, even if I find his pride toward his bonded admirable.
“Tell me, Devourer, have you heard of the hidden city of River’s End?”
He asks it so nonchalantly, but I know what his true meaning is.Has the king discovered us?
“Truly, no. There is much King Euron hid from me, even though I wouldn’t have betrayed that information. He’s full of paranoia.”
Alora turns in her saddle at my reply.
“Wouldn’t have? And what of now?” Her blue eyes pin me to my seat, forcing my breath to pause in their beauty.
I feel trapped and I’m unsure of why. Perhaps it’s the collar at my neck or the years I’ve spent loyal to the king, indifferent to suffering unless it was my own, but I feel torn. King Euron had a hand in more atrocities towards me physically than I’ll ever admit but far worse heinous things to me mentally.
After you’ve been as broken as I’ve been, you learn that any nicety means not suffering, and eventually those niceties feel like friendship even if you’re chained to the person who holds the whip.
I sigh and shake my head, careful to avoid her deciphering gaze.
“There is much about me that is wrong, but the truth that I do know is that I can’t bear to see you harmed. So in this instance, I’d keep you safer than the secrets King Euron has forced me to keep.”
I swallow down the rest of the words. She can’t know the true dangers of my bond with the king, the malicious fangs that have implanted into my sickly soul.
I lift my eyes to catch a glimpse of her expression and it’s washed with concern.
“What has he done to you, Kassiel?”
I know deep down she wants the answers, but I’m not ready for that conversation. It’s one I’d rather bury with my old sins.
Caym interrupts us and I’ve never been more thankful for the bastard than right now. “Alora, I think we should water the horses here. It’s as fine a place as any. We’re half a day from River’s End, anyhow. Let’s not be too eager to join the bustling city. You know it makes me claustrophobic.”
She turns back and I can feel her smile. It’s not directed at me but rather Caym, who I’ve come to understand is more family to her than anyone else, almost as if a living brother.
“Yeah, alright. It would be nice to stretch my legs, so let’s stop here.”
The reins creak as she pulls them up, stopping Dahla in her tracks.
She hops off the horse first and then looks at me. Her face looks holy, even reverent, in this daylight. The way thesunstreaks illuminate her bright eyes and highlight her brown locks, it’s enough to weep over, truly.
With a quick smirk, she’s off and heading to Leeson. The meadow grass is knee height to her, swishing as she walks through the soft blades.
Caym sits upon his horse, looking at me expectantly.
I wait a few moments to see if he’ll offer any words, unkind or otherwise, in my direction.
“Well?” He looks me up and down, sizing me up I’m sure for if I attempt to run off.
