Cassian stepped out and winked at Niveus. “You’ve had your fun, and given us some, as well.”
Torquatus stuck his head out the door and blinked at Cassian while he stabbed a finger at the horse. “You know this animal?”
Cassian folded his arms over his chest and grinned at his steed. “We’ve been acquainted for a few years.”
“T-then it’s yours?”
“Yes, though he sometimes disagrees.” Niveus bobbed his head.
Torquatus reluctantly stepped onto the porch and clasped his hands together in front of him. “C-could you please ask this-er, your horse to remove himself from my yard?”
“That’s enough,” Cassian commanded him as he nodded at the road. “We’ll be leaving soon, and you don’t want us riding on you when you have a full stomach.”
Niveus snorted, turned tail, and sauntered out of the yard, though not before pausing at the entrance. He lifted his tail and fertilized the lawn. Torquatus pressed his hands on either side of his face and groaned.
Cassian had a hard time stifling his laughter. He noticed me on the sidelines and held out his hand to me. “I thought I would have to go fetch you, but your timing is impeccable, my lovely bride.”
I strolled over and took his hand. “Breakfast is ready?”
“And still warm,” he assured me as he led me past our bemoaning host.
We soon entered the dining hall and found Mrs. Arvina setting the last of the food on the table. She looked up at our coming and tears filled her eyes. The rotund woman scurried over to us and clasped our empty hands. “God bless you both for what you did for Miss Vesta last night. Lord knows she needed a friend, and here I was not doing a thing for her.”
I leaned to one side and looked past her at the kitchen door. “How’s she doing?”
Mrs. Arvina pursed her lips. “Well, I’ve got her all bandaged up, but she’s real quiet. It took some time for me to get out of her what happened.”
Cassian squeezed her hand. “Take care of her while she decides on her future.”
The friendly cook smiled and nodded. “Of course, Mr. Cassian.”
It was at that moment that our host shuffled in behind us. “Damned animals…” he muttered as he pulled out his chair and plopped down on the seat. He looked up at us standing there and frowned. “What’s the matter now?”
Mrs. Arvina lifted her nose and released us. “Nothing at all, Squire Torquatus. I’ll see to the fruit juice.” She hurried past him and disappeared into the kitchen.
Torquatus lifted an eyebrow at where she’d gone while we took up our seats. He finally shook his head and took up his fork. “Women…”
We ate in blissful silence, and I was glad when the meal was done, and we stood.
“It’s been quite a pleasure meeting you both,” Torquatus mused as he followed us out into the hall. “Perhaps next time you pass through, things will not be quite as exciting.”
Cassian stopped at the doorway and turned to face our host. “But then it would be less lucrative for us.”
Torquatus’ smile stiffened. “Yes, well, ahem, that would be true, but I’m sure all of us would enjoy the experience more. Good day, and good journey to you both.”
We slipped outside and walked down the path to where Niveus waited in the street. I paused at the fence and half-turned toward the house. A slim, pale figure stood at one of the upper-floor windows. I waved, and Vesta waved back.
My heart was a mixture of hope and worry as Cassian helped me into the saddle. He took up the reins on either side of me, and we were off on another long ride. I enjoyed the view from on high, at least for the first hour. Then we came upon something that caught my attention.
Forest lay on our left, and fields on our right. I noticed a young grouping of trees that meandered through the older growth in an unnatural pattern. My eyes followed the arrangement to the road, where something poked out of the grass.
It was a stone, perfectly shaped and set on even ground. Then there was another, and another, until a whole foundation could be made out. The stones were worn and moss-covered, but they made the distinct outline of a home not unlike those we had just left.
That foundation wasn’t the only one. Though the grass was tall and the weeds plentiful, I made out another half dozen footings that dotted five hundred feet along the road. They were all in the same condition, with many having those young trees growing out of their former floors.
I caught Cassian’s attention and pointed at the stacked stones. “Were there houses here?”
“Yes, though before my father’s time,” Cassian confirmed, studying the remains as well. A sadness slipped into his eyes. “A great wave of nethral swept over this area and destroyed many settlements, this one among them. There were undoubtedly no survivors left to rebuild.”
