My knees were shaking so hard that they sounded like two hollow drums knocking against each other. “Not for very long.”
He led me over to a boulder and seated me. “Stay here while I look over Niveus’ wound.”
I wrapped his coat tighter around my shivering shoulders and nodded. He moved back to the horse and knelt in front of his steed, where he inspected the wound. Niveus whinnied when he brushed his hand over the hole.
“A near miss, my old friend,” Cassian mused as he climbed to his feet and patted the side of the horse’s neck. “An inch to the left and you would be lame for life, and what would the fillies say then?”
Niveus threw back his head and neighed, as if to say I’m still as handsome as ever.
Cassian took out some wrapped packages from the pouches at the rear of the saddle and returned to me. He took a seat beside me and unwrapped one to reveal a sandwich. The scent of fresh bread and cold meat filled my nostrils. He held it out to me. “Some food will improve your outlook.”
I took the sandwich and eagerly bit into it while Cassian did the same to his food. Niveus lay down in the thick grass and chewed on his surroundings.
I finished my food and let out a great sigh. My hunger appeased, I could study our surroundings with a clearer, more appreciative eye. That’s when a question popped into my mind, and I turned to my companion.
“Is this the stream you were telling me about earlier? The one Titus took you to?”
“Yes,” Cassian admitted as he studied the area. “It’s fortunate for us our boyhood curiosity led us here many times.”
“Did you ever see that kind of monster around here?” I wondered.
His good humor faded as his eyes rested on the stream. “No, nor have I seen it anywhere else.”
“What do you think it wanted? To eat us?”
“I’m not sure,” he admitted as he crumpled his sandwich paper in one hand and grabbed mine with the other. He moved over to Niveus and tucked our trash back into the bags. There was something that caught my attention as he had his back to me.
“You’re not telling me something,” I accused him.
Cassian tied the bags closed and paused. A heavy sigh escaped him. “I am only guessing, but I believe the creature may have desired you.”
My face drooped. “Me? Why do you say that?”
He turned so his eyes fell on me. “The creature committed suicide in his efforts to capture you when you fell into the stream. It made no attempt to reach Niveus, though he was injured, nor me, when I was vulnerable while holding onto your hand.”
A little color drained from my cheeks. “But why-” A memory struck me at that moment, and my heart dropped into my stomach.
Cassian sat up. “What is it?”
I swallowed hard. “I…did you happen to see the artist who was in town this morning?”
He shook his head. “I did not. What was the name of the artist?”
“Velario.”
My companion furrowed his brow. “The name sounds vaguely familiar. We’ll have to investigate the matter further when we reach the capital.” He stood and strode over to me, where he held out his hand. “Can you stand?”
I lifted an eyebrow, but set my hand in his and let him help me up. “Why do I need to stand?”
“This little detour may not be a complete waste of time,” Cassian mused as he nodded at the woods to our left. “I had planned to come here on the return with my company, but now will work just as well.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Not more monsters?”
His face was grim as he stared at those dark woods. “Unfortunately, yes, but you shall soon see.”
Chapter 26
Niveus made to rise, but Cassian held out his hand and shook his head. “Stay as you are. This won’t take long.”
