He stood and shook his head. “Nobody knows. Perhaps those who created it had a militaristic use for it and wished to frighten their enemies.”
My face drooped, and I dropped my gaze to the locket stuck around my neck. “That isn’t very comforting.”
Cassian wrapped his arms around me and drew me into a hug. “I would take this burden of yours myself if I could. For now, I can only share it with you.”
I snuggled into his warm chest. “Thanks. Really.”
My protector pulled me to arm’s length and turned his head to look at the box and the stain. “For now, there’s something I would show you. We must also inform the palace that everything is well.”
Cassian picked up the box and the note, and we returned to the road. Contrary to orders, the carriage stood close at hand, with the driver showing open relief when we emerged from the woods.
Cassian gave the man a stern look. “I told you to drive down the road.”
The driver bowed his head. “As I did, Your Majesty, but the road ended, and I was forced to turn around.”
A faint smile touched Cassian’s lips as he helped me inside. “I see. In that case, take us back to the palace.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
He climbed in after me, and we set off down the road. “What’s that smile mean?” I asked my companion.
“It means I know this road doesn’t end for quite a few miles,” he told me as he lifted his eyes to where the driver was seated. “One has to admire their loyalty, even when they’re disobedient in the execution.”
I snorted. “You do seem to have surrounded yourself with the most disobediently loyal people.” The carriage struck a bump in the road, and the locket set against my chest bounced up and down. I dropped my gaze to the trinket and furrowed my brow. “You said you had something to show me.” I tapped the face of the locket. “Does it have something to do with this?”
“Perhaps everything to do with it, but we shall see.”
A thought had been nagging me since we climbed into the carriage. “How was I able to do that with the Dreadwrought? I don’t have magic, right?”
“Not a speck,” he agreed as he looked me over with a soft but worried expression. “But it did react to something with you.”
My heart skipped a beat. “What would that be?”
Cassian stared ahead and pursed his lips. “I wish I knew.” He shook himself and managed a smile. “But I’m sure we’ll figure out this mystery. There is the Runehold Conservatory in the capital, after all, and other sources of magical knowledge.”
“But you said the magic of the Dreadwroughts was a mystery to everyone.”
He wrapped his arm around my back and grasped my arm. “Yes, but I have a most important incentive to discover their secrets, and when I set out to do something, I do it.”
A nervous snort escaped me. “Thanks.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “For what?”
“For trying to make me feel better.”
He sighed and stared ahead. “I had hoped it would work.”
I set my cheek against his chest and closed my eyes. “I’ll feel better when I’m back in that huge bathtub of yours.”
Cassian squeezed my arm. “After I show you what I have.”
Chapter 34
We returned to the castle, and Lucius himself greeted us. “What happened, Your Majesty?”
Cassian leaned out the window and offered his lead guard a smile. “Nothing eventful, as we still have all our parts. I will speak with you on the morrow about the package. In the meantime-” He handed the empty box to the man, “-take care that this isn’t lost.”
Lucius accepted the package and nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
