Chapter 164: This feels a bit like a hostage negotiation
"Anyways," Cass said, coughing again. "It seems that our sleeping arrangements are less than ideal?" Cass suggested mildly, glancing at the three tents. He didn’t need to fake the frown that marred his face. He wasn’t pleased with this either. Why did he need to suffer because it was Lady Fiona’s damn harem?
He was just a gay guy roped into this for power reasons. Why did he need to suffer as well?
Vespertine’s sour expression returned, and he glanced at the two women. Holy hell. Sir, one of those women is your wife, and the other is your sister. Keep your hatred to a minimum. For Cass’ peace of mind.
"Yes. The priests decided to only set up three. Lord Ridgewood went off to speak to them about this." Cass wondered what kind of situation Lord Ridgewood would have come back to if Cass and Lucian hadn’t arrived first.
"Ah. I see. That’s why I don’t see him." Cass commented, and Lady Fiona flinched.
"I am not some kind of monster. I wouldn’t lay a hand on anyone." Lady Fiona muttered, her tone dark and Cass honestly, felt a little bad for her. Sure, she had made her bed, but she was right. She shouldn’t be treated as if she was some lust filled monster. Vespertine was angry probably because she wasn’t that way and had acted true to her heart.
Damn it. Cass was about to step into the situation.
"Well, I’ve asked Sir Forsythe to check my supplies and see if we have another tent. I too, and not comfortable with this situation. If Lord Ridgewood returns, and he is unable to procure more tents, we can use mine to separate the ladies." Cass offered and Vespertine’s jaw dropped.
"Uh, well, Cassian that’s-" Cass raised an eyebrow at his sudden protest. Cass crossed his arms, leaning on his right hip.
"Is that not what you wanted, Vespertine? The ladies to be separate? I think it’s a rather reasonable thing to do. The rest of us men can fend for ourselves." Cass said stiffly, hating the idea of sharing a space with any of the men.
Lucian, however, looked ready to pounce. Lady Fiona stiffened.
"If that’s the case, you can share the tent with me, Lord Cassian." Everyone seemed surprised at her words, especially Cass. Lady Ava got to her feet.
"L-Lady Fiona, I don’t think-"
"I agree with Ava, I don’t think-"
"Ugh. So much for cuddles in the night. Wife called dibs." Lucian’s was the most unhinged, and Cass wasn’t sure what to do.
"Uh, what?" Cass said, looking at Lady Fiona. She swallowed nervously.
"W-Well, I don’t fear that you’ll harm me in any way, and you need someone who can help you wrap bandages, don’t you? I can do that. I spent most of my life tending to my own wounds when I was younger, so I am fairly confident in my abilities in that regard." She gave him a tight smile, while Cass knew what she was trying to do.
She was trying to save him from an awkward situation by only making it more awkward. Especially because only Lady Ava knew the truth about Cass.
"Lady Fiona, that’s appreciated, but I don’t think-" Lady Fiona grew desperate. "E-Even if Gideon is able to get more tents, you shouldn’t be alone, and I won’t touch you!" She said that far too loud, and in the silence Cass heard Lucian tsk.
"I can’t promise that." He muttered darkly, and Cass felt his face flush. What the fuck? Why did he sound upset like Lady Fiona was offering the better deal? She was, but like, why did he know that?
Cass covered his face with his hand, sighing heavily as he dragged his hand over it.
"Lady Fiona, just be honest. You’re trying to use me as a shield, aren’t you?" Cass asked and Lady Fiona gulped. She glanced around at everyone, looking a little ill, before she nodded. She shuffled her feet, and Cass’ heart ached. Damn it.
No matter how much he tried, she still looked like his damn sister. Fuck.
"I apologise that it was so obvious. I just know...that you won’t do anything." She muttered, quiet this time. Vespertine jerked his head towards Cass, as did Lady Ava, while Lucian remained mostly calm.
Ah. The fake marriage was coming to a head. Cass frowned, crossing his arms again. Lady Fiona looked ill and apologetic, staring at her feet. Cass’ chest was tightening, and damn it, he wasn’t one who liked to live in this awkwardness.
"Fine." Cass muttered. "I will share a tent with you if Lord Ridgewood isn’t able to procure anymore." Cass agreed and Lucian grumbled.
"Damn it." He seemed genuinely upset. Cass really did feel like he had dodged a bullet. It was likely that if the tent splitting had gone the way that he wanted, Cass would have shared with Lucian. Cass would have been in danger. All because Vespertine and Lord Ridgewood were childhood friends.
It made sense that they would share a tent. Cass felt a small shiver of realisation that he had been very close to danger. Lucian didn’t seem like he would do anything. They weren’t back at their mansion or dens, of course. That didn’t make Cass feel safe though. Not with his comments. His comments out loud.
In public, around people who probably viewed same sex attraction negatively.
Uh, well, maybe not this group exactly, but there were probably priests listening in nearby. He had faith in that. No temple he knew wouldn’t listen in on the people who were staying with them. What the hell else were they going to do? Talk to the ’gods’? Hell no.
Eavesdropping was practically a skill in most priests. At least, that was what Cass had a strong belief about.
Footsteps approached and it turned out to be Sir Sanders and Sir Forsythe coming back. Sir Forsythe was carrying a rather large bag, while Sir Sanders was carrying some poles. Both looked rather grim.
"We found one tent, my Lord." Sir Forsythe said and Cass sighed, slightly relieved at the interruption.
"Wonderful. Please set it up." Sir Forsythe nodded and the two men went off to a clear spot nearby the other tents and set to work. While they had interrupted the awkward moment, that didn’t mean that it was easy to move on from.
Everyone remained silent for a long time, the sound of Sir Sanders and Sir Forsythe moving and whispering to each other filling the air as they worked. It was a few, long moments before more footsteps could be heard and Lord Ridgewood returned, his hands empty, and his face clear.
"Ah. You were able to procure a tent." He commented, seemingly oblivious to the state of affairs around the small campfire that was lit in the center of the circle of tents. Lady Fiona sighed.
"Lord Cassian had packed one." She offered and Lord Ridgewood glanced at Cass. Cass swore he saw his lips twitch.
"Ah. You always were an over packer. I’m glad to see that it has paid off, once again. I swear, it’s almost like you know what is going to happen next." Cass felt a deep, unsettling chill fill his body. Cass let out a soft laugh.
"Well, I don’t think bringing an extra tent to a dungeon raid is exactly over packing, Lord Ridgewood." Cass said, trying to push down the uneasy feeling that filled him. Lord Ridgewood watched him, coming to a halt only a few paces away from him and Lucian. He let out a soft sound, before he smirked.
"Fair enough. No one else did, though." Lord Ridgewood’s comment had everyone else freezing. "Thankfully, the temple is willing to give us these tents for when we’re travelling in the dungeon. They regrettably didn’t have more, so we’ll need to share." Lord Ridgewood said and Lady Fiona swallowed.
"We can’t do this by normal means." Vespertine said darkly, and Lord Ridgewood frowned.
"What are you saying, Edgar? You want the girls to share tents with boys? We’re all married to Lady Fiona. Don’t you think that is rather-"
"I do not want Ava and Fiona to share a tent." Vespertine interjected, surprising Lord Ridgewood.
"Why? Did something happen while I wasn’t here? Was there an argument I wasn’t aware of that happened at the mansion before now?" Oh Lord Ridgewood. Cass really hoped that he was behaving this way because he didn’t know. It was a rather normal response.
Lucian snorted.
"Yes. There was an argument. A rather large one." Lucian said, crossing his arms and plumping up those damn pecs of his. Cass felt Lucian’s gaze slide to him, and then smile as he realised that Cass was watching him. Cass scoffed silently, turning his gaze away. The man was doing it on purpose!
"Okay, if there was an argument, what do you suggest we do? We, at most, have four tents. At the least, we have three. How are the girls going to manage that?" It was a rather valid question, and Cass sighed.
"If we take all four, Lady Ava will have her own tent no matter what. She normally doesn’t do any rotations for watches, yes? So let’s give her her own tent so then she can relax." Cass offered and everyone looked at him like he had three heads.
"You want to prioritize Ava?" Vespertine asked and Cass blinked. She had a rather important role in this dungeon. Why wouldn’t he?
"She’s practically carrying the team through this dungeon? Shouldn’t she get a good night’s rest? It’s Vespertine and I who should be doing most of the night watches." Cass told them and that seemed to shock them more.
"The mages have the lowest stamina out of everyone, Cassian. You especially shouldn’t be doing nightly watches." Lucian told him softly, carefully and Cass scoffed.
"I want to be able to carry my own weight. Why are you all looking at me like that?" Cass demanded and it was Lord Ridgewood who spoke.
"I think we are just in shock that you didn’t tell everyone you were taking your own tent for yourself. It is...rather surprising." Cass swore internally. Shit. That was very Lord Blackburn coded, wasn’t it? Shit. Was there a good excuse he could come up with? No, he’d already provided his reasoning. He didn’t need another excuse.
"I already told you my reasoning behind why I would offer my tent up. I don’t have holy powers, and they don’t respond well to magic. I am reliant on others during this dungeon, it only makes sense that I make some allowances." Cass muttered.
Lord Ridgewood’s gaze, along with Lady Fiona’s and Vespertine’s were...calculating. Trying to see what other agenda Cass had. Funny thing was, this wasn’t anywhere near part of a secret agenda. This was just how Cass thought. He wasn’t doing the heavy lifting, so someone else who was should get the better treatment. He’d learned that if you tried to be greedy, it only got you beat up.
"Huh. A rather solid reason. So solid I can’t argue with it. Alright, Cass, we’ll go with your idea. Since Ava will be doing quite a bit of heavy lifting, she will get her own tent. That still means that two people need to share a tent when not in rotation for watch." Lady Fiona spoke up.
"I volunteer to share a tent with Cassian." She spoke up and it was Lord Ridgewood who shot it down.
"No. As the other female party member, you should also get your own tent, Lady Fiona. No, I will share a tent with Cass." A pin could have dropped in the silence that followed. What?