Chapter 165: What? Did you think I only went after girls? Ha!
"What? You? Why you?" It was Lucian. He was livid. He dropped his hands, clenching them by his side as Lord Ridgewood examined him rather coolly.
"I have noticed your strange behaviour towards Cass, and as a knight, I can’t stand for it. He isn’t weak by any means, but he is injured, and Cass and Edgar get on like oil and water. I can’t, with a good conscience, let a Lady and another man stay the night in a tent together, so I am the last choice." Lord Ridgewood glanced at the shocked expression on Cass’ face. "Is there any reason to protest that choice?" He asked.
Cass could feel Lord Blackburn inside of him screaming, but he had to push him down. He was scrambling to find a reason, but he couldn’t. Lord Ridgewood wasn’t an idiot, and he made a rather solid argument. The only way Cass could argue with him would be to reveal certain secrets, and he wasn’t willing to do that over a damn sleeping arrangement in a dungeon.
But was he willing to risk his own sanity?
Lady Fiona spoke up.
"I don’t-I’m fine with sharing my space with Lord Cassian. He won’t have his aides with him, and he’ll need help wrapping up his hands. Sam, his aide, spoke with me about it before we left." Lady Fiona admitted, glancing at Cass. Cass wasn’t surprised, but he was surprised that she was being so insistent.
Lord Ridgewood furrowed his brow.
"Fiona, you’re a woman. He’s a man, and you are married. I don’t want to be crude, but I would prefer not to hear anything while working." Lady Fiona’s face flushed while Cass gave Lord Ridgewood a strange look.
"Do you think people become beasts as soon as they are behind closed doors? I wouldn’t even think of laying a finger on Lady Fiona." Cass said. Lord Ridgewood gave him a strange look in return. Both men were clearly sizing the other up, and Cass wasn’t sure if he was measuring up to his standards.
"I don’t mean to discredit you, Cass, but I think it is safe to say that feelings are going to be high in this dungeon. You might forget yourself." Cass was almost appalled. Wow. Lord Ridgewood had no faith in him, nor anyone.
"I might forget myself? Who’s to say I might not forget myself even in a tent with you?" Cass suggested and watched as Lord Ridgewood froze. He shifted, his arms tightening around him and Cass couldn’t help but narrow his gaze at the other man.
Did it make sense that they were arguing about this? No. But Cass just couldn’t let this stand. This was sexist, and weird. Cass was not going to stand for being called a beast when he hadn’t even put in the work yet. And with Lady Fiona? The woman who reminded him of his sister? No fucking way, Lord Ridgewood. Get over yourself.
The rest of the group remained silent. Lucian had a shit eating grin on his face, but had turned his face so that Lord Ridgewood couldn’t see it. Lady Fiona looked shocked, but her eyes weren’t as harsh as they had been before. She seemed to be falling into the Lucian camp.
Vespertine and Lady Ava looked about the same at the moment. Lady Ava knew that in theory, Cass was right. Lord Ridgewood was in more trouble staying in a tent with Cass then Lady Fiona was staying in a tent with Cass. Lady Ava knew the reason behind this.
Vespertine did not, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have a smug look on his face. He seemed to be taking pleasure in the fact that his friend was scrambling, trying to string words together while Cass watched him, fighting the desire to grin.
"After all, Lord Ridgewood, you did say that I might forget myself. What if I truly forget myself, and forget where I am and who I am with? Wouldn’t that put you at the most risk?" Cass asked, pretending to truly be worried. "I wouldn’t want to attack you in your sleep if I am such an untrustworthy man." Cass raised a hand, placing it against his chest. He was doing his best to sound sincere, and Cass swore he heard Sir Forsythe laugh and then muffle it.
Lord Ridgewood looked ready to blow a gasket. He looked as if he had lost the argument, and Cass was delighted if that was the case. While on principle, Cass normally agreed with the men with men and women with women mindset, that shouldn’t always be followed.
They had a couple of homosexuals amongst them, and even if Lord Ridgewood didn’t know it, and it was frowned upon, that didn’t mean that he should get comfortable in his assumptions. Cass wasn’t going to stand for that shit.
Lord Ridgewood reached up, covering his face with his hand before he let out a soul weary sigh.
"Alright. I see your point. I didn’t realise that you were that against sharing a tent with me." He said, his voice tart, and Cass chuckled.
"Oh no. I have no problem sharing a tent with you, I just think your reasoning behind it was flawed." Cass told him, and Lord Ridgewood uncovered his face quickly, his green eyes flaring.
"You disagreed with how I-and so you decided to embarrass me? In front of everyone?" He demanded. Cass was actually quite surprised by his outburst. Embarrass? Who? Who the hell was Cass embarrassing besides himself? Was it that bad of an idea to have Cass all over the other man? Well excuse Cass.
He didn’t realise that the other man didn’t consider a soon to be Duke as good as the son of a Duke. Cass was a catch. He knew it. Lord Ridgewood was missing out.
"Who the hell am I embarrassing you in front of? The rest of the hero party? Sir Forsythe? The man has been with me since I was younger. He’s seen worse." Cass told the huffing, slightly flushed Lord Ridgewood. The man was normally so unemotional that this was quite surprising for Cass.
Vespertine, however, didn’t seem as surprised, and moved towards his friend.
"Gideon, it’s not fair to get mad at Cassian when he doesn’t know. He was just trying to point something out. He had no idea." Clearly, from what Vespertine was saying, there was something underlying his behaviour. Cass actually kind of respected Vespertine for trying to soothe his friend, while also not really standing up for him and his behaviour.
Lord Ridgewood covered his face again, taking a deep breath.
"Right. Yes. You’re right. I just...being cooped up in the carriage has me on edge more than normal. Not sticking to my routine has..." He trailed off, letting out another sigh that sounded like it held a piece of his soul. "So, we are fine sharing a tent, Cass?" Lord Ridgewood asked, turning his gaze towards him. His green gaze was piercing, and Cass swallowed. Behind him, Lucian was making big x’s with his arms. Trying to get Cass to say no.
Cass for sure did not feel safe with Lucian. The man even admitted to having bad intentions! Out loud! Like a fool! He also didn’t feel safe with Vespertine, and for his own peace of mind, he shouldn’t stay with Lady Fiona.
He honestly worried what being around her for extended periods of time would do to his grief. He was doing his best to manage it, but being around her...yeah, he shouldn’t stay with her.
"Yes, I am. I can always have Lady Fiona wrap my hands before I get into the tent and go to bed." Lady Fiona’s eyes lit up.
"Oh! I can tuck you in!" She said, excited, and Cass stared at her silently. He didn’t need to say a word, and he watched her excitement fade. "Or not." She muttered and Lucian reached out, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. Cass watched as Lady Ava flinched.
"Worry not, Fiona. Cassian is just quite serious about his sleeping arrangements. We can tuck him in together. That way he can’t complain." He said with a smirk and Cass turned his attention towards the tents. They were not big, barely fitting two people.
Where the hell were they getting the idea that the three of them, not even including Lord Ridgewood, would fit into one tent at the same time? They were crazy.
"No one is being tucked in. Not me, not you, not anyone. The tents are barely big enough to fit two people in them. There is no space for that nonsense." On that note, Sir Forsythe and Sir Sanders approached, giving everyone the appropriate bow before speaking to Cass directly.
"My Lord, the tent is set up. Is there anything else you need my help with tonight?" Cass already had everything he was sure he needed in his little bag. Clothes, medicine, food. He was okay. He shook his head, and watched as his own guard hesitated for a moment before he bowed. "Forgive me, my Lord. I was tasked with the hardest job of all. Sam has asked that I make sure you take your medicine before you head into the dungeon, and that you eat a meal before you do so." That damn Sam. He was so caring, even if he wasn’t here.
Vespertine chuckled.
"Is Sam your servant, or your husband?" He joked and Cass let out a dark laugh.
"There is no way that is true. Do not joke about that, especially in front of Byron." Cass warned, and even Sir Forsythe looked a little ill. Lucian, however, laughed.
"Oh! Let’s let him do it. I kind of want to know what an Edgar pancake would look like." Vespertine seemed a little confused and Cass actually enjoyed that. He didn’t need to know everything, and it only made him chuckle.
"Alright Sir Forsythe. I understand that the task given to you is quite hard, and I will be lenient on you this once. You let Sam take this much control over you again and I’ll be quite upset. He shouldn’t hold more sway than me." Cass warned and he nodded, swallowing seriously. It was all in good fun, but it was still a warning. Cass liked to reward loyalty.
But only if that loyalty was towards him.
"Why would I be a pancake?" Vespertine asked, having a completely different conversation from what Cass was talking about. Cass shook his head as he turned and began to fumble his way through his bag. He pulled out his little pill container, as well as his little cream container for later, and then reached in further to pull out another cookie.
Sir Forsythe frowned as he stared at the sweet, sugary item.
"I am pretty sure another cookie isn’t a sustaining meal, my Lord." Cass raised an eyebrow at the tone he was using.
"Are you lecturing me about my meals right now, Sir Forsythe?" He dropped his head, ready to get to his knees.
"No my Lord. Of course not, my Lord." Cass stared at him, before he sighed.
"It’s fine. I’m sure that Lucian is just chomping at the bit to take your place, or Lady Fiona. She has been getting quite interested in my personal affairs as of late." Cass said dryly, and Lady Fiona grumbled.
"You rejected all of the gifts of food I sent your way, so of course I am going to start paying attention to what you are actually eating. Sam’s lessons are informative, and interesting. He has a very interesting chart on your cans and can nots." She told him and Cass rolled his eyes.
He was sure it was an interesting chart. Too bad it was something that Cass wasn’t exactly comfortable with others knowing. It was a weakness, that was for sure. Especially since he didn’t have Sam beside him to tell him what was safe and what wasn’t. He just had to trust what was in his bag. That was going to be hard.
If the ’gods’ were merciful, they wouldn’t let him get poisoned in the damn dungeon. Please. Or demon worship was not only on the table, it was going to be the only option going forward.