Chapter 227: The truth to the rumour
Cass only made it up one step before Lucian was there, his hand on his waist. It was so shocking that Cass almost stumbled backwards, but Lucian was there to catch him.
"Careful there. I didn’t think that Sir Forsythe was right about you having had enough, but here you are, stumbling up the steps." Lucian’s voice was silky smooth, and Cass felt his eyes widen as the grip on his waist tightened.
"What do you think you’re doing?" Cass hissed, and Lucian practically purred from the attention.
"Catching the sacred Lord Blackburn so he doesn’t fall and hurt himself." Lucian replied without missing a beat. "What an awful thing it would be if you hurt yourself." Lucian said and Cass reached for his hand on his hip, pushing it away.
Lucian let him, and when Cass cast him a look over his shoulder, Lucian was all innocence and big smiles. Cass rolled his eyes, before he continued up the stairs alone. All the while, he felt the presence of the dragon behind him, lumbering less like a bear, and more like a tiger.
It was unnerving to say the least.
"My Lord, are you sure you’re okay tonight?" It was Sir Forsythe, who he was learning was able to take the place of the ever worrying Sam quite easily.
"I’ll be fine, but you should come in so we can discuss the issues that happened during the dungeon clear." Cass commented and Sir Forsythe nodded. Ser Hune’s sigh behind him had him pausing on the next landing, turning to look back at her.
"We always get left out of all the fun." She said, but it was clear that she was just making fun. Cass smirked.
"Well, maybe if you decided not to be the city’s protectors, maybe I could have you work for me. Let me know if you two change your minds." Cass told them and Ser Hune seemed quite surprised that Cass would offer that to them, but Cass didn’t think it was too far of a stress. He had hired them to help him during a dungeon while he had Sam and Byron do some secret info gathering for him.
He was pretty sure that was a clear sign that he liked them, and he was satisfied with their work so far.
They didn’t speak again except to say goodnight as the couple went to their room, and the other two followed Cass to his rooms.
Cass was sitting down, getting comfortable when Sir Forsythe just ripped the band aid off.
"What is this about someone trying to kill you?" He demanded. The anger and fire he had been trying to suppress coming to the forefront. He was practically boiling, vibrating. Cass was worried that the man wasn’t going to be able to sit down, but it was Lucian, the man who had uncovered the whole thing, who forced Sir Forsythe down onto one of the couches across from him.
Lucian practically grabbed him by the shoulders, yanked him around and forced him to sit. Sir Forsythe was a little bit stunned by the display, as was Cass, but Lucian’s expression was more on the harsh side.
"Sit down or else you’re going to make him upset." Lucian said, and Cass realised that Lucian was referring to him being upset. Once Sir Forsythe had been wrangled onto a couch, Lucian sat on the arm of the couch near Cass, but not next to him.
"So, what was this about someone trying to kill you?" Sir Forsythe asked and Cass took a deep breath. There were a couple of ways to go about this. Cass didn’t know how Sir Forsythe would take the news that he wasn’t fully human. Cass was sure that he was loyal to the Blackburn name, but honestly? He didn’t know how loyal.
This was a hard conversation to have, and Cass needed to figure out how to have it. He could tell that Lucian was getting a little anxious to get this conversation started with the way he was twitching, but he didn’t force the issue, waiting for Cass to begin it.
Cass sighed heavily, before he looked at Sir Forsythe.
"Sir Forsythe, do you remember if Sam gave me my medication in the morning on the day we left?" Cass asked and Sir Forsythe furrowed his brows. He shifted forward, his gaze darting between Cass and Lucian.
"Yes. I do. He was rather insistent that you got it, made sure it was in your bag, everything." Sir Forsythe said, before he blinked, and then a look clouded his expression. It wasn’t quite anger, but it was clear he was upset by something. "Sam...wait, he also gave you some medication before you left as well." Sir Forsythe said and Cass nodded.
"Yeah. He did." Cass confirmed and it didn’t take long for Sir Forsythe to connect the dots. He sat back, his jaw going slack as he looked between the tense expressions of Lucian and Cass.
"Wait. You can’t seriously suspect Sam of all people, are you?" Sir Forsythe asked, before he looked ill. "I’m sorry. I shouldn’t question your judgement, I just-"
"I don’t think it was Sam either, Sir Forsythe." Cass said calmly, and Lucian and Sir Forsythe both looked at him. Cass swallowed. It was a small theory, and nothing he would be able to confirm until he had Sam before him, but it was something he was holding onto.
Because honestly? He really didn’t want it to be Sam either.
Cass took another deep breath before he began explaining what he thought was going on.
"I think a demon impersonated Sam for all of a minute, ran up, gave me the medication because they had been observing me and my habits, and then left before they could get caught." Cass said. There was a beat of silence before Lucian growled.
"Those fuckers. They already knew what they were going to do to you in the dungeon, so they were looking to finish the job? Fuck them. I knew they were always up to no good." Lucian growled and Cass gave him a pointed look. Lucian got up, waving a hand at Cass’ look and began pacing the floor. Cass knew that it wasn’t directed at him, but still.
Sir Forsythe was in shock.
"A demon? So close? And I didn’t notice anything? I...I am so sorry my Lord. I had no idea." Sir Forsythe looked lost, horrified and Cass let out a sigh.
"The first clue should have been that Byron wasn’t with them. Thankfully, Lucian caught the smell of the medication before I took them, and then when I searched my bag further I found the batch that the real Sam had given me." Cass told Sir Forsythe who was in shock, but was quickly pulling himself together, as any knight captain would. Was he a knight captain? Or a guard captain?
Cass decided he needed to figure out that detail, and soon. It wasn’t a good thing he didn’t know one of his men’s positions. He felt like a bad leader.
"Well, I am glad to see that the first batch wasn’t tampered with. But I..." Sir Forsythe glanced at Lucian and then back to Cass. "I am getting the feeling that something else happened in the dungeon, am I correct in assuming that?" Sir Forsythe said and Cass sighed. He could take his pick at this point.
"A lot happened in the dungeon. Have I explained to you before that sometimes dungeons are geared towards some of the hero party? To draw the worst out of them and target them?" Sir Forsythe shook his head, but his expression grew dark. He was a smart man, and could see where this was going.
"Was this dungeon geared towards you, my Lord?" He asked and Lucian laughed, but it wasn’t a soft sound. Harsh, grating, it felt like it came with barbed wire wrapped around it.
"Cassian was run through the fucking wringer. Those fucking demons, I just-" He cut himself off, practically miming strangling someone and Cass let out a sigh. Sir Forsythe was only slightly more composed then Lucian.
"Do the demons choose who they target?" Sir Forsythe asked and Cass shrugged.
"That’s our assumption. It was my time, I guess, so there were some rather difficult...moments for me. I’ll be fine the longer I am out of the dungeon, but some things have changed. Lots of my...personal secrets had to be revealed." Cass gave a tight smile and Sir Forsythe stared at Cass for a long, long moment before he slid to the ground solemnly. He bent his head, his hands on his thighs as he did so.
"My Lord, while I have taken on this position as a favour to your Father, that does not mean that my loyalty lies with the Blackburn name. It lies with you, my Lord, and it pains me to think that you would question telling me anything. I plan to protect you and your family for the rest of my life." Sir Forsythe swore and Cass felt his eyes widen. He let out a soft chuckle, staring at the man who had no clue, or maybe he did, but just didn’t say it out loud.
"Even if the rumours are true, Sir Forsythe? I’ve never asked you how devout you are." Cass said casually and watched as the man’s hands tightened on his thighs, but he didn’t raise his head.
"Even then. While I would be upset with your Mother, that wouldn’t be directed towards you. You’ve done nothing wrong in this situation, and there is no reason to punish you for what others have done." They were fancy words, pretty words. Unlike Sir Forsythe.
"Sir Forsythe, I’m hesitant to tell you because it’s not something I knew for sure. Until I was in the dungeon." Cass told him. Then he let out a heavy sigh. "Lady Ava confirmed it." Sir Forsythe flinched. Silence filled the air for a few beats before Sir Forsythe let out a deep exhale.
He raised his head, his eyes full of sadness as he met Cass’.
"Is that true, my Lord? It was confirmed?" He asked softly and Cass nodded. Sir Forsythe swallowed thickly. "May you permit me to do something out of turn for my status?" He asked and Cass blinked, before he nodded. If it was anything bad, Lucian would probably stop him.
He watched him as he got to his feet from his position from the floor, and was bracing himself as Sir Forsythe moved towards him. Then, he felt shock fill him as Sir Forsythe wrapped his arms around him, giving him a hug.
"I’m sorry my Lord. I am so sorry that it was confirmed for your sake. Damn your Mother for harming you like this." Sir Forsythe’s words held such tender emotions that Cass felt his throat tighten up. He knew it wasn’t just him.
Lord Blackburn was getting emotional as well, and that was something that was surprising. The man hadn’t shown this kind of emotion so far, and Cass found himself slowly raising his arms, hugging Sir Forsythe back tightly.
"I’m fine." Cass lied easily and Sir Forsythe squeezed him.
"You are not, but thank you for lying, my Lord." Sir Forsythe said softly. Cass was unsure what to say, or what to do. He just...let the other man hold not just him, but Lord Blackburn.