The silence in the carriage was loud. Byron was a quiet man mostly by nature, or he spoke mostly to Sam. That meant that he wasn’t talking to Cass, especially with their third member in the carriage.
Lord Ridgewood looked about as awkward as he always did when he was alone with Cass, and strangely, with his clothes on. For some strange reason, Lord Ridgewood was less awkward when he was either topless and working out or helping Cass work out.
It made sense, since he was a knight, but Cass was having a hard time reconciling the two images the man had. Especially as he sat stiffly in the carriage across from him, next to Byron, both hands on his knees.
Whatever. Cass had already briefed him before they had gotten into the carriage. He knew what the plan was, and why he was coming with him. Duke Vespertine was going to meet him at the temple so they could chat. It would be an easy, calm conversation. At least, theirs would be.
The one with the gods? Cass was making no promises. He knew that they were supposed to call for him to talk when they had come to a decision about what to do with the terms of the contract that Cassian had with the demon lord, but...Cass could not wait that long.
Not to tear into them.
Cass let out a heavy sigh, and Lord Ridgewood flinched. His green gaze glanced at Cass, darting away from the door that he was staring at, scanned Cass, and then darted away again. Cass was glad that the ride to the temple wasn’t too long.
When Cass looked out at the streets himself, he was happy to see that the people were moving about town normally. The hustle and bustle of the regular folk had not changed, and no one seemed particularly botched by his carriage going by. They did give it looks, but there wasn’t anger or fear in their gaze.
Cass was glad he’d gone with a more...casual carriage this time instead of the modified carriage that Cass had made recently. This was one that the people of the estate had tended to. It didn’t have a coat of arms, but was covered in detailed plant work. It was clear that whoever was inside of the carriage had a connection to nature.
Cass had asked the fairies who worked at the estate if it was okay he took it before Edgar and Lucian had woken up. They had agreed readily. He was the Lord of this mansion, and the trees liked him. He was welcome to anything in the mansion. Even if it got destroyed, they would just work on making a new one.
Cass was glad for their kindness. He was hoping that nothing would happen to the carriage, and it was rather ominous that they would say something like that.
~
Arriving at the base steps to the temple, Byron and Lord Ridgewood made sure that they got out first before Cass. Cass was a little surprised that Lord Ridgewood was waiting outside of the carriage, his hand extended. He hadn’t expected him to actually escort him, but here he was, taking his role seriously. While he still looked constipated, his green gaze was also sharp. Serious.
Cass placed his hand tentatively into his and let him help him down from the carriage, a little embarrassed by the action, but not enough that he would spit in the face of the effort that Lord Ridgewood was going to.
The temple wasn’t a place just for them. There were other nobles around who were also getting out of their carriages to speak to priests and going to the gods to pray. It was a show that Lord Ridgewood and Lord Blackburn were working together.
He could feel how they were staring at him. It was probably an odd pairing for everyone to witness as well. He knew that even if he was with Lucian and Edgar, there was some excuse or reason there, but Lord Ridgewood?
Outwardly, they had never gotten along. They always kept their distance from each other. So now that Lord Ridgewood was escorting Cass after the ball where Cass had declared that Lord Ridgewood belonged to him? Yeah, some pretty strange behaviours, for sure.
Cass started the climb up the stairs, Lord Ridgewood and Byron at his side. It was a nice realisation that Cass wasn’t out of breath as he made his way up the stairs.
Taking in the views around him, Cass could appreciate how ’pretty’ the temple was. It was huge, and in your face, but still beautiful. In the way that other temples were to him in his world too.
He followed the small group of people who were filing inside, and let them know that he was here to speak to Duke Vespertine. They seemed a little surprised to see him, and had him wait for a moment while they confirmed that.
Cass and Lord Ridgewood milled about in the ’entry hall’ which was a huge, cavernous space that was carved with images that had to be from the book that everyone read at the temple. Surprisingly, Cass and Byron were pretty chill about everything, but Lord Ridgewood? He was stiff as a board, and only getting stiffer as time went by and other people passed them into the chambers behind.
About 10 minutes into their waiting, Lord Ridgewood gently placed a hand on Cass’ shoulder and leaned in. He gave Cass enough time to move out of his touch if he wanted to, but Cass was too curious about what this stiff man was going to say.
"This is a great act of discourtesy towards you. I am going to go speak to the priests right now and inform them of who you are to the Duke, to the High Priest, and if he still doesn’t come, we’ll go speak to the gods and make it clear that you were stood up." Lord Ridgewood said, his voice icy.
Cass turned to look at the man, a little surprised by his reaction.
"Oh? Alright." Cass told him, not bothered. Out of all of the Dukes, he doubted that Duke Vespertine would treat him that way, especially after everything that had happened. Did he think it was possible that he could still treat him that way? Oh, absolutely. There was also the chance that he was getting a tongue-lashing of his own from the King, or the other Dukes. Or hell, even another noble.
Cass didn’t know the man that well, and he wasn’t exactly looking to be rubbing shoulders with the man all that often. He was just using him for what he needed him for, and then hopefully never interacting with him again.
Cass watched as Lord Ridgewood stiffly marched over to the priests who were vetting people, waited in line again because he was being polite, and then tore into them for allowing them to wait that long. While his tone was hushed, the authority he was speaking with made it clear.
They were not to be made to wait like the average folk, even if they didn’t have Fiona with them.
The priests, clearly not expecting that Lord Ridgewood would get so upset, looked towards Cass and Byron, and Cass gave them a small smile. Cass forgot that his smile scared other people, so he watched as the priests lost all colour in their faces and began to speak quietly to each other.
One ran off, and the other remained while Lord Ridgewood stood there, intimidating as he was silent before he turned and joined Cass again at his side. He looked displeased as the onlookers watched, clearly finding humour in all of this.
"Gideon, it’s alright to wait." Cass told him quietly and Lord Ridgewood glanced at him, his green gaze sharp, and gave a huff.
"No, it is not. While it is not known to most, he knows, and he should have told others what was going on. Especially if he made you meet him here." Lord Ridgewood said, unbending. "Especially after what he put you through. What I put you through. He should be doing more, since he has more to give." He was angry, and Cass was a little surprised by his comment. He was...surprisingly aware in a strange way.
"I’m used to it, and I’m not in a rush today. I can be understanding, Gideon. He is the Head Priest." Cass said with a smirk and Lord Ridgewood’s muscle twitched in his jaw. He leaned in so that his whisper wasn’t heard by others.
"And you are a hero, public or otherwise. He should drop everything to speak to you. In his world, in our world, you hold about as much importance to us as the King, if not more. Kingdom’s change, heroes are forever." Lord Ridgewood whispered fiercely, glancing around as he spoke to make sure no one else heard.
Cass swallowed, blinking slowly as he let the words wash over him. That was...rather nice of Lord Ridgewood, if he was honest. Being defensive of him. Even if it was just him treating him the same way that he would have treated Fiona, it was nice to be...treated that way, he guessed? The man was huffing and puffing as he waited, and eventually, a more elaborately dressed priest, like the ones that had escorted Fiona and them before, came out of the door that the previous priest had disappeared into.
They were falling over themselves with apologies, before they escorted Cass, Byron and Lord Ridgewood deeper into the temple. Cass was a bit surprised that Byron was included, as his knights last time weren’t.
Then when he looked behind him, he realised he couldn’t see Byron, but he could feel his presence behind him. Ah. He was being sneaky. Good Byron.
They were brought to a waiting room similar to what Cass was used to. A similar room to what he’d been brought to a few times now, and the priest let them know that while the Head Priest was busy, he would be with them shortly. He offered to bring snacks, but it was Lord Ridgewood who intervened and said that they had already eaten, they were just waiting for the Head Priest.
That was an effective way to brush them off, as they looked a little embarrassed, and left.
Cass sat down. After all, there was no reason not to. He crossed his leg over his other leg, leaned his arm against the armrest, and watched Lord Ridgewood pace, looking pissed.
"He better have a good reason for letting a hero wait like this." Lord Ridgewood muttered, probably quiet enough that he thought no one else could hear him. Cass felt his lips twitch.
"Gideon." Cass called, and watched as the man halted, then turned to Cass. "I’m not upset. You shouldn’t be, either. After all, the man is going to lose his powers slowly over time for everything he’s done thus far. I can only pity him now." Cass told him and Lord Ridgewood’s eyes widened, before he gave a brisk nod and swallowed.
"Right. Understood. May I sit?" He asked, and Cass nodded with a smile.
"Come on. There’s enough sofa for everyone to sit." Cass said, glancing at where he felt Byron behind him. The man didn’t move. Cass chuckled. He wondered where he got the protectiveness and stubbornness from? It certainly wasn’t from Cass.