Pierced
72nd of Summer, 514 A.V.
72nd of Summer, 514 A.V.
A few days ago, Verena had gathered up her courage to ask Cassius to deliver a message to his brother. Her betrothed had raised an eyebrow at her request, but said nothing about it. It was he, who first mentioned about Caedmon Paille as an expert in using a cutlass after all. What he did not know was that Verena was aware of his brother’s talents long before he had brought it up. It was merely a simple message, asking for lessons in using the blade.
When Cassius had passed over the word, Caedmon had looked at him strangely before saying a curt thank you. Cassius did not find his brother’s cold shoulder as irregular – their relationship had always been rocky after they were tangled in a rough fight. He could see that the younger Paille had already forgiven him, but as a man of honor and integrity, Caedmon still highly disapproves of Cassius’s wild passion. A part of him could not help wonder since when Caedmon had become the mature one, while he was branded as the troublemaker – an embarrassment to the family.
Now, the brothers were riding silently beside each other. The only sounds were the clopping hooves of their respective Striders. It was rather unnerving. Cassius could recall the old days where they would race down the Kabrin Road, calling out playful insults at each other. “Verena can be entirely rude sometimes,” the older brother started, eager to coax some words from his sibling. “But she never actually means it, so don’t take it seriously.”
It took a few ticks before Caedmon replied, “I’ve heard the stories. She seems nice enough, maybe just a little weird. How is your relationship with her?”
“I think I am more like an escort, honestly. She didn’t avoid me the way she used to, but my advances were always brushed away by her like I was some annoying fly.” Cassius did not at all realize the way his younger stiffened, continuing his story, “Fortunately, things are getting better. She didn’t complain if I held her hand or waist, though she didn’t let me go far from there.”
“Do you think you’ll marry her soon?”
Cassius shrugged. “I truly don’t know. This arrangement had been stalled long enough, but I don’t Verena will ever be ready.” He glanced up at the rising sun, calculating the bells. “We better speed up. There are other matters I need to sort.”
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When they finally arrived at Whitesnake Plantation, The Paille spotted his betrothed lounging on the stairs of the porch. It was always surprising to see Verena’s carelessness in her manners – even though it was not intentional, since she had voiced that she could not understand how sitting on the floor of the porch careless. No Dynasty would want to be seen sitting on the floor like some slave. Yet, Cassius found her complete disregard for social norms rather endearing. He could see that a thick book was resting on her lap, but as he got closer it was obvious that her mind was elsewhere.
As soon as the healer had heard their approach, her head lifted slowly, her eyes widening slightly. She stood up, hugging the book close to her chest, the sword already strapped to her belt. Verena simply watched at the Paille brothers headed toward her perch. She forced herself to keep her eyes on her betrothed, not really looking at the young man beside him.
“Good morning,” Cassius greeted with a grin. His arm slipped easily around her waist as he pulled her into a brief embrace. It was one of the few gestures Verena actually let him do. As far as he could tell, she had issues regarding intimacy. To say the least, it had been nearly three years since they had been betrothed and the Lorak still adverse any of his efforts to kiss her. Early in their relationship, the Paille had taken it as a challenge. He had never had any trouble with wooing women, luring them his bed, yet this particular one seemed to brush away all of his efforts in charming her. Of course, he understood now that Verena was different and learned to accept it. Still, sometimes, he found it most frustrating. “Brought your soon-to-be tutor.”
The healer finally let herself glance at Caedmon Paille. Something familiar glinted in his eyes, but he merely nodded his head politely and said, “Pleased to meet you again, Verena.” Hearing her first name on his lips sounded odd when it had been years since he started calling her Rena.
Cassius could sense the awkwardness between the two, but then, almost everyone dealt with Verena awkwardly. Cassius remembered the first time he had truly seen – the day of their betrothal. At first, her fragile beauty had attracted him to her. Her astounding violet eyes, her plump full lips. But then, he had started to notice something disturbing too. Verena’s face was frozen in a mask of a frozen queen, revealing nothing. Her eyes were cold and unnerving, watching him like he was no better than a boring book she could not wait to discard. She stood stiffly, her slender figure rarely making any gestures. When he had smiled in greeting, the Lorak imperceptibly looked away, like she could not stand the sight of him. Her face only softened when she was talking to her own brother, betraying their tight-knit relationship.
Ice queen. That was what he had thought of her. Seems proper for someone with Vantha blood in her veins. He had learned now, though. The lack of smile did not mean she loathed to see him, though admittedly, it didn’t mean she was excited to see him either. Really, it was always a challenge to try to guess that the young woman was thinking. “I’ll have to go now. One of the patrols said that he had found a possible Rujaro and I have to go deal with it.”
“Go easy on her, little brother. I’ll hold you responsible if anything happens to her,” Cassius called out as he pulled his body onto his strider. With a last goodbye, he left.
Soon enough, they were left looking at each other, the tension almost unbearable. Verena was the first one to look away, ignoring the hole Caedmon’s eyes were piercing into her skin. She gestured for them to walk and he quickly took her side, keeping a fair distance between them.
“I never imagined that you would actually ask for me,” he commented lightly as they headed toward the housing where the guards claimed as a barrack. All their weapons and supplies were stored there and Verena knew that some practice weapons must be stored there. Verena made no reply to his words, not even glancing at him.
A guard jogged towards her as soon as they say the pair. With a Dynast’s ease, Caedmon ordered for the things they might need – wooden swords and blunted blades. When they got what they wanted, they moved to the spot where they used to meet, not needing to talk to come into the agreement. The location was rather secluded and located near a small stream, a place rarely visited by anyone because of the dense trees surrounding it.
Verena still remembered all those days she and Caedmon had spent there. Playing in the water, lying on the soft grass as they watched the sky, hearing his voice harmonizing with the steady rush of the stream. She was already regretting their decision for choosing such a familiar site.
Caedmon dropped the bag he was carrying once they slipped past the trees and into the small meadow. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, taking a deep breath. Verena let herself watch him for a moment, easing the longing in her chest. He seemed to feel her gaze on him, because his eyes flicked open and found her. They were just as stormy, and as beautiful as she remembered.
“Why the sudden interest with weapons, Ren?” he asked as he pulled out two wooden swords and handing her one of them. With the graces of an expert, he swung the harmless blade up and down, and then side to side.
“I think it’s useful,” she replied simply, gripping the place where she had seen him hold tightly. The weapon felt awkward in her hand, like something that wasn’t meant to be there. “Things are getting bad in Kenash and I rather have the means for self-defense.”
A small smile grew on Caedmon’s lips as he heard her answer. “Of course, you do.” Such a simple and logical answer. A part of him had hoped that Verena requested this lesson because she missed him. But he wasn’t at all surprised when she gave the rational reason, instead.
For a brief moment, Caedmon’s eyes traveled down her body then up again. How much he wanted to pull her to him. A pulse on his jaw seemed to bulge in response. Gods, this was going to be a challenge, he thought to himself. “Let’s get started then.”
And I will be prioritizing the quest I am currently involved in! So, sorry everyone!