Was it fear of Thalagar that shone in the child's eyes?
-I think you don't know. Rick returned to sigh calmly. He could almost guess what scared the boy and he didn't like it. - Thalagar and I are not exactly what you could call friends. - Break. Another sigh of relief at the child made him clench his fists, controlling his hatred. - Why don't you rest and sleep? I can guarantee you are completely safe onboard Black Gaia.
Cassie lowered her head, avoiding the magnetism of his deep blue eyes. The head floated in the clouds. She wanted to curl up in strong arms and warm up my tired body. God! When had it been the last time she slept in a bed? Covered! Her hand touched hesitantly, closing her eyes in pleasure as she savoured the texture of the blankets.
Richard noticed the small detail and others that filled her with extraordinary hatred. The boy looked battered and tired. Lack of power. The captain closed his ears to a low moan when he saw her stifle a groan, stretching the small body still undecided. He had fallen into a heavy sleep as soon as he had laid his head against the pillows without removing his unhappy beret.
For a moment, something seemed to overwhelm him in the helpless vision, and it was just that Morgan almost took off his unfortunate cap. It was cold. Once fed, a warm night would make a big difference. Damn Thalagar.Perhaps the boy slept outdoors on the deck of the ship. He was too thin. He listened with even more distaste to the dry cough that came back insistently as he pulled the covers off.
Sighing comfortably, Cassie huddled on the mattress, wrapping her smudged body over the warm covers. She shouldn't have drunk wine. Ah, wizards never drank. She wasn't sure why. The head looked like a puffy pumpkin with only a few sips. He was sound asleep when Morgan lit more candles in the cabin, looking for Black Gaia's logbook. It was dawn. He couldn't wait to demand satisfaction from Thalagar.
It was going to be fortunate, if not for Jackie's feat not to challenge the omega to a duel with the battered and battered state of his younger brother. The looks were hell. Curse! No, it was Faith's way after complaining for two hours without a break that Kassuim had run away. Runaway from the family. Ah, Rick had never had a way with his cousin's tears and he cursed himself. Children! No, he had not imagined that the frightened boy would have run away.
His manner was almost exhausted. He also had little to eat. At that point, he had almost been certain that Faith would have a nervous breakdown when being supported by her older brother. Jackie swore in an endless vocabulary that could make him jealous.
Why would the boy have reason to run away from the family, why? Richard had had the decency to evade his questions politely. And Rick was blazing with guilt. If something happened to the boy ...
The captain shook his head as he checked the ammunition stored in the basements of Madame Lili's tavern. There was also the damn witch that madame hoped he would find. Just like that, he had been reduced to a nursemaid and put his feet in his hands. It wasn't your fault. No, what about Jackie?
Curse!
He had never seen the friend so furious with him.His mind insisted on remembering the unfortunate encounter in the forest. Those green eyes ... He cursed and sighed to the amazement of the friend next to him who kept the silence. Jackie kept himself aloof and aloof without being able to blame his friend for partying and adventures. He knew of the man's zeal for his younger brother. Only someone should have put an end to the absurd.
Imagine Thalagar responsible for such a young boy? Morgan grunted and sighed. If the damn captain had dared to harass the boy, naturally the boy would run away from the family. He had preferred not to comment on anything, as spirits were heated. In the morning an escort of soldiers had arrived in the city, causing a lot of confusion.
The uproar had only increased when the humans had recognized the inquisitors of the Sucessorium with apprehension. Witchhunt. It was just what was missing from that disagreement with sorcerers. The churchyard was home to all kinds of people. In general, they were hungry, sick and without resources. The old priest did what he could to help the people in need. Only so many people together brought serious problems.
The first death had brought hysteria to the people around them looking at the corpse. Despite the cold of the nights that were starting to get longer, the heat was still intense.
The poor man was old and without a family.
From a distance, Cassie looked at the scene in alarm. They were pustules that covered the patient's dull and dull skin. He had complained of malaise until the fever knocked the man unconscious. The remedies were scarce and expensive. She looked at the midwife beside her with all possible displeasure. The men had picked up a young woman who was not from the city. The thin clothes left no doubt.
Cassie watched from a distance, silent and thoughtful. She had abandoned his boy's clothes after they had almost discovered that Star's cabin boy was roaming the pier. The men of the Gaia crew with all discretion asked questions and searched, wandering the streets. The attention was focused on the newcomer. Her blond hair was braided and a wound healed on her forehead. She had heard about women beaten up like that.
Only that ... The midwife worked without resting to save the girl who brought in the injured cart. All-day long she had been overly careful because the bleeding was a cause for concern. Cassie's surprise was astonishing. She had never had much contact with women her age.
The midwife knew herbs amazingly when preparing portions to appease the poor girl's fever. She occasionally regretted the child who had failed to save. The girl had been beaten brutally.If her clumsiness in the kitchen was a total disaster, there she was at least able to help in caring for people who sought help. He was discovering that the company of children was able to ease the tense environment. They never got tired of their games. Ignoring tiredness, she worked to forget her hurts and avoid regret.S
he wasn't going to think about Richard Morgan. Not at all, except that the night brought dreams that made her uncomfortable. The day dawned. Again. She was sure she was barely lying down. There was intense chatter and crying. Yawning, he covered his head again and tried to doze. It didn't take long to feel the warm hand on her arm that was shaking her insistently.
-Let's go! Stand up. - The midwife sighed and lamented.
Mary Susan was still a young and beautiful woman. A two-year-old widow cared for two children alone and worked in a small village as a midwife.
-God! - the girl lamented. She was looking at the window in dismay. It hadn't even dawned.
- It's still dark!-The midwife touched her puzzled forehead as she sat on the bed beside her. Cassie opened her eyes wide awake.
That smell ...Was it the smell of smoke?
-The soldiers ... - the woman regretted holding the apron with her hands.- It was the plague. They will set the church on fire and whoever is inside it to prevent the disease from spreading. The words sent Kassuim shivering, rising in agitation. The weapons ... She leaned over the bed, removing the loose boards, breathing relieved. All she had managed to get from Gaia was a pistol and little ammunition that Rick had left on the table.
She was shouting that it couldn't be the plague. The man had been dead for four days. They would have contracted the unfortunate disease because no one survived the contact.
- It wasn't the plague. You know as well as I do! - she spoke nervously. Soldiers! They were going to murder those people without mercy.
Mary Susan stared at the frightened girl in regret.
-I know it. Only they are looking for... My God! They complained. They said there was a witch in the church. I heard one of the men comment that the information was reliable. A wolf had made the complaint. Cassie gasped as pale as marble.
A wolf? What did the midwife know about wolves?
Supposedly humans shouldn't have known about their existence. It was the most feared law in the Sucessorium. There was no need to worry about the soldiers coming. At the very least, she would be brought before the Court and executed for violating their law. She was ready to deny everything, only that she was interrupted.
-But what...-Oh, don't be silly. - Mary grunted. - I can feel the tear powder distance you use. It doesn't work that well, but it is deceiving. It is best to be careful and not to ingest this herb. Believe.
Cassie felt her wobbly legs fighting the trembling.
The clothes ... Mercy. The fingers were shaking so badly she could barely tie the strings and...- How did the wolves denounce it? She asked worriedly.was far enough away from Scarlet. The Council shouldn't be a concern, should it?
Screams echoed from the courtyard and for a moment neither spoke when the fire rose in the sky in a furious flare.
- You shouldn't be far from your people. - Mary rebuked her. - It's war. Wizards and wolves are fighting each other again. If you're a witch, what are you doing here among humans?
Cassie looked at her quietly.
Witch?
She might have a witch's blood, but she would hardly be accepted among those people. She had been raised in a wolf clan. She was no different than any wolf cub. She had been taught to fear those silver-eyed people.
- I'm certainly not ... - she was defending herself miserably, fighting panic.
They were soldiers of the White Order. She could feel the accumulated energy vibrations in the air. She would never escape. For no reason, she was running away from them after having aroused unwanted attention. I didn't know why.
-See everything and burn! - A man's voice echoed loudly among the screams and cries. - Find her. - The horses were neighing. The words fell like a death sentence.
It was that man again. Mercy.
- Let's go! - Mary was impatient. - You need to get out of here.
And go where? Cassie looked helpless when the woman took her cold hands.
- I...-Ask for help! I know you have the protection you need from a powerful wolf. I heard the men speak. Why are you running from him with these people chasing you?
She was speechless.
Why? He had told her to be thrown out of the castle. The ancients of the Council could not stand her presence. Will ... Will had done nothing to protect her or free her from the prison that Star seemed to be a child. The elders detested the willful child who did not know how to deal with magic. God!
-He didn't ... - Cassie fell silent, reviewing Morgan's worried look on the ship.
She could ask for help. Anyone in that situation would ask for help, wouldn't they? She stalled. It was pride. loved that man. There was no way she was going to show her weaknesses to him. She was afraid. It was useless to deny that. Maybe Lili. She had just dressed automatically, fighting panic. More screams echoed.
Cassie could hear footsteps on the stairs with the sound of overturned church pews. They destroyed the place looking for her.
-Come on, move! - Mary shook her from lethargy. - What are you waiting for? The White Order troops? They are not taking prisoners, girl. - They say that the Order itself is in chaos. A small faction rebels. They bring black robes and ...Just stay hidden until they're gone...
Cassie swallowed, watching the window.
To run away.
Since when had her life become that nightmare? Sighing, she picked up her old coat and beret in a groan and held on to the window as she swung the legs over the sill in a plaintive groan and jumped. The fall was dampened by the dry grass, yet she gasped when felt the thump against her body.
The breath was too fast. The girl could hear more screams. The church was on fire.-
Pity! Mary Susam's cry echoed loudly. - We are harmless people.
Cassie looked up, hiding in the shadows with goosebumps. She would never forget that voice. The laughter was able to make her shiver with horror.
-The girl! Where is it? Ah, we lost a valuable fighter, but we found another one of equal value! New laughter followed, but she no longer heard. She ran through the night seeking shelter from the Order's troops and their sorcerers.
Valerius roared like an animal. The hunt was still going on.