The room was a grand one, decked out with ornate tapestries and chandeliers that dripped with crystals. But the people in the room were even more extravagant.
As I walked in, I was immediately hit by the overpowering scent of expensive perfumes, each one trying to outdo the other. It was nauseating.
Sitting around a large, polished table were the duchess and duke we were supposed to escort. The Duke, a round man with a face that looked like it had never known hardship, was draped in layers of velvet and silk.
His fingers were adorned with rings, each one sporting a gemstone larger than the last. The Duchess beside him was no better she had more jewelry on her neck and wrists than most people would own in a lifetime.
Her gown was a ridiculous concoction of lace and satin, so heavy with embellishments that I wondered how she could even move in it.
Their son, an equally spoiled brat by the looks of it, sat slouched in his chair. He was dressed in the finest fabrics, all tailored to perfection, but the sneer on his face ruined whatever charm he might've had.
The kid's eyes were cold and calculating, like he was already thinking of ways to make this journey more difficult than it needed to be.
And then there was Cassandra, standing off to the side, looking as poised and elegant as ever. She was effortlessly beautiful, the kind of beauty that made you look twice, but she knew it.
The way she held herself, the subtle curve of her lips it was clear she was used to people fawning over her. But I wasn't about to fall for that. Not today.
"These are the ones we're supposed to babysit?" I muttered under my breath, but loud enough for Leora to hear.
She shot me a warning glance, but I couldn't help it. I hated this kind of assignment. Spoiled nobles who thought the world revolved around them? Just my luck.
The Duke cleared his throat, a pompous sound that grated on my nerves. "I trust you understand the importance of this mission," he began, his voice oozing with arrogance.
"We are transporting a very precious cargo our family jewels, some of the rarest in the kingdom. Not to mention, our own safety is paramount. We've received threats, you see, from those who envy our wealth and status."
Of course you have, I thought bitterly. When you flaunt your riches like this, it's a wonder you haven't been robbed blind already.
"As such," the Duchess chimed in, her voice high-pitched and overly refined, "we expect nothing but the best from you and your... soldiers." She glanced at me, and I could tell she didn't think much of my appearance. Good. I'd rather not be thought of at all by people like them.
Cassandra stepped forward then, her presence commanding the room. "You can rest assured, your Graces, that we will protect you with our lives. Ciara here," she said, gesturing toward me, "is one of the finest warriors in the realm. You're in very capable hands."
I didn't miss the way her eyes lingered on me, the way her voice dipped slightly as she said my name. It was subtle, but the flirtation was there. My jaw clenched. I wasn't in the mood for her games.
"We'll keep you safe," I said, my tone flat, devoid of the usual charm I might've thrown in. I didn't need them liking me. I just needed to get this over with.
The Duke and Duchess exchanged a glance, clearly unimpressed by my lack of enthusiasm. But what did they expect? I wasn't about to grovel at their feet. I had a job to do, and I'd do it well, but I didn't have to enjoy it.
As they started to explain their situation some convoluted tale about rival families and jealous thieves I tuned out most of it. I got the gist: They were rich, people hated them for it, and now we had to make sure they didn't get themselves killed. Easy enough.
Or it would be, if it weren't for Cassandra hovering at my side, her presence like an itch I couldn't scratch.
Finally, they wrapped up their story, and it was time to start the escort. As we moved out, Cassandra fell into step beside me, her arm brushing mine.
I shot her a look, but she just smiled, that same damn smile that made it clear she thought she could wrap me around her little finger.
"So, Ciara," she purred, "looking forward to spending some time with me?"
I nearly choked on my own frustration. "Not particularly," I grunted, picking up the pace.
She let out a soft laugh, undeterred. "You're always so serious. You should learn to relax a little, especially on a mission like this. We're just escorting some nobles how hard can it be?"
I didn't bother responding. The truth was, it wasn't the mission that was getting under my skin it was her. The way she seemed to think she could flirt her way through anything, the way she acted like this was all just a game.
And the worst part? Part of me was annoyed that it was working, that she could still get a reaction out of me, even if it was just irritation.
We were halfway through the first leg of the journey when I finally snapped. Cassandra had been chatting away, throwing in little compliments and flirty comments whenever she could.
The Duke and Duchess were blissfully unaware, too wrapped up in their own world to notice, but I was done.
"Look, Cassandra," I hissed, keeping my voice low enough that the others wouldn't hear, "I don't know what you think you're doing, but I'm not interested. I'm here to do a job, and I'd appreciate it if you'd just back off."
For a moment, she looked genuinely taken aback. But then that damn smile returned, and she leaned in a little closer. "Oh, Ciara," she murmured, her voice dripping with amusement, "you're so cute when you're angry."
That was it. I stopped dead in my tracks, turning to face her fully. "You think this is a joke?" I spat, my eyes narrowing. "You think I'm just here to play along with whatever bullshit you're trying to pull?"
Her expression faltered, just for a second, before she recovered. "No, of course not," she said, a little too quickly. "I just... I thought we could have some fun. You know, lighten the mood."
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. "This isn't fun for me," I said, my voice quieter now, but no less intense. "So drop it. We're here to do a job, and that's it."
She stared at me for a long moment, and for once, she didn't have a comeback. Finally, she nodded, stepping back to give me some space. "Alright, Ciara," she said, her tone more serious now. "Message received."
I turned away from her, focusing on the road ahead. I could feel the tension in my shoulders, the anger still simmering just beneath the surface.
But I pushed it down, forcing myself to stay focused. This mission was going to be a long one, and I needed to keep my head in the game. I couldn't afford to let Cassandra or anyone else distract me.
As we continued on, the Duke and Duchess remained oblivious to the tension between Cassandra and me, chatting away about their jewels and their estates as if the world revolved around them.
I kept my eyes forward, scanning the horizon for any signs of trouble. But all the while, a part of me couldn't shake the nagging feeling that this was only the beginning, that things were about to get a lot more complicated. And I wasn't sure if I was ready for it.
We hadn't been on the road much longer when the sound of rustling bushes caught my attention. I slowed down, eyes narrowing as I scanned the tree line. Sure enough, a group of scruffy-looking bandits emerged, clearly thinking they'd caught themselves an easy target.
The Duke and Duchess gasped in horror, clutching at each other as if their lives were about to end. Cassandra looked amused, raising an eyebrow at me as if to say, "Well, what are you going to do?"
I stepped forward, cracking my neck with a slow, deliberate movement. The bandits, grinning with rotten teeth and clutching rusty weapons, clearly had no idea who they were dealing with. I stared them down, my eyes narrowing into a deadly glare.
"You're in our way," I growled, my voice low and dangerous.
The leader of the bandits, a wiry man with a scar across his face, took one look at me and faltered. His grin wavered as I took another step forward, the full weight of my presence bearing down on him.
"You sure you want to do this?" I asked, tilting my head slightly.
The bandit's eyes widened as he seemed to reconsider his life choices. His gaze flickered to his companions, who were already backing away, their bravado evaporating under the intensity of my stare.
Without another word, the leader turned tail and ran, the rest of his gang stumbling after him like frightened rabbits.
I smirked, turning back to the group. The Duke and Duchess looked utterly bewildered, while Cassandra gave me an appreciative nod.
"Well," I said, dusting off my hands. "That was easy."