The War God’s Favorite novel Chapter 58

The Sacrifice

Cassandra was waiting for that Banquet to come to an end, caressing Krai’s head. The Dragon had decided to take a nap while curled around his master’s throne, and his hot breath was warming up Cassandra’s legs.
The Emperor was still discussing the New Year Celebrations, but Cassandra didn’t listen to it much. Instead, her eyes were staring right at the woman, the one who had put a snake in her bedroom. She had noticed how that concubine was avoiding looking their way. Actually, that woman’s eyes only went from her Prince, Varhen, to the floor or her fidgety hands. She knew…
The more she thought about it, the more disgusted Cassandra was. That woman had put a snake in her bedroom, and hadn’t cared for what would happen from that. She obviously didn’t know much about the snake’s species, or its venom. Yet, she had put Cassandra and her child at risk.
Kairen too was glaring at that woman’s way, making her absolutely terrified. Cassandra could see her lips trembling and her eyes on the verge of tears from where she stood. It became worse when Krai started growling, too. Despite his resting posture and Cassandra’s caresses, the Black Dragon didn’t look calm at all, and his ruby eyes were glowing.
It hard started slowly, but has the glares were longer and longer on the concubine, the dragon’s growl increased along, to the point no one could pretend to ignore it anymore.
“Son, what is wrong with you today?” Frowned the Emperor. “Your Dragon is deafening us!”
“Maybe he is unhappy with snakes attempting to hurt is progeny,” coldly replied Kairen.
“His…”
A cold silence spread in the room, as most people paled. The Emperor stood up and threw his cup on the floor.
“Who dares! Who dares to meddle with the Imperial children! In my Palace!”
The young concubine was still looking down, on the verge of tears, shivering like crazy. Even her Prince didn’t spare her a glance, looking completely unaffected. Either he didn’t know or was really good at acting ignorant, Cassandra couldn’t say.
As absolutely everyone in the Hall remained silent despite the Emperor’s anger, Shareen smirked.
“Leave it be, Father. Or do you think my brother won’t punish those people accordingly? Who would attempt at the War God’s child’s life and make it out alive?”
“Kairen!” Yelled the Emperor. “If you want to settle this alone, make it quick! I won’t allow those snakes in the Imperial Palace!”
“Don’t worry, Father,” hissed Kairen. “I’ll take care of the vermin as quickly and painfully as I can…”
The concubine was wailing silently, her eyes desperately stuck on the ground, but no one around her spared her a glance. She kept trying to get Varhen’s attention, but the Prince resolutely ignored her.
As it seemed she couldn’t stand more, she suddenly stood up, trying to leave. Despite her attempt at slipping out discreetly, it was impossible not to notice someone leaving the room when no one else but the performers were moving
Shareen reacted first, her whiplashing the air and the floor in acute sounds. It made everyone stop moving, and the Concubine froze. Everyone turned their eyes at her, as she seemed unsure what to do, standing there with shaking limbs.
Gently, Cassandra felt Kairen switch position with her. She was now sitting by herself on his throne, while the War God stand un and ent down the stairs, walking to that woman. Everyone around held their breaths. Despite the
four Dragons present, the most terrifying being in the room was human, and walk as silently and inevitably as death towards that woman. She gasped, taking one step back, her eyes expressing pure terror.
“I… I didn’t… I just… The snake… was… not…”
She couldn’t even breathe enough to talk. Even Cassandra’s heartbeat was going crazy just from watching the scene, her hands on the throne’s arms. In front of her, Krai was growling even fiercer, arching his back and showing of his fangs, his tail violently swinging in the air. He wasn’t getting away from her, however, as if there was some invisible leash between him and the throne or Cassandra.
The third prince, however, was walking to the woman at a stable, scary pace. The woman was the very face of terror itself. She couldn’t even cry or beg properly. Yet, when he suddenly arrived a couple of steps from her, she gasped again, crying ugly.
“Was it you?”
His question was only three words, yet it felt like a death sentence. The entire audience thought that woman could lie. She could deny it, pretend she had nothing to do with it. But with her trembling lips, she only glanced once in Vrehan’s direction. He wasn’t even looking at her. The utter pain that appeared on her face was heart wrenching.
After a long, painful silence, she slowly nodded.
Whatever she was about to say, the Prince wouldn’t hear it. He grabbed her and, without an ounce of compassion, dragged her across the hall. The woman’s cries and plea were unbearable.
“Please! Please! No! I didn’t mean to kill her! I didn’t! I was just…! Don’t kill me, please! Please! I beg you! Your Highness! Save me! Please! I didn’t know! I was just jealous! Please! Help me!”
Cassandra did her best not to react, but it was heard. That woman was begging both Kairen and Vrehan to spare her, but neither listened. No matter how much she screamed, no one intervened as she was dragged to the black dragon, waiting for his prey with a terrible growl. As soon as she was within reach, and without an order from his master, Krai jumped on the woman, killing her in a matter of seconds. The violent scene excited the other dragons, who all seemed to want be part of it, growling and opening their maws.
As Kairen reunited with her, Cassandra tried to calm down. No matter how that woman had targeted her, she would never feel content over someone’s death. Especially since it felt like that woman had been abandoned by all…
The cold in her heart was warmed up as soon as Kairen pulled her in his arms, again.
“What a…” Said the Emperor, astonished. “Vrehan! Won’t you watch your women better!”
The second prince immediately looked irritated. Cassandra couldn’t help but feel he deserved that much. How could he act like it was unrelated to him? He clicked his tongue.
“Maybe my brother should keep his woman better, as well, Father. If she stirs up jealousy around her…”
“Didn’t you forbid killing during dinner, father!” Claimed Phetra right after him. “How is it fine to let a Dragon kill someone now?”
The Emperor looked angry and about to shout back, but Shareen was faster.
“Rejoice, sister. Didn’t you ask for a sacrifice a few days ago? Don’t hesitate, if you or brother Verhan have more candidates. My brother’s dragon is always hungry for deceitful snakes…”
Phetra looked as if Shareen’s words had bitten her.
All four dragons were still growling, but the most furious ones were Krai and the Second Prince’s red dragon,
Vhan. They kept growling at each other as if they were about to fight, and their masters were glaring at one another the exact same way.
“Enough, all of you!” Stormed the Emperor. “No more fighting and arguing and killing, I have enough!”
Cassandra noted that despite his words, the Emperor’s words were mostly said to Verhan and his sister, and he barely looked Kairen’s way. She turned to him, whispering.
“Why didn’t you kill her yourself?” Cassandra asked.
“The smell of blood makes you sick,” he simply replied.
Cassandra would have found it funny, in other circumstances. Krai eating a human being wasn’t a much better sight… But indeed, it was a quick job done. There wasn’t any trace left of the poor woman.
After what had happened, everyone else was only hoping no one felt murderous anymore, and the conversations were changed to the upcoming Celebrations. Neither Cassandra or Kairen had much interest in those. Phetra and Vrehan remained silent throughout too, though that didn’t stop their murderous glares.
Cassandra ignored them, focusing on her dinner, and chatting with Shareen. Kairen, as usual, didn’t talk much, but he was holding her by the waist all this time and caressing her skin, reminding her of his presence every second.
“Can you really make Valeria talk?” she whispered.
Shareen frowned, looking at her younger half-sister, hiding behind Phetra.
“I can. If Phetra lets her live until she gets in my hands, that is… I’ll get her right after the Banquet, she won’t be able to leave. And she is already terrified after brother’s little show anyway. I’ll just drag her to my apartments until that little swine speaks. On a side note, do you think you can learn more about the abortion potion?”
“I’ll study it,” said Cassandra. “The bottle and content can give some information about whoever made it… Moreover, that will be another occasion to look for my sister.”
“How so?”
“If it was me… If I had a hefty sum of money, my freedom and no more people to work for, I would have tried to set up a way to collect more money. Missandra probably opened some sort of business somewhere. If she did, it has to be with something she knew well, and the only thing I can think of his our knowledge in herbs and plants.”
“She could have learned something else in the meantime,” argued Shareen. “Or she could work for any shop.”
Cassandra chuckled.
“Maybe, but I don’t see my sister taking any orders if she had a choice to. You heard it too, she is as proud as ever. If she acquired as much as that bandit said, and I would bet she saved some by herself too, she would rather remain independent. I am not too confident about the business, but medicine in the Dragon Empire is a lucrative business. With her knowledge, she could work it out.”
“But you said she was only seven when she was sold…”
Cassandra looked around, a bit worried about talking of her childhood in the presence of those people, but with the performers’ music and chatter, no one could hear them whisper.
“The Rain Tribe children learn about plants and herbs before we even learn how to write. It is considered the most basic and necessary knowledge. Missandra and I used to follow our mother everywhere, and she was the tribe’s doctor. We were the most knowledgeable…”
While she talked, both Shareen and Kairen had the same odd feeling. They often forgot that Cassandra had been born and raised in another country, another culture. Her white skin should have been a constant reminder, yet she
acted so discreet and quiet most of the time, her past was rarely brought up.
“Fine,” said Shareen. “I guess you’ll have to look into the herbs businesses…”
“You want to go out again?” Asked the Prince with an unhappy frown.
Cassandra smiled to him and gently kissed him.
“I’ll be careful again, I promise. With Shareen and Krai, too.” The Dragon immediately raised his head, putting his hot snout against Cassandra’s tight.
“I’m curious to meet that mischievous sister of yours,” admitted Shareen. “I do have a thing for troublemakers…”