Chapter 33


    The Wild Beasts


    “Don’t you have enough now?”


    Nebora was frowning while looking at everything Cassandra had bought. Three full baskets of


    medicinal herbs on the little chariot behind them. The concubine was still looking at the stalls, smelling


    more herbs and observing the products. Cassandra chuckled.


    “Not yet. This is my first time seeing a market in the North, and we rode two hours to get here. I should


    make sure I don’t miss anything before we go, shouldn’t I?”


    “You’re a really strange woman. You have five chests full of riches, yet all you care about are spices


    and herbs.”


    Cassandra had never really cared for those things. The young girls at the castle however, had been


    excited to check out her new dresses and jewelry, and even yed with it when the Prince wasn’t


    around. She had fun reuniting with the other girls and answering their endless questions about the


    military camp and soldiers. It was like she had gotten a lot of younger sisters all at once.


    Nebora, however, was two years older and moreposed. She was a bit interested in the jewelry, but


    didn’t dare touch it. She only helped Cassandra tie her hair up with golden hairpins and suggested a


    couple of bracelets for her to wear.


    When the young concubine had insisted on going to the nearest vige, she had been the only one


    allowed to go with her. The other servant girls had much work to do with the Prince back, and Patrina


    had made sure to keep them busy. After Kairen agreed, Cassandra and Nebora had left with only a


    chariot and a horse they borrowed from the castle.


    “I’m still curious on how you got His Highness to let you go alone,” said Nebora.


    “It’s only a couple of hours by foot. He can be there in ten minutes if he flies. And I doubt anything will


    happen here.”


    She moved on to the next stall where the man greeted her with a polite smile despite his eyes being


    riveted on her red dress.


    “Well, with the Army so close, no bandits are stupid enough toe to this area, but we still have wild


    beasts, you know.”


    “You said they onlye out at night.”


    “That’s why we better be back before nightfall.”


    “Yes, yes…”


    Cassandra grabbed a batch of herbs, which were dry, and caressed it between her fingers. It was from


    the smallest basket on the stall, and he only had half a dozen of those. She slowly smelled it. She


    addressed the man selling it.


    “Lavender?”


    “Yes, My Lady. My Lady knows well!”


    “You don’t grow that here, do you?”


    “My sister grows those a bit further south, My Lady. We cannot grow much here, but those travel a long


    time…”


    “Is it still good if it’s dry?” asked Nebora with a frown.


    “Lavender is great,” replied Cassandra, handing her the little batch. “Any flower can be dried and used


    like that.”


    “Can you eat it?”


    “It’s mostly used to perfume things. You can make beauty products, incense, and perfumes. Lavender


    is good for calming the nerves and rxing the body, in small amounts.”


    The merchant whistled after listening to Cassandra’s exnation.


    “My Lady, you’re very knowledgeable! Most folks in this area wouldn’t even know what this is called!


    Give me a second!”


    He looked at the back of his stall for something while Cassandra gathered money to pay for her


    purchase. Fortunately, Patrina had already converted the gold bar into money and given her a good


    amount of it. There was so much though, that despite everything they had bought that day she hadn’t


    even used a third of it yet.


    “Here it is! My Lady, do you know this?”


    The man handed her what seemed like a batch of ck paper. Cassandra’s eyes opened wide in


    surprise when she took it.


    “Is that…dry seaweed?”


    “It is! I knew you’d recognize it!”


    “Dry seaweed?” asked Nebora,pletely lost.


    “It’s nts from the sea you let dry and you can eat.”


    “Eat? You want to eat this ck stuff?”


    Cassandra chuckled and tore a little bit to eat. It was salty but as good as the one she had known in


    her childhood. Better even. Nebora was baffled, but the merchant smiled from ear to ear.


    “It was imported from very, very far in the South, but it stays dry and edible! I bought it a while ago, but


    it’s hard to sell to the people around here. They are wary of what they don’t know.”


    “How much do you have?” asked Cassandra.


    “Here we go again,” sighed Nebora.


    “You know, it’s good for keeping the body young,” said the young concubine.


    “Young?”


    Nebora frowned, but took one of the sheets, observing it with curiosity. She hesitated a bit before


    tasting it, but seemed confused.


    “What an odd taste…”


    “I’ll cook it, you’ll see.”


    Cassandra took a while discussing it with the merchant, who was happy to see someone so


    knowledgeable. The young concubine was ecstatic too. Nebora knew Cassandra was holding herself


    back from buying too many herbs, but she didn’t understand why. It wasn’t like the Prince was going to


    be anywhere near poor even if she bought the whole market! Besides, most of the purchases weren’t


    even for herself, but for cooking for everyone or creating new medicine. She really was an odd one.


    Suddenly, a shadow flew over the sky. Everyone at the market raised their heads.


    “Isn’t that His Highness’ Dragon?”


    “It is…”


    The merchants, afraid, ran to take cover. Neither of the two women moved, their eyes cast upwards.


    The ck dragon didn’t stop, however. It was headed further, and didn’t even look down their way,


    Cassandra frowned.


    “Is he going to hunt? So far?”


    “That was the direction of the pce,” said Cassandra, intrigued as well.


    She couldn’t see if Kairen was on his dragon’s back from that distance. Yet she had an odd feeling


    about this. They watched the beast’s silhouette until it was too far, then she turned to Nebora.


    “Let’s go back.”


    “Okay. It’s gettingte anyway, we better go now if we want to arrive before night time.”


    They quickly finished purchasing what they needed, filled their chariot, and got on their way back. It


    wasn’t an easy path back to the castle as it wasn’t used often, but it was wide enough and their horse


    knew its way.


    However, as Nebora had feared, the sun went down fast behind the mountains. They were still far


    away from the castle when the temperatures fell and both women tightened their coats around them.


    Nebora had the horse speed up, though the night was clear and a thin coat of snow was surrounding


    them. Thanks to that and the moonlight, they saw clearly ahead of them, but the castle was still far


    behind the winter trees.


    Nebora was looking more and more worried, continuing to nce around while hurrying the horse.


    “What kind of beasts are there?” asked Cassandra, worried as well.


    “We’ll be lucky if it’s only wolves.”


    What could there be out there worse than wolves? Cassandra looked around too, looking for any


    animal that could be lurking from behind the trees, from the deep darkness in the forest. Cassandra


    couldn’t tell how far they were from the castle, but Nebora’s worried look spoke volumes. Not close


    enough.


    Suddenly, she noticed a growl on their left, somewhere behind them. Cassandra turned around, only


    spotting a couple of eyes in the dark, but not the beast they belonged to.


    “What’s that!”


    “Something looking for fresh meat,” sighed Nebora. “They won’t attack yet, but they are following.


    They’re hungry. Come on, hurry up!”


    She had the horse elerate, but with their weight the poor thing was already doing its best.


    Cassandra heard more creaturesing after them, rushing in the snow, growling hungrily. Could they


    outrun them and get to the castle in time?


    “Nebora! Watch out!”


    One of the beasts jumped at them, all ws out, but Nebora dodged right in time and it hit the chariot


    instead. Cassandra saw it though and it wasn’t a wolf at all.


    “Snow leopards! Damn it!”


    The snow leopards were white with dark brown spots, exining how Cassandra struggled to spot


    them among the snow and trees. Their fur was a perfect camouge in thisndscape. Except for their


    glowing eyes, they weren’t hard to see at all. But they were much scarier than wolves!


    “Those damn things are faster than wolves or horses,” said Nebora. “They must be hungry, they don’t


    usuallye down from the mountain this time of the year.”


    Cassandra tried to think of something to distract them, but they hadn’t gotten much food from the


    market and surely nothing that would look more appetizing than a horse and two humans!


    “Let’s abandon the chariot!”


    “What?”


    Cassandra grabbed the knife under her skirt and used it to cut the ropes, only letting Nebora handle the


    reins.


    “Jump on the horse!”


    Her friend hesitated for a second before obeying, unsure. Shended safely and looked back, holding


    her hand out for Cassandra to take. She hurriedly joined her on the horse’s back, as the chariot was


    abandoned in the snow behind them.


    “Crap…” said Nebora, looking at all their purchases scattered around.


    At least this mess, and the chariot falling back disturbed the felines enough for the horse to get some


    distance. She was faster with only two women on her back, both of them not too heavy either.


    As the servant had said, it wasn’t long until the snow leopards caught up to them though. Cassandra


    heard their growls only a few seconds after they had parted with the chariot, and looked back.


    Three of them were chasing behind in a triangle formation waiting for the right moment. Cassandra was


    at the back, if the leopards attacked they would either get her or the horse.


    “Cassandra! Look!”


    To her surprise, Nebora was pointing forward. After a few seconds Cassandra saw it. Arge human


    figure standing in the middle of the road ahead of them. She couldn’t see his features, but she still


    knew instantly. 1


    “His Highness.”


    Kairen stood there waiting, two swords in his hands. When the two women and their horse crossed his


    path he didn’t flinch, his ck eyes fixated on the creatures behind them.


    The snow leopards didn’t miss the new target in front of them. Therge human standing still was such


    easy prey. However, as they approached, some of the felines slowed down by mere instinct. Two


    young ones didn’t though. They jumped at the same time.


    Blood stained the snow and the felines dropped dead at the Prince’s feet. Their peers growled, angry.


    Some were still lurking around, but were either too smart or listening to their instincts. They didn’t dare


    approach within reach of the Prince’s swords.


    Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Cassandra wasn’t sure if they were supposed to wait for him, but Nebora didn’t stop. She watched the


    silhouette as they rode away. Once they arrived at the castle a few minutester, Patrina and the girls


    ran to them.


    “Lady Cassandra! Nebora! How could youe back sote?! Are you both alright?”


    “We’re fine, Patrina,” sighed Nebora. “Just had a big fright.”


    “His Highness stayed behind,” said Cassandra, worried.


    “Don’t worry about him,” replied the old woman. “Come on,e inside and drink some hot tea, both of


    you. You’re freezing…”


    “I’m damn sweating!” groaned Nebora. “That was the most hellish ride of my life. I need a bath. And


    Olive deserves a treat too.”


    Cassandra patted the poor horse. It had been very brave to bring them both back safely. Marian and


    Helmond hurried to take care of the horse, taking it back to the stables, while Bina and Prunie


    apanied the women to the kitchen. Patrina made some hot wine for both of them to drink after


    Nebora insisted. Cassandra, however, couldn’t swallow anything. She was too worried for her Prince.


    “Don’t worry, Lady Cassandra, His Highness is too strong!” said Bina.


    “She’s right, you know,” added Nebora. “He won’t be taken down by a few big cats. He’ll be back


    perfectly fine in a couple of hours, you’ll see.”


    However, Kairen wasn’t back two hourster. Cassandra, who had finally drank some wine and was


    exhausted, even fell asleep in the kitchen waiting for him. Nebora helped her up to the bedroom since


    she was half-asleep.


    “Don’t worry, sleep. He’ll be fine.”


    Cassandra couldn’t find a peaceful sleep. Why wasn’t he back yet? And where had Krai gone, so far


    from its owner…?