Chapter 244: A firm list to follow

Words : 1833 Updated : Oct 3rd, 2025

Chapter 244: A firm list to follow Leaving the temple wasn’t all that complicated. They only had one carriage waiting for them at the bottom of the steps, but that was fine. Edgar looked absolutely pissed, but he made do. He was barking orders at people like the pure son of Duke that he was, and Cass was smirking as he watched, completely unaware of what was transpiring inside the carriage since he had been distracted while the others had been boarding. Sir Forsythe wasn’t inside because he wanted to keep an eye on the outside. You know, as a guard. Cass let him since there was room inside and outside of the carriage, so when he stepped inside, he froze. Fiona and Lady Ava were sitting side by side with each other, both grinning like complete fools compared to how they had been before. They were still holding hands, being so cute Cass thought he was going to throw up. Lucian was sitting across from them, where Cass normally sat, a look of expectation on his face as he stared at the other man. There was nowhere else for him to sit. He had to sit next to Lucian. Maybe he could be on guard duty outside with Sir Forsythe? "Come on Cass. Don’t you have a lot to do? Eddie was saying something about sending our realtor to Fiona’s house for you?" Lady Ava said, her eyes sparkling and Cass made a face. He knew he was making a face of great displeasure, but who could blame him? He’d been avoiding sitting next to said man for a while now. Ever since the sleeping incident. He’d only behaved at dinner the previous night because there were so many witnesses? With the fucking lesbians in the carriage? Yeah. They weren’t going to do shit. Cass grumbled, climbing into the carriage proper and plopped his ass down on the seat next to Lucian, but as far away as he could. Cass crossed his legs, crossed his arms, and made himself look as covered up as possible. Cass heard Lucian laugh lightly, shifting closer to him and Cass gave him a look. It was only a few seconds later that the carriage was moving and Fiona and Lady Ava were smiling at them. Cass felt like a moody teenager compared to the other two. Like he was in a carriage with an older couple and him and his boyfriend were fighting. Cass’ whole face went red at the thought alone. "Are you alright, Cass?" Fiona asked, genuinely concerned for him. "Your face went red rather suddenly. Is something wrong?" They should really mind their own fucking business. "I’m fine." Cass said sharply. "Just warm." Cass muttered. They didn’t need to know the truth. The small snort from Lucian made Cass snap his hand out, slapping his arm. Lucian laughed quietly. "He’s fine." Lucian confirmed, and Cass could hear the smile in his voice without looking up. Damn snitch. "Just a little embarrassed and warm, as he said." Lucian was kind of lying to them for him, but that didn’t make him happy. Why the hell did he have to say he was embarrassed? He could have kept that shit to himself. "Alright. I was just worried. I mean, Cass has only just been cleared to go into the temple and I was worried something else had happened." Fiona said and Cass shifted. She wasn’t wrong. Something could go wrong. How the hell would he know? He didn’t even know if what the gods were doing was okay? Like he knew they were gods, but this much intervention felt...a little strange, if he was honest? It also sounded like there were higher level gods? Were they cool with what they were doing here? Lady Ava began shifting in her seat, looking rather uncomfortable and Fiona turned her attention to her. "Are you alright, Avie?" She asked and Cass wanted to hurl. Avie? Gross. He didn’t need to know that. "Uh, well, it’s been so quiet in my head for so long that I’m just...adjusting to the sounds again." She said a little nervously. She swallowed, glancing at Cass. "Um, Daelas is telling me to tell you to...watch your thoughts?" She said questioningly and Cass felt his eyes widen, before his mouth opened slightly. He was fucking right. They were reading his thoughts! "Tell them to stay out of my damn head." Cass grumbled, surprising everyone with his tone. Fiona blinked, Lady Ava blinked, and even Lucian seemed surprised by his less than apologetic tone. Cass glared at them. "What? Are you surprised? They didn’t really have another choice in-" Cass shut up on his own. No one needed to know that aspect. Fiona covered her mouth, turning her head to the side as she laughed, her shoulders shaking, while Lady Ava seemed to grow even more shocked. "Y-You speak to them like that?" She seemed to be in actual shock. Cass sighed. "Why would I temper how I speak when I myself thought they were demons when I first spoke to them?" Cass said and Lady Ava looked stricken. Offended. She raised her free hand to cover her chest like a delicate lady. Cass remembered that she was a delicate lady. Lucian was laughing. "I would love to hear how you speak to them." Lucian said. "I’m sure it’s quite the sight." Cass didn’t look at him. He swallowed thickly. "You don’t need to worry about that." Cass told him and could see how Lucian was smiling at him, staring at him directly while Cass wouldn’t give him the time of day. "Alright. I won’t then. Hey Fiona, you got any books on human culture at your den?" He asked and Fiona turned back around to stare at Lucian, before she glanced at Cass and then turned her gaze back to Lucian. A smile touched her lips that made Cass’ skin crawl. She was calculating why he would need something like that. She had already pieced it together. Cass wasn’t going to say a damn thing. "I think I have a few. Should keep you occupied while Cass is in his meeting." Cass hated that she was treating this as a normal thing. "Do you need me there for it? Or are Avie and I okay to go outside to the gardens? I’ll have lunch made and-" she cut off. "Oh no. I have no idea what is blessed and what isn’t." Fiona said and Lucian made a soft noise. "We can have the inn that we’re staying at send over some food. The carriage is still there, and we can send Forsythe there and he can come back with the carriage and lunch. Maybe even your guards so we can plan our prank." Lucian commented and Cass was only slightly worrying about what they were going to do. "No burning down buildings." Cass told him warningly and Lucian raised his hands slowly, an easy, deliberate smile on his face. Cass did turn to look at him, mostly to glare at him to get his point across. "Hey. Don’t look at me like that. I know property damage of that nature isn’t a prank, and that could hurt you in the long run. The temple is a place where the heroes go to speak to the gods. Can’t be hurting the place where both of you go. I won’t be welcomed into any homes if I do that, and I’ve grown fond of the furniture of this era." He said. "It’s soft. I sink into it in a pleasant way." Lucian said as if beds hadn’t existed when he helped found the kingdom. Well, they could not have been, not to the current level. Cass still frowned, staring at him. "Stains are fine, as well as some other things. I’ll even accept balding or other things. Just no murder, no broken bones unless by complete accident, no fires or property damage, and it can’t be traced back to us. That one is very important." Cass said and Lucian frowned at that. "What? But that’s the best part!" Lucian complained and Fiona’s lips twitched. "No, it’s not. If it can be linked back to us, we, or I, could get in trouble. Do you want me to have to apologise to them?" Cass asked and Lucian looked absolutely disgusted. "Over my fucking body." Lucian growled and Cass felt his own lips twitch at that. Alright. Points for how serious he meant that. "So make sure that no one can tell it was from us. It has to be sneaky. That’s the best part. If they know you did it, but can’t blame you for it? It’s delicious. Keeps you fed for days." Cass told him and Lucian narrowed his gaze, while Fiona looked a little green. "Cass, how many times have you done something like this?" She asked and Cass paused. As Cass? Only a handful of times. He did semi follow the Lucian handbook before. Make sure that they knew it was from him. But Lord Blackburn? Cass felt his lips curl up in a purely villainous smile. Lady Ava let out a soft gasp, and Lucian stared at Cass. "Fiona, don’t ask questions you don’t actually want the answers to." Cass warned and Fiona frowned. She didn’t seem disappointed, more like his answer made her grow thoughtful. "Hmm. I see." She muttered before the carriage came to a stop. Cass motioned for the girls to get out first, and Lucian wouldn’t let Cass get out last so he followed after them. Then he pulled Sir Forsythe aside, told him their plans and his eyes sparkled as he spoke of the prank. He nodded, and Cass made sure to let him know that he could tip generously with his coin purse. Sir Forsythe nodded. "I’ll make sure to bring a good spread. Anything you and the others don’t eat, we can consume. Sir Sanders is a garbage can, as Ser Hune has said." Cass felt his lips twitch at the obvious friendship between the trio. He nodded instead of teasing him. "Sounds good. We’ll see you shortly. I’ll be in a meeting, or just finishing it up when you come back." Cass told him and Sir Forsythe nodded. "Is Lord Draken sitting in with you?" He asked and Lucian twitched at the formal way that Sir Forsythe was calling him. It was an obvious slight, and Sir Forsythe’s lips curled up slightly at the way he stiffened. "No. He’ll be reading." Cass said and Sir Forsythe frowned. "But-" He began and Cass shook his head. "I’m better now. In several ways. Who in the world would try to harm me in the house of the hero, Sir Forsythe? Worry about your tasks, not about me." Cass told him firmly and Sir Forsythe let out a heavy, not very like a knight, sigh before he nodded. "Understood. See you soon, my Lord."

Chapter 244: A firm list to follow

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