Her shuddering breath of relief choked him again. Her arms squeezed him. “It’s fine. It'll be alright.”
He swallowed. “No. It’s not.”
The scars on his body had healed. The scars on his soul were forever.
Chapter 39
Castien
The next morning, Octavius tested him. The trance and compulsion had no effect. The healer told him he could return to his room.
It should have been a moment of celebration. He just felt tired.
Gathering his clothes, plants, and the dagger, he stepped out of the tower. Two guards nodded at him.
“Jacqim and… Lesha, correct?” Both had guarded him before, though not at the same time.
“Yes, Escort,” they confirmed.
“Who were they?” He held the woman's eyes, then the man's. “The guards I killed… I don't remember their names.”
Lesha glanced at her partner. “They were new. Chande and Arden. If I may, sir, we don't blame you. And we won't be caught by surprise like they were.”
He weighed the dagger sitting on top of his pile of clothes. Drop the clothes, grab the hilt, slice. Barely two movements. That was all it would take. Seconds.
“Good. Don't hesitate,” he said as he began to descend the tower.
He had just taken the last step when a set of heavy paws smashed into his side. The dagger slid off his silk shirts, and the pots rattled together.
A low growl rumbled through the hall.
“Careful, Ash,” he murmured. A smile tugged at his lips as her tongue rolled out, and she grinned at him. If not for a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth, she'd be no different from a giant puppy. “Down, girl. Down.”
She landed and rubbed against him like a cat. Circling him, she sniffed the dagger, picked it up in her jaw, and raised her head.
He bent to let her drop the weapon onto his clothes. “Thank you. Good girl.”
With a soft bark, she raced down the hall to his room, pawed at his door, and whined.
The smile took hold. “Impatient today, are we? Has no one let you out to hunt all day or something?”
Sitting on her hind paws, she gave him a pitiful look, lifted her snout, and howled.
“Gah, what did you do this time, Castien?!”
The door across from his flung open. Darius crouched as the wolf spun and leaped into the man's arms. “Has Escort Castien been neglecting you? Yes, he's incredibly rude, isn't he? Ash, no, not the mouth– Mmph!”
Castien didn't bother to hurry his steps. Slobber covered the Escort's face by the time he made it to his door. He watched her enthusiastic licking for a moment longer, then whistled sharply.
The wolf immediately sat on her haunches and closed her mouth, the picture of an obedient, calm pup. Her tail might have wagged.
“Ugh,” Darius whined as he wiped his face with a handkerchief. He got to his feet. “Finally. She's been howling outside your room every day. Sometimes in the middle of the night, other days at the crack of dawn. You must have heard her.”
The Escort opened the door. Nodding his thanks, Castien stepped inside. “Not a sound. I suppose I must recommend the tower’s… insulation.”
He set his clothes on the table.
Behind him, Darius sighed, “Oh, wonderful. She’s been waking everyoneexceptyou.”
