Chapter 4 #3
Cassian offered me his hand. “I don’t want you here without me if it wears off. He pulled me out of the river and onto the icy bank, but he waited until we were dressed and back inside before removing the spell. The cold hit me like a wall. Even inside, it was much colder than I remembered.
“Jasmine,” Cassian said, hurrying behind the counter with the rune stone in hand. “Look what I found. What do you think this is?”
“Is that…?” Jasmine took the stone from Cassian, tilting it around just like Cassian had.
Jasmine gasped and handed the stone back to Cassian. “Grandpa told us about this kind of magic! That’s Faian magic! It’s dangerous, and probably ancient!”
“Dangerous?” Cassian asked, now holding the stone gingerly with his fingertips.
“Yes! Didn’t you listen to his stories?” Jasmine said, her voice rising in pitch. “Faian magic uses nature against its target. That needs to go right back where you found it.”
I lifted a hand. “Let’s not be hasty. Jasmine, how do you know that? Are you a witch too? I would think Cassian would know more about runes as a professional, unless you are too.”
Jasmine frowned at me. “No, I’m not a witch.”
“She’s a mage, though,” Cassian said. “She knows as much as I knew before I left to study witchcraft.”
“Did you study Faian magic with your mentor?” I asked.
“Briefly,” Cassian said, frowning at the stone.
“What would she have told you to do?” I asked.
Cassian squinted at the rune stone before looking up. “She would’ve told me to throw it back in the river. Jasmine is right. It would probably be fine, but there is a chance nature will turn on us, which could kill everyone here. The safety of our guests is priority.”
“What if it’s part of the curse?” I asked.
“We’ll ask Willo about it,” Cassian said, clutching the stone in his fist. “I’m going to return it. I’ll be back.”
Jasmine and I waited behind the counter for Cassian to return. Patrons milled about the surrounding room, chatting with one another and drinking by the fire. “I didn’t know you were a mage,” I said.
Jasmine sighed. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I hope you don’t take any offense. We’re all wary of the Force since they started cracking down on magic.”
“You must have been desperate to call us,” I said.
“Yeah,” she said with a laugh. “Cassian was unsure, but I begged him to send the letter. I didn’t think we’d make it past winter without your help, even with the risk of being found out. Turns out we didn’t need to worry, though. Thanks for being nice about it.”
“Of course. Sometimes it feels like my fellow officers have their priorities backwards,” I said.
“It must be hard to work around people like that,” Jasmine said.
“They’re all right. Of course, I’m not a mage. I’m sure they’d treat me differently if I were.”
“Definitely.”
“You were never interested in studying witchcraft?” I asked.
“Not really. I’ve always loved the family business of innkeeping. I grew up helping with my parents’ inn, but it burned down a few years back. Cassian was an angel to make me a co-owner here.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that. Where did your parents go after the fire?”
Jasmine examined her hands in her lap. “The fire took them,” she mumbled.
“Oh, Jasmine… I’m so sorry,” I said. I didn’t know what else to say.
She forced a smile. “Thanks. It’s been hard, especially after losing Grandpa. But Cassian’s family has helped me. Before I came here, I was managing his parents’ shorefront inn. The constant stream of drunk, horny sailors was too much for me, though. I’m happy to be here.”
“I can imagine that was difficult. Sailors aren’t such a friendly crowd sometimes,” I said.
“No… I’m grateful to Cassian for letting me join him. I hope I’ve helped him as much as he’s helped me,” she said.
“I’m certain you have. He speaks highly of you.”
Jasmine looked up with a smile. “I can see why he likes you so much.”
Our conversation was interrupted by a guest, who had to shuffle through the crowded room to make it to the counter. Jasmine set him up with a room and a key, and he made a large donation out of gratitude. Cassian returned from the river just in time to wish him a good evening.
“It’s all taken care of,” Cassian said. “We should be safe.”
“Thank you, Cass,” Jasmine said. “Willo’s competent enough to find it again if she needs to.”
Cassian nodded. “I think so too.”
Another guest arrived, but instead of approaching the counter, he held the door open. A woman waddled in after him with her hands on her pregnant belly. She looked like she was due any minute, and her husband was strapped down with their bags and luggage.
Cassian jumped up to help them, greeting them with a big smile and removing several of the man’s bags so he could better assist his wife. Cassian carried their bags to the front counter, already striking up an easy conversation as they followed. I was always in awe of his people skills.
“Jasmine, this is Beth and Fred. They’re on their way to see family before Beth has their first child. Isn’t that exciting?” Cassian said, lowering their bags to the floor. “Can you set them up somewhere comfortable?”
“Thank you,” Beth said. “Traveling hasn’t been easy in this condition, and I could do with a good night’s sleep.” Fred pet her back while she spoke, and she beamed at him when she finished speaking.
“Wow, congratulations!” Jasmine said while she slid open the key drawer. She stared into the empty drawer for a second before sliding it shut and looking at Cassian with wide eyes, who looked back with a similar expression.
“Excuse me for just a second,” Cassian said to the couple, sliding around the counter to chat with Jasmine. He knelt at her level and spoke in a lowered voice. “Jasmine, we can’t let them go back out there. It’s freezing outside, and she’s so pregnant she can barely walk!”
Jasmine nodded, chewing her lower lip. “We can’t kick anyone else out of their room, though. What can we do?”
“Damn it.” Cassian rubbed his forehead and sighed with closed eyes.
“They can have my room,” I said.
Cassian’s head snapped to face me, and his eyes flew open. “Your—but where will you sleep?”
“I can sleep in the stable or camp somewhere else for tonight. She needs the bed more than I do.”
“Gods, Sterling, I can’t ask you to do that,” Cassian said.
“I have an idea,” Jasmine said. “Sterling can stay in your room, Cassian. That way everyone’s happy.”
Cassian watched her with the blankest expression I’d ever seen on a face. He had been acting weird to me all day, and he clearly didn’t want to share his room with me.
“That’s not necessary,” I said. “I’ll be fine outside.”
“No you won’t,” Jasmine said, pointing at my trousers. “You walked in here with frozen legs thirty minutes ago. You can’t sleep like that!”
“It’s okay with me,” Cassian finally said. “Are you okay with it, Sterling?”
“Sleeping in the stable?” I asked.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Cassian answered.
“Oh.” I didn’t know how to say yes in a way that expressed both apathy and gratitude instead of excitement and desire. “Yes,” I said, and the blankness of my tone helped me understand Cassian’s expression.
Cassian smiled. “Thank you.”
This would not end well.