Chapter 26 A Noble Pursuit
Castien stalked down the misty path to the Obsidian Assembly with a scowl etched onto his face.
When he came across any students, they veered away as if they were afraid he’d lash out with his dagger.
Considering the rage simmering beneath his skin, it wasn’t out of the question.
Wren was resting in her chambers, and that meant Castien was free to let loose his emotions.
Soren and Ambrose should be grateful he didn’t come across them while cloaked in fog.
He’d be tempted to leave them outside the Wall the way they did Heron.
Pinpricks of lanterns broke through the thick darkness. It was beneath one of those lights that Finn and Eindar awaited him. Castien closed in, noting the rise of Finn’s eyebrows at his thunderous expression.
After determining they were alone, Castien spoke. “We have names.”
“So that’s why you look ready to pounce,” Finn said, crossing his arms and leaning against the post that held the lantern aloft. “Who is it? Did you say names, as in more than one?”
Eindar's eyes flicked from Finn to Castien.
“Yes, there are two, possibly three people involved,” Castien answered. He pulled the slip of paper from the yellow book out of his coat pocket and showed it to the two men.
“Figures it would be a pair of Grimhaven scum,” Finn sneered.
Eindar grunted his agreement.
“I think you can guess who else might be involved,” Castien said as he hid the paper away again.
“Somehow, I’m not shocked by her involvement,” Finn said dryly. “What’s the plan?”
“Rest tonight, because tomorrow evening we’re ending this,” Castien answered, his tone bathed in vitriol. “I’ll be inviting the princess to meet in the tunnels half past midnight. You two will help me get the others down there shortly after. Use whatever means necessary.”
Finn nodded. Eindar’s hand rested on the pommel of the sword at his hip.
“What happens after we have them?” Eindar asked in his deep baritone voice.
Castien met his gaze coolly. “We will interrogate them, and once we get the information we need, Lady Kalyxi will decide their fate.”
Eindar took on a skeptical expression but stayed silent. Unfortunately, Finn did not do the same.
“Does that mean she will be with us? It will be easier to conduct the interrogation if one of the victim’s family members isn’t present,” Finn said.
Finn’s Gift was a great tool to disarm any suspects. It worked best if he was alone with them. Having Wren there would put the three on edge, but Castien wouldn’t deny her what she wished. He owed her.
“I have reason to believe all of this was to get to me, and I’m certainly not staying away. You’ll have to manage with us all there.”
“You know that is different. You are someone they’ll expect, and you bring a measure of intimidation. That can be an advantage. There is no advantage to Wren’s presence.”
Castien leveled Finn with a glare.
“If they had killed Marina, would you stay away?” Castien brought up Finn’s younger sister. A ray of sunshine to all, and someone Finn was immensely protective over.
Finn’s jaw was tight as he looked to the side. He blew out a sharp breath, the air in front of him turning white.
“If they had killed Marina, I would have demanded to slit their throats myself,” Finn growled.
“Exactly my point. Wren deserves the same opportunity. ” Castien adjusted the cuff links on his coat. “Now, shall we head to dinner?”
Eindar grunted again. Finn pushed off the post and shoved his hands into his coat pockets.
The three set off toward the dining hall.
Their combined intimidation had their peers not just veering off the path but changing routes entirely.
Castien smirked. Good. Wren wrote in her journal that they would rue the day they spilled Kalyxi blood.
He’d ensure that and more. No one raised a hand against his leadership, his tunnels, his storyteller, without paying the price.
When they arrived at the dining hall doors, Finn tipped an invisible hat to the guards, who tried not to chuckle at his theatrics.
Then he opened the door and invited Castien and Eindar to go first with a flourish.
Castien shook his head but walked in. Finn did not handle somber atmospheres well.
He sought to break them with levity as fast as he could.
Castien surveyed the room. There were less people present than usual, likely residual fear from the recent events causing some to remain in their chambers.
Not Calypsia and Soren, though. They were almost sharing a chair in the far corner of the room, lost in each other’s eyes.
Castien’s scowl deepened. At a nearby table, Ambrose laughed with a group of students.
How could the three of them act as though they hadn’t murdered multiple people in cold blood?
It was disgusting. He tore his eyes away before anyone caught him staring.
At his usual table were several people, but there were still three seats open.
Kierana, Cyprus, Adalin, Percilean, and his friend Letta already had their meals and were making amiable conversation when Castien approached.
The table fell silent. Letta blinked up at Castien as if waiting on him to banish her.
Meanwhile, Adalin stared down at her plate, her fork frozen in her hand.
The others appeared more comfortable. It almost made Castien want to move them for the sake of disrupting whatever position they believed they held in his eyes.
But he refrained. It was not worth the trouble, and he tolerated their company enough.
“Good evening, Prince Valengard,” Adalin said once Castien had taken his seat.
Finn made a show of coughing and sputtering, gripping the table as if it were the only thing holding him up.
“You must quit that, Adalin, or else I shall perish,” Finn rasped.
Castien shot him an unamused look. Finn grinned, then winked at Adalin. She blushed from her neck to her hairline.
“Though my cousin is disgustingly theatrical,” Castien drolled, “I do agree that it is better to dispense with titles. Castien is fine.”
Adalin and Letta both appeared shocked at his words. Kierana barreled into the conversation with no regard to propriety.
“Wren is taking dinner in her chambers. She said she was under the weather.” Kierana hurled her words like accusations at him.
Castien raised a brow.
“And?”
“And you were the last one to be seen with her. Did she have one of her episodes again? If you caused one, I’ll—”
Eindar cleared his throat. Kierana’s gaze snapped to him.
“Cut off your pinkies and feed them to a cryptura,” Kierana finished in a saccharine tone, her eyes still on Eindar. He let out a frustrated growl. Castien shook his head.
“Wren is fine. She was simply feeling a bit ill after practicing in the cold,” he lied.
He recalled the haunted look in Wren’s eyes as they searched for the yellow book.
Perhaps he should stop by her room and check on her after dinner.
It was unlikely he was going to receive the sleep he was prescribing to everyone else anyway.
He could always write to her, that way if she was asleep he wouldn’t disturb her, but if she was restless as he was, they could comfort one another.
“I hope she’s not Tidesick,” Kierana said, looking deflated. “She insisted on practicing more, even though I told her it was best to take things slow.”
“Rather stubborn, that one,” Finn said with a laugh.
Castien stifled a smirk. That she was. He felt Cyprus watching him, though the man said nothing. His expression was blank when Castien cast a glance his way. Given his earlier worry for Wren, Castien suspected he was not satisfied with the answer given.
“How was Dueling, Perci?” Castien changed the subject from Wren before anyone could pry more. “Did you get the best of Finn?”
Percilean pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
“Once, when he was distracted. But as soon as he focused again, I lost,” Perci answered with a sigh.
“You’ll be a great swordsman one day if you want to be,” Letta said in a sweet voice, placing her hand atop Perci’s on the table.
It was Percilean’s turn to blush then. Finn chuckled beside Castien, elbowing him lightly.
“Who would have thought Perci would fall in love?” Finn asked under his breath.
Castien was surprised Finn didn’t say it louder to goad Perci. Though the young man looked embarrassed enough as it was. He did not like the attention everyone was now bestowing upon him.
“I didn’t doubt the falling, but him speaking to a woman was unexpected,” Castien replied in the same low tone. “I’m glad, though. A relationship will build confidence.”
“It will,” Finn agreed. “He tried harder than usual in Dueling class today. I think he wants to be strong, to protect her.”
The weight of Finn’s implication settled on Castien’s shoulder. A familiar burden of responsibility he had grown used to carrying.
“A noble pursuit,” Castien murmured. “Though tomorrow night it will no longer be necessary.”
“I hope you are right, cousin.”