Chapter 33
I stopped walking as soon as that left his lips and looked at him. My eyes were wide, and I stared at him in shock. My mind was blank, and a shiver ran down my spine because there was so much power in that word, something that I had never experienced before.
It felt right for him to call me that, like I was waiting for him to call me by my title and to feel the amount of power in that one word. It made my skin crawl with so much power, and it felt like I was on top of the world where nothing could bring me down.
No wonder Jonah hated it when the ?ren called him "Digra," for there was still power in that name, even though he did not have his dragon with him.
"Marini?" Caspian asked while he grabbed my arm. Concern filled his eyes when I focused my confused gaze on him. "Are you ok?"
I blinked and blinked again before I cleared my throat. "Uh, ya," I said. I cleared my throat again and rubbed my eyes. "I am fine."
Caspian's frown deepened. He didn't believe me; I could tell. He wanted to argue, to order me to tell him, but he knew that wouldn't work.
I sighed and shook my head. "The name Digra has a lot of power in it," I explained. "When you called me that, it felt right." I furrowed my brows and pursed my lips. "It was weird, but I am glad that you called me it."
Caspian studied me and tried to make sure that I was telling the truth. Slowly, his face grew brighter, and he dipped his head. "Then it is possible I can call you that in the future?"
I hesitated but nodded. "Please do not do it in front of others except for people who know what I am." I gestured for him to follow me and started to walk the rest of the way to the front with my pace quicker than it had been.
Something felt... off, and I did not like it. My whole body grew tense with each passing second because the closer we got to the front, the heavier the feeling became.
Caspian didn't say a word to me and picked up his pace. Worry filled his expression, and I had a feeling that he wanted to question me about what was wrong, but he knew better than to ask.
I made it through the front door and stopped suddenly in which Caspian almost ran into me but quickly recovered. I looked left and right, confusion bubbling in the pit of my stomach when I didn't see the old man by the door, waiting for me.
Caspian moved closer to me, and my body was super aware that he was there. "What is wrong?" he asked. "Why did you stop?"
I shook my head and looked this way and that. My stomach started to turn while I looked, and I had a feeling that something bad had happened or will happen. I could feel this sense of urgency, and I knew that I had to get Caspain out of there as soon as possible.
"Marini?" Caspian asked. He touched my arm, and I looked at him. Confusion filled his face while he studied me, and all I did was stare blankly at him. "What is it?"
I shook my head and sighed. "I don't know," I replied. "Something is wrong, Your Highness, I can tell you that much."
"What do you mean?"
"He's not here," I said. I stuffed the coins back into the basket and pulled out a knife, making sure that I didn't grab Mir?na. "He's supposed to be waiting out here, but he isn't."
"Then how are you going to repay him?" he asked, and I gave him a weird look. He raised an eyebrow. "What? I don't want you to get into trouble with him if you don't pay him."
I shook my head. "He'll understand," I replied. "I'll pay him the next time I see him. He knows that my main focus for right now is you."
"And what if he doesn't understand?" Caspian asked. "Then what?"
"Then nothing," I replied. "Our rules are different than yours, Rupor. That is one thing you'll find out." I gestured for him to close his mouth. "Now, shush, I am not allowed to say another word. Remember? Just know that I will be fine."
Caspian closed his mouth and pursed his lips. Slowly, he nodded, but I could tell that he didn't like the idea of me leaving without paying my fee.
"Let's go," I said. "We stood around long enough." I started to walk in the direction that I needed to go at a pace that Caspian wasn't used to. I kept my face straight ahead and looked this way and that with the flick of my eyes.
"I don't like this," Caspian said and moved closer to me. His whole body was tense, and I could tell that he wanted to get out of here as soon as possible.
"I know," I replied. "I don't like it either, especially since it is darker in here than it should be." I looked around again and noticed that the darkness had grown. I felt this chill in the air that I never did and shivered.
"It has gotten darker?" he asked, and I nodded in confirmation. "Are you cold? You shivered."
I shrugged. "I'm ok," I replied. "It is colder in here than it was before we went in."
"Do you know why?"
I shook my head, no. "No, but I am going to find out as soon as you are safe."
When I noticed a light down a different alley than I would normally take, I went down it. I knew that no one would harm the Prince or me, for he was under my care.
"Do you normally do this?" Caspian asked after I turned towards another light and went down the alleyway. "Isn't this suspicious?"
I shook my head, no. "I don't go this way, but it's not suspicious, nor are we in danger if we follow them. I will be asking around about the lights later, but as I stated before, I want to make sure that you are safe."
"Do they know?" he asked, and I shook my head, no. He wanted to know if they knew that he was the prince, and I had a feeling that they didn't, and even if they did, then they wouldn't do anything because he was with me.
"All they know is that you are under my care and protection. If you were alone, then they might try something only because you are a stranger to them."
"And they don't like strangers." His voice was filled with bitterness, and I rolled my eyes.
"They are protective of their own," I said. "The kingdom had done a lot to them, to us, which caused them to hide in the darkness. Some are even suspicious of their own because they do not know if they will turn their backs on them."
"Will any become suspicious of you?" he asked, and I paused and thought about it.
"No," I replied. "I don't think so."
"Why not?"
"Because of my tribe," I replied. I went down another alley and picked up my pace when I saw a different light, the light of the sun that came through the tunnel.
"They respect my tribe, even though they, some of the younger ones, hadn't met anyone that had been there, not after my father had died. "
Caspian's pace quickened, but he kept pace with me. He nodded and cleared his throat. "So your father was respected, too?" he asked, and I nodded. "What about your mother?"
"They look after her and keep her safe," I replied. "However, my mother is as stubborn as a mule and will not accept any help. She... isn't fond of the people that live here, but she knows better than to try and force me away." I chose my words carefully because I did not want to offend anyone.
"Why doesn't she like it here?" he asked, and I shrugged my shoulder because I didn't know. "Don't you think you should ask?"
"I will, but I do not think that she wants me to cut ties with them for whatever reason. She doesn't want her opinion to influence my decision, which wouldn't happen. However, she is stubborn, and I don't think she will tell me."
Caspian frowned but nodded. "They respect you, though," he said while we took another path and went away from the Sun. "I think that something serious had happened, which is why she doesn't want you here."
I shrugged and stayed silent. I didn't say a word until I was out in the sunlight and was able to breathe again.
My whole body relaxed, and the bitter chill that I felt was gone.
"I don't know the reason," I said, "but I am not going to let it influence my decision.
" I looked around and spotted the guard that was supposed to look after Caspian, who looked worried.
The guard's eyes filled with relief when he saw the two of us, and he nudged the horses that way. He didn't say a word, but I had a feeling that he knew what the problem was. However, he wouldn't tell me in front of the prince.
"Lexus," Caspian said.
"Your Highness," the guard, Lexus, said while he bowed his head. "Lady Marini," he said to me, and I rolled my eyes and scowled.
"I am not a member of the royal family," I said, "nor am I someone of power."
Lexus's lip curled into a small knowing smirk, and I had a feeling that I knew what he was thinking. However, he didn't say a word and grew serious while he looked at the prince. "We should get going," he said. "I am sure that your parents want you home soon."
Caspian groaned and took the cloak off before he handed it to me. "Will I see you again before then?" he asked, and I ignored Lexus's raised eyebrow.
I shrugged and took the cloak from him. "It depends on if you know where to look," I replied. "Now, go. I have to get back to work."
"And find out information?" he asked and raised an eyebrow while he gave me a pointed look.
I shrugged. "And that. However, that might have to be after my work."
Caspian nodded and sighed. "Stay safe?" he asked, and I nodded in confirmation. "Then I will see you in three nights."
A small smile appeared on my lips, and I nodded. "I will see you in three nights," I replied. I sent Lexus a warning look before I turned on my heel and went back into the darkness.
I had no idea why I went that way, but I had that urge to go in again and go back to Town Square through that way. And, I was glad that I did because as soon as I was out of sight of Caspian and Lexus, a body fell on top of me from a doorway.
I dropped my basket and made sure that neither of us fell with no weapon in my hand. I felt this bond between us and almost sobbed with relief when I saw the feather clutched in this male's hand, for I was right.
He was the man that I was bonded to and not the imposter that stopped at my house that evening, so I said the one name that I knew was associated with him and called him, "Silan."