Chapter 104: Bear Rations
Elián;
I used to think Alana and the Ashfang brothers always tried to overfeed me...
But now... In this hut... staring at the banquet in front of me right now... maybe I judged them too soon.
There’s bread, steak, rice, fruits.... Drinks of different colours, salad, and cake. I haven’t seen cake in so long, and yet here it is, staring at me. There’s even milk...
There’s no way all this is for me.
Queen Cassia asked me to wait here. She said food would be brought to me, and I should eat while she changes into something more appropriate.
This, however, is all the food they brought to me, and I don’t even know what to touch and what not to touch.
They probably served this food for Koda and me. It would be rude of me to start eating without him.
I look up at the three young ladies standing at one side of the room, with blushes on their faces. They look... excited. Unlike the usual detached, monotone expression I’m used to maids having here. Wait... do I even call them maids? What if they aren’t maids?
"Do you not like the food, Master?" One of the girls finally speaks, and I realise I’ve been lost in thought.
"Oh. No... It’s nothing like that. I’m waiting for Alpha Koda. It would be rude to start eating without him." I reply, and the girls share a confused look amongst themselves.
"But Alpha Koda didn’t say he was coming here. This is your food." Another of them says, and I pause.
"Should we go and get food for Alpha Koda? Is he coming here?" The third girl questions, and I turn back to the mountain of food on the low table before me.
"There’ll be no need for that. Koda is resting right now." A familiar voice says, and when I look up, it’s Queen Cassia.
She has changed into a beautiful burnt orange dress and has her hair woven back in two beautiful braids.
She smiles at me and sits on the other side of the table.
I adjust nervously on the pillow I’m sitting on, and stare back at the food. Yes, I’m hungry. But I’m afraid to take even a bite because... what if they tell me to finish everything!?
I’ll explode, that’s for sure. How could they give me so much food!?
"Bears consume a lot." Queen Cassia’s voice breaks into my thoughts, and I look back up at her.
"This is a normal ration for us, so they thought it’d be the same for you." She adds, looking up at the girls, and although they suddenly look embarrassed for making this mistake, there’s no hostility in Queen Cassia’s eyes.
She doesn’t even scold them.
"They’ll get better at the job." She says, and then turns to me. "At least, they’re better than when they started." She adds, with a bright smile, and I subconsciously find myself smiling back.
"I know you can’t eat all this, Love. We’ll eat together." She then says, and I blink at her.
"Leave us." She orders, and the girls bow to us before filing out of the hut, and I’m left alone with the beautiful woman in front of me.
She smiles at me before picking up the plate of Steak. I watch her use the fork and knife to slice the juicy meat into small pieces, and staring at it, my mouth waters.
Once she’s done cutting it up, I expect her to start eating, but instead she reaches forward and places the plate in front of me.
I blink at it in confusion for a few seconds, and when I look up, I see that she’s picked up a bowl of salad. She starts eating, and I blink back down at the plate in front of me.
She... cut up the steak for... me??
"So, Koda said I should tell you that your aide didn’t come with because she has something to attend to at Howleroot." She speaks, and my heart drops into my stomach.
Alana isn’t here!? No wonder I haven’t seen her since.
Why isn’t she here?! I haven’t been away from her since I got to this place. I’m so dependent on her, I...
"You don’t have to look so worried. We’ll take care of you. We take significant pride in the comfort of our guests. You might even forget she’s not here." Queen Cassis then says as if she read my mind, and I just stare at her as she eats.
Will she truly look after me? Is she genuinely kind, or is this all just an act?? I’ve never had anyone act so... motherly towards me. It’s weird. I don’t even know how to
She looks up at me, and I quickly look away.
She chuckles softly and then places a cup filled with something that looks like champagne in front of me.
"Eat, dear. There’s no need to be shy. And we’re going on a tour after this, so you’ll need your strength." She says, and I look at her.
She beams at me once again, and I stare down at the cup she just placed in front of me.
"It’s apple juice. Koda said you like the fruit. She informs, and my mouth begins to water.
The smell of the steak wafts into my nostrils, and I take a deep breath.
My stomach grumbles, and I quietly pick up the fork. I take a bite of the meat, and flavour like nothing I’ve ever tasted before explodes on my tongue.
Wow!!
I begin to stuff my mouth, and when I look up, I find Queen Cassia smiling at me.
She takes a sip from her cup and looks back at her food. Letting silence and the distant laughter of happy children fill the space.
I might... actually like it here.
*******
Rhydian;
I stand in the middle of the room, staring at the empty bed.
My arms are crossed over my chest, but my mind is miles away.
I didn’t even get the chance to say goodbye to him.
After helping Bram get the burns on his hands treated, I came back out to see him, but Koda had already left with him.
Was he mad at me when he woke up? How’s Gravemaw treating him?
Has he had breakfast yet?
I sigh in frustration as I walk over to his bed and sit in it.
The room still smells like him. I stare at the crumpled beddings, and a small smile splits my face as the image of his sprawled carelessly in bed unfolds in my mind.
I crumple the duvet in my hands and bring it up to my nose. I take a deep breath, and his precious moon flower scent fills my lungs.
Goosebumps rise along my skin, and in this moment, it dawns on me how ridiculously needy I’ve grown of him.
It’s been barely twenty-four hours since he left, and I already miss him this much.
A knock on the door crashes through the serenity of the moment, and I turn to the door.
"Who is it?" I question as I drop the duvet back down, and Ishu’s voice follows.
"It’s Ishu, Alpha."
"Come in."
The door opens, and as he walks in, my heart skips a beat.
His face is buried, and there are cuts and patches along the side of his face like his face was pressed hard into a wall... or rock.
I shoot to my feet as the door closes behind him, and I rush over to him.
"What happened to you!?" I demand as I take his face to examine the wounds, and he winces.
"It happens the night before the last, Alpha. I... I saw Alpha Liandria discussing with someone. They seemed to have sensed my presence, so they hurriedly went their separate ways. I tried following the hooded man. I was close to catching him... but he..." He begins, but stops.
I blink at him in horror as it’s quite a lot of information to digest.
I know my mother is no good, but I was hoping. Earnestly hoping that the rumours about her having private discussions with shady figures were just... rumours.
Now that Ishu saw her with his own eyes...
I’m snapped back to reality when he suddenly drops to his knees.
"I’m sorry, Alpha. I failed you. He was right within my reach, and I lost him. I lost him and blew my cover. Please forgive me. It was careless of me..." He pleads, and my heart drops.
I quickly grab his shoulders and yank him up.
"What are you doing!? You didn’t fail me! Light, we should be happy that you’re here and alive. What if something else happened? If you died... do you think I would forgive myself!?" I scold, and he stares at me.
"You gave me a mission and I failed. I haven’t been able to find out anything, and I messed up the best chance I got." He replies, and staring at him, I realise the mess I’ve created.
I’ve given him a mission that has become the only thing he’s concerned about now. Isn’t he even worried about his safety?? He almost died, and he’s worried about failing me?
"Ishu... I think you should take a break from this. Father is here now. He’ll get to the bottom of..." I begin, but he cuts me off.
"No... please... If you do this, you seal the fact that I’m a failure. Give... give me one more chance, please. I have one more lead. Just... just let me follow that. And if I fail, I’ll step back. I promise. If you pull me off this case... I’ll never be able to get over the feeling that I failed you." He begs, and I stare at him in silence.
I blink at him as worry fills me. This... fire... this desire to make me proud. It scares me.
Not because this is something new... but because this time, there’s this twisting fear in my guts. I almost lost him. How can I keep him on this case?
"Ishu, I’m sorry. As selfish as it is... You mean more to me than the truth. You won’t continue this mission. And that’s final." I reply, and his jaw drops.
"Go get proper treatment and adequate rest. Alana will attend to me while you rest." I add as I tap his shoulder and walk past him.
I get to the door and just as I pull it open, I turn back to him.
"Ishu?" I call, and he turns back to me.
"This could never determine your worth to me. You’re the best aide anyone could ever ask for. And I’d pick you over the truth as many times as it comes to it." I add with a smile before walking out of the room.
Now, it’s all up to Father... and I don’t underestimate him. That’s the dumbest thing anyone can do. He’ll definitely get to the bottom of this.
If Mother is guilty or not. He’ll get the answer for sure. I’m a hundred per cent certain. I don’t need to let Ishu endanger himself anymore.