Free Web NovelChapter 44: Chapter 44
Gonan spurred his horse harder, urging it forward as the towering spires of the tall stone structures loomed into view and the gleaming palace gates drew closer. His cloak snapped behind him in the wind, dust rising in his wake as he galloped up the main road. It had been several days since his return from Kezar, but a string of urgent matters, council summons, border reports, and a skirmish in the east, had kept him away from the one conversation that mattered most. He needed to speak with Ragnar about the disappearances.
He hadn’t expected to find his friend still holed up within the palace walls. Ragnar had never been fond of the capital, let alone the palace. He despised the marble halls and velvet chambers, preferring his solitude of the forest surrounding his manor and the privacy of his estate. Even during mandatory court gatherings, Ragnar would slip away the first chance he got, often sleeping elsewhere unless duty forced his hand. The fact that he remained within those suffocating walls days after the queen’s trials had ended was Gonan’s first indication that something was wrong.
The only things Gonan knew about the queen’s trial came from the mouths of gossiping nobles, snippets of scandal whispered between goblets of wine and hurried meetings. He wasn’t present that day to witness it for himself; his departure for Kezar had coincided with the trial, and by the time he returned, the capital was still buzzing with rumors. Whispers of Casilo’s supposed betrayal, bloodshed, and a prince pushed to his breaking point spread around the streets of the capital like wildfire. But Gonan had learned long ago not to trust the nobility’s version of events.
He left his horse in the care of a stable hand and marched towards the main entrance. Guards bowed to him as he passed but he paid them no mind, not when his thoughts were currently spiraling out of control. The only thing that could calm his nerves was seeing his friend and speaking to him.
Someone called his name from behind but Gonan didn’t slow his pace or glanced back to see who the voice belonged to. Footsteps followed him.
" Lord Erchel, can you spare a moment? I would like to have a word with you." His pursuer said. The male voice was oddly familiar. Perhaps he was part of the royal court.
Gonan didn’t have the time or patience to entertain idle chatter.
" Not right now. You can come by my estate later today if you want to talk about it." Gonan said. He didn’t even know what was going to be discussed. At this point he would say anything to get the man to stop trailing after him.
Just ahead, the hallway curved sharply. Gonan made a beeline for Ragnar’s chambers, certain that’s where he would find him. As he veered left, he nearly slammed straight into Casilo.
" Flames of innermost, Casilo! I never thought I would be so happy to see your surly face." Gonan exclaimed and Casilo frowned.
" I’m not surly." Casilo said.
" Tell that to the frown on your face." Gonan retorted. " Where is Ragnar? Is he well?"
" He’s fine. His wounds were almost fully healed when I checked on him this morning."
Gonan heaved a deep sigh of relief. " Thank everything that is holy. I was so worried."
" You shouldn’t. Ragnar isn’t easy to kill." Casilo said.
" It’s hard not to worry sometimes." Since he was a child, Gonan had bared witness to the queen’s ruthless manipulations and strategies. He wasn’t sure he knew anyone as cunning as Nheera. He feared a day would come when the queen would finally get her way and everything they worked hard for would be lost. " I need to speak to him immediately. It’s urgent."
Casilo didn’t respond. He just turned and led the way while Gonan followed closely. They came to a stop in front of a familiar door. Ragnar’s chambers were just a little farther down the hall.
Casilo lifted his fist and knocked on the door twice.
" Isn’t this the room where the Westerian prince and princess stayed in?" Gonan asked.
Casilo nodded. " It is."
The door swung open before any other word could be exchanged. Gonan didn’t know what he had been expecting but watching Circe fill the doorway certainly hadn’t been it. There was a flash of recognition when she met his gaze.
Circe watched them warily, her eyes lingering on Gonan the longest. There was a quiet intensity in her gaze, sharp and unyielding. She appraised Gonan silently.
" You rarely knock." She said. Her words were directed at Casilo but her focus was still on Gonan.
Casilo stepped forward, forcing her attention to settle on him. " I brought a guest."
" I can see that. Why did you have to bring him here?" She asked. There was tension at the corner of her eyes, either from anger or unease, It was hard to tell. Her lips pressed into a thin line. Circe had never hidden her disdain for vampires. Having one that she wasn’t familiar with so close to where she slept unsettled her. It was kind of irrational to still have such fears, especially now that she was trapped in a palace teeming with vampires. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
" I’m here to speak to Ragnar." Gonan said, tired of listening to them speaking about him like he wasn’t even there.
Circe stared back at him with a look of mild annoyance for interrupting her conversation with Casilo. " And you are?"
Heat crept up the back of his neck. Gonan knew better than to take it personally. This was simply her way of retaliating for the way he had completely ignored her the first time they met.
" What’s happening over here?" Ragnar stepped up behind her and nudged the door open further. He smiled when he saw Gonan standing behind Casilo.
The sight of Ragnar standing by the door, alive and well, dissolved the last traces of the worry and tension that had been pressing hard on Gonan’s chest.
