CHAPTER 223: LET’S START A RUMOUR, BABY

The clerk inside who was manning just the guests coming to stay in the inn looked pale and ill when she saw Cass coming in. She was a were person like Sir Sanders, only she had a cute pair of horns and a soft, squishy nose that made Cass think of some kind of barn animal. A sheep or a goat?

Given how much she was shaking, he was going more towards the sheep suggestion since he had a feeling that anyone who had goat blood was a little more chaotic.

"H-H-Hello." She stuttered upon seeing Cass, and wouldn’t meet his gaze.

"Hello. I’ve been told by my knights that you have some rooms available for us?" He asked and she nodded. There was a long pause, so long that Cass wondered if she’d frozen. "How much are those rooms?" Cass asked and she flinched, her whole face going red as she fumbled, grabbing a book and scanning it.

"U-Um, for our best room it’s two gold coins and for our other rooms it’s-" Cass glanced at Sir Sanders, who had been trusted by Sir Forsythe with Cass’ coin purse and he quickly passed it over to Cass. Cass opened the purse, much to the girl’s confusion, and placed a stack of ten gold coins on the counter. The girl trembled but Cass looked at Lucian.

"Do you want a room?" He asked and Lucian snorted.

"I told you, I can sleep on the roof." He said and Cass narrowed his eyes. He could feel how the others were watching him, and he completely understood. A third of the hero party had just walked into an inn in the capital. Not only that, Lord Blackburn of the rumours was staying in an inn instead of his own home.

He wondered how quickly rumours would spread. He wondered if it would put any pressure on his grandfather? If he wanted to put pressure on his grandfather, he’d have to jazz up the rumours. Cass’ lips twitched as several ideas came to mind.

"Fiona would have my head if you slept on the roof and you didn’t need to. Come on. A room?" Cass prompted and Lucian pouted.

"Why can’t I share the room with you?" He muttered bitterly, pushing his luck. Good for him, but Cass was in the business of starting rumours that would not only enrage his grandfather, but also tell the world that Cass was a sad, neglected man who was frail and missing the love of his family.

"Sure." Cass said, turning back to the girl at the counter and kept the total the same. "We’re hoping to get some meals as well. We’ll take them down here once we’re finished cleaning up, if that’s alright. Will the kitchen still be open then?" Cass asked and watched as she stared at him blankly.

Right.

Heirs to Dukedoms didn’t ask when kitchens closed.

They just told them to remain open for him. Rookie mistake, Cass.

Cass could see that the poor girl was in shock, and an older woman, potentially human, came over, her gaze narrowed as she took in the shocked state of the girl and Cass standing before her. Clearly, her first assumption was that Cass was causing problems, but when Cass didn’t react as she came over, placing her hands on the smaller girl’s shoulders, she grew weary.

"Hello, my Lord. How can I help you?" She asked politely and Cass could feel how Sir Sanders shifted behind him. He wasn’t the one who normally liked Cass, was a little weary of Cass himself, but Ser Hune was getting slightly annoyed. Lucian, however, wasn’t showing a reaction at all.

"Ah, yes. Your...front desk clerk was just informing us that there were several rooms available for rent for the night. We aren’t sure how long we’ll be in town since we just finished clearing the dungeon we were just working on, so I was planning to reserve at least three rooms for two days. Is ten gold enough for that as well as some warm meals when we finish cleaning up?" Cass asked and even she, a veteran in her field, seemed shocked at Cass’ words.

Lucian chuckled.

"You forget, Cassian, that they aren’t the townsfolk. They know who you are here." Lucian leaned over his shoulder, his face coming next to Cass’, all smiles. His orange eyes were curled up with amusement, and even Cass had a hard time taking his eyes off of him. Cass wondered what others thought of them as Cass felt his face warm.

"Well, it’s not my fault that the others are assholes." Cass muttered and Lucian laughed.

"No. That is not your fault. What is your fault is that you won’t let me punish them." Lucian’s gaze slid to him knowingly and Cass rolled his eyes.

"I’m sorry that I don’t think that people who have committed crimes recently shouldn’t be on the hero party. I’m sure Fiona agrees." Lucian frowned before he let out a heavy sigh.

"That’s only if I get caught, Cassian." Lucian winked and it wrecked havoc on Cass’ insides. Damn the man.

"Uh, well, of course we can do that. We’re open until 2 am so as long as you come down before then, we are more than happy to tend to your needs. Just the three rooms? We have five available for at least two days." She said and Cass turned back to Sir Sanders and Ser Hune.

"You two are sharing a room, correct?" He asked. He’d kind of assumed, but he should ask. Ser Hune’s grin was infectious.

"Yes, my Lord. We are married." Cass nodded, relief flooding his system as he made the right assumption. How awkward would that be if they were married, and didn’t share a room? Woof.

"Perfect. I am glad I was right in my assumption. Sir Forsythe can have his own room, and if things take a turn, Lucian can go sleep in the same room as him." Lucian growled.

"I will be doing no such thing. He’s your guard dog, not mine." Lucian said and Cass chuckled, smiling.

"Exactly. So wouldn’t it make perfect sense if he was keeping an eye on you?" Cass teased, and Lucian growled again, pulling back. Cass felt the gentle, warning touch on his lower back and almost told Lucian to drop down and kiss his feet right that second.

He restrained himself, only because that wasn’t the rumour he wanted to start right now. That would only make him look more like a villain. Hold it in. Punish him when they are in the room alone.

"Well, if you are getting three rooms for two days and food, this is a bit too much, my Lord." Cass blinked.

"Oh, that’s fine. Take it. I know it’s rather late. Think of it as a service fee. Oh! We also have a carriage. Is that alright?" She nodded, both women staring at him as they finished getting him booked in, marking it down, and finding the appropriate keys. Sir Forsythe came back just as they were handing them over to Cass.

"My Lord, I can take them." Sir Forsythe said, panic in his voice. Cass chuckled, turning and giving him a smile.

"Sir Forsythe, my wrists aren’t so delicate I can’t hold a few keys. Thank you for your concern though. Ser Hune, Sir Sanders, once you are settled in, you are more than welcome to come down and get some warm food once you are ready. No need to wait on me. I’ll probably take a bit longer. Dungeons just...don’t leave you feeling refreshed." Cass said and Ser Hune chuckled.

"Especially that one." She shuddered, before nodding. "Thank you my Lord. Dustin, grab the Lord’s extra luggage, would you?" She blew her husband a kiss and Sir Sanders flushed.

"Of course, dear." He sounded like a stick in the mud, but Cass could see how flushed he was, and he could also see how his tail was wagging slowly. He loved his wife.

"Hmm. He’s cute." Lucian murmured quietly, and Cass jerked his head to the side, staring at him.

"He’s married." Cass pointed out quietly and Lucian gave him a strange look, before he realised what Cass was saying and he started laughing.

"Oh gods no, Cassian! That’s not-do you think I’m some kind of cheater? I would never break up a happy marriage." Cass blinked several times before he leaned in and said it quietly.

"What do you think mine and Fiona’s was?" He asked and Lucian’s eyes widened, before a slow, seductive grin crossed his face.

"A boring one. You both weren’t even sleeping together. I doubt you even kissed. Or held hands." Lucian’s gaze slid to Cass’ lips and Cass was aware that they had several eyes on them.

"Don’t you even think about it." Cass hissed. He wanted rumours, not news articles. Lucian pulled back, chuckling.

"Hmm, too late for that, but I know that now is not the time. You’ll skin me alive." Lucian said, proud. "I like that about you." Cass had no idea what to even say to that. Thankfully, the little sheep girl had come out from behind the counter and was now going to show them to their rooms.

Cass stepped away from Lucian, shaking his head as Lucian laughed, tossing his arms up and behind his head, walking behind them without a care in the world. Sir Forsythe tossed Lucian a glance before looking towards Cass.

"Should I be concerned, my Lord?" He asked quietly, probably knowing that Lucian could overhear, but not caring. Cass sighed.

"Yes, but I’ll deal with it. Rest easy, Sir Forsythe. I’m sure the firestorm will come tomorrow. Oh! I need to tell Vespertine that we made it." Cass remembered, and once they got to the fourth floor, Cass took a second while she showed Sir Sanders, Ser Hune and Sir Forsythe their rooms to send a message to Vespertine. Unlike before, it arrived rather quickly and Vespertine replied back.

It wasn’t crazy, just a simple, Got it. See you in the morning.

Cass was glad it was so short.

Then, Cass, Lucian, and the sheep girl headed for the room that Cass had booked.