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Royalty and the Beast CH56

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Royalty and the Beast CH56

Vasson lead Evan down the hall, moving at a fast pace. Evan struggled to keep up, nearly tripping over his own feet. Finally he was forced to catch himself on a wall. “Vasson,” he called. “wait.”
The naga turned to him, looking him over. He slithered back to Evans side. “should I call a doctor?”
Evan shook his head, pushing the hair from his eyes. “just give me a moment,” he insisted.
“what's wrong?”
Evan shook his head, feeling a bit of shame. “I’m just really weak.”
Vasson didn’t snap an answer back. He didn’t have a mocking smile. Instead he pressed against the wall next to Evan, crossing his arms once more. A very low sigh escaped from the nagas nose. Evan tried to copy his stance, still struggling to stay standing. The two of them fell into uncomfortable silence. Finally Evan looked at the floor, shifting feet. “I feel like a child,” Evan admitted quietly. “I haven’t gone anywhere without someone holding my hand.”
“your condition was shocking,” Vasson shrugged. “I never thought you would survive the night after we found you. I never thought you would still be alive when we came for you. if a little bit of weakness is all you suffer, then be thankful.”
Evan looked at his wrapped arm, wincing. “you know, I don’t want to complain, but your timing could have been better.”
To Evans shock, Vassons lips twitched with amusement. “what can I say? We took a wrong turn and had to stop and ask for directions.”
Evan laughed weakly, leaning on the wall more. He pushed the hair from his face, looking back at the ground. “Xeon told me that you had gotten the others home safely.”
“I had.”
“…then he told me that you had gone back out and followed us.”
Vasson tapped his black claws on his arm, looking away. “I was doing what I was told.”
“and were you following instructions when you kidnapped this human?” Evan wondered.
Vassons lip raised the slightest. “you are beginning to sound like Xeon. I did what I had to. We didn’t know what information you were giving them. it was too dangerous to leave you there.”
“it was more dangerous to take a group through the sewers of the city in hopes of finding someone that was probably already dead,” Evan shrugged, wincing from the action.
Vasson sighed, rolling his eyes and looking away. “there was never a risk with me there.”
“well, thanks. I know there are a lot of people mad at you because of this. Xeon told me that you are in serious trouble. You didn’t have to do it.”
Vassons tail twitched in annoyance. “I could not come back empty handed to Xeon once more. And the yelling from old men doesn’t scare me. they can cry all they want. I make decisions for this city and act on them. I don’t just sit around a room, sitting on a cushion and speak of what could be. I am not afraid of them.”
Evan laughed a bit, shaking his head. “well, all the same, thanks.”
Vasson moved away from the wall, motioning for Evan to again follow him. Evan was again struggling to keep up. “I didn’t say anything,” he called to the naga.
Vasson looked back.
“I didn’t,” Evan repeated. “I never said a single word about any of this place. I would have died to keep you all safe. I promise.”
“Evan, I had found you in those dark tunnels. I had seen you tied to the device. I had smelled your blood far before even seeing you. I have no doubt in my mind that you were willing to die for us.
“I had thought since you had mentioned posting more guards that maybe you didn’t-“
“I said what I needed to say to keep everyone happy. Those old dust bags in there have to worry. Its their job. But you do not have to reassure me. you do not have to convince me. I know you weren’t lying. But everyone is scared. Everyone is looking at shadows and seeing monsters. It is the first time in a very long time that we have felt this way. I did not agree to post more guards because I doubted you, but to allow the others a chance to relax.”
Evan looked back down the hall, understanding. “I see. I am sorry about all of this. I feel like I have caused a huge mess.”
“you did not create a mess, only reminded us of a stain that has lingered for so long that we have forgotten it. now come. Enough of this self pity. Let’s go.”
Evan nodded, again following Vasson out of the palace. He had noticed the nagas slower pace and was thankful for it. “you know,” he started, looking back to Vasson. “this might be the longest conversation we have had that you have not insulted me.”
“give me a bit more time,” Vasson assured him. “I will think of something before the day is over.”
The air was crisp and clean. So different then the damp tunnels Evan had been stuck in. he knew where he was going, but silently followed Vasson. It was late in the morning. The city was active and loud. Vasson took Evan down the side streets, avoiding all eyes and conversations that tried to make contact with him. it wasn’t long before they had reached one of the caves in the walls, which was locked with a heavy door. A naga standing beside the door put his fist over his chest, bowing to Vasson, then unlocked the large door. He opened it wide, allowing Evan and Vasson to pass. Two more nagas were in the hall, guarding a door further in. they both hit their fist against their chest, moving to the side for Vasson.
“little on guard, are you?” Evan muttered lowly.
“I had even more guards for you,” Vasson answered back, grabbing the keys from one of the nagas.
“you were that scared of me?” Evan laughed.
“it wasn’t to protect them. it was to protect you,” he shrugged, turning the lock and opening the door. He pushed it open, keeping his hand on his sword. “you have a visitor,” he announced to the darkness. He put a clawed hand on Evans shoulder, pushing him forward while still keeping his other hand on the sword. Evan heard a bit of shuffling but he still couldn’t see from how dark the room was. Vasson kept his hand painfully tight on Evans shoulder, his glowing green eyes locked onto a section of the room.
“can we get some light?” Evan finally asked.
Vasson glanced at him, then looked back. As if on cue, a naga appeared with a torch, handing it to Evan. Finally the darkness faded away, reviling a man. He was not too old. Evans best guess was late 20’s. his face was covered by scruff, and his clothes were wrinkled from the time he had spent down here. His dark brown eyes glanced from Vasson to Evan, squinting from the light.
“you may leave, Vasson,” Evan commanded, standing straighter.
Vassons claws dug deeper into Evans shoulders, nearly making him wince. He could feel the naga stiffen. “…are you sure that is the best idea?” he muttered, tapping his sword. Evan knew what he was thinking. He was worried.
“you can wait right outside the door,” Evan suggested. “if I need you, I will call.”
Vasson hesitated, then released the painful pressure from Evans shoulder and turned away, closing the door behind Evan and sealing him inside. Evan looked around the room, holding back a slight smile. It wasn’t long ago that it had been him stuck in this place.
The man sat up more, his eyes getting use to the light. He looked Evan up and down. “so they did get you out.”
His voice was rough, almost raspy. Evan adjusted the torch in his hand and nodded. “I understand you had given them excellent directions.”
“glad to be of service,” the man muttered.
Evan set the torch into a hook on the wall, glad he could finally relax his arm. It might have not been the broken one, but it was still sore. “I have heard that you were very eager to give away the information. You have not held your tongue at all it seems. Why is that?”
“It might surprise you, but I do enjoy having my head on my shoulders. They gave me an option. Either I talk to them or I would never talk again.”
“You are not loyal to your lord then?”
“loyalty only goes so far,” the man grumbled. “I will carry it up until the point where my lord expects me to die for a lost cause.”
Evan leaned on the door, secretly glad for the support so he didn’t have to stay standing on his own. “you were fighting his war,” he pointed out. “you must have supported his cause.”
“no. not me,” he answered lowly. “I, like many others, was drafted into service.”
“drafted?”
“it was in the middle of the night when we heard a loud bang. I ran to the door only to find soldiers, dressed and ready for battle. They gave me a paper with a signature of Lord Howard that said I had to join his army. They pinned the paper to my door, grabbed me up and threw a suit of armor onto me.” he looked at Evan, his rage still burning. “I have never lifted a sword in my life. I’m a baker. My father was a baker and my grandfather before him. I have hardly stepped foot outside of the city. I was going to die for a cause that I had no interest in.”
“is that his entire army?” Evan wondered in surprise.
“more then he will ever admit. They didn’t train us. They have been putting us to work doing the labor his real soldiers don’t want to do. then when the horn is blown, we all grab our swords and stand in the front so we die first.” He propped his arm on his knee. “so tell me, would you be eager to protect Howard?”
“I suppose not,” Evan shrugged.
The two of them became very quiet. The man stayed on the ground. He must have known how unwise it was to move. “so where does this lead us?” he wondered.
Evan stayed quiet.
The man drummed his fingers on the ground, looking worried now. “I have answered every question your snakes have asked,” he shook. “I have cooperated every time they came to me. I have never whined or complained. I have never raised my voice. I gave them every single piece of information I could imagine.”
“you knew a lot about that sewer for a baker,” Evan pointed out.
“My father had four sons,” he answered. “I am the only baker. My three brothers all joined the guards Howard doesn’t pay his guards well. My brothers all worked in and under the castle, protecting it from rats. Do you know how often I had to bring them food? I use to walk those godforsaken sewers every night with a basket of bread just to make sure my youngest brother didn’t starve.”
“what is the point of having men guard the sewers all night and day?” Evan wondered quietly.
“ask Howard,” he shrugged. “I have no idea. The only thing down there were the rats.”
The two of them again fell into a tense silence. The man looked at him with very tired eyes. “when can I leave?”
“I don’t know,” Evan shrugged.
“How is this going to end?” he wondered very quietly.
“I don’t believe it will end well,” Evan answered just as quiet.
“you all are just going to kill me? even after all of this?”
Evan didn’t answer. The man seemed to go pale. He shifted so he was sitting up taller. “I have a little girl and a beautiful wife that don’t know where I am,” he said, still speaking very quietly. “I haven’t seen either of them in weeks. My baby girl can’t sleep unless she gets a story from me. My wife can’t run our shop alone. What do I have to tell you for you to convince those beasts to release me?”
“They are not beasts,” Evan said shortly. “and what more can you tell me?” he shifted to his other foot. Though he was keeping a straight face, he was nearly begging for an answer. He did not want this to end in bloodshed.
The man spun this thumbs, his eyes deep in thought. Finally he looked back at Evan. “how close are you to your father?”
Evan immediately stood straight, his brows dropping in anger.
“I know you are the prince of Goldstean. I know your father had disowned you, or at least its what is spoken of around the fires. Tired men can be quite the gossips. Now, I don’t know what is true and what is false about your position with him, but if you care at all then I might have information that you will want to hear.”
“what are you talking about?” Evan demanded quietly.
“I will speak only if you can swear I will be safe,” he crossed his arms. “I need you to swear it.”
“Your life is not in my hands!” Evan snapped, finally getting angry. “I don’t decide what happens next!”
“then I won’t give my information,” he shrugged.
Evan clenched his good fist in rage. “what do you want me to do? lie to you? I am not in control here. I do not make decisions! Now tell me this information! Is it about my father? Is he on his way? is he near? Has he come to kill me? answer me!”
“not until you swear my life is safe.”
Evan shook with anger. He knew he could get information from this man. He knew the way to get him to talk. He could just-
He stopped himself, looking at his own broken arm. The room went very quiet once more.
“I don’t deserve to die.”
Evan looked at the man, now seeing his exhaustion, his fear and sadness. He was just an unlucky player in a game that he wasn’t even playing. What would his father do in this situation? Evan stood straight again, raising his chin. “I am going to need proof of your information,” he said quietly. “tell me more. Something I can bring to them.”
The man pulled at his shirt, thinking. Finally he looked up at Evan. “If you can promise my life, I will tell you everything. Until then, I wont say a word of it.”
Evan bit back a sharp answer, attempting to calm himself again. He let out a long breath through his nose, unclenching his fist. “If this information isn’t worth it, or turns out to be false, you will regret it.”
“promise my life and you will know everything,” the man repeated.
Evan turned, knocking on the door. “Vasson! I am-“
The door was thrown open and Vasson stood in the opening, his teeth barred and his hand on his sword. He looked over the room, seeing there was no trouble. He looked back down at Evan. “are you done here?”
Evan didn’t answer. He just pushed passed him. Vasson reached in and took the torch from the wall, allowing the other nagas to close and lock the door. The man was left in the darkness while Evan fell against the wall. He had not realized how draining that conversation had been.
“what happened?” Vasson asked lowly.
Evan ran his good hand through his hair. “I need to speak to Xeon.”
“why?” Vasson barred his teeth slightly.
The room went quiet. Evan only looked at the door to the cell, taking a deep breath and managed to push himself from the wall and start walking to the exit. Vasson muttered something behind him, then started moving to, following him outside.
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