Chapter 186: Two Rooms To Spare
When they stepped out of the Palace, Blaze was immediately brought forth to Ivan, and Samantha couldn’t possibly forget about Ivan’s sturdy Midnight-black steed. Her smile softened when she saw Ivan rub his steed affectionately on both sides of its neck all the way to its shoulder area, and the way it nickered at the touch of Ivan’s hand made her feel strange. She was curious to know how he became close to animals; first it was Whiskers, then she knew Blaze.
"Do you fancy animals?" She asked, and Ivan turned his head to look at the woman who stood a few feets away from him and his steed. When he beckoned her over, Samantha reached his side within seconds and eagerly gave Blaze a friendly rub on his back, and she averted her gaze to Ivan’s side profile that was magically enhanced by the light of day. If she were to choose between both his appearances as a vampire or human, she wouldn’t know which to pick.
"I don’t like animals, and I don’t hate them." Was his subtle response to Samantha’s question. "When Blaze was brought to the Palace many years ago, he originally belonged to my Father who took care of him so he could use Blaze for war purposes. Whenever I got bored of staying locked up in my chambers, I would visit the fields to watch my Father tame Blaze into becoming a better steed. After his death, I guess I just.... connected with Blaze and kept him to myself. He was one of those who didn’t look down on me when everyone else did."
Samantha’s heart squeezed lightly at the look of forlorn in his eyes, but she wasn’t surprised when it cleared off the next minute. He was never one to easily succumb to his emotions, but he had admitted so easily that he was in love with her. The more she spends time with him, the lower the walls that guarded her heart cracked.
"Ahem..!" The sound of someone clearing his throat behind them had the two individuals turning around to see the handsome Cassian leaning against one of the walls, but after their eyes caught sight of him, he began to approach them with unhurried steps. Before he even got to where they were standing, little Alain had passed him by with his limitless energetic spirit, and Samantha happily picked the boy into her arms before he could divert his way past her.
"Did you run away again? Always troubling your parents." Samantha pinched his nose playfully only for him to giggle in return, and their attention returned to Cassian who was now standing in front of them. His Amber-brown eyes were transfixed between the two of them before he began.
"I heard you’d be leaving for a village named Fernwood." He folded his arms, "I’m quite familiar with more than a hundred ways of catching these types of men you’re going to deal with. You have no company, which is unsafe mostly for a King, so I insist you take me along with you." Cassian suggested to the two of them as they exchanged contemplative glances, and Ivan’s naturally arched eyebrows pulled together, his eyes hinting at a tinge of suspicion.
"I appreciate your help but you’re a guest in my Kingdom, it wouldn’t be right for me to place you in any sort of danger."
"I think I’ve experienced more than enough dangers in my life to ever be frightened of that word. Frankly speaking, it is not easy to merely accept strangers as a guest in your Kingdom, so allow me to repay the favor by helping you out in your Quest."