Page 139 of The War God’s Favorite

“What a…” said the Emperor, astonished. “Vrehan! Won’t you watch your women better!”

The Second Prince immediately looked irritated. Cassandra couldn’t help but feel he deserved that much. How could he act like it was unrelated to him? He clicked his tongue.

“Maybe my brother should keep his woman better, as well, Father. If she stirs up jealousy around her…”

“Didn’t you forbid killing during dinner, Father!” claimed Phetra right after him. “How is it fine to let a dragon kill someone now?”

The Emperor looked angry and was about to shout back, but Shareen was faster.

“Rejoice, Sister. Didn’t you ask for a sacrifice a few days ago? Don’t hesitate, if you or brother Vrehan have more candidates. My brother’s dragon is always hungry for deceitful snakes.”

Phetra looked as if Shareen’s words had bitten her.

All four dragons were still growling, but the most furious ones were Krai and the Second Prince’s red dragon, Vhan. They kept growling at each other as if they were about to fight, and their masters were glaring at one another the exact same way.

“Enough, all of you!” thundered the Emperor. “No more fighting and arguing and killing. I have had enough!”

Cassandra noted that despite his generalities, the Emperor’s words were mostly said to Vrehan and his sister, and he barely looked Kairen’s way. She turned to him, whispering.

“Why didn’t you kill her yourself?” Cassandra asked.

“The smell of blood makes you sick,” he simply replied.

Cassandra would have found it funny, in other circumstances. Krai eating a human being wasn’t a much better sight. But indeed, it was a quick job. There wasn’t any trace left of the poor woman.

After what had happened, everyone else was only hoping no one felt murderous anymore, and the conversations were changed to the upcoming celebrations. Neither Cassandra nor Kairen had much interest in those. Phetra and Vrehan remained silent throughout, too, though that didn’t stop their murderous glares.

Cassandra ignored them, focusing on her dinner, and chatting with Shareen. Kairen, as usual, didn’t talk much, but he was holding her by the waist all the time and caressing her skin, reminding her of his presence every second.

“Can you really make Valeria talk?” she whispered.

Shareen frowned, looking at her younger half-sister, hiding behind Phetra.

“I can. If Phetra lets her live until I get my hands on her, that is. I’ll get her right after the banquet, she won’t be able to leave. And she is already terrified after Brother’s little show anyway. I’ll just drag her to my apartments until the little swine speaks. On a side note, do you think you can learn more about the abortion potion?”

“I’ll study it,” said Cassandra. “The bottle and contents can give some information about whoever made it. But, that will give me another occasion to look for my sister.”

“How so?”

“If it was me…If I had a hefty sum of money, my freedom and no more people to work for, I would have tried to set up a way to earn more money. Missandra probably opened some sort of business somewhere. If she did, it has to be with something she knew well, and the only thing I can think of is our knowledge in herbs and plants.”

“She could have learned something else in the meantime,” argued Shareen. “Or she could work for any shop.”

Cassandra chuckled.

“Maybe, but I don’t see my sister taking orders if she had a choice. You heard it too; she is as proud as ever. If she acquired as much as that bandit said, then I would bet she also saved some by herself. She would rather remain independent. I am not sure about the business, but medicine in the Dragon Empire is a lucrative business. With her knowledge, she could work it out.”

“But you said she was only seven when she was sold.”

Cassandra looked around, a bit worried about talking of her childhood in the presence of those people, but with the performers’ music and chatter, no one could hear them whisper.

“The Rain Tribe children learn about plants and herbs before we even learn how to write. It is considered the most basic and necessary knowledge. Missandra and I used to follow our mother everywhere, and she was the tribe’s doctor. We were the most knowledgeable.”

While she talked, both Shareen and Kairen had the same odd feeling. They often forgot that Cassandra had been born and raised in another country, another culture. Her white skin should have been a constant reminder, yet she acted so discreet and quiet most of the time, her past was rarely brought up.

“Fine,” said Shareen. “I guess you’ll have to look into the herbs businesses.”

“You want to go out again?” asked the Prince, with an unhappy frown.

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