Chained Hearts: From Slavery to Sovereignty
Chapter 113: Killing Intent (02)

Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Killing Intent (02)

Teneb exhaled sharply, shaking off the hand gripping him. "It was nothing."

The old man did not budge. "Nothing?" His tone darkened. "Then tell me, Teneb, why did you look at him as if you wanted to tear him apart?" He took a step closer, lowering his voice further. "Have you forgotten who he is? Who he belongs to?"

Teneb’s jaw tightened. "I have not forgotten a thing."

"Then you should remember this well," the healer said, his eyes flashing with warning. "Cassian is not to be touched. No harm will come to him under my watch, and certainly not by your hands."

Teneb scoffed, a quiet laugh escaping him. "And you think I fear you?"

The old man’s gaze remained unyielding. "It is not me you should fear." He leaned in, his next words deliberate. "It is them. And I assure you, any disrespect toward Cassian will not be tolerated—not by our Lord, nor by those who still serve their will."

Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken threats.

Teneb exhaled through his nose, his smirk returning. "Tch. You act as if I am some reckless fool." He stepped back, tilting his head. "But fine. If that is the command, I will not lift a finger against him."

The healer did not move. His piercing gaze lingered on Teneb for a long moment before he finally relented, releasing a slow breath. "See that you don’t."

Teneb turned on his heel and walked away, his amusement barely concealed. "Oh, I won’t harm him," he murmured under his breath. "Not yet."

Morning arrived with a pale light filtering through the windows, casting long shadows across the dining hall. The dining room was entirely silent except for the soft clinking of utensils as Cassian and his group sat around the long wooden table, finishing a simple breakfast.

The city lord was noticeably absent. He had not joined them, nor had he sent word of his absence. The only company they had aside from the servants was the old healer, who sipped his tea in silence, his gaze flicking toward Cassian every so often, as if gauging his condition.

Cassian ignored it and decided to focus instead on the meal before him. He wasn’t particularly hungry, but he knew better than to head out on an empty stomach. The coming hours would demand his full attention, and he had no intention of appearing weak before his companions.

Orion leaned back slightly, glancing at the empty seat where the city lord should have been. "I suppose he has better things to do."

Alistair smirked, idly pushing his fork against his plate. "Not everyone wants to see your face first thing in the morning." He teased Orion without guilt.

"Sir Alistair, then care to tell me what you are doing here? I think you don’t want to ruin your morning by seeing my face." Orion said through gritted teeth. He did not know why Sir Alistair couldn’t behave like a grown man, always picking on him and the younger trainees.

The other trainees tried to shuffle their laughter but did not dare to look up or defend Orion, knowing they would be next to get a jab from Sir Alistair. No one wanted to become his target so early in the morning.

Alistair raised a brow and nodded like he was deep in thought before responding to him. "Oh, Orion, my dear boy, if I truly had a choice, do you think I would willingly subject myself to your presence this early in the morning? I assure you, if I had known you’d be here, I would have requested my meal be served in the stables. At least the horses have better table manners."

Orion’s grip on his fork tightened, his jaw clenching as a flush of irritation crept up his neck. "You—you...."

The other trainees barely managed to stifle their laughter, shoulders shaking as they kept their gazes fixed on their plates. One, however, lost the battle entirely, choking on his drink as he quickly turned away, pretending to cough.

Cassian exhaled quietly, shaking his head. "Stop, Alistair. Don’t tease them early in the morning. We still have important things to do." Cassian reprimanded Alistair because he could see that the next comment would surely reduce the boy to tears.

"I am... I already stopped talking." Alistair said with a cool expression, as if he had not been the one making fun of others.

Cassian could only smile with amusement. He really knew how to attract trouble.

Oronik let out a deep sigh. "And here I was hoping for a pleasant meal." He shook his head before glancing at the healer. "Are you coming with us, old man?"

"You know, you can also eat breakfast in the stable in uttermost peace." Alistair struck again and laughed.

"That’s very funny, Alistair. Why not start holding breakfast in the stables, and then we will decide to come?" Oronik remarked with the same sarcasm.

The healer merely raised an eyebrow at their banter. "I have my own work to tend to. But I will remind you—be careful." His voice was calm, but the weight behind his words was unmistakable. "This city is not what it seems. Do not assume you understand it just because you walk its streets."

Everyone stopped talking as the old healer spoke his words.

Cassian met his gaze for a brief moment, understanding the warning behind it. The events of the past day still lingered in his mind, and he knew the old man was speaking for their well-being.

With breakfast finished, they gathered their belongings and prepared to depart. The air outside was crisp, carrying the distant hum of a city still waking.

"We will split up," Cassian said as they reached the city’s main square. "We’ll cover more ground this way."

Keren nodded. "Makes sense. Who’s going where?"

Cassian glanced at the city map they had been provided the night before. "Morren and Oronik, check the eastern district. The attacks seem to be more frequent there. Alistair, you take the northern section. See if you can gather any information from the merchants."

Keren crossed her arms. "And what about us?"

Cassian folded the map and tucked it away. "You and I will take the western side. I want to see how close these incidents are to the outskirts."

No one questioned his decision. They had worked together long enough to trust his judgment.

With their tasks set, they dispersed, disappearing into the sprawling city of Galdreth.

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