Unbound 02

"I came as soon as I heard the favored one is here."

Lord Galgon said as his eyes glimmered with hope. He wanted to meet the infamous daughter of the Grandis. He dropped everything and rushed to have a glimpse of Cailina.

By heavens' approval, his son might be in the line of Cailina's interests. 

He laughed as he nodded his head at the thought of his son getting married to a lovely lady. He glanced at Cassius and clicked his tongue, how could the lady find his son attractive when he was dressed without the reason to impress?

"Son, you should think of how you look."

Lord Galgon said with a grim face. This a once in a lifetime chance, it wouldn't hurt to dream for the mountains instead of the flatlands. 

He patted his son's cheeks and looked out the window. His actions only confused Cassius.

"I don't think Lady Cailina would want a sudden visit, father," Cassius said.

His father let out a laugh. Indeed, his son was a foolish one. Lord Galgon shook his head in disbelief if only his wife was still here...

"How about we discuss of your marriage?"

Cassius' eyes widened. He stared at his father as if he had said something unmentionable. It has always been this way, he has never caught on to his father's unpredictableness.

He cleared his throat as he straightened his sleeves, "We leave that in some other time. I have to attend to Lady Cailina."

Lord Galgon nodded with a smile and followed behind him. 

Cassius couldn't imagine what outrageous words would his father say. He prayed in his heart that it would not affect the funding of their work.

~

Cailina kept her gaze outside. The tranquil scenery that surrounded the castle was on par with her home at the fief. The solace that the woodlands offered were in no match to the fine jewelry of the capital.

She turned her attention to the opened door as a large man greeted her with a smile. Cassius' expression carried a hint of nervousness that Cailina found amusing.

"Greetings to you too, Lord Galgon."

Cailina gave her hand to receive a kiss. Her lips formed in a small smile as she listened to Lord Galgon's pleasantries.

"What help may I give you?" she asked.

"Ah, no help. None needed, my Lady," Lord Galgon shook his hands, "I was thrilled when I heard you were visiting my son's workplace." 

"Yes," Cailina sat right on his side, "and I say this with truth, Lord Cassius is one charming man."

Cassius' ears turned red as he hid his expression behind the cup. He surely couldn't grasp Cailina's personality. She would behave as a truly noble, and the next she would flash her brightest smile.

While the two chatted like close acquaintances, Cassius was left alone to deal with his thoughts. As much as he wanted to stay in and hear about their rambles, he preferred to continue the trial.

He looked at his father and Cailina. Both of them have their circle that Cassius could not enter even if he tried. 

Cailina gave a smile and gave an occasional nod at questions she didn't want to answer. She met countless tutors that her father hired, she was taught how to gracefully avoid situations she wished not to participate in. Conversing with Lord Galgon was as light as the summer breeze.

"I will excuse myself," Cassius interrupted their chatting as he stood from his seat, "I will be on the trial ground."

"Right," Lord Galgon laughed as he also got up, "I would like to try out one, my son."

Cailina gripped her finger as her smile wavered a little. She felt her heart race as the father and son agreed to have rounds of each at the weapon. 

It might be rude to wish for rain.

The father and son's stature differed greatly from each other. Milios was known to have large built bodies because of their thousands of years of exposure to harsh labor. 

She quietly observed them as for a moment she mistook Cassius to be a different kind from his father. He wasn't frail enough to be considered as a human, but his countenance carried the air of a Numen.

Cailina shook her head as her lips tugged upwards at the thought of a Numen mingling with other beings. Those creatures lived only for themselves, but not necessarily spiteful to the rest of the kinds.

She once read a story about them; that Numens were originally part of the Demon Tribe. 

Cailina sighed as the trial ground came to her view. If possible, she wished to stay far from the deafening weapon and the people that would hold it.

Lord Galgon's voice boomed to greet the workers. He patted each of their backs like an old friend. 

Their closeness crossed the border of a master and a servant.

Cailina remained distant from the rest, her chin lifted with elegance. She would stay here, far from the cheery crowd.

She was satisfied as she could have her own space. But soon it was shattered by Lord Galgom's invitation for her to join the trial ground.

Her smile froze as she hid her clenched fists. Why must they include her in something that could potentially put her in danger? Was this her father's intentions? To let her suffer to a few injuries?

Cassius was a second late from stopping his father. He looked at Cailina with pity in his eyes as he knew that his father would not back down after being rejected for the first time.

"I would like to see Lord Galgon and Cassius first."

Cailina clasped her hands together. She nodded at Lord Galgon's waving hand but never taking a step forward.

"You're about ten feet away, my Lady," he pointed out, "you wouldn't be able to see it clear."

What he said was a lie. Cailina's kind have no problem seeing from a distance, she wanted to voice her opposition, but many eyes have landed on her.

She could not risk being rumored to have a faint heart.

"Of course," she smiled as her footfalls echoed with every step she took.