About time. Cassian rose to his feet. His knees shook due to his waning energy. The guard tried to grab his shoulder, but he evaded his hold. "Don't touch me." Cassian snapped with narrowed eyes. The guard raised his eyebrows and retracted his arm.
The two walked out of the hallway in silence. As he followed behind the guard, he looked up at the unsuspecting man. The hallway was too narrow for him to make a run for it. The heavy hilt on the guard's hip warned him.
They reached the main hall. The sudden brightness stunned Cassian for a moment. A slight headache hammered in his head, faint but persistent. As his vision focused, he saw empty pews. Warm lights with orange hues told Cassian how much time had passed.
"Wait here, the high priest would soon arrive."
Then why did you call me if he isn't around?
"Cassian?" He turned around to see his family. Lucian supported their mother as they walked out of a room. His mother's eyes looked tired, but they brightened when she saw Cassian. The youngest brother fidgeted with his fingers. His brown hair bounced as he looked between his older brother and mother.
Lucian heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Cassian. He took a step towards Cassian, but a cold voice tore through the hall. "Don't go near your brother, Lucian."
Cassian's jaw tightened as he saw the high priest come out from behind the family. His wrinkles formed deep lines on his face. His white robes hung on his frame, which looked like a breeze would topple him. A sharp contrast to his eyes, alive with hate.
Other priests followed after him. They went to sit on the pews.
Cassian locked eye contact as the priest came closer. The older man stopped beside him. His scowl would have caused babies to cry. "What happened to greeting your elders?"
Great, he is one of those old people.
Seeing Cassian's pressed lips, the priest scoffed. "What did I expect from a Duskbane?" Anger flashed in Lucian's eyes. He opened his mouth, but his mother's gentle hand stopped him.
Cassian saw the masked priestess. She shivered slightly with each step she took. She whispered to a priest, shooting side glances at Cassian.
"Your father is late, we can't wait for him." The priest's voice was brittle.
"The chief is to be present during meetings. You can't start without him." Lucian's voice held an edge. The old man's eyes narrowed as he regarded Lucian with distaste. "He is nowhere to be found; we can't afford to wait. And besides, I am the high priest," He sounded proud.
"Not the best of high priests," Cassian muttered under his breath. The guard heard. His fists came down heavily on Cassian's head. "Show some respect." His headache intensified. Cassian held back a curse.
"Silence." He raised his hand. "We are here because of Cassian Duskbane. He awakened as an Arcane weaver." A murmur rose among the priests. Cassian's heart jumped as he remembered Theo's words. Is this where they execute me?
The high priest continued, but Cassian's mind was hazy due to tiredness. He swayed slightly. Struggling to keep his balance, he turned to look at the guard. "I want to sit," The guard ignored him.
With a sigh, Cassian plopped himself on the floor. The high priest stopped his droning sharply. The guard nudged him with his foot. "What are you doing?" The high priest looked at Cassian through the bridge of his nose.
"I'm tired and I want to sit. Continue with your speech," He maintained eye contact, without batting an eyelid. The high priest. His eyebrows furrowed as he looked like Cassian had grown horns.
"Anyways, as I was saying. Arcane weavers are dangerous. Do you remember the incident at Vaelora?" The priest shuddered and shook their head. "Once a prosperous town, a beauty to behold. Now a barren wasteland. All because of an Arcane weaver." He pointed at Cassian with his frail fingers.
"We can't have that happen again, can we? Safer to nip the bud before it sprouts into a hideous creature."
His fellow priests agreed, albeit hesitantly. Cassian's eyes fell on the exit, ready to bolt if the worst happens.
"And who are you to decide?" An unfamiliar voice ordered.
The room fell silent at once. The priests' heads snapped toward the entrance. Even the high priest's scowl faltered for a heartbeat before hardening again. Cassian turned his head towards the voice. A tall figure marched into the hall, heavy boots echoing against the stone floor.
The man's white hair was pulled into a neat ponytail. He was donned in a leather chest piece and a fur cloak draped down his shoulders unto the floor. His pale blue eyes fell on Cassian, sending chills down his spine.
"No one informed me of this meeting." The man's death glare landed on the high priest. The old man didn't flinch.
"Leoric Duskbane," Cassian snapped his head at the man. So, that is the chief and my father? He did look like it. "You finally grace us with your presence." The high priest sneered. The tension grew as the two men glared at each other, neither willing to back down.
Leoric's eyes narrowed. "You forget your place, Elvric." His tone was low and steady with a sharp edge. "I left my village in your care, and I return to you insulting my authority."
The high priest's lips drew into a thin line. Leoric paused and stared at the priests over his shoulder. "And none of you spoke otherwise. Not that I'm surprised. They listen to your every word like lap dogs."
"Your son is an Arcane weaver." The high priest said. The pitch of his voice was higher in annoyance. Deafening silence followed. Leoric massaged the bridge of his nose. "So?"
"So?" The high priest was losing his patience. "He is a threat. We can't have him walking around freely." He flailed his hand angrily at Cassian. Cassian shook his head. Don't bring me into this.
"To deal with situations like this, you need the priests' and the chief's say. You already broke that rule. What should we do about your transgressing self?"
"That isn't the point, Leoric…"
"Oh, it is. And it is Lord Duskbane to you."
The high priest glared at Leoric, not wavering. Leoric let out a sigh, "Since we can't agree on a single thing, I'll take him until we decide. Together."
"But…"
"End of discussion."
Cassian and the guard exchanged glances. The guard looked at the high priest for confirmation. Through gritted teeth, the high priest said, "Let him go."
Cassian got onto his feet, dusted his hands and glared at the high priest. He could only watch as Cassian walked away.
That could have gone worse.
The rest of the family had gone to meet Leoric. The mother looked better as she talked softly with Leoric. Lucian walked towards Cassian. His eyes were still filled with anger, but not aimed at Cassian.
"How are you? They didn't hurt you or anything?" Lucian's eyes scanned him. He was answered by a shrug.
Leoric's hand fell on Cassian's shoulder as they reached the temple steps. His grip was firm. "We need to talk. Privately." His eyes held something Cassian couldn't read. Not anger but something colder. Cassian's back burned where Celeste's mark lay hidden.