Chapter 23: Design
At the end of Chapter Twenty-Two, Violet had spoken the name "Cassian." But that night, she dreamed no more. When the sky lightened, she lifted the tent flap. Leon still stood outside. The moonlight was gone, replaced by the light of two suns, one crimson, one gold.
"You stood here all night?" She asked.
"No. Went back to sleep. Came out again."
Violet didn't press. She went to the granary to check the ledger. Astrid had already recounted yesterday's numbers. "Grain hasn't decreased again. Salt neither."
"The eastern wall?"
"Gray Bone said the wooden splints aren't broken. No one's been through."
Violet nodded. The thief had stopped. Not from fear. From waiting. Waiting for what? She didn't know.
Late morning, she made a round of the salt store. The sacks were stacked neatly. Same as yesterday. She crouched and counted the bottom row. The numbers matched. When she stood, her lower back ached. The recent lack of sleep was taking its toll. But she had no time to rest. In the afternoon, she needed to discuss pelt prices with Eve. Eve wanted to raise them. In the evening, she had to review the salt route accounts with Hagen. Hagen said the road was rough and needed more workers.
She walked out of the salt store. The sunlight was harsh. She squinted and saw Cassian moving stones on the east side of the city. His vest was soaked through, clinging to him. The lines of muscle ran from his shoulders down to his waist. Several women hauling water nearby were watching him, whispering, laughing. He didn't look up. She pulled her gaze away and went to the granary.
Afternoon. Eve came. The Frost Wolf Clan's pelts. Two hundred brought last month. Two hundred sold. Not one left. Eve wanted a price increase. "One pelt, add half a sack of salt."
"Can't."
"Why? They sell so well."
"They sell well because they're cheap. Raise the price, they won't sell. If they don't sell, you won't even get half a sack of salt."
Eve stared at her. "You calculated this?"
"Calculated."
Eve left. The price didn't rise.
Evening. Hagen came. The Frost Claw Tribe's salt route. Five days from the north to Water City. A section of road had been washed out. Wagons couldn't pass. They had to detour. The detour added two days. Hagen said he needed more workers to repair the road.
"Repair the road, fine. More workers, no."
"How do we repair it without more workers?"
"Take ten men from the salt haulers. Move less salt for ten days. Repair the road. Once it's fixed, you'll move faster."
Hagen calculated for a moment. "Ten days of less salt. How much loss?"
"The loss, you earn back once the road is fixed."
Hagen stared at her. "You calculated this?"
"Calculated."
Hagen left. He would go back and pull men to repair the road.
Night. Everyone was asleep. Violet sat by the fire. The map lay spread before her. She was marking the location of the washed-out road. Leon came out and sat beside her.
"You didn't go see Cassian today." He said.
"No time."
"Yesterday you suspected him of killing someone. Today you let it go?"
"I haven't let it go. But not now. The grain thief hasn't been found. The pelt prices aren't settled. The salt route isn't repaired. Cassian won't run. He has a debt note."
Leon said nothing. He looked into the fire. The flames danced in his amber slit pupils.
In the distance came the sound of stones being moved from the east side of the city. Cassian was still working.
Violet set down her charcoal and rubbed her eyes. Tired. But she didn't dare sleep. If she slept, she dreamed. If she dreamed, she woke crying. If she cried, Leon heard. If he heard, he asked. If he asked, she answered. If she answered, he fell silent. She didn't want to hear his silence again.
"Go sleep." Leon said.
"Not tired."
"Your eyes are red."
"Sand."
"There's no wind tonight."
Violet said nothing. She stood and walked into her tent. Lay on the blanket. Closed her eyes. She waited.
The dream didn't come.
She turned over. Still didn't come. Turned again. Nothing. She sat up in the dark, eyes open. For the first time, she wished the dream would come. If it came, she would at least know who Cassian was. If it didn't, she knew nothing.
Outside, Leon's voice came. "Can't sleep?"
"No."
"Come out."
She hesitated, then lifted the flap and walked out. Leon sat by the fire. Beside him was an empty space. She sat down.
"You didn't sleep well last night." He said.
"Neither did you."
"I was keeping watch."
"You were keeping watch, but you slept too. I heard you snore."
The corner of Leon's mouth moved. "I didn't."
"You did."
He didn't deny it. The two of them sat, watching the fire. Wind came through the gorge, carrying the chill of night. Violet pulled her coat tighter. Leon's coat. Warm.
In the distance, the sound of stones being moved stopped.
"He's asleep." Leon said.
"Who?"
"Cassian."
"How do you know it's him?"
"The sound of stones moving stopped. He stops at this time every night."
Violet looked toward the east side of the city. She could see nothing in the dark. But she knew Cassian was there. Moving stones. Sleeping. Waiting for her to dream.
"Are you afraid of him?" Leon asked.
"No."
"What are you afraid of?"
"The dream."
"Him in the dream?"
"No. Myself in the dream. Every time I dream of him, I cry. When I wake, I don't remember why I cried. But I know I did. That feeling—" She paused. "It hurts."
Leon said nothing. He reached out and pulled her coat tighter. His fingers brushed her shoulder. Very light.
"Your hands are cold." He said.
"They're fine."
"Whenever you say fine, you're cold."
He didn't pull his hand back. His fingers rested on her shoulder. Through the hide, she couldn't feel his warmth. But she knew he was there.
In the distance came a sound from the east side of the city. Not stones moving. Something dropped. The sound of a clay jar shattering. Then cursing. Cassian's voice. Low. Fast. Couldn't make out the words. Then silence.
Leon stood. "I'll go check."
"No need. He's fine."
"How do you know?"
"His cursing had strength. If he has strength, he's fine."
Leon looked at her. "You even calculate that?"
"You learn to tell, after hearing it enough."
Leon sat back down. The two of them continued sitting, watching the fire. The moon emerged from behind the clouds and shone on the city walls. The gray stones turned silver-white.
"Tomorrow, I want to walk in the small woods." Violet said.
"What for?"
"Clear my head. You said it yourself. My eyes are red."
Leon glanced at her. "Alright."
The next afternoon, Violet finished her tasks. Checked the salt store ledger. No further losses. Went to the construction site and watched Gray Bone raise walls. Progress was steady. Verified the iron ingot count with the blacksmith. No discrepancies. Then she called Leon and left the city.
The small woods lay south of the city. Not far from Water City. A short walk. The trees weren't tall, but they were dense. Dark green leaves rustled in the wind. Grass grew on the ground. Soft underfoot. Violet walked ahead. Leon followed. Neither spoke.
"You've been too tired lately." Leon said.
"I'm fine."
"Every day you check ledgers, settle accounts, negotiate deals, draw maps, inspect the construction. One person doing five people's work."
"No one else can do it for me."
"You could let others do it for you."
"When they learn, they can. They haven't learned yet."
Leon said nothing. He walked beside her, slowing his pace to match hers. Violet noticed. She said nothing.
The woods grew denser. The path narrower. Leon walked ahead. She followed. He pushed branches aside to let her pass. She ducked under. Her hair caught on a twig. She reached up to untangle it.
Then she heard a sound.
Not birds. Not wind. Human voices. Very soft. Coming from deep in the woods.
She stopped. Leon stopped. His ears twitched.
"Someone's ahead." He said low.
"Who?"
"Don't know."
He took her wrist and pulled her behind a large tree. The trunk was thick enough to hide both of them. He stood in front. She stood behind. To see ahead clearly, he leaned forward, his arms naturally encircling her. Not intentional. The space was too narrow. His chest pressed against her back. His chin above her head. She could feel his heartbeat. Fast. Her own heartbeat was fast too. But she forced herself to focus on what lay ahead.
In a clearing deep in the woods, two figures. A woman. A man. The woman was Seraphina. Golden hair in a braid, falling over her chest. She wore a pale gray dress. The neckline was cut low. The man was Cassian. He sat beneath a tree, back against the trunk. Seraphina stood before him, looking down at him. She bent over and placed her hands on his shoulders. Slid them slowly downward. Her fingers paused on his chest, then unfastened the first button of his shirt.
Violet's breath caught. She felt Leon's arm tighten around her waist. Not intentional. Instinct.
Seraphina's fingers traced circles on Cassian's chest. Her nails were painted. Deep red. In the light filtering through the leaves, they looked like blood. She brought her lips close to his ear and said something. Violet couldn't hear. But she saw Cassian's expression. He kept his head down. Didn't look at her.
Then Seraphina kissed him. Not gently. Deeply. Her fingers threaded into his hair. His hair was dark brown. Exactly like in her dream.
Violet's fingers clenched. She didn't know why she clenched. Nerves? Curiosity? Something else? She couldn't say. She only knew she couldn't look away. She had to see clearly. This man. Cecilia's brother. Had killed someone. Moved stones. Owed her nine sacks of salt. What was he doing?
Cassian didn't move. His hands hung at his sides. He didn't return Seraphina's embrace. But he didn't push her away either. His fingers were feeling the pocket of Seraphina's skirt.
Violet saw it. Leon saw it too. His arm tightened again.
"He's feeling her pocket." Violet whispered.
"Yes." Leon's breath was at her ear. Soft. Warm. The back of her neck tickled. She flinched slightly. Leon's arm tightened further. Not intentional. Instinct. Neither moved.
Seraphina's hand slid inside Cassian's shirt. His chest was exposed. His skin was pale. His collarbone deep. Her fingers trailed down along his collarbone. Violet held her breath.
Then Cassian caught Seraphina's wrist.
Not roughly. Very slowly. As if he had planned this moment long ago. He pulled her hand out of his shirt. Held it in his. Turned it over. In her palm lay a small folded piece of hide.
"What is this?" He asked. His voice wasn't loud, but it was clear.
Seraphina's smile froze. "Nothing."
Cassian unfolded the hide. Words were written on it. His movements. His habits. His weaknesses. What time he woke. What time he moved stones. What time he ate. What time he slept. Who he spoke to. What was said. Prefers his left hand. Right hand has an old injury. Violet couldn't see what was written. But she saw Seraphina's face. Pale.
"How long have you been recording me?" Cassian asked.
Seraphina's lips trembled. "I—"
"Since the first day I moved stones. Right?"
Seraphina didn't answer.
Cassian stood. He was a head taller than Seraphina. He looked down at her. His face was against the light. His expression couldn't be seen. But his voice was flat. So flat it chilled.
"Your system wants this?"
Seraphina stepped back. Cassian didn't follow. He folded the hide and placed it inside his own coat.
"You've recorded so much. Why not just ask me?"
"Ask what?"
"Ask my name. Where I came from. Why I'm here. What I want."
Seraphina stared at him. "What's your name?"
"Cassian."
"Where did you come from?"
"The North. Very far."
"Why are you here?"
"Looking for someone. She's dead."
"What do you want?"
Cassian was silent for a moment. "You don't need to know."
He turned and walked away. After a few steps, he stopped. "Next time you want to record something, come ask me directly. I don't like being watched from behind."
Seraphina stood where she was. Her hand still raised, held in the position he had pushed away. Her face was very pale. Violet had never seen that expression on her. Not fear. The blankness of being exposed.
Leon's arm was still around Violet. Neither moved. The woods were quiet. Only the sound of wind through leaves.
"Go." Leon whispered.
Violet nodded. Leon released her, took her wrist, and led her out of the woods. After a few steps, he stopped abruptly and pulled her behind another tree.
Footsteps. Gray Bone walked up from the other side of the woods. Shovel in hand. He was looking for Violet.
"Cecilia!" He called.
Violet didn't answer. Leon's hand pressed on her shoulder, signaling her to stay silent. Gray Bone circled the clearing, found no one, and turned away. Footsteps fading.
Leon released her. "He's gone."
Violet leaned against the tree, breathing deeply. Her heartbeat still hadn't slowed. Not because of Gray Bone. Because of before. Leon's arm. His heartbeat. His breath at her ear. She didn't dare think about it. She stood and brushed the leaves off her skirt.
"Going back." She said.
"Yes."
They walked back to Water City, one after the other. Neither spoke. At the city gate, Gray Bone stood there. He saw them. "Where did you go? I looked everywhere."
"Small woods. Clearing my head." Violet said.
Gray Bone glanced at Leon, then at her. He didn't press. "The wooden splints on the eastern wall aren't broken. No one's been through."
"Keep watching."
Gray Bone nodded and left.
Night. By the fire.
Violet sat there. The map lay spread before her. She wasn't drawing. She was thinking about the afternoon. Seraphina's hand. Cassian's eyes. That piece of hide.
Leon walked over and sat beside her.
"He knows." Violet said.
"Who?"
"Cassian. He knows Seraphina is recording him. He knows about her system. He knows what she wants."
"He's not afraid?"
"He's not afraid. What he's afraid of is. She recorded so much, but she doesn't know who he is."
Leon stared at her. "Who is he?"
Violet was silent for a long time.
"Cecilia's brother. Killed someone. Was exiled. Hid in the North for three years. Came to Water City not to find his sister. To—"
She paused.
"To what?"
"I don't know. But he's not afraid of Seraphina. Not afraid of her system. Not afraid of her knowing his secrets."
"What is he afraid of?"
Violet looked up at Leon.
"He's afraid of me."
In the distance, the sound of stones moving stopped. Cassian was asleep.
---
End of Chapter Twenty-Three
She witnessed Seraphina's calculation and saw clearly Cassian's guard. But he isn't afraid of Seraphina's system records. He's only afraid of Violet. Why? Why would a man who moves stones be afraid of a woman who draws maps?