Looking back on it all, perhaps teaming up with a mysterious ghost child to steal a magic rock and releasing said ghost, of whom Cassandra never questioned, was really Zhan Tiri probably wasn't the best decision she had made in her life. Although she was good at masking her emotions in front of others there was still great shame over her actions and she was prepared to take any punishment. Yet Rapunzel was there to save her from anything too serious because of their friendship and it seemed that the only appropriate decision was for Cassandra to leave Corona in case others who felt different would try to hurt her.
Could she blame them?
Almost all her life, Cassandra had lived among them yet they hadn't known her closely other than by status of being daughter to Corona's own Captain of the Guard or Lady-In-Waiting to the former Lost Princess. In hindsight, perhaps that was better as Cassandra didn't want to think of how badly she may have hurt them if she did make more personal friends before Rapunzel had even set foot back into Corona and of how her betrayal could've devastated them. And yet, she had betrayed them and became a threat to their princess, kidnapped Varian, attempted murder, destroyed property, and released a monster in the kingdom.
She messed up...That was an understatement. In the end, Cassandra wanted to hide away in shame and from the eyes of Corona on her thanks to the aftermath of Zhan Tiri's defeat. It was no better at how some tried to make excuses for her that it was because of Zhan Tiri's manipulation and while that was true, to an extent, Cassandra knew deep down that she still carried on with others actions without any influence.
Even if she stayed to help Corona rebuild, it wouldn't protect her from the people who won't listen to the royal family, ostracize or even harm her through their own vigilante justice. Part of it wouldn't even be because of the Zhan Tiri events as the word "Gothel" left many negative emotions within the kingdom. Leading to King Fredric in enacting a crackdown on crime and in consequence of the low to no tolerance for even petty crimes. All because of Mother Gothel and her obsession with remaining eternally youthful and with the reveal that the same woman who kidnapped Rapunzel was also the mother of Cassandra made things worse.
Rumors ran like wildfire around Corona, without even caring that it was Gothel who chose to abandon her daughter and kidnap the princess because of powers caused by the Sundrop and Moonstone. Most everything could be pointed back to Gothel or even Fredric for taking the healing flower which led to the impossible crackdown on crime and questionable justice within the kingdom or at the problems that both the Sun and Moon had caused in the first place, but the kingdom had made up their minds. Some even say that because Cassandra looked so much like her witch mother that poor Rapunzel merely latched onto her, regardless of the fact that Cassandra barely remembered Gothel. In the end, there was a long way to go before even considering that she would be trusted again.
And thus, leaving Corona was both a blessing and a punishment. Many had said that thanks to the compassion of Princess Rapunzel, or perhaps naivety, Cassandra was actually exiled from Corona with nothing else but a horse and whatever she can carry. That wasn't entirely true as it was seen for the best, regardless of what Rapunzel thought, was for Cassandra to leave. Between them, away from suspicious minds, it was more of an agreement that both Rapunzel and Cassandra needed to be away from each other for however long time would allow it. While being sent away to wherever she was free to explore sounded like a blessing, Cassandra also saw it as a deserved punishment as she would be leaving her home along with everyone and everything she knew.
If anything, Cassandra would've liked to spend more time with her father and if possible, go back and outwardly reject this perceived image she had of Gothel being a loving mother. How funny, she lost a mother, but she also gained a father who was there for her without any obligation to take in an orphaned child. Memories of their times together when he wasn't occupied with work as the captain were treasured in her heart as he thrived to be a dutiful role model and a father to Cassandra. Now there was no turning back as what's done is done and it was time to leave.
With Fidella saddled and packing her own memoirs of Corona, Cassandra rode away into the sunset.
Through her travel, Cassandra had visited Vardaros for a bit to see how much had changed after the first arrival with the others. It was nice, not as hostile as it was before, yet not as friendly as Corona, it felt more down to Earth and Cassandra stayed a while to help Quaid and Vex deal with some minor thieves before continuing on her way. Only a few weeks later, word had spread that Quaid had passed away after aiding Corona with some reconstructions and now it was the young sheriff Vex who took care of Vardaros with aid of her own new squad of deputies. While she may not have known them on a personal level, Cassandra wasn't entirely heartless and felt that it was depressing news to hear about.
Eventually through several weeks, Cassandra found herself at an odd crossroad village, where the grass was already yellow and dry, looking as if rain never came with only a few wells for water, but it was still enough to keep the people alive to welcome any weary traveler who was lucky or foolish enough to come by. From what they had told her, there was land in the far south, past the desert, but only a few who came back weren't able to find anything or worse, they never came back. There was a tyrant in the land. A tyrant who ruled a wondrous kingdom hidden in the sand yet subjected his people to eternal suffering. How did they know this story?
Well, for starters there was a road that led into the horizon of the sun, so why would anyone put the time and effort to do that? But there was more. There used to be heavy trade between the crossroads and the people from the desert, more evidence that there were people living in those harsh lands was shown to Cassandra. Then one day, the trades just stopped and soon after, many people in desperate search of sanctuary were quick to make themselves scarce. And with good reason too, as soldiers and hunters came to search for those who fled while others chose alternative endings than to be taken back. The story of people ruled under a tyrant and inspired many young heroes who wished to make names for themselves in glory, yet none returned. With no trade, the crossroads were barely getting by with what they had and no longer heard about the events across the desert.
The last stranger they've seen for years, they said, was a young woman who didn't even consider taking any form of supply nor did she say a word to them and she continued on her way into the desert.
Why would people dare to cross what is clearly just a fable?...Then again, why would people seek out a magic flower to hold the power of the Sun? Even if it did exist, where would they start to look...Hmm.
Everything inside Cassandra told her that it would be a foolish idea to even consider crossing over into a desert in search of a place with vague directions along with a broken road of sand and stone to follow. And yet…
Fate was often too tempting. What could be the harm in just doing a quick check for even a moment?
Making up her mind, Cassandra began to plan out her quest and made sure Fidella was up to strengths for the journey ahead. Training along the borders between the sand and sturdy ground, stocking up on what items were more valuable for the harsh terrain, and carefully placing her memoirs in a safe satchel. While Corona had its fair share of hot and dry summers, it wouldn't come close in comparison to an actual desert, so it was best to travel lightly and wear things more comfortable for the climate. The most important factor was to take into consideration of the actual travel and heed caution that it was wise to travel during the night while setting up
The most important factor to take into consideration was the actual travel and the recommendation that it was wiser to travel during the night in order to escape the heat of the day. And once the sun began to rise, then it was best to establish some shelter and rest before continuing on. The journey would be short, only three days, and on the last day they would turn back with no excuse or delay regardless if they were close or not to their destination.
Looking at her supplies, Cassandra was content with her purchase. A small cart to carry their supplies and also provide as bed and shelter thanks to some blankets and a small tent, next was a map and compass, and finally a new sword and dagger which were lighter yet still effective in battle. The issue of rations were carefully surveyed and selected to provide for their journey as Cassandra rationed her own supplies while the rest, for Fidella, were tied down in the cart.
After much last minute debate, it was decided. The supplies were tied down tightly, the cart was well prepared and there were other parts just in case, and there was nothing else to do than to follow the road until it ended.
The second the hour had hit sunset, Cassandra and Fidella would race into the desert to get as far as they could in search of anything worth investigating before carrying onwards. Before the sun had appeared over the horizon, Cassandra was quick to set up camp large enough for herself and Fidella to rest in the shade with their provisions as the sun had beaten down harshly. This was the best advice given as moving underneath the blistering sand would be a foolish idea regardless if Cassandra felt anxious to continue on. After all, rest was important and the warm breeze of the desert felt nice while the temperature of the night had dropped dramatically. They won't stay out in the desert for too long, that Cassandra was sure of, and yet this quest had gotten the better of her for even considering the idea based on rumors and stories.
Through their journey, the road was covered with sand, yet still recognizable. How far it went and if they were close was always questioned. Along the way were rare spots of greenery, rock formations that broke through the sand to create gorges, canyons, mountains, and other unique shapes that the desert hid. Some of these were able to provide shade and shelter, a few plants here and there, and more importantly: water. While Cassandra and Fidella were able to rest, they were still on guard as these things meant that they weren't entirely as alone. What some folks didn't know was that the desert wasn't entirely barren, there are animals that could thrive in harsh environments and were well familiar with the secrets of the sand. But there were noises that were very unfamiliar heard through the desert winds and their tracks disappeared before Cassandra could properly investigate them. If there were animals, then there was food, but all she could find outside of rations were scorpions and although tempting, she didn't have the strength to even try. What worries2 her is, what could be out there that may see her and Fidella as a filling meal?
Only through the rocky formations were they able to climb and survey what the land could possibly offer outside of just endless sand. As far as the map and the compass had stated, it looked that they were going in the right direction. But the boredom of continuing on had already gotten to them and true to her word, Cassandra had determined that the time was up and they should turn back to the direction where they started. On their last day, they made sure that despite the low rations, there was still enough that could get them through the journey back with short rests.
Standing over a large sand dune and watching the sunset was certainly peaceful, marking the end of their journey, Cassandra gave a sigh. Despite it all, it certainly was beautiful but before they could turn away, a darkness crept over the horizon and it drew closer…
Sandstorm.
There was no time to waste as Cassandra urged Fidella to run as the storm would approach in seconds as they tore across the sand. From the corner of her eye, Cassandra took notice of a familiar rock pillar and pulled hard onto Fidella's reigns to move off the road and head towards it. Earlier they had passed a cliff and there appeared to be an opening on the side and from the distance it looked large enough to give them shelter. With great strength, Fidella climbed up the steep side towards the opening as the winds drew closer, roaring threats to bury anyone who dared to stand in its way. Only through sheer luck were they able to enter as the storm barely missed them as Cassandra hopped off the cart to pull Fidella deeper into the cave where it reached a dead end and unhinge her from the cart in order to rest. Hugging her in comfort for a short while, Cassandra pulled away to start a small fire and bring light into a dark cave. From the looks of it, there shouldn't be much to worry about other than the outside.
Now the thing about sandstorms was that they could last for several hours or even months if one wasn't careful, but Cassandra counted her blessings that the two weren't hurt or worse: separated. Their supplies would be rationed until the storm had passed with the exception of a reward for Fidella's efforts, Cassandra wasn't in the mood to eat or drink as the sandstorm roared and threatened to shift winds into their sanctuary. There wasn't anything else to do, but rest and find comfort in each other's company until the storm had finally ceased. What felt like an eternity of complete darkness of boredom, sleeping, reading, and sharpening weapons was really an entire day as it was night again. Sometimes Casssandra stood by the entrance and felt the hot air from outside which indicated that it was daylight despite the complete darkness outside before returning back into the cave to brush off some of the sand that clung onto her.
Finally, the storm had passed and even better was that it was already night which meant that they could try to make it back to where they came from before dawn. Setting up the cart and saddling Fidella, they were ready to move on their way, except for one thing. The cliff-face they sought shelter in was steep, nearly half the height of Corona castle, and now...the entrance stood on even ground. Everything was completely covered in sand, the rocky pillar which gave direction to the road was gone. It was no wonder why people had gotten lost or worse, if they weren't buried by sand or taken by the heat, then even more unfortunate souls had perished all because they were lost.
A human can only last almost a week without water, perhaps less in the desert even with a horse and rations, it was more crucial to return to the crossroads. Well, there was no use in standing around as the moon was only halfway rising from the horizon as they two headed towards a large sand dune for some extra height. Rummaging through her bag to pull out the map and compass, Cassandra swore under her breath as the compass which worked just fine before was now useless as the needle was spinning in circles. What was going on? Looking up at the sky for directions from the constellations, Cassandra's shoulders slumped a bit as she was faced with unfamiliar stars. Looking back at their cave, if they came from the right direction, then it was better to follow the sunset and then they'll be on familiar ground in no time.
…
Time passed and there was no sanctuary or any form of structure that was remotely familiar. The rations were running low to where the two had skipped meals in order to save what they had as they came across new formations. With luck they had found some small waterholes, but it still wasn't the way back to their destination as they carried on. Sometimes they moved from night to midday in the hopes of reaching the end, but to no avail as they began to lose faith and heart in continuing on. Given that the people in the crossroads were aware that people either found what they were looking for or never came back at all, it would be a waste of effort and resources to send search parties. They were on their own now.
…
Heavy winds once again brought the implication of a sandstorm, but this time it wasn't as disastrous as their first encounter. It occurred during the day and offered some relief from the sun, but still blinded them as Cassandra lept down to rip her cloak and cover Fidella's eyes and make herself a veil in hopes to keep an eye on their selected designation. Pulling on her reins, Cassandra led Fidella along on foot as each step felt as if they would finally sink below the sands. Their strength was fleeting fast, rations were gone, their cart had already lost a wheel, and they had gone far as they could with nothing in sight, but more sand. Finally, Cassandra had collapsed on her knees in exhaustion as Fidella nudged her back to try and urge her to continue on. The ripped cloak had come loose and was taken away by the storm, most likely to be never seen again as the sand always buried whatever it came across. Soon enough the mare joined in and laid beside Cassandra as the young woman wrapped her arms around Fidella's neck into a comforting hug that at least they weren't alone in the harsh lands.
It was quick.
One second there was barely light with nothing to look at but wind and sand until suddenly the sky had gone black. No doubt a heavy burst of the storm was enough to block out the sun, but what came after was a surprise. In the blink of an eye, there was a man who was on the back of a manticore that stood just a little ways before the two and were soon followed by two others. The storm had ceased and it was already sundown. This had alarmed the mare as she brayed and tried her best to stand with Cassandra, surprised at the sudden outburst, still around her neck and the young woman was quick to stand her ground and draw the sword from her belt in self-defense. Whatever comes, she won't back down even with what little strength the desert had left her.
But instead there was no fight nor any indication of hostility. The first rider was a young man who leapt down from his mount towards Cassandra and Fidella, followed by a much older man who was apparently chewing on something, and the third rider who was a young woman that eyed the two outsiders suspiciously. Their mounts impatiently waiting to be back out on whatever they were previously doing as they clawed at the sand.
The first to leapt off his mount had casually strolled up to Cassandra with a canteen of water and casually shook it as if emphasizing that there was barely any empty space. Whoever they were and wherever they came from, they had water. And lots of it. There was no hesitation as Cassandra was quick to take the canteen the moment it was offered and drank her fill before pouring the rest down Fidella's mouth. While their attention was occupied, the older man looked at their broken cart and merely scoffed before speaking towards the others, almost mocking the two for no doubt taking an unprepared journey. With the sun finally down on the horizon, the strangers were back on their mounts, but didn't leave immediately, waiting for Cassandra to ride back on Fidella so they could follow them. Why risk the desert again when they could be led towards a more secure place?Gathering their more important items to carry on saddle bags which were offered and leaving the cart behind, the group moved onwards.
There wasn't much communication between the four as there clearly was a language barrier with a few exceptions of trying to make hand gestures about where they were going. All Cassandra could make out was that it was a large shelter and food. Other than that, the silence was a little more welcome now that there was company and on occasion Cassandra and Fidella were offered some travel snacks to satisfy their hunger for a while. Far ahead there were more rocky formations that had broken through the sand to make way for solid ground and a large mountain range which looked out of place at first, but Cassandra didn't pay much attention to it. That was until they began to move up onto the steep hills and paused over the scenery which took her breath away even with the moon high in the sky.
All this time. It was right there. Hidden within the mountain range was a crater within a crater and a kingdom larger than any she had ever seen before which acted as an oasis. The land ruled by a tyrant hidden in the sand and the setting sun would once again bring forth the chilling cold upon the sands. Well, time to try and be friendly with the locals, but keep in mind the mission as they head down the slopes while passing dead trees, sand, and dried grass. Inside the kingdom walls, there were many people who were cleaning their establishments and tending to the lanterns as others paused from their tasks to stare at this outsider who was being escorted to the entrance of the castle before continuing on.
Once brought to the entrance of the castle itself, Cassandra was greeted by a friendly young woman and urged to dismount while others had taken Fidella's reins to bring her away. Coaxed that they both would be well taken care of after their long journey, especially with how lucky they were that one of their elite patrols were able to find them in time. While keeping her guard up with what little strength the desert hadn't taken from her, Cassandra gave Fidella a reassuring pet along the snout that it won't be long before they see eachother again. That was a promise.
With some more tugging, Fidella was taken away and down a small hill towards some barracks where others watched and carried on with their business or came to try and pet her. Once Fidella was tied to a post, an elder blacksmith came forth to inspect her properly from head to tail. It felt wonderful to be pampered again by such caring hands as Fidella was washed from the dirt and sand, her coat and mane were groomed and braided, hooves clipped with new shoes with metals that didn't weigh her down in the sand, and finally a blanket was placed onto her to keep warm from the harsher nights. With all said and done, Fidella was taken to a large outdoor stable where the roofs of the stalls extended out to create shaded hallways and faced inwards towards a training corral. The other stalls were already occupied with camels who were enjoying a rest or eating their fill as the stable hands continued on their work. There were only three other horses and a pony that Fidella had taken notice of as she was escorted to her own stall and judging by their slender looks, these fellow equines were either used to help teach others how to ride or were merely used to show off.
After being settled and making herself comfortable, Fidella looked over to the entrance of the stables, wondering about what could be happening to Cassandra within the castle. Well, hopefully there wouldn't be too much trouble, after all, she could take care of herself. With shelter, food, and water given, Fidella found a nice spot to rest her legs and finally get some sleep without worrying about what went bump in the night. It was nice to feel safe under the warm night air.
The word of young warriors emerging from the desert to engage in glorious battle to make names for themselves was not an uncommon occurrence for the Safirian days of old. Especially for those who settled in the outer rings of the empire as they had witnessed many people enter or leave the land even under the reign of the Tyrant. It was their homesteads that were hit the hardest in trying to ration food and supplies in a land for someone who gave nothing. To see a warrior arrive and fight was merely the equivalent of watching chattel walking into the fire so that others may live one day longer. It became the norm that many hadn't bothered to dwell or pay much attention to mourn them.
The desert was as cruel as it was beautiful, even to its own children. And so the children must grow to be crueler in order to survive. That's just how things were done. Even with a new ruler.
Thus the arrival of a young woman coming from the desert while the empire was already recovering was met with some curiosity, but old habits weren't so easy to forget. As fast as word spread, it died quickly like fire once they saw her again around the empire. Now posted as one of the guards like so many others before her that were assumed dead from the Tyrant's reign, the people ignored the new guards for the most part.
But not Tuomas. Oh no. With a habit of being nosy about what happened in the castle and trying to exploit others into giving little presents merely because of his childish antics, Tuomas was very interested in this warrior woman. Although his previous snooping wound up with some very good scolding, it didn't stop Tuomas from wanting to know more about the woman with the sword and it was much easier with her living in the castle. Before he had explored the castle and found little passageways or collapsed walls which made it easier for him to sneak around, but none led to the room much to his disappointment. Next was trying to pick at the lock, but that too proved difficult as there were more people active in their nightly duties than in the morning and it was far too boring to sit around, waiting for the servants to clean the room to make it comfortable for their new guest. Especially when the royal bed was freshly made and all too comfortable to sleep in whether it was a warm day where the sun hit the window just right or when the night air became too cold. That was until the servants came by, eagerly chatting like birds as Tuomas slunk back into the shadows.
With Fidella gone and being led by the same young woman who greeted her, Cassandra was practically pushed by some other female servants who kept talking on and on as they walked past halls and up the stairs towards a room. It was very nice actually, perhaps the same size or smaller than Rapunzel's room back in Corona, with some flora here and there. Placing her belongings onto a dresser with a large mirror, Cassandra turned to see that the servants were still there with smiles on their faces. Totally not creepy at all. One of the younger girls had pulled Cassandra's hand to have her stand on a stool to get a better look as some candle holders and lanterns were brought to lighten up the room some more. Others had brought fabrics to compare against her face and skin before determining which of the clothes offered would best suit her instead of the armor she was already wearing. As they were fussing and talking to each other, three older women had left the group and into another room which was revealed by pulling a curtain which piqued Cassandra's curiosity.
Until the realization came of what they were trying to do.
The same three servants came from whatever they were doing and urged Cassandra off the stool, bringing her to the room where there was a bath filled with hot water and some lotuses were floating around with the room lit with candles. They played with her hair a bit and muttered at some of the dirt that was on her skin before tugging at her clothes and trying to undress her themselves.
"Oh! No no no! I can do this myself! It's okay! It's really okay!" Cassandra pulled away to try and explain to them as they merely stared at each other, shrugged, and back at her. Luckily her saving grace came when another older woman entered the room, with a clap of her hands and a stern voice, they bowed and left the washroom.
"My apologies," the older woman spoke to Cassandra. "They are traditionalists and are merely trying to show hospitality in order to make you feel comfortable and safe."
"That's a funny way of showing it." Cassandra mumbled a side glance before continuing."You can understand me?"
"Yes. Not many of us have that privilege since it's been so long since we've seen an outsider. It's a lack of practice. I am Marjani. Head of the castle staff and loyal servant to the crown"
"I'm Cassandra."
"Well, Cassandra, please. Take some time to refresh yourself. I'm sure you have questions and all shall be answered in due time. If there is anything you require, we are keen to provide. Oh! And there's a divider if you want more privacy."
At that, Marjani had left the room and Cassandra peeked out of the curtain to see the women chat amongst themselves while others merely tried to keep occupied such as fixing the bed or moving items around to make the room look more comfortable. Once making her presence known again, Marjani was quick to place some dry towels and fresh clothes on a chair near the divider before leaving Cassandra alone. Oh well, it would be a shame to turn down a nice bath, especially after being out in the desert for so long. Setting her dirty clothes and armor aside on the dressers, Cassandra had pulled on the divider and was able to have some time to relax.
While everyone was preoccupied with doing something, they failed to notice a little guest sneaking in once the bedroom door was open and casually walked over towards the washroom with a smile on their face on all fours.
Being too occupied playing with a lotus, Cassandra had been startled when she heard a chair move and turned to see if Marjani was there to drop off something else. But instead, there were clothes on the floor that looked better suited for a child… That was weird. Was this place haunted or something? When she turned around, Cassandra gave a small shriek as she saw… honestly, she had no idea what she was even looking at. It had the face of a small child and was happily batting at the water with a clawed hand as if seeing that the temperature was right. But it's entire body was covered with dark chocolate fur. Everything from appearance just screamed monkey, but it clearly was not a monkey as it's ears and tail were more akinned to a cat, lazily swaying back and forth. Whatever it was, Cassandra wanted it out of the washroom and tried to flick water at its face to get the furball to leave only for the little pest to splash her back with a giggle and then have the audacity to try and climb into the tub.
"TUOMAS!"
Both Cassandra, and apparently, Tuomas jumped from the sudden voice that belonged to a young maid. Unfortunately, for Cassandra, he fell into the tub and popped up from the water with a flower on his head before offering it to the other women. When it was apparent that Cassandra wouldn't take it from him, merely glaring at his intrusion, Tuomas ate the petals of the flower before being snatched up from the water.
"So sorry!" A maid came in and apologized to Cassandra as she struggled with holding onto the little beast and did her best to not look at their guest while Marjani entered to see what was going on. With that, Tuomas was scruffed and dragged out of the tub, carried upside down as he yelled and tried to break free, as Marjani came to gather little clothes.
"I am so sorry! Are you alright?" She asked Cassadnra, blushing in embarrassment.
"I...I think I'm done with my bath."
"Yes, of course. I'll leave you to dress yourself." Marjani bowed her head and left the room in quick haste.
With that little moment passing, Cassandra had dried herself off and requested some clothes that weren't so...dress like. Settling for a very pretty green blouse, light pants, and sandals which were more suited to her preferences as she subtly hid a dagger into her clothes. Despite their hospitality, it was better to feel safe in a foreign place and there was still a mission she wanted to complete. Once presentable, Cassandra was escorted to the dining hall by Marjani and Naomi, the young woman who met her earlier and had also taken Tuomas away to who knows where.
They led her through the halls and towards a large dining room where six long tables were set horizontally, servants carrying trays of food and drink, and a few guards having a break. From the looks of the other people eating and drinking, they didn't appear to be nobility but rather middle class or even peasants at best, but if things were so bad there were chances that even the high society folks would be forced to wear rags.
There was a small overlook where another banquet table was set with all sorts of food, clearly where the royals ate and drank while in the company of others. At the center of the table there was a palanquin with a silhouette of a person, sitting, and speaking with two other men who sat outside beside her. One being a leaner man who was chatting about something and the other being a literal giant who didn't look up and was entirely bored to even pay much attention to what was going on around him as he played with a fork. There was also Tuomas who was noisily enjoying his meal and ignored everyone as his little hands reached over to pick at any food that was deemed most delicious. This tyrant seemed to be courteous as there was a banquet of food presented for their guest that almost everyone could hear Cassandra's stomach beckoning for nourishment.
All eyes were upon Cassandra as she was announced into the room and was sat by the table closest to the royal table, feeling the eyes of the silhouette upon her person. Once settled, she was introduced that the head of the table was in fact the ruler of the empire, despite rumors claiming that it was a empire, either it was a mistranslation or 'the Tyrant' did some serious expanding. The giant on their left was known as Prince Samson and the other was Prince Tamaa who worked more as a royal advisor. When inquired on why an outsider would come so far to risk death in the desert, Cassandra made her intentions known as she stood defiantly.
"I am Cassandra and I came here to challenge the tyrant who rules over this land. I've heard stories of your cruelty and I am here to bring an end to them." At that, Cassandra drew her dagger and pointed it at the silhouette while the guards around had clutched their weapons or posed for an attack, ready for instruction. But instead, they were told to stand down, still eyeing Cassandra with distaste until they were commanded otherwise.
"Well this is an awkward situation." A voice, femine, spoke from the palanquin. "I like your spirit, but I'm sorry to say that you're eight months late to the party. 'the Tyrant' is dead and I rule over this land now. The people you wish to liberate are quite content with this new change in management actually, but it's nice to see that there's someone willing to fight for them."
"..." Cassandra's shoulders slumped a bit once she had heard this information. Not only did she risk death by crossing the desert, this mission that she set out to accomplish was already fulfilled by someone else. The desert must've fried her brain as well as there wasn't really much she could do with a dagger other than stab the person closest to her and punch her way out. The other woman spoke some more as Cassandra listened.
"I hear that word is slow to reach the outside lands and there have been others found before you who tried to do the same thing. My patrol claims that they are unable to reach the crossroads because they've found more young adventurers out in the desert. Consider yourself one of the lucky ones we found...alive."
"If this is all true, then who am I talking to?"
"The rightful heir to the throne who challenged 'the Tyrant' for the empire and the liberation of the people treated as slaves under his thumb. It is I who rules them all as their empress, but I can see that you are disappointed. What a shame. You would've been a fine addition to my army when the battle began all those months ago."
"Oh, no, it's not that…" Cassandra placed her dagger to the side and sat down, feeling the awkwardness of all eyes on her as her cheeks turned red.
"If anything I should be apologizing."
"For what?" Cassandra looked up in confusion.
"About what happened earlier. I received news that a certain somebody had snuck into your room." The empress gestured to Tuomas, who paused from taking a bite of meat and his eyes looked up at her before his ears went flat and pouted. Silently being judged by Samson and Tamaa as they shook their heads at him, but the empress' voice had a playful tone to it.
"He's a big fan of sharing baths and has a tendency to get nosy, but he's really more kinned to that of a child than a threat. Unless you're a mouse or a bird." She handed a small box to Tuomas and he swiped it from her, slipping underneath the table and walked up towards Cassandra, offering the box to her with his tail twitching in annoyance. Once taking it from the furball, Tuomas hurried back to his seat on all fours to continue his meal as Cassandra opened the box to find her necklace that Varian gave her.
"I didn't even notice it was missing."
"If he tries this again or if you catch him in the process, don't be afraid to tell someone or to me personally. This one needs a lot of lessons in manners."
There was a snort from Tuomas as he drank from his little cup and went back to stuffing his face.
"Thank you.' Cassandra smiled. "Well, this has been a little awkward and things look to be fine around here. I'll leave once my horse is ready-'
"You don't have to leave at all!" The empress interrupted. "You're free to stay for however long you'd like. And it's very dangerous to travel now during the winter."
"Winter? Here?"
"Oh yes. I take it you've gotten a glimpse. The winter winds stir up more frequently and the sandstorms have occurred more than usual. It's best to leave around the spring or early summer before the deserts become much harsher than what you've experienced."
"Well, that's very generous, thank you, your imperial highness."
"You may refer to me as Empress Sinclair. And as of today, you are a guest of Safira and under my protection, like the others would be heroes here." She gestured to the group of people who watched their conversation or ignored them altogether to focus on their food.
From that day on, Cassandra had been around the streets to explore the empire from, literally top to bottom, as she stayed in the guest room of the castle. Some of the other folks who she saw at the first meeting with the empress were survivors from the 'the Tyrant', warriors that like Cassandra wished to liberate the land, but were either killed or thrown into the dungeons to never see the light of day again. Unknowing that she was still being followed by that little scamp Tuomas as he tried to enter her room again and ran off before she could catch him or was just casually following her around until he saw something more interesting. Finally his moment came as while scouting out for nasty vermin to exterminate and receive praise, Tuomas had got a glimpse of Cassandra heading to her bedroom. Earlier in the morning, before the sun had fully reached the sky, Cassandra paid a visit to Fidella and had taken her for a quick exercise around the territory. Yet the unfamiliarity of the extreme weather had already gotten to Cassandra and she led Fidella back towards the stalls for some pampering and treats.
During her time in Safira, there was this feeling of restlessness and took notice of the guards that trained or patrolled the empire for those who carried out petty crimes. The captain of the Safirian guard, Captain Niraj, and his brother, Captain Sefu, had approached Cassandra based on what they were told by the royal family and the guards that were there to witness her willingness to start a fight. It wasn't the sort of "you are under watch because you're a threat" talk, though from Sefu's body language it was clear that he didn't like Cassandra, but the conversation between her and Niraj was more of a possible interest in joining the guard, even if it was temporary. Many of the warriors that survived 'the Tyrants' rule were given the same opportunity as it could build their strengths and further inquiry of Cassandra's past made her appear as a good candidate.
From what she was also told, it was a rewarding task as the guards weren't just there to protect the empire, but keep peace amongst those who fought amongst themselves over supplies, chase away or fight any large beast who sought to find a quick meal as it was an occurrence long before Sinclair took the throne, or patrol the deserts and scout for any lost travelers. The Safirian guards were separated by symbols and marks to determine the ranks amongst one other and who had higher authority. Ranks for the guard were also separated based on who patrols the surface, the Underground, and those who were chosen for the harsher desert patrols at what hour of the day and night.
It had been two month now since Cassandra arrived in Safira and she had already been accepted as a soldier of the Solar Mark, which were guards specifically for the overhead patrol of the kingdom from midnight to midday, with an exception for individual break times. Their symbol was that of a red circle with three triangles on top and the ranks were indicated by a maximum of four slashes across the mark. In contrast, the Lunar Mark worked midday to midnight with their symbol of a red crescent moon with an orb in the center of where the two points met. The Underground was given the symbol of a half circle with the left or right colored with a smaller circle to indicate what times the guards would patrol. All following the same slashes in order to determine who fit in what ranks either through years of service or completing great trials that were deemed impossible.
This may have been the reason why Cassandra and a few others were also given the Solar Mark, working from midnight to midday in order to be more accustomed to the heat. However not everything was set in stone as some were better suited for the Lunar Mark or had left the guard entirely and found other work. Not that she can blame them as the Safiran training was far more intense and harsher than that of Corona where some collapsed or patience was tested constantly to the point of just quitting altogether. It would definitely make her father proud to see fine warriors put to the test for their loyalties and dedication, but even felt ready to throw her hands up and leave once Fidella was ready. Since she was classed as a low ranked soldier, or a beginner, Cassandra's mark hadn't received any slashes yet, but with luck, she might be able to move up.
Part of her was starting to feel ill due to how quick the weather was able to rise or fall at the drop of a hat, but Cassandra wouldn't let that deter her from duty as she wiped the sweat from her brow. Just because Corona hadn't received anything like this even in the summer didn't really mean anything and people just needed time to adjust, yet the Safirians were proud desert people and a few of the native guards gave sneers towards Cassandra and others. But these were quickly discouraged once Captain Niraj had caught someone in the act and he wasn't afraid to berate someone, physically or verbally, no matter where they were or who was watching. The guards were expected to work together, stay focused on their tasks, and serve the kingdom, not gossip like old women. Not even his own brother and second in command, Sefu, was safe from these chastizations which was fine by Cassandra as the two didn't care for one another. This one was suspicious of her from the start and made it clear that he wasn't so keen on having outsiders in their ranks despite the low count of soldiers. Not that she can blame him as Cassandra would've probably given someone else the same treatment back home, but she wasn't constantly harassed or anything, so it wasn't so bad.
Just thinking about it gave Cassandra a headache and a quick rest on her day off was just what she needed. Better to get plenty of strength before the work day or in case someone came to collect her as a stand in. A sudden crash had startled Cassandra, along with some other servants carrying on their tasks, to turn and see what made the noise: a broken urn, yet there was no suspect or witness to claim who did it. Well, not her problem at the moment as she entered her room and sprawled out on her back upon the bed, thinking about what to do for tomorrow. Slowly slipping into sleep before something knocked the wind out of her.
"OOF!" She gasped as Tuomas had leapt onto the bed and sat on Cassandra's stomach with a purr. Her shock turned to annoyance as the furball made it clear that he wasn't moving one bit as Tuomas leaned back and looked around the room. Fancy. All the more easier to try and find out what secrets Cassandra kept, especially in her travel bag, that is if he played his cards right. But Tuomas didn't know Cassandra, so there was no chance and no way she would be quick to fawn over him like many others before.
"Rude, much?" Cassandra frowned. Narrowing her eyes as Tuomas gave a smug look. There was no exaggeration that not only did he look like a child, he most certainly weighed like one. Time to work the good old Tuomas charm as he showed her his dirty clawed foot and wiggled his pinky toe with a smile. At that point, Cassandra had enough and sat up on the side of the bed, grabbing Tuomas from under the arms and away from her person before he could scamper off. "Okay, let's see what I'm working with here."
From what Cassandra was told, Tuomas wasn't exactly an animal companion to Empress Sinclair like how Pascal was to Rapunzel, but more of a young ward or an adopted child. The interesting thing that she learned from the others was that Tuomas was not a creature of Safira, in fact, he arrived with Sinclair. All the information given when asked was that Tuomas was a nemphrie, found from who knows where, and under Sinclair absolute protection. However, it still didn't give him permission to strut around and act like he owned everything even if he was held in high regard by the empress' side. Even more so was that if he did cause a ruckus, it was best to tell Sinclair as the kit was more inclined to listen to her than others. Still he carried on without a care and received plenty of praise for killing vermin that could menace his favorite domain: the kitchen. Cocking his head to the side, he gave her a smile, but Cassandra was adamant in her inspection of him. At first glance, one would think monkey, yet the purring along the twitch of the ears and the tail were a clear indication of a feline which could explain his mischief. In the end, Tuomas claimed victory.
"Okay, I'll admit it. You're kinda cute. But if I find anything missing from my room or anymore broken items, you're my number one suspect." Cassandra gave a smile and relaxed a bit. Until he spoke.
"Taistelija!"
Gasping in surprise, Cassandra had inadvertently dropped Tuomas and cursed herself for the act as he landed on all fours with his tail puffed from the surprise. Pouting at her, Tuomas stood up on his two feet to groom his tail and look at Cassandra, still taking to her. There was a long pause between them before Tuomas dramatically sighed as it was clear that the warrior couldn't understand him.
"Taistelija."
"What?" Cassandra leaned in a bit, still confused on how to try and understand what he was saying to her.
Tuomas walked around the room and paused once he found what he was looking for, pointing at her, at her sword, and then back at her. "Taistelija."
"Umm...Yeah. That's called a sword."
He shook his head with a snort. "Ei miekkaa. Taistelija. F...fightah."
Cassandra's brows rose a bit. Okay, now they were getting somewhere. "Yeah. I'm a fighter."
"Taistelija."
"Yes. That's what I am."
Tuomas smiles, showing his little fangs. "Joo."
"Oh, so you're a little fighter, huh?"
There was a loud purr from Tuomas as his tail swayed with joy. Clearly, he understood what she was saying just fine, but had preferred to speak in his own tongue. The more he talked, even though Cassandra couldn't understand him, the more she was cautious of Tuomas as he was clearly using this to snoop around her room. Finally stopping in front of her satchel which held memoirs from Corona and his pupils grew large with a purr.
"Don't even think about it, those are mine." Cassandra folded her arms as she could see that the gears in his mind were cooking up a plan. One way or another Tuomas was going to take something with or without permission and if this was how he was going to act, best to nip the problem in the bud. "Look, you can't have any of my things, but-"
At that Tuomas looked at her innocently. There's always a sort of compromise for a reward with that word as he smiled. Cassandra continued, "but I can show you some cool sword tricks. A little warrior like you could benefit from learning new skills. Right?"
Done deal. Some days, Tuomas would pop up into Cassandra's room with a wooden sword that he proudly swung around and boasted at how he was victorious over slaying pesky vermin. In turn, Cassandra showed off some of her own moves such as slicing fruit which impressed him greatly.
All was well until word came that the kingdoms of Equis and Corona would be arriving for the proper coronation of Empress Sinclair. Not wanting to face anyone from home again, at least not yet, Cassandra had spoken to Captain Niraj if there was anyone who wasn't present for their duties in the Underground or even the Lunar guard. She would've loved to strike Sefu across the face when he was against the idea, trying to make it sound as if she was trying to escape the day due to 'the delicate skin of outsiders', or just her trying to get out of the work she was assigned to. Regardless, Captain Niraj allowed Cassandra to take a spot temporarily as one of their own had fallen ill and it would be good for the new soldier to memorize the Underground while being chaperoned by another outsider who was there longer than her. If Cassandra wanted to stay and rise up during the ranks, it'd be best for her to be familiarized with everything in the empire.
But fate seemed to have a different plan for her as before Cassandra could go above the stairwell to be on guard by the gates, she came face to face with the past.