Bound To Cazmus

Chapter Three

The Vorhem palace stood at the heights of its strength, with one adult prince who carried the sacred blood of Dramér, and Dragon Gods, the only sole heir to the throne took his first breath, where King Voltaren rained over ten centuries of peace and prosperity, until tragedy had claimed he and his wife's life.

Only three years after the birth of his son Cazmus, he who was incapable of taking over the throne after being cursed to the king's Consort.

Victoria led him into madness with a Sorcerer's spell and took over the throne; only then did the Vorhem palace meet its downfall. The place where Cazmus never thought he'd step foot on.

The capital of all five palaces.

"Please let me go into the palace, my lord. I will be quick. Just stay hidden," Chantelle pleaded with Cazmus.

She looked at him as he mounted the black horse effortlessly.

Vixen was a large horse, about the size of five muscular men lined up side by side. She had beautiful black hair, she wasn't a regular horse, Cazmus was at least 7 feet, he would not fit on a human horse.

Chantelle glanced at Cazmus, a pleading look in her eye.

Cazmus's face was obscured by the hoodie pulled over his head and the black coat he wore.

She could sense his annoyance as his golden eyes bore into her.

Cazmus was clearly frustrated by Chantelle's demands.

She had asked him to change his eye color, insisting that golden eyes would give him away, and to wear a cloak to conceal his identity.

Their visit to the Vorhem palace had already put him in a bad mood.

Chantelle's sole purpose was to retrieve the letters sent by her brother, Maxwell.

He had provided her with a few possible locations to visit in her search for the witches, and she could only hope they would lead her to the answers she sought.

"Go on. I don't need a constant reminder," his voice rasped as he spoke to her. An indescribable amount of annoyance glinted in his eyes as Cazmus waited in the cold, the middle of November not affecting him but still being despised.

His impatience mounted as he watched her pass through the palace gates, exchanging wary glances with the guards before disappearing inside.

Restless, Cazmus drummed the reins with growing frustration, his brow knitted in dissatisfaction as he pondered why she had not brought the letters in the first place. They should have been on their way to Xynnar by now.

Lost in his thoughts, a strong presence gradually neared, prompting him to reach for his sword and direct it at the approaching figure.

"Brother..."

Cazmus stiffened as he recognized the towering form of Amis, his younger brother.

It was a surprise to note how much Amis had grown since they last met. His once neck-length blonde hair now matched Cazmus's.

"I-I knew it, I felt it... It's been so long, Cazmus.

I feared you were dead. Amir and Samber will be delighted to hear-"

"Silence, Amis,"

Cazmus interjected, sheathing his sword and tearing his gaze away from the young demon, grappling with his emotions.

Despite his misdeeds, Amis adored and revered Cazmus.

He was a reminder of the unconditional love and respect that Amis held for his older brother.

A loyalty that persisted, untouched by the darker aspects of Cazmus' past. Amis believed that Victoria was the true instigator behind Cazmus's actions.

"No one must know of my presence, do you understand?" Cazmus stated firmly.

"I... What's going on, Cazmus? Where are you going if not home? Are you going to continue this ruse? The Kingdom needs you, not Shazer-"

Amis protested.

"That is not your concern, Amis. Return inside," Cazmus commanded, his tone brooking no argument.

Amis turned on his heel, his shoulders slumped and a defeated look etched on his face.

As he made to leave, he abruptly halted and turned back to face Cazmus.

"N-No," he stammered, his voice betraying his nerves in defying his brother.

Cazmus, towering over Amis, found his brother's attempt at defiance somewhat amusing.

"No?"

Cazmus repeated, his deep voice sending a shiver down Amis's spine.

Despite his inner turmoil, Amis puffed out his chest, attempting to exude an air of toughness.

"No. If you're leaving, I'm going with you. I saw Chantelle, so she's coming with us. Otherwise, you wouldn't need your horse,"

Amis pointed out, gesturing towards the horse.

It was a simple observation - Cazmus rarely rode unless he was accompanied by a human or had an abundance of belongings, and all he had with him was his armor, a sword, and a satchel.

"No, Amis," Cazmus replied firmly. "I'm not asking, Cazmus," Amis retorted, his voice betraying a mix of determination and apprehension.

"Chantelle already informed me about the Witches, and I'm coming with you. I refuse to stand by and watch Victoria and Shazer destroy this kingdom."

Amis spoke with an undertone of disdain as he discussed his mother and brother with Cazmus.

It was clear that he was dead serious. He seemed determined and unwilling to accept rejection.

"Maybe they should consider making you the crown prince," Cazmus remarked.

"That's an honor I can do without, brother. I just want to ensure the safety of a few people," Amis replied.

Cazmus couldn't help but chuckle. "It appears that you've won the heart of a young woman at the tender age of seventeen."

Amis stood there in silence, staring at the rocky ground as he absentmindedly kicked small pebbles around. Cazmus noticed a hint of redness creeping onto Amis's pale ears.

"I think I hit the mark. Tell me about her, Amis."

"She's a servant named Amy, with the most stunning red hair I've ever seen. Her striking green eyes remind me of Mother Nature.

She's a remarkable woman, but mother strictly forbids it. She thinks it's inappropriate for a prince to have feelings for a mere servant."

The irony wasn't lost on Cazmus, especially considering that Victoria herself had been a servant before ascending to the role of consort through less-than-honorable means.

King Voltaren's folly in betraying Queen Renee for a woman clearly his inferior was not lost on him

"Make her your consort, and you have my full support, brother. That should be more than sufficient."

As Amis began to speak, Chantelle suddenly appeared from the palace, her shoulder bag in tow.

Her eyes locked with Amis's, and she offered a strained smile, hinting at underlying concerns. Sensing her unease, only Amis took the initiative to inquire further.

"What's troubling you, Chantelle?" he asked.

"I'll explain on the way, your majesty. We should leave quickly," Chantelle replied.

Later, as they rode through a rugged path in the forest, Chantelle, wrapped in her coat, rode behind Amis on his horse. The chill in the air was palpable, visible through the mist as Amis spoke.

"Would you like to talk about what happened earlier, Chantelle? You seemed quite distressed."

Amis broke the silence, and with each word he spoke, his breath formed a delicate mist that lingered in the cold air, emphasizing the chilliness of the room.

"It was about Prince Shazer. I saw him in his chambers, lost in an unsettling soliloquy. His eyes held a disturbing intensity, as if he were not entirely himself.

He kept striking himself, and though some of his muttered words escaped me, I could discern pleas to someone or something to cease. Upon noticing my presence, he approached me. I couldn't ignore the dilation of his pupils and the myriad of scratches adorning his neck.

As she recounted the events, Cazmus furrowed his brow.

Despite his disdain for Shazer, he recognized that such behavior was uncharacteristic of him.

Could it be that he was succumbing to madness after spending an extended period with Victoria? Such a response would not be uncommon.

"I've come to notice that as well, Shazer, isn't like himself, I mean, he was always rude and controlling but not this much, he's become obsessed with taking over the throne."

As the group discussed their suspicions about Queen Victoria's manipulative tactics, Amis and Chantelle both expressed their agreement.

They all knew that the queen would go to great lengths to maintain power within her family, even if it meant coercing her own son.

Cazmus had become a victim of Victoria's relentless ambition, as she had sought out sorcerers to cast a spell on him, filling him with uncontrollable anger to discredit his claim to the throne.

Amidst this conversation, Chantelle suggested seeking the help of the sorcerers to track down her brother, but she also expressed her certainty that he was still alive.

When Chantelle mentioned her brother's connection to Orpheus, Cazmus, taken aback, inquired about her knowledge of Orpheus.

Both Amis and Chantelle, realizing the potential danger, carefully navigated the conversation to avoid revealing the truth about their association with Orpheus, knowing Cazmus's vehement disdain for anyone connected to him.

Unbeknownst to Cazmus, Chantelle concealed the depth of her knowledge about Orpheus and internally grappled with the weight of deceit that had accumulated.

Feeling the burden of her concealed truths, she closed her eyes and let out a heavy sigh.

Three hours into the journey, Cazmus suddenly brought his horse to a sudden stop and extended his arm, signaling for Chantelle to stay put.

"Remain here, and don't move," he commanded, dismounting his horse.

He left his sword behind and tossed his cloak off, not bothering to conceal his identity.

Whoever this was, he had no intention of letting them live.

The sound of shifting behind the trees and the growing volume of low growls, accompanied by the stench of blood, ignited a sense of hunger within him, but he managed to keep it at bay.

"Reveal yourself. I could smell you a mile away,"

Cazmus called out.

The unmistakable scent of wet dog clued him in to what he was facing.

"You're foolish to encroach on my lands and take the lives of my people. Werewolves are becoming increasingly audacious."

As he spoke, a large wolf emerged, its white fur drenched in blood.