Cass was on edge, though not from fear. The air in the hunting ground was thick with the scent of damp earth and wild energy, a stark contrast to the sterile halls of his noble house or the familiar, boisterous inn.
He had chosen to be here, to join the others on this mad, exciting quest for a suitable mount.
He had been hesitant when Aria suggested the lake. His initial instruction was to stay in Haimdel, lay low, and be the party's inconspicuous anchor.
But after the conversation with the family's right-hand man, after trading a piece of his inherited freedom for the right to follow Aria, he felt an urgent need to prove his worth. He was tired of being the 'young Lord' who needed protection.
He followed the edge of the forest path, moving with a quiet caution that belied his age. Unlike Aria, who had walked around unseen, Cass made no attempt to conceal his presence fully; instead, he managed his sound.
