The Dragon's Egg
The next morning Cassandra woke up early, around sunrise. Someone was slowly caressing her hair and bare skin. Remembering the events of the previous day, she opened her eyes and checked around, worried.
"My Lord!"
Kairen was indeed there, on the side of the bed, sitting there while watching her. She jumped, her arms wrapping around his neck to hold him, letting out all her worries from the previous night. Cassandra was so worried, she even checked his torso for injuries, but he only had a couple of thin black scale lines on his arms, already healing themselves. She let out a long sigh of relief and the Prince put his hand around her neck.
"I was so worried."
"You're fine now."
Didn't he understand that she was worried about him at all? He only kept looking at her for a long time, like he was trying to capture her face in his mind, until Cassandra blushed. Kairen seemed a bit odd this morning.
"Is there something wrong, My Lord?"
"No."
He got up and brought her one of the usual gold trays, with fruits, meat, and cheese. Cassandra was a bit lost though and ignored the food. She tried to think of what could be wrong.
"When did you get back, My Lord? I meant to wait for you, but I fell asleep..."
"Late in the night."
"Did you get any sleep at all?" she asked, worried.
"I did."
She frowned. She couldn't even tell if he had slept beside her, she was too exhausted herself. Suddenly, she thought of something else.
"Is your dragon back yet?"
Kairen immediately frowned slightly.
"Not yet...He will be here soon."
Was the problem with Krai then? Cassandra couldn't help but worry about its absence. It didn't seem usual for the dragon to leave, and go so far away and for so long, without its master. Did that explain Kairen's odd behavior this morning?
Probably no one else but Cassandra would have noticed anything was different with the Prince, but she was sure. He even seemed a bit...uneasy. She grabbed a bit of food, eating in silence, lost in her thoughts. Kairen didn't say a word either, watching her eat, sometimes taking some meat as well.
After a while, a little knock was heard on the door.
"Your Highness? May I come in?"
Nebora walked in as soon as Kairen gave permission, bringing in hot water and soap for Cassandra. Kairen got up and left without a word, leaving his concubine even more confused than before. She turned to Nebora.
"Nebora! Do you know what's going on?"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know. His Highness is acting...odd."
Her friend frowned, turning her head towards where the Prince had just left.
"Odd? How so? Come, I'll help you bathe."
It was weird to have her own friend help her take a bath, but Cassandra didn't say no. She had gone to bed quite dirty last night and this was more than welcome. She got into the bath, where Nebora poured the hot water, and started washing herself.
"I don't know, he seems uneasy."
"I don't know what you're talking about Cassie. His Highness isn't like usual? I couldn't tell the difference. But the dragon isn't back yet. Maybe it has to do with that. We saw it leave in the direction of the palace, didn't we? Perhaps something happened there? I guess we won't know until it comes back. Oh, I'll wash your hair too, give me that."
