Hell's Throne (The Devil's Assistant Series - 5 ) - Unedited

Hell's Throne - Chapter 16

The carriage juddered and shook as we made our way into the city. I was glad I had chosen to skip breakfast as the ride appeared to be rougher than usual, the wheels catching on every pit and pothole in the road. Closing my eyes, I tried to envision myself somewhere else but the rough rocky motion of the carriage just kept drawing me back to the present.

"Why couldn't we have walked?" I groaned, peeling open my eyes only to spot the smirk on Lucius's lips.

He sat back, one arm resting atop the padded seat and the other hanging casually out the window. He appeared unaffected by the carriage's uneven passage. There was no sweat beading across his brow nor was there a greenish tinge to his skin. Instead he just enjoyed watching my misery, relaxed with that amused tilt to his lips. Boats were usually the only thing which could give me motion sickness but the carriage was rocking so badly it was giving boats some stiff competition.

"Stop it." I growled as that ridiculous smirk crossed his face.

A loud bang reverberated through the air around them as the carriage hit a large pot hole. The motion threw me briefly out of my seat and into the air. There was a brief moment of suspension before I crashing onto the floor, my cheek uncomfortably cushioned by the toe of Lucius's shoes. With a groan, I pushed myself up on to my knees. A hand appeared in the edge of my vision as its own continued to chuckle.

"Stop laughing, this isn't funny." I griped, glaring up at the man as if I could put all of my displeasure into one glance. "Don't you have someone to take care of the roads?" Knocking his proffered hand away, I dragged myself back onto the cushioned seats.

"I'm not doing anything." Lucius protested, his lips twitching with the effort to restrain his smile. "I agree, the roads do need to be mended but they are hardly a priority at the moment. There are much bigger concerns."

Feeling sobered, my ire doused by the cold dose of reality, I nodded my head and tried to focus on a spot above his head as the carriage gave another lurch. "I think it's brave of you to go into the town even though you're going to be putting yourself at risk. Some leaders wouldn't do it. They'd allow the fear to keep them locked away."

"It is not bravery. It is duty." He replied, turning his head to look out the small window. "Terran and his people are causing havoc on my watch. Showing my face to my people is the least I can do."

"You're a good man." I smiled.

Lucius gasped dramatically and without even looking I knew he would be pulling a silly expression. "Don't tell anyone, you'll ruin my reputation."

"I think that secret was out a long time ago. You're about as scary as a Chihuahua."

"You take that back, take it back right now." Lucius demanded.

"Nope."

"And Chihuahuas are terrifying. I got bitten by one once. Damn thing left a scar on my ankle." Lucius nodded his head when he caught my expression of disbelief. "Trust me, Chihuahua's are vicious."

"Of course they are." I acquiesced with a large grin on my face. "They're absolutely savage."

"I knew you'd see my way."

The carriage rolled to a stop as I opened my mouth to respond. Snorting on a laugh at the thought of a rabid Chihuahua, I made sure I was the first one of the carriage.

I was assaulted immediately by the sounds and smells of the city. Sweat, dirt, freshly cooked food but blessedly the absence of exhaust fumes. The square was full of people going about their day but one by one, as they noticed the presence of the carriage, they all came to a standstill.