Elias glared at the robed figure walking ahead as he trudged behind him, water splashing with every step and the steady beat of the rain becoming more and more irritating by the second. 

“We’ve been traveling for three days,” he said after a moment. 

“We have,” Cassian responded flatly without even bothering to glance back or so much as slowing his pace. 

“You said this place—wherever it is we’re going—wasn’t far.” 

“I did.” 

“So then, why are we still not there after three days?” Elias thought it was a reasonable enough question. Cassian didn’t seem to share in his opinion. At least, not judging by the very put upon sigh he let out. 

“We’re nearly there,” Cassian said, and Elias might have believed him if it were the first time he’d said as much. 

“You said that yesterday,” he pointed out. 

“I lied so you’d shut up.”

Elias considered tossing his dagger at Cassian. It wasn’t the first time he had that particular urge and he was starting to fear it wouldn’t be the last. 

“Can you at least tell me where we’re going?” Elias didn’t think he’d get an actual answer. Not when he’d asked the same thing several times already. Cassian seemed to be taking full advantage of the fact that Elias needed him around to be as irritating as possible. It was really the only reason Elias could think of as to why the necromancer was being so vague. 

Again, Cassian sighed, though this one sounded far more irritated. For a moment, they just continued to make their way up the sloping path. It was slow going thanks to the rain, with them having to tread carefully unless they wanted to slip and fall all the way down the mountain path. It was the main reason why Elias hadn’t lunged at Cassian to shake him in sheer frustration. 

“We’ll be there soon, but we’ll have to go off the path for a while,” Cassian finally said. 

“As long as you don’t get us lost.” It wouldn’t be the first time Elias stepped off the path during his travels and he was certain enough that Cassian wouldn’t get them lost. At least, he hoped so. Elias might actually murder the necromancer if he’d made them travel for three days without knowing where he was leading them. 

They walked for a while longer, the desolate path they were on becoming more and more dilapidated. It was clear that it didn’t get much use and Elias could see why. 

The path led up a mountain—one of many such roads to do so, though definitely the least used of them all. Around them was a thick forest that spilled onto the path and had them ducking under branches and stepping over logs that had fallen over long enough ago to be covered in moss. Grass had begun to take over the road until it was only a faint trail of dirt cutting through the verdant tones. Under different circumstances—and company—Elias might have thought the sight beautiful. At that moment, he really just wanted to get to wherever Cassian was leading them. 

“We’re leaving the path now,” Cassian said after a while, carefully stepping into the dense woods around them.

For a minute, Elias stood at the edge of the woods, watching as the necromancer’s form was engulfed by the tightly packed trees and foliage. He hesitated, not fond of the idea of navigating through such rough terrain, especially as the sun steadily sank lower and lower. 

At least it’ll provide some cover from the rain, he thought, ever the optimist. 

With a resigned sigh, he pushed his way through the treeline and followed the path Cassian had created. Gradually, the space opened up and Cassian became visible once again. 

“I really hope you’re not just taking me to some desolate spot where you can murder me,” he muttered, pushing aside a branch as he followed closely after Cassian. 

“If I wanted to murder you I wouldn’t bother to pick such a peaceful place for you when we’ve passed plenty of ditches.” 

Elias figured that was fair enough. He didn’t even bother to point out that Cassian most definitely wanted to murder him. Why he’d not done so yet, he wasn’t sure, but he was very glad for it. Hopefully, the necromancer would at least wait until Elias had no unfinished business. 

“You’re right, it would be uncharacteristically considerate of you.” 

Cassian glanced back just to throw a withering look his way. Elias grinned back. 

“Absolutely worthless,” Cassian muttered. 

Elias ignored him, far too used to Cassian’s insults after three days of traveling together. Oddly enough, he still found himself feeling grateful for the necromancer’s company. Cassian was far from pleasant, but he was still better than nothing. Elias even came to find some amusement from Cassian’s various disparaging comments. 

“We’re here,” Cassian’s voice cut through Elias’ thoughts and made him focus enough to peer past Cassian. 

The sun was close to setting, but the bit of light breaking through the thick clouds overhead made it possible for Elias to see the clearing just past the treeline and the cabin in the midst of it. Elias found himself thinking that it was both unlike and very much alike the place Cassian had previously called home. The cabin in front of them was larger and time had clearly taken a toll on it. Nature was slowly claiming the building, vines and moss steadily working to cover its stone exterior and the overgrown grass making it all the more difficult to see what had once been a home. 

“What is this place?” Elias asked, his gaze still focused on the cabin as they stepped out of the woods and into the clearing. The seemingly unending rain once again washed over them, painting the world in dreary tones. 

“It used to be home.” 

The words—so softly spoken—were nearly swept away by the rain and the wind. Elias still caught them and turned to look at Cassian, so quick he thought he felt his neck crack at the movement. Beneath the dark hood of his cloak Cassian’s face remained impassive as he stared at the cabin. Elias could still see there was something different—a glimmer of some emotion in the necromancer’s dark eyes. He almost wished he knew Cassian well enough to be able to decipher what hid beneath the mask the necromancer so often wore. 

Before he could delve any deeper into it Cassian began to walk towards the cabin. Elias hurried to follow, wading through the overgrown grass. The ground sank beneath his weight, the dirt turned to mud by the persistent rain. He was glad the walk was so short before they stood in front of the worn door, the wood of it darkened by the rain beating against it. 

Cassian reached to open it though Elias thought it likely to be locked. He was proven wrong when the door swung open. For a moment, he was puzzled before he caught the fading glow of sigils engraved on the metal of the door’s handle. 

Magic. Of course, he thought. 

Elias couldn’t make out much when he peered into the dark interior of the cabin. From the fading light pouring in through the open doorway, he could only see dust covered wooden floors and a rug with washed out colors. Cassian strode past Elias and into the cabin, his steps leaving a wet trail that faded away amidst the darkness within. After a minute of hesitation, Elias followed after. 

If nothing else, it was nice to get out of the rain and the cold. It was nicer still once Cassian managed to light a couple of lanterns hanging from the walls. Elias got his first proper look at the interior of the place that had once been Cassian’s home. From the looks of it, no one had sought so much as a night of shelter inside. 

Dust covered every surface and knick knack and even the herbs still hanging to dry. The fireplace was empty save for ashes, the soot-stained stone cold from disuse—something that would change if they were to spend the night in the cabin. Books and jars still cluttered a large table, the layer of dust the only thing showing the passage of time. 

For a minute, Elias stood there and took things in—from the still full shelves of books and various items to the staircase leading up into a darkened upper floor. All the while, the rain continued to beat against the stone walls while the day moved steadily closer to night. 

Cassian didn’t say anything as he finished wiping down and lighting the lanterns, the sounds of him shuffling around too loud amidst the quiet hanging over them. Elias’ voice was far too loud when he finally spoke, breaking the heavy silence with a question that occurred to him as his eyes went from the pair of bowls sitting atop the table to the necromancer currently shedding his rain-soaked cloak. 

“You said this was your home, but you didn’t live here alone, did you?” Elias’ brow furrowed, the answer something he knew already but still couldn’t grasp the significance of. “Who did you live with?” 

Cassian’s dark gaze bore into him, the light of the lanterns dancing within them and making it all the more difficult to decipher just what emotion hid behind the necromancer’s stare. He answered in a voice so lacking in emotion that Elias knew there was much he was holding back—that he was locking away where he wouldn’t have to deal with it just yet. 

“Ethelred,” Cassian said. 

The name echoed in Elias’ mind as the last rays of the sun slipped away.