"Watch over Cassandra, and Whitestone." That had been the instruction.
Trinket didn't know how to watch over Whitestone. It was a big city, he could never see all of it, even from the highest balcony in the castle.
Cassandra though, that was easier.
He didn't know what time it was, but it was certainly far too late. The stars had been out for hours, the moon was starting to lower, and everything was still. Trinket should have been fast asleep.
But he was not, because Cassandra was not.
They sat in the library, Trinket sprawled out on the rug while Cassandra sat on a chaise. She had her legs tucked up under her while she turned the pages of a book in her lap. She was wearing a dressing gown and still had a bandage across her forehead. She looked... vulnerable. That was the word. She didn't show as much skin as mama did.
She turned another page before stifling a yawn against her hand. Trinket raised his head. He made a soft grumbling noise. You need to go to bed.
Cassandra looked at him and smiled softly. "I know boy, I know. Five more minutes." She yawned again and went back to her book. He stood and took a step forward. He placed his snout on top of the pages. You are tired.
She sighed. "I'll go to my quarters soon, I promise." She scratched behind his ears with a soft touch Percy didn't possess. "It's just been... hard to sleep lately," she continued. "Oh, you're a bear, what do you know about nightmares?"
Mama gets them. He gave Cassandra his saddest, most empathetic look.
"There is just... so much on my mind. I failed Whitestone." Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. "But the dreams always go back to the past. How unfair is that?" She closed her book and continued petting him like he was grounding her.
I think you're very good, Trinket said, because he didn't know what else to say. She couldn't seem to understand him anyway. Mama only could some of the time.
"Okay, okay," she finally said, wiping at her eyes. "You're right, I'm keeping you from your beauty sleep." She stood and carried the book back to the shelf, sliding it into place. Her fingers lingered on the spine for a few extra moments before she turned and walked away. Trinket pushed the door open with his nose.
He led the way to Cassandra's familiar quarters. For a moment she stopped, hand on the doorknob of her study.
No. To your bed with you, child. He turned around and nosed at her hipbone. She laughed softly but there wasn't much humor in it.
"If only you could sign off on paperwork for me." She pet his head, and they finished the walk to her room. She collapsed on her back into her bed, the covers still unmade from that morning. Trinket flopped down on the floor next to her. She stared at the ceiling like she was contemplating.
Copper for your thoughts? Sleep sounded nice, Cassandra's voice sounded nicer. Like Mama's when she was much younger.
"I do not know how to protect the ones I loved. I failed my people, how long until I fail Percival too? I wish Mum were here, or Vesper..." She sighed heavily, and Trinket suspected she was tearing up again. Her blinks turned heavy and slow. "Nevermind, it is too late for this talk. Sweet dreams, Trinket."
She blew out the candle beside her bed and drifted off on top of the covers.
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