Marrying a Warhound (Cassian) novel Chapter 175

Brute 175 Summary

Matron Yara immediately senses something is wrong when Atasha steps out of the carriage looking pale, exhausted, and fragile despite efforts to appear composed. Grace supports Atasha closely, while Cassian, usually unflinching, shows visible concern. Yara suspects Atasha’s sudden illness is suspicious, especially given recent rumors of her healing abilities and the timing of the upcoming test involving the Stone of the Goddess, which is said to reach full power under the moonlight.

As Atasha stands unsteadily before the crowd, the people express worry and anger—not at her, but at those demanding the trial, seeing her frailty as unfair. Yara wonders if this vulnerability is a deliberate ploy by Cassian to gain sympathy and protect Atasha. She is determined that the truth will come out during the test, believing that if the stone reveals any corruption, Cassian’s authority will collapse.

Yara notes that other council members seem more concerned for Atasha than for justice, which frustrates her deeply. She reminds everyone that Atasha has the power to heal, implying her weakness might be a performance. Suspicion begins to spread among the crowd. As the test is about to begin, Cassian suddenly steps away, leaving Grace to support Atasha in his place. Yara expected this move and sees it as Cassian avoiding the test himself.

With Cassian gone, Yara feels confident it is finally time to reveal Atasha’s true nature. She calmly asks Lady Kenneth to proceed with the testing, ready to see what the Stone of the Goddess will reveal under the moonlight’s power.

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Chapter 175

MATRON YARA’S PERSPECTIVE

From the moment Atasha stepped out of the carriage, Yara sensed something was terribly off. It was an instinct, sharp and immediate.

Grace was there to steady her, one hand gently supporting Atasha’s elbow, the other hovering just behind her back, as if bracing for her to collapse at any moment.

The Lady of the North was wrapped in a heavy cloak, its fur-lined collar designed to project strength and command respect from the onlookers. Someone had clearly taken care to add a touch of color to her cheeks and lips, and her eyes were delicately lined to give an impression of composure.

But all the effort was in vain.

Up close, the powder only emphasized how pale her skin had become beneath it. Her eyes were rimmed with red, not from crying, but from sheer exhaustion and strain. Every movement she made was slow, deliberate, as though she had to consciously measure every step. There was a rigidity in her shoulders—a tension Yara had never witnessed before, not even after the brutal attack at the infirmary.

Cassian followed closely behind, his jaw clenched tight, his hand hovering near the small of Atasha’s back without actually touching her. The Lord of the North, a man who faced poisoned blades and savage beasts without flinching, now looked like someone desperately trying to mask his concern.

Yara’s brow furrowed. “The Consort doesn’t look well,” she murmured quietly, more to the council members around her than anyone else. “We can’t delay the testing any longer.”

She glanced upwards. The sun had already dipped below the horizon, leaving the square bathed in a deepening shade of twilight blue. The first cold stars were beginning to twinkle faintly in the sky.

Soon, the moon would rise, and with it, the Stone of the Goddess would reach its full power. Everyone in the North knew this; stories about the stone’s potency under the moonlight had been etched into children’s minds since they could walk.

The timing was perfect.

A small, private smile tugged at Yara’s lips.

She had been preparing for this day for weeks. Whispers from the infirmary, the mines, and the guard barracks had reached her ears. Rumors flew about the Lady’s strange abilities—how she had healed a boy whose arm should have been lost to a grievous wound, how she had soothed the lungs of a miner ravaged by dust. None of these accounts were confirmed, but they were enough to force Yara’s hand.

She had sent her own agents to watch, but they returned with little concrete information. “The Lady was there.” “The boy stood again.” “The miner breathed easier.” No one had witnessed the actual miracle; no one could explain how it had happened.

Then, almost overnight, the narrative shifted.

The Lord announced that Atasha had fallen ill. Servants whispered of fatigue, weakness, and the need for rest. But no one ever spoke of wounds or the Stone of the Goddess. The story was too neat, too carefully crafted.

Yara didn’t believe a single word.

A woman capable of healing others with a mere touch, who could mend flesh and quell fever, did not simply “fall sick.” Someone whose body responded to brokenness and made it whole would never hide away for days without reason.

So now, as she watched Atasha standing before the stage with her ashen face and unsteady gait, Yara’s eyes narrowed sharply.

Could this be connected to the stone?

The question dug into her mind like a hook. The timing was suspicious—first the testing, then the sudden illness. The way Cassian had closed ranks around his consort, restricting who could see her to a select few.

But the crowd saw something else entirely.

The moment Atasha appeared, the atmosphere in the square shifted palpably. Several women near the front pressed their hands to their mouths, eyes wide with concern. A soldier from the western patrol swore under his breath—not at Atasha, but at the situation. Others muttered, “She shouldn’t be standing.”

“Look at her! She’s weak!”

“This isn’t right.”

Just as Yara expected, the crowd’s anger turned—not against the Lady herself, but against those who had demanded this trial.

Yara’s jaw tightened.

Atasha’s frailty only fueled the crowd’s outrage. They would call the council cruel, accuse the King’s envoy of heartlessness, claim the North was forcing their saint to stand before judgment while sick. Every shallow breath Atasha took, every hesitant step she made, worked in her favor, whether she intended it or not.

Could this be intentional?

Cassian turned to Lady Kenneth.

“Something requires my attention,” he said firmly. “Lieutenant Grace will stand with the Lady in my place. Proceed as planned.”

A wave of reactions swept through the square. Some gasped, others muttered, and a few shouted Cassian’s name in confusion.

But Yara remained unmoved. Of course, she thought, watching him. Of course you would step away now.

A faint, knowing smirk curved her lips.

She had expected this. Cassian would never stand beside the stone when it was brought forth. Now that he was gone, it was finally time to show the consort her true place.

With a subtle smile, Matron Yara turned to Lady Kenneth.

“Shall we begin?” she asked.

Conclusion

The chapter closes on a tense moment, heavy with unspoken fears and simmering doubts. Atasha’s fragile appearance, juxtaposed with her rumored healing powers, stirs the crowd’s emotions and deepens the intrigue surrounding her true condition. Yara’s sharp observations and quiet manipulations underscore the precarious balance of power, as every gesture and decision is loaded with meaning and consequence. The looming test beneath the moonlit sky promises to unveil truths long hidden, while the shifting loyalties and veiled intentions keep the air thick with anticipation.

Through Yara’s perspective, we witness the complex interplay of suspicion, sympathy, and strategy that defines this pivotal moment. The chapter captures the emotional weight borne by each character, from Atasha’s weary resolve to Cassian’s protective distance and Yara’s relentless determination. It’s a delicate dance of appearances and realities, where the stakes extend far beyond the trial itself, touching on themes of trust, authority, and the fragile nature of power in a world where miracles and doubts coexist.

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

The next chapter promises to deepen the tension surrounding Atasha’s mysterious condition and the impending test of the Stone of the Goddess. As the ritual begins, expect the atmosphere to crackle with a mix of fear, hope, and suspicion. The crowd’s divided emotions will become even more palpable, and the true stakes of this trial will come into sharper focus. Will Atasha’s frailty prove to be a weakness or a calculated shield? The answers may challenge the loyalties of those present and reveal hidden motives lurking beneath the surface.

Meanwhile, Cassian’s sudden withdrawal from the stage hints at a complex web of strategy and vulnerability. His decision to leave Grace at Atasha’s side instead of standing himself raises questions about his confidence and the pressures he faces as Lord of the North. As Matron Yara steps forward to oversee the proceedings, the power dynamics within the council and the court will shift, igniting subtle conflicts and testing alliances. Prepare for a chapter charged with emotional undercurrents and the slow unveiling of truths that could alter the course of the North forever.