Page 46 of #Resort Love
Wariness rippled through me, but I pushed aside the questions that were churning inside when I noticed how the soldiers were eyeing me, like I was an explosive ready to blow. I silently thanked whoever would listen for Ezra’s comforting presence.
Ezra led us to a beautiful black horse that stood tall and proud beside the carriage. Snorting, the horse pawed at theground, waiting for Ezra to give him a small pat on his thick neck.
“I didn’t know if you knew how to ride a horse or not. I also figured you wouldn’t want to ride with Arianna,” he said, stealing a quick glance at Arianna walking to a soldier near the carriage. “If you’re okay with it, you can ride with me and Midnight,” he added, giving the horse another pat on the neck. Midnight stepped closer to him, leaning his head on Ezra’s shoulder.
“I haven’t really been on a horse since one bucked me off when I was a kid,” I laughed nervously, eyeing Midnight cautiously. “Riding with you works.”
Ezra chuckled while he helped me into the saddle before climbing on behind me. Putting my hands on the pommel, Ezra quickly explained how I should grip Midnight with my legs before he took the reins, making Midnight turn toward the soldiers. Whistling, he called for the soldiers' attention, telling them to prepare to leave. The soldiers settled themselves on their horses while Arianna made her way to her carriage, sneering when she caught me watching her.
Ezra commanded the unit to move, and we left the palace grounds, riding through the city. The faeries in the streets stopped, letting us through, but their faces were grim as we passed by. An odd feeling wormed its way through me when a hooded figure caught my eye. His powerful body and face were hidden beneath his cloak. I could only see his mouth, tight and dipped in a frown, but I could feel his eyes narrowing in on me. I swallowed hard, looking away and focusing on the cobbled streets in front of us leading to the pearly gates of the city.
We kept a steady pace while I observed the fields of tall grass and distant mountains with wide eyes. We were in the foothills, Ezra had told me, the mountains were a day’s ride to the eastand were the central point in Nemos. He pointed out different rock formations, or specific fields, telling me the history of the land, where some battle was held long ago, never speaking of the mountains or what was past them.
After an hour of riding, my muscles screamed for a break when a small town came into view. “This is the village of Lowbrook,” Ezra explained, his voice oddly tight.
I looked around the village, noticing how the buildings looked small and almost run-down. They were made with a mix of stone and wood, with sections of them falling apart. But I could see that they used to be beautiful and tall, that time had been brutal to them. We went further into the village, passing by several homes. Children ran to their houses, while their mothers quickly closed the doors and windows behind them, their faces hard and wary.
“Why does everyone look so scared?” I asked quietly. The air had a strange pressure, like it was heavy and charged.
Ezra exhaled, as if he was buying time to consider his words carefully. “It’s complicated,” he finally said, swallowing hard. “What have you been told about the villages outside Volmire?”
“Not much, just that an aristocratic family is in charge of specific villages and that some of the family members only stay in Volmire.”
Ezra stayed silent while we watched a man bow, not straightening until the unit passed him. Only the top of his dark brown hair showed. “Volmire is unique,” Ezra continued. “Certain families that are not part of the nobility are invited to set up shop in the city. Those families make a good amount of money. Others, however, are not so lucky. Most of the villages are poorly maintained.” Ezra paused, contemplating his next words, his face pinching like he wasn’t sure how much he was allowed to tell me. “The taxes in the villages are fairly high. It’scostly to keep up with those living in Volmire. The families here survive by growing their own crops or by receiving help from others.”
“Help from whom? By people in Volmire?” I interrupted, my brows knitting as we passed a home with the roof caved in.
“No, not anyone in Volmire.” Ezra sighed. “The fae here in Lowbrook, and in the other villages, are made of strong will and grit. Their kindness runs deep, as does their love for each other. That alone motivates them to fill any gaps or needs in the communities.”
I thought back to the grim faces we passed in Volmire, to the children and fae here who looked at us with fear shining in their eyes. “Why are we patrolling this village?” I asked hesitantly.
I couldn’t see his face, but I felt his body tense against my back. “We are looking for members of the rebellion,” Ezra said. His voice was guarded, his words careful.
“Rebellion?” I winced, my voice sounding louder than I intended. I glanced around to see if I had caught anyone’s attention, but the soldiers kept looking forward or at the bare homes we passed.
“There’s a large group that is steadily growing in numbers. They want to change how the lands are ruled.” Ezra’s hands gripped the reins, the white of his knuckles showing. “There was a time when the villages were just as beautiful and prosperous as Volmire, if not more so. The trade and culture were vibrant. Each village was essential to the other. The rebels want to return to that time.”
“That doesn’t sound like a bad thing,” I confessed softly.
“No, no, it doesn’t. But you should keep that thought to yourself,” Ezra warned. “Times are dangerous, especially when you say things like that.”
I swallowed hard. “How long has it been like this?”
Ezra didn’t answer, not when the carriage with Arianna rolled past us. But when he pulled on Midnight’s reins, bringing him to a stop, he whispered, “For too long.”
Chills ran down my spine. I wanted to ask more, but the soldiers filed in around us, dismounting their horses. Ezra hopped out of the saddle, moving aside and helping me as I slid out. The soldiers moved into a formation while Arianna stepped out of her carriage, looking prim and proper, though she was in her uniform. Like a queen ready for battle. My stomach felt queasy when she stood beside us, the memories of her on the ground, her blood pooling around her, flashing across my mind.
The crunch of rocks sounded, and we turned to the group approaching us on steady feet. I blinked while trying to calm my racing heart. Some of them looked almost human, aside from the unnatural beauty of the high fae. But the others, some had gray skin, others were blue with long sinewy arms. One was short with wild red hair, his clothes entirely made of moss.
Once they drew near, they stopped, allowing an older man, who looked as if he was in his sixties, to move to the front. He was tall and lean, and his face looked weathered, tanned from long hours in the sun, but kind. His eyes were the color of honey, and his hair was golden brown. The man bowed low, and the faeries behind him followed suit, waiting until Arianna and Ezra were in front of them to straighten. Not knowing what to do, I crept along behind Ezra.
Ezra greeted the man by returning his bow while Arianna rolled her eyes, scoffing. The villagers behind the man refused to meet our gazes, their lips curling in a sneer while Ezra quietly spoke and the man nodded patiently.
Finally, Ezra turned to me, calling me over. I swallowed,pushing back the strands of hair that fell loose from the ride. Seeing me walk to Ezra, the villagers lifted their heads, eyeing me warily as Ezra introduced me to Silas Tuluin, the village elder. I gave him a weak smile and a small wave. Silas returned my hello, smiling warmly and placing his hand over his heart, giving me a slight bow.
Ezra continued talking to Silas, explaining that I was accompanying them to learn more about the outer villages and how today would be a quick visit. I tuned out their conversation to eye the other villagers peeking through windows. Few ventured outside, safely watching from the confines of their homes, far enough away to not catch the attention of the soldiers. All of them, even the children, kept their expressions tight, seemingly troubled by our presence. I shifted nervously on my feet from the unease charging the air.
Finishing their discussion, Ezra shook Silas’s weathered hand, their greeting lingering a beat as Ezra discreetly passed a note between them before stepping away, returning to the unit of soldiers. I narrowed my eyes, glancing between Silas and Ezra, unsure of what to think about what I just witnessed. But I kept my mouth shut, pushing that nagging suspicion aside to follow Ezra back to the soldiers. I would ask him about it later, when we were away from listening ears and wandering eyes.
