Page 49 of #Resort Love
My fingers drum against the round, wooden table. I’ve been sitting in the council room for hours now, recalling memory after memory of our previous mission. About what tipped off the guards regarding Lady Lowell’s escape, of how Lord Astaroth ran out with Lord Pasian and a healer following him to stitch mine and Orin’s wounds, of the strange look in Lord Pasian’s eyes as he waited for the healer to look over Lady Lowell. I lost more soldiers than I thought I would and not knowing the reason behind it ate away at me.
“Am I interrupting?” Viv’s soft voice snapped me out of my thoughts, my gaze slamming to hers.
“Lord Pasian and Lady Lowell,” I murmured. “Are they close?” Viv opened her mouth, ready to answer when I lifted my hand, silencing her. “No, never mind. It’s not important.” Flattening my hand against the table, I let out a heavy sigh. Lady Lowell agreed to help with the rebellion, that was the most important matter. “Is there something to report?”
“Yes, actually.” Viv straightened, her shoulders tense. “I’ve received word that Arbus didn’t show up for his weekly check-in.” The silence stretched taut between us, the pressure in the room growing. “Kieran,” Viv warned.
Pulling my magic back to me, my hands curled into a fists. “I heard you. Has Samian sent word?”
Sybil was being sent to Lowbrook today with General Darktree and Commander Fenleth. We knew that there was a plan against Sybil, but for now, it was just a waiting game.
“No, still no word,” Viv exhaled, falling into a seat. “Nothing from Edris either. It’s like he is still unsure of how the future is going to turn out.”
A weak laugh escaped my lips. “I wouldn’t say that too loud. The bastard isn’t one quick to forgive.”
“I guess out of anyone, you would know,” Viv mused, biting back her laugh.
I hummed, thinking back to the last time I was in the god’s presence, how it ended with him in the middle of Zarina’s treasure hoard and the water dragon’s hostilewelcoming. It took three days of hiding and battling the fierce dragon to escape Zarina’s clutches, and he hasn’t forgiven me since.
“It was just a harmless prank,” I grumbled. Edris had not been amused after almost losing an arm, but it was the least I could do after his prank of sending me to Dubnos, the lower realm.
“So,” Viv said hesitantly. “Arbus?”
My fingers started their drumming against the table’s surface again. “I’ll sneak into the palace and see what I can find out. It’s not like him to miss a check-in.”
Viv nodded, her expression darkening. “Will you be okay going in alone?”
I shot her a glare, my magic stirring beneath my skin. “Theyhaven’t noticed me yet, nor will they this time. I know how to get around the palace unseen. Just keep Bryony occupied while I am gone. We don’t need her to overhear some idiot before we know more.”
Viv would killme if she knew where I was right now. Not even I thought I would end up on the streets of Volmire, watching the parade of palace soldiers riding through the streets to Lowbrook. However, each passage exit was blocked by guards and servants running through the halls, helping the soldiers prepare for their trip.
They started later than I expected, but there she was, riding on the proud black horse with General Darktree. My chest ached at the sight of her, feeling that strange pull toward her. I couldn’t help but stop, to watch her leave the city, anxiety gnawing on my soul for her.
She scanned the crowd, taking in their wary faces until her gaze landed on mine. I saw her eyes widen as they lingered on me, though she couldn’t see my face underneath the hood covering me. She couldn’t see the fire taking over me, pushing me closer to her. Her throat bobbing, Sybil quickly turned away, focusing on the cobbled road in front of her, cutting off the strange feeling overtaking my body.
Rolling my neck, I shook Sybil from my thoughts and stepped through the crowd to find the hidden tunnel we used to leave the city. Luckily, the guards left the area to control the mass of citizens watching the soldiers leave the city.
Dipping into the passageway unseen, I followed the darkened path to the route leading into the dungeons. Usually empty, save for the few guards going on their rounds, I easilyclimbed out of the small opening, dropping quietly to the floor, careful to not disturb the heavy silence hanging in the air.
I quietly followed the hall that would take me to the next entrance that would lead me to Samian’s room. Blood, piss, and death stung my nose, and I pulled the scarf around my face tighter, hoping to block the smell. I walked carefully along the cells, eyeing the prisoners sleeping on lumps of hay. The occupied cells were becoming more dispersed, as if they wanted to keep this area clear of unwanted attention, until finally every cell was empty. A pained scream tore through the silence, and I put my hand on the hilt of the dagger strapped to my side, stopping to listen to the groans sounding from three cells ahead.
I crept up to the cell, peering around the corner. I swallowed my curse, my eyes went wide when I saw Ambrose standing in front of Arbus’s limp form, tied to a chair.
Ambrose’s muffled voice hissed out a question, the muscles in his arms flexing when Arbus refused to answer. Ambrose raised his hand, his dagger glinting harshly in the cold light, and slammed it into Arbus’s leg.
I swallowed down my repulsion, making sure my mental shields were up, keeping my emotions locked inside my head, as I watched Ambrose lean close, whispering into his ear. Arbus shook his head, tears mixed with blood, pouring down his face in a crimson streak. My hand tightened around my dagger, so tight that my fingers ached. I needed to do something—to stop Ambrose from his interrogation. But there were too many guards around, too many for me to handle on my own.
Instead, I backed into the next cell, my jaw clenching tight. I hid within the shadows, waiting until Ambrose roared out a curse, throwing his dagger against the wall. Ambrose briskly left the cell, his guards warily trailing after him, giving me the chance to help Arbus escape.
Rushing into the room, I didn’t stop until I was kneeling in front of him, inspecting the severity of his wounds. His eyes were blackened and swollen, with an ugly gash along his brow. His body was littered with cuts, slashes splitting his skin. Blood poured from the stab wounds on his thighs. He panted, his chest heaving with every raspy breath.
My throat tightened and my hand found his. Arbus moaned, his eyes slowly opening to slits. He blinked the haze away, focusing his gaze on me. His pupils flared when he recognized who was kneeling before him.
“You’re okay,” I murmured, turning my focus on the chains tying him to the chair. “How long have you been here?”
“He caught me three days ago,” Arbus croaked, a tremor wracking through his body. “I didn’t realize Ambrose was close by until it was too late.”
“It’s okay,” I breathed, trying to break the metal links. “We’re going to get you out of here so you can get back to Bryony.”
