Chapter 23: The Rebels

Finally.
With the horizon being obscured by the crude structures of the large city, Olisnia sighs softly. She shifts atop the horse she rides.
“I am finally here.” She gently pats the nape of the animal, smiling. “Thank you for taking me this far.”
As they near the side of the city, Olisnia glances up at the structures. Her mind begins to wander, flashes of her dreams swirling together. The rough architecture, the stench of the gutter, and the terrified gazes of the citizens as she passes; they are all proven real from her dream.
“Yes, it is exactly as in my dream. I will find her here.” She relaxes her tense shoulders and stares straight ahead. “I will find her soon.”
As she crosses the threshold of the city, a vision bombards her mind, blinding her. Agony shoots through her body, pulsating behind her eyes. A golden wave blocks her from seeing much else, but she is able to hear anguished cries and feel the heat of flames licking at her skin.
Olisnia gasps with the pain her body feels, wincing. She forces her mind to clear and pushes down the images and sensations. She must find this girl, and quickly.

>><<

As the bustling of Windwill grows closer, Eliana’s shoulders begin to weigh down. The buildings raise up into the sky, forming a barrier between the party and Drein. The city expands out, almost a mile in each direction. Being the border city between Murduk and Drein, there are varying types of individuals within. Some from either country, traders, criminals trying to seek asylum in the neighboring country.
The sun is against them, blinding Eliana. The pressure on her eyes, causes her to squint and almost walk into Jasper.
“Oh, I am sorry,” she murmurs, her heart racing. Heat licks up her neck as she steers herself away from him.
Jasper does not utter a word, instead just staring at her with a shadow casting across his features. His hand out originally to help Eliana, now tightens into a fist, falling back down to his side.
Eliana breathes in, slowly, and calms her heart as the busy city life reaches her ears. Citizens shout to one another across buildings and streets.
“We should find an inn first. We can hide there just to be safe, incase the soldiers pass through as well,” Evyn explains as he takes the lead. “We should also find some horses as well. We will need transportation from here to Zaline. We cannot very well run there in bear form, when out entire existence is outlawed.”
Jasper only nods in response as the entrance to Windwill approaches.
“Eliana,” Evyn continues, “Stay close to Jasper and try not to make eye contact with anyone. Jasper keep your eyes down as well. We do not need anyone recognizing you two.”
Eliana holds down the anxiety about being near Jasper, “You betrayed the Climont soldiers when you sent them in the wrong direction. Is that not the same situation as us?”
Evyn lowers his chin slightly as a few of the citizens watch them carefully, “You’re right, let’s hurry.”
“How do you know where the inn is,” Jasper questions trying to pick up his pace, but watching Eliana, making sure she remains ahead of him.
Evyn hesitates, glancing in all directions, “Uh, I do not.”
“What, then why are we following you?” he snaps, standing close to Eliana and blocking her from the prying eyes of the villagers. They stare at her golden hair, their mouths hanging open with awe.
“Well do you have any idea where it is,” Evyn argues, his brow twitching with irritation.
Jasper scoffs, halting the group’s movement, “Evyn, of course I do not know where it is.”
“Well then, you have a better chance at finding it if you follow me,” he grumbles.
“Why do we not just ask for directions,” Eliana wonders mostly to herself.
The two men stare down at her.
“No, I can find it on my own. We cannot risk the citizens realizing who any of us are. Especially near Drein, there are rarely any Pivurlion here.” Evyn explains as he slowly turns, looking in all of the directions.
“We do not want them to cause a scene over our race and draw attention to ourselves,” Jasper adds on for him, his head dipping low, getting closer to Eliana.
She bites back the blush beginning in her ears. “If you do not want to draw attention, maybe keep your voices down and stop mentioning the exact thing you do not wish for others to know,” she sighs.
The men pause for a moment, before glancing at the staring villagers.
“You are right,” Evyn nods wincing.
Eliana smirks softly, trying not to roll her eyes. “How else are we to find the inn?”
“We will just have to continue wandering the city, until we come across one,” he states.
An idea strikes Eliana at the same moment that Evyn’s entire body freezes, his back toward them.
“Why don’t we move to the side of the city closer to Drein? There should be a few inns close to the border, for anyone traveling into Murduk.”
Jasper nods, “That is a great idea. Evyn,” he turns toward his friend who remains unmoving. “Evyn what is wrong?”
They follow his line of vision to a small structure where a gathering of individuals sits, crowding around one another. They are all bound with rusting chains, their bodies bruised and battered.
Eliana’s heart twists at the sight of them, tears blurring the corners of her eyes.
“Slaves,” she whispers as a young man wearing old, tattered clothes with the navy blue seem of Drein walks up to the female slave in front.
These are slaves belonging to the rebels from Drein. The rebels who are working with Climont to take down her father. Fear slices through her chest and she inches closer to Jasper unconsciously.
If these men find out who she is, they would surely kill Jasper and Evyn before binding her and dragging her bloody corpse to the feet of Prince Drake.