AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, people who are already screaming about other people being blind. You’re not the best at convincing. Why don’t I take it from here? Before you scare her away.”
“Oh please, I broughtyouin," River snapped back, putting a lot of emphasis on you. "You were just as blind as Kaia when you joined us with your fancy clothes and nice teeth.”
“Aiden was blind because he has nice teeth?” E.Z. asked, smiling with his whole face. He killed me when he did that.
“No!” River guffawed. “He was blind because that place is toxic. And he came here with his clean fingers and nice hair.”
“You seem very concerned with my hygiene,” Aiden responded. “What’s concerning to me is that you think you’re insulting me. It’s really saying more about you.”
I giggled. How could I not?
“That’s enough out of you, Kaia Stinky Fruit of some kind,” River side-eyed me.
I couldn’t help it. I barked out a laugh, right into E.Z.'s ear. I hoped he found that funny or charming instead of repulsive and loud.
“Ahh. You spit in my ear, Kaia Stink Blossom,” E.Z. laughed, wiping his ear.
I was mortified. We needed a safe conversation, though I was beginning to fear that nothing was safe with this group.
“They don’t have to Claim in the villages?” I asked. I read that it was still a common practice, even if the ceremonies were performed differently.
“Not like slaves!” River replied like that answer should be obvious.
“Have you been to the villages lately?” Aiden asked over his shoulder. “What parts of the country have you seen?”
“None that I remember,” I answered honestly.
“Kaia, Stinker… You’ve been to at least Snydsville,” E.Z. said confidently.
“I’ve been told I visited places when I was younger, but I don’t remember.”
Stories, books, and pictures have warped my memory over the years. I can’t be sure which was a memory of mine or something I imagined. It all blended together to create something entirely new in my head. We rarely left after Mother died, and the towns became more dangerous. After I got incredibly sick at thirteen and didn't really leave our suites for years.
“You didn’t even visit Snydsville to get dresses? Isn’t that what all you ladies did?” E.Z. asked, astonished. “Every woman I knew couldn’t wait for their trips. They counted down the days.”
“I barely left my room for years, let alone the capital.”
“Now Kaia Stink Banana, that’s not true,” E.Z. laughed, grabbing my hand on his stomach. “You were constantly around. I remember you and Liam stalking us. I mean all the time.”
I smacked his shoulder.
“You did!” He had the audacity to laugh.
“Stinker and Stink Banana are my least favorite of your endearments so far,” I deadpanned. “And no, we didn’t.”
“Oh, you absolutely did, Kaia Stinkpot.” E.Z. was really laughing now, his body shaking in my arms. “You thought we couldn’t see you, but we did.”
“That name isn’t any better,” I grumbled, smiling despite myself. I didn’t show him my smile. That was buried in his back. “Why would it be any different out here? We all follow the same laws and the same Goddess.”
“The capital hasn’t suffered the loss of magic the way the townspeople have,” Aiden explained. “We couldn’t stick to the strict guidelines the capital followed. People are struggling. Our priorities changed.”
“The capital is hoarding resources and power, and the rest of us are forgotten,” River sniped with none of her brother's patience. “Until it’s tax time.”
“How so?” I asked.
“Magic was predominantly used to grow or water crops. Even as the magic disappearance has become dire, the townspeople are still required to pay at the same rate,” Aiden explained. “While the common people were struggling to feed their families, the tax rates continued to rise annually to supply a capital that made us no concessions and doesn't need the revenue. In some towns, more than fifty percent of their goods go to the capital as tax. It’s dismal.”
Aiden looked back at me with eyes alive with the passion I could hear in his voice. I wished I could better judge his personal opinion versus the rebel propaganda. Was he really passionate about the cause? Did he fully believe everything he said, or was he just a good recruiter? Was he holding anything back to stay within the approved party lines? It was hard to tell.
