NALA POV
Before I could say anything else, he shifted the subject.
"You and your brother must be hungry," he said, his voice softer now, less commanding. "I'll have the maids bring you food and fresh clothes."
At the mention of food, Daniel relaxed a bit, tension easing in his shoulders. "That would be great," he said, his tone clipped but polite. He couldn't hide the hunger in his eyes, glancing toward the door like he was waiting for the food to show up right away.
The rider gestured to a servant who had been standing quietly in the hallway. A moment later, two maids walked in with trays piled high with food that smelled amazing, like something out of a dream. There was hot, crusty bread, juicy roasted meat, and steaming bowls of soup, all set on a small table by the bed. The delicious aroma hit me hard, and my stomach let out a growl I couldn't hide. I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment, but neither Daniel nor the rider seemed to catch on, or if they did, they were nice enough not to say anything.
Daniel moved to the table with a smoothness that showed how eager he was. He took a seat and started serving himself, sticking to a small portion of soup and bread at first. I followed his lead, only pausing for a second before grabbing a bowl.
That first sip was pure bliss. The rich, savory broth warmed me right up and made me close my eyes for a moment to savor it. My hunger quickly took over, and soon I was digging in just as enthusiastically as Daniel, who had ditched his earlier hesitation and was now tearing into a big hunk of roasted meat.
As we ate, another maid came in with a bundle of clean clothes. She set them down neatly on the edge of the bed, moving quickly and efficiently. The outfits were simple but well-made, tunic and trousers for Daniel, and for me, a long, dark gown with some nice embroidery at the hem.
"These should fit," the rider said, pulling my attention back to him. "You'll feel better once you're rested and refreshed."
I put my spoon down, looking at him with suspicion. His kindness felt like I didn't deserve it. "Why are you doing this?" I asked, my voice sharper than I meant it to be. The question hung heavily in the air.
For a moment, his expression softened, and I thought I caught a hint of something unexpected in his eyes, maybe guilt or compassion. But when he spoke, his tone was calm and neutral. "Because it's the right thing to do. And because your safety is tied to something much bigger than either of us understands yet."
His words made me uneasy. What did he mean by "tied to something bigger"? What was he getting at? My mind raced with questions, but I knew I wouldn't get answers, not yet. For now, I chose to focus on the moment. We were safe, and for the first time in days, I didn't feel like danger was crushing my chest.
Daniel leaned back in his chair, clearly finished with his meal. He wiped his hands on a cloth napkin and turned his attention to the clean clothes. "These are... nicer than I thought they'd be," he said, his tone cautious but grateful. Holding up the tunic, he inspected the stitching.
I looked at the gown waiting for me. Running my fingers over the fabric, I hesitated. It felt soft and fine. Part of me wanted to refuse their hospitality and didn't want to rely on someone I didn't trust. But the practical side of me, the one that had kept us alive so far, knew we couldn't let pride get in the way right now.
The rider stood up, his presence commanding but still calm. "Rest now," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We'll talk again later," he added, mentioning that a maid would come soon to show us to our separate rooms.
With that, he left, and the heavy door closed quietly behind him. His absence was felt immediately like the air shifted the moment he was gone. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
Daniel folded his arms, his expression thoughtful. "I can't figure him out," he said, voicing the thought I hadn't dared to say.
"Neither can I," I admitted. "But for now, let's just focus on what's in front of us."
A little while later, two maids walked into the room, one headed towards me and the other towards Daniel. The first maid told me to follow her, while the second gestured for Daniel to come along. I trailed my maid down a long hallway until we reached a huge, beautifully decorated room. "This is your room for now," she said with a friendly smile, clearly hoping I'd be impressed by how fancy it looked.
As I took in the space's size and elegance, the maid laid out a selection of clothes for me to pick from. She mentioned she'd be my maid and that I could ask for anything anytime. I nodded, appreciating her kindness, and decided to take a moment for myself.
I went into a fancy bathroom that looked super luxurious with marble tiles and gold accents. A big bathtub sat in the middle, and I hopped in, feeling grateful for the cold water after my long trip. The chill was refreshing, shaking off my travel fatigue. After a quick but rejuvenating shower, I stepped out and picked an outfit from the clothes she had laid out. One gown caught my eye: a deep red, flowing fabric that shimmered in the light. When I slipped it on, it fit perfectly, like it was tailor-made for me.
Feeling more refreshed and comfortable, I turned to the maid and asked if she could show me around the grounds. She nodded and led me outside into a sprawling garden filled with blooming flowers and tall trees reaching up to the sky. The air was fresh, and the place was peaceful, although I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to this place than it seemed.
While we walked, I spotted someone in the distance. A tall figure stood with his back to me, and as soon as he noticed my presence, he quickly adjusted his mask to cover his face. My heart raced. It was him, the mysterious masked rider. There was something about his movements that caught my attention, a quiet power that radiated from him even from behind.
As I got closer, I greeted him, my voice a mix of hesitation and curiosity. "Hello," I said softly, "how are you today?" He turned slightly, and I was once again struck by his imposing presence. He asked how I was feeling, and I replied honestly, "I'm fine, thank you." My curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn't resist asking, "Why do you wear the mask? Why cover your face?"
He paused for a moment, his gaze flicking to me, but he didn't say anything. His silence only made me want to know more. I asked again, this time more urgently, but he still didn't respond. The only thing I got was a gentle nod as if to brush the question aside.
His eyes, partially hidden by the mask, sparkled in the sunlight, and his lips, barely visible, seemed almost too perfect to be real. His presence was commanding, and he stood tall, his dark silk hair cascading over his shoulders, giving him an almost royal vibe.
Without another word, he signaled for the maid to leave, asking her to give us some privacy. "I will continue showing her around," he said, his voice low but steady. The maid bowed and quietly excused herself, leaving us alone in the expansive garden.
He led me through the grounds, explaining that he owned the place, which turned out to be his mother's village. "Don't worry," he reassured me in a calming tone. "You're safe here." There was something comforting about his words but also an undercurrent of something I couldn't quite put my finger on. It was a confusing mix of comfort and unease as if there were deeper layers to his straightforward statements.
As we wandered around, our conversation was interrupted by a guard who approached us with a respectful bow. "Excuse me," the guard said to the masked rider, "there are some important matters that need your attention."
The rider nodded, his expression unreadable. "I'll attend to them shortly," he replied, then turned to me. "Please, head back to your room. The maid will take you."
I watched him walk away with the guard, disappearing into the distance, leaving me feeling like there was more to discuss. The maid returned soon after, guiding me back to my room. As we made our way through the halls, I couldn't stop thinking about the masked rider, his mysterious aura, his silence, and the lingering question in my mind. Why did he hide his face? What was he trying to conceal?