Chapter 11 #2
Hours later, I’ve hit my limit of the number of small-text books I can read in one day.
There’s pain behind my eyes and I’m going a bit crosseyed.
I’d been so absorbed in the different journals and notebooks that I hadn’t noticed that Ginna and Hanson had left.
Callum sits alone at the table, head in his hands as he reads from an old tome.
“What happened to the rest of our party?” I yawn, standing to stretch.
“Hmm?” Callum barely moves.
I close the book in front of him with a dusty thud. “Time for a break, Callum.”
He blinks at me slowly and follows my lead in standing and stretching. “A break? What do you suggest?”
“I’m kind of hungry. And we both deserve a strong drink. Is there somewhere in the town we can go?”
I haven’t left the palace yet and I’m excited to see the rest of Ashven.
“I know just the place.”
The place happens to be a small, hole-in-the-wall tavern aptly named Hole in the Wall. Callum guides us to a table in the back, pulling my chair out for me.
A spindly bartender with silver hair comes over to us and greets Callum warmly, giving him a large hug.
“Hiya, Cal! Do you want your usual for you and your date?” He winks at Callum.
“Please, Nick, the usual would be great, if you wouldn’t mind. And the same for Elia here as well.”
Nick gives me a onceover. “I can’t remember the last time you’ve brought anyone outside of your Hunters to dine with you. Speaking of which, where are Ginna and Hanson?”
“I have no doubt that they’ll be tagging along later,” Callum says wryly.
Nick nods, satisfied with Callum’s answers, and leaves us.
The fact that Callum didn’t correct Nick calling me his date lingers in my mind.
“This is a nice place,” I muse, taking in the dingy lighting and the crumbling ceiling.
Callum laughs. “It doesn’t seem like much, but I promise the food makes up for its appearance.”
“I’m looking forward to it. Although it is a bit rough for our first date,” I tease, brushing my foot lightly against his under the table.
The blush peaks out from Callum’s collar and flushes his ears a deep scarlet.
Flirting has always come naturally to me. Once I arrived in the Traps, I soon realized that flirting was a form of currency, one that I quickly learned to deal in.
Somehow, though, with Callum, the flirting is different from any time before.
Maybe because I’m giving it freely; I’m not expecting a larger portion of food, or a better lot in return for a couple flirty remarks.
No, I’m flirting now because I’m enjoying it.
I like flustering Callum and making him blush.
I’ve never had that much impact on another man, and it fills me with a confidence I didn’t realize I was lacking.
I also can’t help but feel that there’s an undeniable connection and pull between us that I haven’t experienced with anyone else; as if I’ve known him forever.
“Sorry about that. That’s Nick. It took me ages to convince him that Ginna, Hanson, and I were not romantically involved.”
“Like, all together?” The question slips out before I could stop it. “Or between any of you?”
“I think in general between any of us. But none of us have ever been involved with each other.”
“Never?” I didn’t sense any romantic feelings amongst them, but the question definitely had crossed my mind.
“Nope. Ginna and I basically grew up together, and we’ve known Hanson since we were teens. We see each other more as brothers and sisters."
That makes sense. I could see how close they all were this morning, joking back and forth. I’ve never had that familiarity before with anyone. Callum is the first person I’ve ever opened up to about my family and is probably the only person I would consider a friend.
“I didn’t mind Nick’s comment. I kind of liked it, actually. I’ve never been on a date.”
Nick returns with two tall pints of ale and I greedily grab one, taking a long swig. Ale was another form of currency in the Traps as well, but it tasted sour and stale, unlike this one.
Callum takes a sip before asking, “You’ve never been on a date?” He sounds shocked.
“Where does someone go on a date in the middle of the desert?”
“What about before you went to the camp?”
I raise an eyebrow.“When I was fourteen?”
He shrugs. “Why not?”
“I barely left the farm. I doubt any of the village boys even knew my name.” I take another long sip, realizing I’m almost done with my first drink already.
“Didn’t you go to school with them?”
I try not to choke on the ale. “I never really went to school.”
I never admitted that to anyone before. I was ashamed, believing that my lack of education made me dumb, and it would be yet another reason to be ostracized. Callum never once made me feel like that, though, so it was easy for the truth to fall from my lips.
I wait for Callum to ask follow-up questions, but he doesn’t, instead sits patiently, one hand around his mug, the other fiddling in his lap.
“My parents homeschooled me mostly, when they could. I learned everything on my own, either through borrowed books, or kind of on the job, I guess. They said going to school would be too much time wasted, as there was always work to be done on the farm. I did go for about three months one winter, but it didn’t last.”
“And what did your parents do?”
“What do you mean?”
“For an occupation. If they weren’t helping out around the farm, what were they doing instead?”
I only hesitate for a second before answering. “Not much.”
A flash of pity crosses Callum’s features, and he doesn’t press for more details. Instead, he lifts his glass in a toast. “Well, here’s to your first date, Elia. May there be many more in your future to come.”
The fluttering returns to my stomach as I lift my glass to cheers him.
“Here’s to many more.” With you.
An arm is wrapped around my shoulders before I can see who it is. “Wow, we left for what, Gin, an hour?”
“If that.” Ginna’s voice follows Hanson’s.
“Yet in that short timeframe, Callum runs away with Elia for a nice reprieve. And where did that leave us?” Hanson slides into the seat next to me.
“Left to wither away with the kitchen scraps. Forgotten. Abandoned.” She fakes a pout at Callum, and he rolls his eyes in return.
Hanson makes a signal to Nick for two more drinks, notices my empty mug, and signals for three instead.
I point at Callum. “Blame him. I asked where you guys went, and I never got an answer. I did get a strong drink, though, so I’ve managed to forgive him.” I join in with Ginna and Hanson’s laughter.
“No hard feelings. I’m not surprised Cal wanted to spend time alone with a beautiful girl,” Hanson jeers playfully. Callum shoots daggers at Hanson and he throws his hands up in surrender. “What? You told me she was beautiful, I’m only replaying your words, not stepping in.”
I haven’t blushed a day in my life but for some reason my cheeks are heated. Callum told Hanson I was beautiful? He called me lovely the other day in my dress, but being called beautiful feels all the more special coming from Callum, even indirectly. Like it means something to him as it does to me.
Nick brings over the three additional drinks, as well as food for all of us. “I figured you two would show up,” he exclaims, talking to Ginna and Hanson. “Wherever Cal goes, you follow.”
“Stay for a round?” Ginna asks.
“Nah, I’m slammed today, but thanks. Next time!”
It is becoming busier in the tavern and seems like the place for a lot of people to hang out.
I take a bite from the sandwich and can’t help the moan that comes out. “Ugh, you’re right, this food is definitely worth it.”
Callum smirks, his eyes darkening. “Like I said, I’m always right.”
“I thought we went over that this morning,” Hanson complains between bites.
“I’ll concede only because Cal did find this place and it is the best,” Ginna adds, dipping her sandwich into the soup that was also brought to the table.
“Callum said you guys grew up together?” I ask Ginna, curious on how their friendship originated.
She glances at Callum. He gives the slightest of nods before she responds.
“Yep. Long story short, my parents are nobles in Priorick, and I was betrothed to the Ashven Prince before I was born.” Priorick was a kingdom northeast of Ashven, bordering Guilmond.
“Once I was born, my parents sent me here to grow up and learn the Ashven culture so I’d make a good bride when I came of age.
” She flicks a braid out of her face that was close to landing in her soup.
“Obviously, that didn’t happen, so Cal offered me a place in his Hunters when he took over. And here I am.”
“What about your parents? You didn’t want to go back to them?”
Ginna snorts. “My parents married me off before I was born and had strangers raise me. Ashven and the Hunters are more family to me than my actual blood.”
I can relate to Ginna – having parents that exist but don’t necessarily have that familial connection. I don’t know for sure whether or not my parents are still alive, but even if they are, I’m not sure what kind of family we would have if we were ever to be reunited. Too many years have passed.
“So the betrothal was called off? What happened?” As soon as I blurt those words I realize that I might be overstepping. I tend not to think before I speak. “I’m sorry – you don’t have to answer that. That’s none of my business.”
“It’s fine,” Ginna dismisses. “The King told me that if I wanted to be a soldier the betrothal would be called off, saying it wasn’t proper for someone like me.” She shrugs. “Easiest decision I made. I never wanted to marry him, and he definitely didn’t want to marry me.”
Callum stiffens at Ginna’s words and I’m getting the sense that the Prince is a sore subject for everyone. In every story that I hear, the more I’m curious about the Prince. I think back to Callum telling me that the Prince isn’t in Ashven anymore.
“Is the Prince going to return?”
Ginna glances sideways at Callum to answer, and Hanson twitches in his seat. “No, I don’t think he’s going to return,” Callum murmurs, finishing the last of his drink. I can tell by his voice he wants me to drop the subject, so I do. For now.
“What about you, Hanson?” I ask, turning to him. “How did you get caught up in the mess of them?”
“Mine’s an easy story. Cal saved my life.” He stated it so simply it took a few seconds before the words hit me.
“Oh, here we go,” Callum mumbles.
“Cal hates when Hanson says that,” Ginna whispers to me across the table.
“How did it happen?”
Hanson tugs at his already disheveled hair.
“I lived in an orphanage all my life – never knew my parents. When I turned sixteen, they kicked me out. Complaining that I was old enough to live on my own. I was working at a blacksmith’s shop, but wasn’t making enough to eat, nevermind enough for a place to live.
So, I slept on the streets, starving. Probably would have died there, until Cal and his Hunters came through the town.
” He gestures to Cal to continue the story for him while he takes a spoonful of soup.
“We were in the town hunting for a relic, and we were walking around the village square, talking to people, gathering information. I feel someone try and pick my pockets, and I turn to find Hanson. Only he would be dumb enough to try and steal from a King’s Hunter.
” Callum shakes his head, his eyes bright as he reminisces fondly.
“I was hungry enough that I’d have tried anything,” Hanson continues.
“But instead of arresting me, Callum asked me if I wanted to join his Hunters. I met Ginna the next day, and here we are.” He looks at both of them with a lingering sense of familiarity.
“Best decision I ever made was to join the Hunters.”
“Don’t get all sappy on me, Hanson,” Callum grumbles.
“Just letting Elia know what a kind-hearted, secretly loving person you are.” Hanson chirps, elbowing me.
“That doesn’t seem like much of a secret.” I turn to Callum. “You’re the last piece. Why did you grow up in the castle?”
The grimaces that spread across Hanson’s and Ginna’s faces make me question what I asked. “What? What did I say?”
Callum smooths down his already flat hair, and I catch sight of a tarnished ring on his pinky that I hadn’t noticed before. “Ah…nothing, Elia. But this stays between us, promise?”
“Of course. Who else do I have to tell anyways?”
There’s an awkward pause while Callum collects his thoughts. Hanson and Ginna try to make themselves busy, taking sips from their empty mugs and moving food around on their plate.
Callum opens his mouth, breaking the silence. “How much do you know about King Corvin’s first wife?”
“Elinor?” I don’t understand the question. By my knowledge, he’s only had one wife, the Queen who had passed.
He shakes his head. “No, before her. Corvin was married briefly before Elinor, to Queen Dehlia. It was such a short marriage that most people don’t remember her. The marriage was behind closed doors, too, so some never even knew he had married. Anyways, long story short, I’m her son.”
I choke on my drink. “You’re a prince?!”
“Ah, no. I’m Queen Dehlia’s bastard. She was pregnant with me before she married the King.
When I was born, the King was smart enough to realize that I wasn’t his when the timing didn’t add up.
When Dehlia died in childbirth, the King wasn’t sure what to do with me so he allowed me to grow up here. Trained me to be the Hunter that I am.”
I let that sink in. “Wouldn’t people still suspect that you were the King’s son?”
“The few that knew about Dehlia didn’t know she was pregnant. The King said she died quickly of an illness, and no one the wiser knew there was a child involved. He married Elinor less than a year later and then had a real heir.”
“Wow,” I exhale.
“You’re one of us now,” Hanson threw his arm around my shoulder. “The ragtag group of misfits that no one wants. An orphan, a bastard, an ex-fiancee, and now you.”
“The Siren.” Callum’s eyes twinkle.
“Cheers to that!” Ginna yells, raising her empty cup.
Hanson and Ginna start bickering about something, and Callum meanwhile lifts his glass to mine. “Welcome to the family, Elia.” He’s not smiling, but his blue eyes are unsettling, like we’ve both laid our pasts on the table and are showing each other our rawest, realest selves.
As I join back into the conversation, and after another round of drinks, I realize that this is the most alive I’ve felt in my life. Being here, surrounded by the three of them, I can pretend that this can be my life forever. And for a rare moment, I’m finally somewhere I belong.