LOST

Chapter 16- The Yure Camp

Celestine

"Hudson?!" Karthur squeaked, his eyes widening like saucers. 

Hudson laughed, his low voice sending vibrations through my body. Karthur joined in, chuckling as he leaned forward to hug his friend.

Aiden's face, however, looked ashen.

"I didn't know that you knew him this well," Aiden said slowly, pointing at my cousin and Hudson who were still embracing each other.

 Hudson broke free of Karthur's embrace and stood facing us, his arm still draped around Karthur's shoulders. Hudson looked at Aiden and realization flashed in his eyes. His arm slipped off Karthur's shoulders and he stood flabbergasted.

"Y-your Highness?" he fumbled.

"He's with us," I explained quietly.

 Hudson glanced at me and then at Aiden. His eyes hardened and his lips formed a thin line but he didn't speak. His gaze alone said that we'd be having a conversation regarding this later. Hudson stood with his hands propped against his waist, taking all of us in. An involuntary smile tugged at my lips.

I wasn't as close to Hudson as my cousin, but we still knew each other. Karthur and Hudson had been friends ever since their early years. They had learned combat together and at the time, were inseparable. Being Karthur's cousin, I did speak to Hudson a few times, but Hudson was shipped off to Kythia when I was just ten and he was eighteen. He had been the best one in his batch and my father saw great potential in him.

 Originally, he was sent as a spy to Kythia but soon, when Wayne was murdered and Hudson was offered the post of commander for the southern army, my father came up with an idea.  Still, I had no idea how Hudson had managed to build up an entire army by turning the Kythian soldiers against their own country, but I knew that the Hudson army soldiers would die for their cause. But again, I wouldn't be too surprised if all the citizens of Kythia turned against the country. After all, their own Prince had. 

I stole a glance at Aiden, whose jaw was tight and eyes were hard. I looked back at Hudson. His arm had slipped back over Karthur's shoulders. His easy smile returned as he looked at me next.

I recalled the time of my brother's death. His funeral. When we had slipped him in a boat and pushed it into the open sea; a longstanding tradition in Satian's culture. It was the only time Hudson had managed to come back to Satian after leaving for Kythia as a spy. Also, it was the last time I'd seen him. I still remembered him, standing near the shore, a cloak hiding his face from view. I didn't realize who it had been at first, but I knew as soon as I got a glimpse of his eyes. He hadn't approached me that night, or anybody for that matter. But he had nodded a solemn nod at me.

 As comrades in a joint loss. 

As allies. 

As a last goodbye.

I looked at Hudson, who was looking at me.

He had changed a little. The last time I had seen him, he had been lanky, lean, and lacked muscles. In front of me now, I saw a man with a notable amount of muscles. He remained lean and towered me by quite a bit. His hair was almost like Aiden's; jet black waves brushed against his sharp jaw. His eyes, however, remained the same ocean blue. They were light, free, and happy however, they were nothing like Aiden's. Aiden's were simply dark blue, shining with pride, darkness, and boredom.

Hudson's grin grew.

"Squirt," he croaked out.

"Hey!" I laughed. "I'm taller than I was at fifteen!"