The Seven Deadly Kingdoms

Chapter 8

. The laugh of a young girl interrupted her thoughts, and she looked to her right to see a man around Adelaides age sitting beside a young girl, looking roughly sixteen. They were both hunched over laughing, their hands wrapped around their stomachs. The girl was so small that she was able to sit sideways on the log, her legs crossed. The man tried to do the same, but had to have a leg on the ground on either side of the log so he wouldn't topple off. He was quite a tall man.

The girl caught Adelaide staring and smiled before waving her over. Adelaides eyes widened and she looked behind her to make sure the girl was pointing to her. Once Adelaide confirmed that it was her the girl pointed at, she furrowed her brows and stood, making her way towards the odd duo. As she approached them, the mans laughter died down and he noticed Adelaide walking towards them. Once he realised that it had been the girl that waved Adelaide over, he smiled and waved at Adelaide.

"Hello! Sorry for randomly waving you over, you just seemed lonely so I thought you might enjoy some company." The girl said, her smile continuing to be just as bright. "Hello," Adelaide greeted, slightly confused still, "Thanks, I guess. I'm Adelaide, I just arrived about a half hour ago."

"Nice to meet you, Adelaide. My name is Mirabella, but you can call me Mira. This is Andrew. We both arrived this afternoon."

"Hi, Adelaide. Welcome to the camp." Andrew said with a warm smile. He put out his hand for Adelaide to shake, and she took it. "So, I assume you aren't siblings, given that only firstborns are permitted." Adelaide said. The two looked at each other before laughing. "No, no, we aren't siblings. I didn't even know Andrew until today. We both just found each other and decided we didn't want to be alone in all this mess, so here we are. Practically best friends." Mira said, lightly jabbing Andrew in the shoulder. He smiled in reply.

"Oh, I had assumed but the way you spoke to each other that you had known each other for years.

"Nope. Only about five hours. But honestly, Mira is exactly like my little sister that I lost to pneumonia two years ago, so it feels as if I've known her for longer." Andrew said. Mira smiled sadly, already having known about his sister. "Oh, I'm so sorry..." Adelaide said, her tone falling. Andrew smiled and shook his head. "Nothing to be sorry about. It doesn't do her memory any good if we try to sweep conversation of her under the rug. That's partly why I'm so glad I met Mira here, it feels as if I'm talking right to my little sister. Not in a creepy way, of course." Andrew said with a laugh, bringing a smile to Adelaides face.

"Anyway, you can stick with us if you like, Adelaide. It's a hard time for all of us, no reason behind going through it alone." Mira said softly. Adelaide smiled. "I'd like that very much. Thank you." She said. Andrew pulled over a crooked wooden stool from beside the log and motioned for Adelaide to take a seat. She thanked him and sat down, trying to hide her inability to balance the stool. She gave up and propped one leg on the stool and one on the ground, more so leaning on the stool than sitting on it. "So, do you have any family back home?" Mira asked Adelaide. Adelaide smiled at the thought of her family. It seemed like so long ago that she saw them last, even though it had only been since this morning. She guessed she hadn't been away from them this long for most of her life. "Yes, my parents and my brother, Henry. What about you?" Adelaide replied, not wanting to get into the details of her familial situation.

Adelaide took a moment to observe the young girl. She had a young face, but was rather mature in her looks other than that. Her crossed legs accentuated her built muscles, while her arms were laid delicately in her lap. They still looked equally as strong.

The girl did have a sense for fashion, to Adelaides surprise. She was clearly not of the upper class, but she wore dark red leather pants along with a billowing white shirt, a black corset wrapped around her waist with colourful butterflies painted on. The lack of an over dress was sure to attract some disapproving attention from others, but Adelaide respected her for the bold choice.

Andrew, on the other hand, was wearing simple black pants and a brown jacket made of leather to go with a black under shirt, both clearly having seen better days. Adelaide thought it added to his rugged look, though.

"I'm afraid not. Both of my parents lived and died proud warriors for our kingdom. I was only a toddler when they passed. I was raised in an orphanage, but ran away when I was ten and have been providing for myself since." Mira said, smiling as if she hadn't just told of the saddest childhood Adelaide had ever heard. Furrowing her brows, mouth slightly agape, Adelaide didn't quite know how to respond. "I'm.. That's.. Thats horrible. I'm so sorry, Mira." Mira's smile saddened slightly, but she shook her head. "No, don't be sorry. I'm free; I make my own choices. Choose my own fate. The friends I meet along the way of life are my family, now including you two. Besides, because of this war I'll be able to have the honour of meeting the same fate as my noble parents. I couldn't think of a better way to reunite with them." Mira said as though she had lived a long, happy life and was ready to go. But she hadn't. The poor girl was only barely even a woman. But them again, Adelaide guessed Mira became a woman long before she ever did. Either way, Mira seemed to be at peace with her life, and that brought a slight smile to Adelaides face.