The Seven Deadly Kingdoms

Chapter 24

 Adelaide approached the dining hall and scanned the crowd. Soldiers wearing all kinds of uniforms lined the dozens of wooden tables. There had to be at least three hundred of them cramped under the large awning. There were no walls in the dining hall, but it was a roof over their heads, which the soldiers would take over the canvas tents any day.

As Adelaide looked amongst the soldiers, she wondered just how many there were. She knew there were thousands that belonged to Extollentiam alone, spread out amongst several camps, all training and preparing for the war. They would set out for battle in only two months now. It didn't give Adelaide and Caspian much time to prepare, but she believed it would be enough. She would come in like a virus if she had to, stealing away the troops. Surely, hopefully, the majority of the population wouldn't stand for the kingdoms as they are.

Adelaide was brought back to reality as her gaze landed on scruffy brown curls and dark green eyes. Henry sat across from Mira, both of them laughing. The sight itself made Adelaide chuckle. She was happy that Henry made a friend while she was gone.

Adelaide weaved her way through at least ten tables, ducking slightly as she approached Henry. She positioned herself behind him as she grew closer, her smile growing wider as she hid behind the bustling soldiers trying to find a free seat. Henry and Mira seemed to be deeply invested in discussing what the best pub in Extollentiam was.

When Adelaide was right behind Henry, Mira seemed to notice the close movement. The two locked eyes, and a quiet gasp escaped Mira's lips, her eyes doubling in size. Adelaide could feel Henry's smile drop at Mira's surprise. He turned to see what Mira was staring at, his expression matching Mira's as he saw Adelaide. Henry jumped off of his wooden stool, almost knocking it over in the process.

"Adelaide! You're back! What took you so long??" He asked, clearly not having known Adelaide's mission would take as much time as it did. Adelaide laughed, pulling him in for a hug.

"Surprise! I just got back today, but I came straight for you. I told you I'd be gone for a week, didn't I?" Adelaide asked, still laughing. No feeling she had ever experienced compared to the joy she felt when she was reunited with her brother, and she knew he felt the same.

Adelaide felt a small hand on her shoulder. She turned, being met with Mira's warm gaze.

'Welcome back. I heard about your little adventure. Quite the promotion, aye?" She chuckled, a calm air surrounding her. Adelaide smiled, happy to be greeted by Mira's trademark curiosity.

"Yes, it is indeed quite the promotion. I had to keep it a secret for a while due to my.. superiors. It's good to see you again, Mira" Adelaide wrapped her arms aroundMira in an embrace, not realising just how much she had missed her female companion these past few weeks.

Mira chuckled, and Adelaide remembered why she had come to find Henry. It was convenient that him and Mira were together, that way she could talk to both of them at once.

Adelaide pulled away from the hug and looked back and forth between Mira and Henry. "Actually, there is something I need to talk to you both about," Adelaide looked around at the crowd, looking for any place that had some privacy, but found none. "Would you mind if we all talked somewhere else? Somewhere with a little more privacy?"

Both Henry and Mira's eyebrows quirked in confusion. They looked to each other, then back to Adelaide. Henry nodded, and Mira smiled as if she knew a new adventure awaited her.

"Of course, lead the way." Henry stated, gesturing his arm out in front of the crowd. His features had hardened since Adelaide had last spoken to him, but the warmth of his smile for Adelaide had stayed the same. She wondered what had happened to Henry since she had been gone.