Tributes

Chapter Sixty-two

Julia sat in one of the balcony windows with an amused smile on her face. Some of the other castle women watched from the same window, clustering next to her as she called them out for gossiping. "I'm here. That's all that matters, and I like being free to wander."

"You could help us?" Jack said, gesturing at the gardens and the masses of work they had today. 

"No, thank you. I will stay to enjoy the view with everyone else. They'd debated selling tickets to the castle denzions to watch you work. Almost as popular as the tickets to have reasons to go into the forge to see the men at work. I quite like the view from up here," She hummed, the woman next to her agreeing happily.

Luke laughed as Edmund and Jack pulled faces. "Chris is more popular?" Jack said, sounding almost disappointed. Denials rained down from the crowd of watchers.

"You guys are very handsome, but there is something about a man with muscles. Plus, you guys rarely strip down. The guys in the forge, on the other hand," Julia shrugged, her playful grin wide and bright. "Chris is happy to strip off for admirers. More than happy." Generally, because the forge was hot, but the castle women swooning over him was a nice ego boost, too.

"Not happening," Luke declared, careful not to show any real signs of discomfort. This was teasing. She didn't know he didn't like showing skin.

"You're no fun," Julia stuck her tongue out at them as the woman made sounds of disappointment. "Ed? Jack?"

"I'm not a show. Sorry, sweetheart. The only people getting a view of me with my clothes off are people in my bed." He saluted. "When you're allowed, I'm happy to put on a private show for you."

"When you're allowed," Luke echoed in agreement, "And not a moment before." 

"I'm not stupid," Julia said dryly, "I'm aware nothing is happening after Master. Doesn't mean I can't enjoy the view. See you later, boys." She blew them a kiss before twirling out of sight. The women around her giggled.

Luke watched her go and hummed. What was Julia up to?

-x-

Silas ran ahead as Jax escorted them to the gardens. He didn't have to go there; he could go back to the tributes tower to play with his brother. Tyreol lectured him several times about the importance of behaving for the guards. Silas didn't want someone who stopped him from running. He understood why Tyreol wanted him under watch, mostly, but it wasn't fair! They had freedom to move at will, but he was almost more caged. 

"Silas!" Jax called, slightly annoyed. Silas paused, twisting to look back at them. Paul clutched at Jax's hand. Anna walked in reaching distance of Jax, too, chatting to some of his new friends at the school. "Don't run off, please."

"But you guys are slow!" Silas kicked the ground impatiently. Anna rolled her eyes at him, her friends laughing. Paul shied closer to Jax, being the well-behaved golden child that he was.  

"You can run when we are in the garden," Jax said sternly. 

"Fine," Silas stomped his foot, folding his arms. A look of annoyance on his young face as he waited for them to catch up to him. Jax wanted to discipline Silas. Silas knew that look, but it wasn't Jax's place to discipline him. It was his job to get them from the schoolroom to the gardens in one piece. That was it.

"I'll tell Chris if you keep acting like this," Anna warned.

"You wouldn't," Silas retorted.

"Gives me an excuse to see him with his top off," Anna grinned, the girls with her giggling. Silas made a yucky noise. Paul giggled too, though at Silas' reaction, rather than Anna's desire to see Chris topless.