The Annex

Chapter 11

"My goodness, I haven't seen you in what feels like ages," Ella threw her arms around me in a warm embrace as we gathered for the Candidates' dinner.

"Did you really save a man," Henry leaned over the table in a bid to grab my attention. This was my first conversation with him. At the ball, I had met and spoken with Killian and Humphrey. However, Henry, Vincent, Luca and William had eluded any interaction with me. The four of them stuck to each other like burrs to wool.

"Where did you hear that," I scoffed.

"Atlas was telling us all," Killian grinned. "He couldn't stop bragging about his girl." Atlas socked Killian playfully in the shoulder. I raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, he was telling us that you found the antidote of a poison," Ella beamed.

"Well we found the antidote," I clarified. "Atlas was just as much involved in any saving that happened."

"Whatever happened, right before this dinner, Atlas couldn't stop praising you," Killian popped back in.

"Speaking of this dinner, what do you think it's for," Humphrey nodded his head over to an arrangement of Lords and Ladies of the court including Caspar and Isla Duponte.

"I think they like any reason to throw parties," Ella smiled. "I like that."

"I think they also like to observe us and it gives us all an opportunity to meet and hang out," Atlas spoke for the first time since we arrived. "Some of us seem to disappear a lot." He shot me a pointed look.

"Yeah, the rest of us hang out a bit but we never seem to be able to find you," Killian said. "But we're heading to the wall again tonight if you want to join." Ella must have caught the confusion on my face and stopped to explain.

"Killian knows a secret way to the top of one of the walls, it's usually not very guarded near the barracks so no one catches us. So we bring some alcohol, drink and chat."

"That sounds fun." It seemed like everyone was becoming close and friendly. It seemed counterintuitive, seeing as we were opponents. But it could make the stay in the Palace more bearable. And I would learn some more about these people which may be useful.

"We meet at the base of the tower closest to the barracks just past sunset," Killian whispered then winked at me. "We'll see you then." I turned to Ella and chuckled.

"So basically we climb a tall wall and get drunk?" Ella joined me in my laughter and nodded.

"That pretty much sums it up." Soon, dinner was served and we fell into easy conversations about our pasts and our childhood. Humphrey told us a series of sad stories about his carrot head nickname as a child and we all burst into fits of laughter. Humphrey was comical and had no issue with laughing at himself. Killian, I learned was very smart and witty and added comedic relief as well. Henry, William, Luca and Vincent stayed to themselves and after eavesdropping, I found that they chose to entertain themselves with conversations on the strategies of horse racing. Isotta and Delia whispered fiercely to themselves the whole meal through.

I had fallen into an easy camaraderie with these people. I could easily see myself working alongside them in the palace. I had been so focused on winning, seeing it as my only path to doing good in the Kingdom. But sitting here, with the other candidates, I couldn't imagine any of us doing anything wrong. Perhaps we could work together to make a difference. Maybe I didn't need to win the throne, I could settle for working with Ella or Atlas or Killian or Humphrey.

-

"Is everyone here," Humphrey whispered as the rest of us gathered behind.

"Delia, Isotta and the four musketeers aren't going to show," Killian started leading the way. The five of us wove quietly between the barracks, our shadows the only signs of our presence. We could hear the hoots and hollers of soldiers inside. The light on the horizon had turned to a deep pink. Ella and I were sandwiched between the boys with Killian in the lead and Humphrey taking up the back. We finally found ourselves at a partially hidden section of the wall. Tall trees grew close to the wall and I could see that our path up would have to be through a tree. Climbing had never been a skill of mine and I bit my lip.