Callum smirks, his eyes darkening. “Like I said, I’m always right.”
“I thought we went over that this morning,” Hanson complains between bites.
“I’ll concede only because Cal did find this place and it is the best,” Ginna adds, dipping her sandwich into the soup that was also brought to the table.
“Callum said you guys grew up together?” I ask Ginna, curious on howtheir friendship originated.
She glances at Callum. He gives the slightest of nods before she responds.
“Yep. Long story short, my parents are nobles in Priorick, and I was betrothed to the Ashven Prince before I was born.” Priorick was a kingdom northeast of Ashven, bordering Guilmond. “Once I was born, my parents sent me here to grow up and learn the Ashven culture so I’d make a good bride when I came of age.” She flicks a braid out of her face that was close to landing in her soup. “Obviously, that didn’t happen, so Cal offered me a place in his Hunters when he took over. And here I am.”
“What about your parents? You didn’t want to go back to them?”
Ginna snorts. “My parents married me off before I was born and had strangers raise me. Ashven and the Hunters are more family to me than my actual blood.”
I can relate to Ginna – having parents that exist but don’t necessarily have that familial connection. I don’t know for sure whether or not my parents are still alive, but even if they are, I’m not sure what kind of family we would have if we were ever to be reunited. Too many years have passed.
“So the betrothal was called off? What happened?” As soon as I blurt those words I realize that I might be overstepping. I tend not to think before I speak. “I’m sorry – you don’t have to answer that. That’s none of my business.”
“It’s fine,” Ginna dismisses. “The King told me that if I wanted to be a soldier the betrothal would be called off, saying it wasn’t proper for someone like me.” She shrugs. “Easiest decision I made. I never wanted to marry him, and he definitely didn’t want to marry me.”
Callum stiffens at Ginna’s words and I’m getting the sense that the Prince is a sore subject for everyone. In every story that I hear, the more I’m curious about the Prince. I think back to Callum telling me that the Prince isn’t in Ashven anymore.
“Is the Prince going to return?”
Ginna glances sideways at Callum to answer, and Hanson twitches in his seat. “No, I don’t think he’s going to return,” Callum murmurs, finishing the last of his drink. I can tell by his voice he wants me to drop the subject, so I do. For now.
“What about you, Hanson?” I ask, turning to him. “How did you get caught up in the mess of them?”
“Mine’s an easy story. Cal saved my life.” He stated it so simply it took a few seconds before the words hit me.
“Oh, here we go,” Callum mumbles.
“Cal hates when Hanson says that,” Ginna whispers to me across the table.
“How did it happen?”
Hanson tugs at his already disheveled hair. “I lived in an orphanage all my life – never knew my parents. When I turned sixteen, they kicked me out. Complaining that I was old enough to live on my own. I was working at a blacksmith’s shop, but wasn’t making enough to eat, nevermind enough for a place to live. So, I slept on the streets, starving. Probably would have died there, until Cal and his Hunters came through the town.” He gestures to Cal to continue the story for him while he takes a spoonful of soup.
“We were in the town hunting for a relic, and we were walking around the village square, talking to people, gathering information. I feel someone try and pick my pockets, and I turn to find Hanson. Only he would be dumb enough to try and steal from a King’s Hunter.” Callum shakes his head, his eyes bright as he reminisces fondly.
“I was hungry enough that I’d have tried anything,” Hanson continues. “But instead of arresting me, Callum asked me if I wanted to join his Hunters. I met Ginna the next day, and here we are.” He looks at both of them with a lingering sense of familiarity. “Best decision I ever made was to join the Hunters.”
“Don’t get all sappy on me, Hanson,” Callum grumbles.
“Just letting Elia know what a kind-hearted, secretly loving person you are.” Hanson chirps, elbowing me.
“That doesn’t seem like much of a secret.” I turn to Callum. “You’re the last piece. Why did you grow up in the castle?”
The grimaces that spread across Hanson’s and Ginna’s faces make me question what I asked. “What? What did I say?”
Callum smooths down his already flat hair, and I catch sight of a tarnished ring on his pinky that I hadn’t noticed before. “Ah…nothing, Elia. But this stays between us, promise?”
“Of course. Who else do I have to tell anyways?”
There’s an awkward pause while Callum collects his thoughts. Hanson and Ginna try to make themselves busy, taking sips from their empty mugs and moving food around on their plate.
Callum opens his mouth, breaking the silence. “How much do you know about King Corvin’s first wife?”
