The tale of Aurelia Hawthorne is anything but simple. Faced with the horrors and reality of living in a nation that hides secrets and punishes children for the sins of their parents, she is forced to make difficult choices.
Especially ones that str...
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"With all we've sacrificed for this kingdom. We'd better be able to defend it."
—The Journal of Warrick of Luceras translated by Cadet Violet Sorrengail and Dain Aetos
The catacombs dripped with watery liquid, cascading down onto the floor every few seconds. Aurelia tucked her legs into her chest, playing with a few pieces of coloured string. She carefully watched Sloane's movements as she placed one string over the other and pulled tight.
Her tongue poked the edge of her cheek as she worked.
Aurelia and Sloane had used the hems of old clothes, pulling apart their discarded string in order to weave them correctly. Even at fifteen years old, Sloane had a knack for turning everyday things into something worthwhile. Her mind worked in creative ways, never stopping for one second as she consistently moved her hands around. She—much like Liam, couldn't sit still for more than a few seconds, and even that was difficult at times.
Aurelia calmly waited for Sloane to reveal the complex weave.
"See?" The blonde grinned. "Easy."
Aurelia rolled her eyes, moving her friendship bracelet to one hand so that she could use her free one to ruffle Sloane's hair. "Maybe for you, little one."
Sloane scowled. "I'm not little."
"And I'm not a Hawthorne."
"Are you being sarcastic with me?"
"Yes," Aurelia deadpanned, continuing with her weaving as Sloane spluttered.
Sloane turned around, pointing a finger at the older girl. "She's being a bad influence on me, Liam!"
Aurelia raised her eyes, catching familiar onyx ones. Xaden had stationed himself at the entrance of the tombs, forming his circle with Garrick, Imogen, Bohdi, Liam, and some girl who Aurelia had met for the first time today.
Catriona Cordella. Niece of Viscount Tecarus.
What else? Oh, she was betrothed to Xaden.
When Aurelia had heard the news, she almost choked. Xaden? Married? He was eighteen, but even that felt a little young considering he'd only known Catriona a few weeks.
Still, Aurelia tried to put up with Catriona's incessant comments she had the displeasure of hearing every time she opened her mouth. She had to remain calm for the sake of all these rebellion children.
Xaden was the leader. The one giving them hope, and protection. Aurelia was focused on keeping the younger ones distracted; spirits up. That was the only way to keep morale up, and if Aurelia's conversion with Governor Riorson went as bad as she remembered, they would need a lot of that. They worked wordlessly as a team; the eldest of the bunch, and the ones who had seen the most carnage. This rebellion felt like Xaden's burden to bear, but Aurelia felt as though she had a major part in it as well.
