----------------------------------------
Chapter 30
The door closed behind Ezabel. Then, it closed in front of her. The click of her door knob chimed into the hall. Indecision, her greatest enemy. Half of her being hoped to step out into the Citadel and explore its offerings. There was a need for her to find Leland, or perhaps Leonora once again. There was also concern on her part for Dani. She had not seen her since leaving the training yard, and although Leonora mentioned that she was roomed nearby, Ezabel heard no noise from the adjacent area.
Then, there was her other half, which hoped to stay isolated from the unknown. Her room was now a safe haven, a luxurious and cozy space for Ezabel’s worries to fester. She knew that it was a poor decision to make, even if it was the most convenient choice. So, with a bite of her lip, she turned the doorknob once more and stepped out into the hall.
Her boots fell upon a broad, stone passageway that extended far on either side. The ceiling was lower than the grand hall, but no less grand in design. A long rug ran the length of the hall and stopped only when it fell in sync with a larger piece that began in the common room at the end of the corridor.
As far as she could remember, the common room was quite extensive. It was about three times the size of her room, in fact. However, when she passed through it on the way to her room for the first time, it was empty. Now, the sounds of conversations and moving equipment soared down the hallway from its direction. She could hear the sheathing of a sword and the occasional grinding of a whetstone.
They piqued her interest, to say the least. Ezabel had practically arrived at the end of the hall before she knew it. She had every intention of peeking around the corner with as much stealth as she could muster. But, as she neared, the sounds only grew louder and ever more dense. It was obvious now that there were plenty of conversations going and even more people moving about. It may have been the wing’s common room, but she was still surprised in the end.
Perhaps Dani was a part of it all? That would only make sense seeing as how her room was in this section of the Citadel. So, Ezabel’s curiosity peeked just enough around the corner to where a single one of her salient, green eyes could see.
At a glance, there was an assembly of candidates that made use of the space in their own respective ways. The very same set of regimentals dressed each and everyone one of them. Individual satisfaction escaped Ezabel at that moment, though she admittedly felt a part of a greater tradition as a result.
Many walked through the common room to simply get to the other side, where other hallways led away from the wing. Then, there were those that hung about its space and atop its various fittings. On one corner, a few who were clearly acquainted, helped one another fasten the loose ends of their uniforms. Then, there was a separate group who held a conversation concerning the backgrounds of their respective swords. If Ezabel was asked, she would call it a bit pretentious. The swords were clearly expensive and of a higher quality than most that were available to the general public. However, they shared a distinct similarity in that none showed signs of use. Not a single scratch or nick could be found on any of them. Not to mention the fact that they seemed almost like the same weapon; they were overtly golden, flashy. The only thing that distinguished them were the various arrangements of said gold.
Ezabel had a lapse in her memory, admittedly. As a sponsored candidate, she was placed among a chosen few who were afforded the opportunity due to nepotism. Nobles were often sponsored as a result of their houses providing compensation to certain Attendants. She disliked the idea, truly. But, unbeknownst to Ezbel, it was a long standing practice. Nevertheless, the overwhelming and pompous air of the room was suddenly explicable. On top of that, Dani was nowhere to be seen. All reason for Ezabel to take even a single step into the common room had vanished. She was both put off and marginally frightened.
So, Ezabel peeled away from the corner and turned to step back in the direction of her room. But, before her boot could even make its first move, she walked straight into the chest of another person. It was most certainly not a significant crash. Nor was it a bump that could have left even the smallest mark. Yet, Ezabel’s reaction could make anyone believe that it was a violent collision.
Her head reeled back and her hair flew into her face; strands caught neatly between her lips. There was a stumble and then a recovery. Though, both were neither graceful or subtle. A quick hand swiped at the hair in her eyes. Before her was a man who looked straight at her with little to no interest. He had even begun to step aside so that he could continue.
“S-sorry!”, Ezabel muttered aloud as she straightened her posture.
The man, who was initially disinterested, paused. His attention refocused on her for a moment, after her face was made apparent.
“Are you, perhaps, the other one?”, he asked with a polished tone.
“Other one?”, Ezabel tilted her head. “What other one?”
“What is your name?”
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
“Shouldn’t you first introduce yourself before asking my name?”, Ezabel blurted out in the confusion of the moment.
The man squinted and raised his chin. Every bit of him told of a noble upbringing. He was clean cut and proud, even if he did little to show it. There was an aura around him that Ezabel simply read as a pompous shell. She did not want to admit it, but he was an example of society’s archetypal hero. His image was well formed and his presence was refined. If Ezabel had not known any better, she would have thought him an Attendant already. Fortunately, as with the rest of the candidates, his uniform lacked a cloak.
“Kieran Addington.”
Ezabel’s lips parted, but nothing came out.
“Am I correct in assuming that you are the other candidate Captain Leland Hart has chosen to sponsor?”
His question went unanswered. Ezabel’s thought process had hit a wall the very moment she heard the name ‘Addington’. Gatrie Addington, hero of the Order and Lord of Port Kaywin. The namesake of one of her favorite stories. This man was related to him!? The implications nearly made her mind go blank.
“Hello?”, Kieran uttered with a judging face.
“Y-yes. Yes! I am her, the other one. That’s me.”, Ezabel perked up. “Are you related to Gatrie Addington!?”
“He is my father.”
“Really!? What’s he like? Is he still sailing the Amber Coast; hunting pirates!? Has he found the wyvern who ate his horse!?”
Kieran lowered his gaze and shot a look of condescending suspicion. A few individuals in the common room, closest to the corner, had begun to look his way. It was clear that Ezabel was off putting in his eyes. He had every intention of ending the conversation then and there, but Ezabel blocked his path on instinct. Her questions still stood and her inner child failed to comprehend her situation.
“What a shame this is.”, Kieran stated.
“Hm? Excuse me?”
“Captain Leland Hart is famous for refusing to sponsor anyone. Then I came to hear that he sponsored two at the very same time. - I was curious to see what kind of people they were to be able to get the attention of such a strong Attendant. - What made you so special?”
“Me? I-I didn’t do anything? He just offered, I guess.”. It was a lie, and Ezabel felt strange telling it. But, she had no other option. There was no way that she could admit to having failed the assessment and still be present in such a group.
“It seems the captain is beginning to lose his touch. You clearly have no idea what you’re doing here, just like the other girl.”, Kieran shook his head. “What a shame. His mentorship would have been better used in other hands.”
The man took a step off to the side and began to make his way to the common room. Ezabel furrowed her brows and narrowed her vision. ‘The other girl?’ Was he referring to Dani? The thought forced her fist to tighten and her shoulders to hold. She had no intention of causing a scene, but Kieran’s overly proud and condescending tone had coaxed her anger all too well.
“Sorry.”, she stated aloud.
“Your apology means nothing to me.”, Kieran replied as he continued to walk away.
“Sorry, I still haven’t answered your earlier question.”
“What are you talking about?”
“My name.”
She had not noticed in the slightest, but many eyes fell her way when Kieran Addington’s step was paused by her words. Her attention fell solely on him; her eyes locked on tight to his face.
“My name is Ezabel Grover.”
At once, the look of surprise took hold in the common room. Not even Kieran was an exception, though his was far less obvious. - The only thing Ezabel hoped to accomplish in that moment was to make the memory of her presence solid in Kieran’s mind. Unfortunately, it seemed as if her reply only served to draw a surprising amount of attention from the rest of the candidates there.
“Grover?”, Kieran called back. “As in, Xavier Grover?”
Chatter ensued and did not miss a beat. Hushed voices and deeming stares emanated from the common room, all of which pulled Ezabel’s fragile confidence bit by bit. She could hear all of them and their inferences. She was related to Xavier somehow, and that made her special enough to warrant the consideration of a room full of nobles. Whether it was good or bad, wanted or not, she got their recognition.
There was suddenly a sense of respect, little as it may have been. But, the lifted stares of the nobility took heed of the possibility of Ezabel being just as talented as her brother. Xavier was none other than the single most recognizable name of late. And, of course, an Attendant with a dangerous amount of skill.
“Y-yeah. Captain Xavier Grover, my brother. The youngest Attendant to reach that rank.”, she replied as if she needed to explain why Leland had sponsored her. That topic was already far away and forgotten, superseded by her mention of Xavier. Yet, she still hoped that it would suffice as a reason for her presence.
“No matter. Say what you wish..”, Kieran answered as he eyed the common room. “..but you don’t even seem the slightest bit capable. If Xavier Grover is truly your brother, then it would seem that he got all of the talent.”
Ezabel’s cheeks nearly puffed. She was equally astounded and enraged by his public insult.
“All of the talent!? The only talent you have is for--!”, she wanted to insult his posture, or his uptight attitude. Perhaps, even his disgraceful representation of the Addington name. But, none of it came through as another voice soon called out.
“Miss Grover, your presence has been requested in the north library.”
Suddenly, at the threshold between the hallway and common room, was a keeper of the Citadel. From the looks of it, she wore the attire of non-Attendant personnel and was likely a part of the grand hall’s services. Most of the people Ezabel had seen there earlier were done up just the same. All in all, it was a formal summons that she had every intention of adhering to. The timing could not have been better. Although, her anger was quick to block out the concern that the summons should have caused. Who summoned her and for what, mattered little in the moment. She simply wanted to be rid of Kieran and his arrogance.
There was no better satisfaction than that which she felt upon making her exit, passing both Kieran and the rest of the common room as she did so.
“Miss Grover!”, the keeper called out once more. “It’s this way, actually.”
Ezabel halted mid step. Even her arms froze slightly in their sway. As usual, the timing of her blunder was impeccable.
----------------------------------------