Virgil ran down the hill and stumbled to a stop, nearly racing into his friend. Patton looked over at him and handed him his basket wordlessly.

"Finally here in time for the announcements?" He asked. Virgil shrugged.

"Eh, I've missed too many already." He said, crossing his arms. "Look like anything good?"

Patton shrugged. "We won't know til half past."

"Which is...?" Virgil asked. Just as the words had left his mouth, the church clock chimed for half past. Patton pointed at the church tower and grinned.

"Right now."

Rose stepped up onto to the stone stage as people gathered around to hear the announcements. "I can't imagine how she does that every day." Virgil said in a hushed tone. "Must be terrifying."

Patton shrugged. "Guess it's the only thing she can do."

"What d'you mean?"

"Come on, Virge, think. What other jobs are there for a girl with her reputation here?" Patton said. Virgil blinked at Patton.

"You don't actually believe that stuff, do you?" He asked. "The whole thing about the trader's son?"

Patton shrugged and didn't answer. Rose cleared her throat.

"Hear ye, hear ye!" She called. "The palace has decreed that a royal ball shall be held for three nights so that the princes may find a bride or husband."

Mutters and whispers made their way around the crowd at these words. "Princes?" Patton asked incredulously. "Two of them?"

"You don't believe in the legend do you, Rosie girl?" A man called.

"Course she would! Fanciful women like her!" Someone called back. Virgil clenched his fists behind his back. Rose threw her hair out of her face with a flick of her head and carried on as if the hecklers hadn't spoken.

"Finery will be worn and every eligible person in the kingdom is to attend. The royal ball shall be held at the end of June." Rose gave a slight nod and closed the scroll she'd been reading from.

"See?" Virgil said. "Told you there were two princes." Patton rolled his eyes playfully.

"Okay, fine, you were right." He said. Virgil laughed. "You gonna tell Edin and Thalia about this?"

Virgil shrugged. "It'd ruin their fun if I didn't. But it'd ruin my fun if I did."

"You're going?" Patton asked. Virgil nodded and shrugged.

"Why not? Seems like it would be fun." Patton gave Virgil an incredulous look. "Come on, Pat. You must've thought, you know, once or twice," Virgil looked up at the palace in the distance and gave an almost unnoticeable sigh, "what it'd be like to live in a castle."

Patton didn't answer. "What d'you think it'd be like, Pat?"

Patton shrugged. "Dunno. Glamourous, that's for sure."

"Comfortable, wonderful, freeing." Virgil finished. "The ability to live as you wish, never having to work a day in your life again." Virgil ran his thumb over the palm of his hand and remember the first day he'd gotten blisters. How it had hurt and how much blood there had been when they'd burst. "It must be so nice."

"I'd just probably live there to check out all the cute servants." Patton said. Virgil let out a surprised laugh and elbowed Patton.

"Pat!" He exclaimed. Patton laughed. "Who'd've guessed you could be dirty minded?"

Patton laughed again. "No! My great secret has been revealed!"

Today's been shit. So... that's been... fun. Anyway, 15 Chapter minimum, yay!
Bye,
Blaize