diclaimer: I don't own anything
In the history of the land called Digidania, there are many stories of true love and high adventure. There is the tale of the brave young prince of Kamiya, who fell in love with an enchanting peasant girl selling flowers in the street. Likewise there is the story of the prince's beautiful younger sister, and how she came to love the handsome slave boy forced to serve as her bodyguard. And there is the fable of a sullen, wandering knight, who became the loving champion of a vain young princess of Tachikawa. These, and others are written of in the Chronicles of Digidania.....
My Father's Crown
Tai simply adored his father. Oh he loved his mother too of course, but she was always babying him; making him wash his hands, spitting on a napkin and trying to wipe his face with it, and generally doing any number of things to embarrass him in front of the lords and knights. But his father would call out in his great booming voice that made the castle halls rattle. "GOD DAMNIT WOMAN!! YOU WON'T BE THERE TO WIPE HIS FACE WHEN HE'S IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE, AND COVERED FROM HEAD TO TOE IN ALL MANNER OF BLOOD AND GUTS!!" Then his mother would start to fuss and nag, but the King would have none of it, he would simply pull up a chair for Tai right next to his at the council table and that would be the end of discussion. The boy's heart would almost burst with pride at this honor; to be able to sit at council and talk of important things like war, and beer, and pushy wives. (or in Tai's case bratty little sisters) His mother may have treated him like he was still 'her little darling', but his father new that Tai was a man now, and the boy worshiped him for it.
The King was a great hero and warrior, so of course he taught his son everything he knew about swordsmanship and archery, riding and jousting, hunting and tracking, and these times of roughhousing and bonding were as dear to Tai as a they would be to any other boy. But surprisingly enough, it was the other subjects that his father taught him that Tai cherished above all others.
Almost every day Tai and his father would wake with the first glint of dawn. They would pack enough food for a light breakfast and lunch, saddle the king's steel-grey charger, and go galloping off at speeds that made the Queen wince with thoughts of broken bones and busted heads, but Tai loved how fast and exciting the world seemed from his perch in front of his father. Jumping over bushes, darting through rivers with an awesome splash close at their heels, it was all heaven to the boy, and his father's steed always seemed to be able to find new obstacles to crash through, seemingly doing so only to keep the young Prince amused. But whichever new path they took, they always eventualy ended up at the same place.
Mt. Julian was not exactly a large mountain, (in fact it was probably more of a medium sized hill)
but it was high enough above the spreading farmland and clumps of forest to provide a decent view. And on a clear day Tai could just about make out the tips of the Craddle Mountains that marked the western border of Kamiya. It was on this quaint patch of earth that Tai's father taught him all he knew of law, economics, diplomacy, and all of the other dull subjects that it is necessary for a young monarch to learn. There was one lesson however, that the young prince eagerly awaited every day. History.
The King was a born storyteller. His loud, demanding voice could at a whim become soft and mesmerizing. His scarred, blunt fingers would wave through the air, painting pictures of such brilliance and grandeur in the young boy's mind that would make the old masters of Rome pluck at their beards with envy. Tai would sit under the spell of his father's words for hours, as all the lore of Digidania was recounted for him. The glories of the Servinian Empire. The devastation of the Century War. The conquests of Ryo the Great. The tragic fall of the legendary house of Ishida. All of it and more was digested by the insatible curiosity and excitement of the young Prince, who would fall asleep at night dreaming of the heroes and kings of the past, and imagining the time when he would join them in history, and take his place alongside his father, who in the boy's eyes was the greatest of them all.
With times like these, it is not hard to see how and why Mt. Julian became a place very dear to Tai's heart. Nor is it overly difficult to predict that many of the most important moments in his life would take place there. One of these moments happened the summer Tai was fourteen. It was an akward time for him, as it is for many others when they are just about to leave childhood for the grownup world, but he pushed through as best he could. He was old enough now to have his own horse, a sleek black stallion, and his father was easing him into the more complicated duties of his role as Crown Prince.
It was a particularly hot day, and as the sun rested on the horizon both royals were covered in sweat and panting. They had been fencing for most of the afternoon, and though Tai was nowhere near as skilled as his father, he was making progress and the King looked at his son with eyes full of pride.
"Lets sit down and rest for a while." The King said as he ruffled Tai's hair in a display of fatherly love. The boy sat down next to his father in the cool grass, and watched with innocent wonder as the bold red sun was reduced to a faint purple glow. So captivated was he by nature's show, that he almost did not hear his father begin to speak.
"Tai." the King began with a bit of emotion in his voice. "For years now you've been telling me you were a man, and now those words are finally starting to ring of truth. I want you to know that I am very proud of you son."
Tai sat in respectful scilence as his father talked, but he could not fully hide his shock at his father's sentimental words, and the beginnings of tears forming in the King's noble eyes.
The man noticed this and laughed softly. "I know, I know. I'm starting to sound like your mother, but I just want to tell you that I can feel with great confidence in my heart, that you will be a fine man, and a worthy king." He paused a bit, and sighed as he reflected on his own life, and the future of his child. "I have taught you all I know, and can now only tell you that you must always look after your sister, because she looks up to you so very much, and is very special." The King took a deep breath, and looked towards the flickering lights of the castle and surrounding city. "And you must always protect the people who will put their trust and faith in you. Be kind, and just, and never fail to put their needs before yours."
"And always rule for the good of all."
The King looked at Tai intensely for a moment, as if he was trying to capture that moment in time forever in his memory. Then without warning, he wrapped his son up in a great bear hug, and whispered through tears. "I love you son." And he meant it with every fiber of his being.
Tai was understandably confused by all of this, but he hugged his father back and simply let his heart speak. "I love you too Dad."
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A week later the King and Queen were dead, murdered in their sleep. Tai locked himself in their room and cried for days. He ate only what his heartbroken little sister brought him, and slept only when his body forced him to. But after seven days the tears stopped, and Tai emerged from his parents' room a different person. His mind was sharpened, his heart had hardened, and his courage and resolve were miles above what they had been. He was a man.
But he was not the only thing that had changed, his cruel uncle was king now, and the same nobles who had once made merry with his father now laid flattery at the new king's unworthy feet. The happy, prosperous people of his father now cowered in shame and fear. Their limbs locked in iron and their bodies marked by burning iron, they were made to fight a war of envy and greed.
Trapped in this impossible situation, Tai did what he knew a man should do, he did what his father would have done. He found a safe haven for his sister, and kissed her goodbye on the cheek. He put on his father's armour and mounted his father's charger, and he rode off to war. For if his people were to fight then he would fight, and if his people were to bleed then he would bleed with them, and if his people had to face death then they would face it alongside their rightful and future king. A king who vowed to one day relieve their burdens and calm their fears. So did Tai vow.
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Six years later
Tai clasped his hands tightly behind his back as he gazed out at the brown and barren pastures. He let out a mournful sigh as he remembered when they had been a lush green, with fat cows eating the rich grass to their hearts' content. {And they'll be that way again soon.} He thought, making an excited tingle start to stir in the pit of his stomach. After five years it was almost impossible for Tai to imagine a time when he was not fighting for his birthright, but such a time might just be around the corner.
The young man began to let his thoughts drift back to where they often went; his childhood, when a loud knock sounded at his chamber door and dragged him back to the present day. "Come in." He called in a commanding voice, after making sure he assumed a proper royal barring. Back straight, shoulders back, head high.
The door was promptly flung open by a serious looking young man with thick spectacles. Tai immediatly dropped the kingly pretense as he recognized his best friend and most trusted confidant. "Jyou! Tell me you have good news" He asked anxiously.
The dark-haired man habitualy fiddled with his glasses as he answered with an excited voice "Most of the nobles loyal to you are gathering at Heighton View Manor. About.." He paused to look at a messy sheet of parchment in his hand. "about one to two days march from here." Jyou looked at his best friend with a cautious smile. "I know we've said it before Tai, but we could be nearing the end of this whole thing."
Tai smiled softly as he regarded the unknown idea of peace. He looked over to his friend who nodded his agreement. It was uncharted territory for both of them.
Five years ago Jyou, second son of the Lord of Kido, was living a pleasant if somewhat boring life. He had a warm castle and clothes, good food, and a loving family. He was highly intelligent, and had plans to go to a university and study the progressing art of medicine. His future held the promise of a very comfortable, if very mundane life. And then something horrible happened.
The King of Kamiya suddenly died, and when the King's brother began his unjustified pursuit of the crown, the Lord of Kido was one of the few brave and foolish enough to stand in his way. But despite their best efforts the tyrant quickly succeeded in his quest, and when he took the throne he made sure that the Lord of Kido and his associates were greatly punished for their 'disloyalty'.
Jyou watched helplessly as everything his family had was stolen from them, and when they thought there could not possibly be anything else for the King to take, the cruel monarch dealt them the harshest blow of all. It was a bitterly cold day when the Lord of Kido and his two sons rode off to war, but it was even colder on the day that only Jyou, the eighteenth Lord of Kido, came limping back.
From that moment on, Tai and Jyou were partners in their quest for justice, and though Tai knew that his friend could complain a bit and was commonly described as pessamistic. He also knew that the young man was an accomplished warrior, and as reliable as a rock in every kind of situation imaginable.
Which is why Tai was not surprised when his serious friend brought up a point that the young prince had been avoiding like the plauge. "You know," Jyou said biting his lip. "we're going to have to get Hikari to agree to help."
Tai slumped down in a chair. "I don't want to have her get involved in this."
Jyou looked at his friend with a look halfway between pleading and shame. "I don't either Tai, but she's already involved herself in her own way."
Tai scowled. "I should have put an end to that a long time ago."
Jyou sighed and gave his best friend a knowing look. "But you didn't. And you still won't because you know how special what they have is."
Tai turned to stare back out the window as the truth of his friend's words sunk in. "Still doesn't mean I have to like it."
Jyou gave a brief, snorting laugh before assuming an almost sad smile. "All that aside Tai, I honestly don't think we can pull it off without Hikari."
Tai tried unsuccessfully to swallow the lump in his throat as he nodded. "The common people will follow her through hell, but five years of my uncle's propaganda has made them just as afraid of me as they are of him." He looked back at Jyou who nodded glumly. "And we need the common people behind us."
The young prince sighed sullenly as he got up. "Well then let's go get this over with. Let's go have a talk with Hikari......and Takeru."
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Elsewhere in the castle, the boy known by most as 'Takeru', and by one special person as both 'bodyguard' and 'TK', was facing his most dangerous opponent ever. He flinched as he sized the beast up. It had impregnable leather skin, eyesight straining print, and a vocabulary so incomprehensible it threatened to swallow him whole. All together, it was something out of his worst nightmares. He looked at the brown haired girl next to him for support, but she only laughed.
"Its not going to bite you TK." Kari said as she lovingly brushed a lock of sandy hair out of his eyes. "Its only a book." She leaned over and gave him a gentle kiss that made them both shiver delightfully. "You'll do fine. I know it."
TK was still somewhat doubtful, but he opened the thick tome, placed his index finger under the first sentance, opened his parched and quivering lips, and began his initial attack. "Lu-Lu-ci-an....was a....lar-ge...f-f-fram-ed,.....lo-lon-g....legg-ed.....young...man,.....most-ly...." He paused as he tried to remember the strategy for the next opponent.
"Silent K." Kari whispered in his ear with a reasuring grin.
TK sighed and nodded gratefully as he continued "mostly...knees...and...el-el-bows."
The next several moments were painstaking at best, brutal at worst, but when the boy finished the task the girl had prepared for him he looked up at her with his eyes so full of pure joy that they both knew it had been worth ever bit. "I did it Kari! I read! I can read!" TK exclaimed as he took her in his strong arms and whirled her about the room in something slightly resembling a dance. To a poor boy whose whole life had been a struggle to survive, it was a greater gift than he could ever had imagined.
Kari laughed as she gazed into his ice-water eyes of the one she loved more than life itself. TK was everything to her; the brave soldier who protected her during the day, the warm lover who held her at night, and to be able to give him something he could treasure, even something most took for granted, filled her heart with happiness.
It was easy to see why Jyou believed the common people would flock to her. For if they had been smitten with her when she was only pretending to be kind and cheerful, they now whorshiped the goddess of mercy and sweetness she had become with her love at her side.
"I'm so proud of you TK." She whispered as she gently carressed his cheek.
The boy leaned over and kissed her deeply, and when he pulled away Kari could see his cheeks flush with color. "Thank you so much Kari. This means so much to me."
The girl gave a little giggle as she brushed her fingers over his lips. "It means so much to me that it means so much to you."
For a moment the lovers just moved slowly around the chamber, regarding each other with eyes filled with stars. Then a hushed "I love you." escaped both their lips as they settled into a long embrace.
It had been almost a year since the night the princess and the slave declared their love to one another, and since then their love and need for one another had only grown stronger as each new morning dawned. Takeru could not go a day without being able to run his fingers through her silky hair. Hikari could not last an afternoon without gazing into his comforting eyes. Both would begin to feel sick if they could not share at least one kiss an hour. And it was impossible for either one to fall asleep without the now familiar touch, scent, and sounds of the other to lull them into peaceful slumber Their hearts and souls were already so entertwined that it was hard for them to remember a time when they could not hold one another. Of course when they were holding one another it was difficult for them to remember anything at all. But sometimes there are things that need to be remembered, which is why they finally pulled apart with great reluctance.
"I almost forgot that Cody sent us a message last night." TK stated as he pulled a crumpled piece of paper from inside his tunic. "You better read it." The boy said handing it to Kari. "I don't quite think I'm there yet.
"You will be soon." She assured him before turning her attention to the paper. Her eyes quickly scanned the few lines of immaculately neat script. "He needs to meet us tonight. Something about nobles gathering a little to the north." She paused and knitted her brow. " -But what would that have to do with us?"
They turned to each other with questioning glances. But before they could speak someone gave a hard knock on the door. "Hikari, are you there? I need to talk to you." Tai called out in a tentative voice. Then without waiting for an answer he started to push open the door.
With practiced speed Takeru assumed his usual guard stance, while Hikari slipped the note up her sleave and pretended to be immersed in the way the drapes above her bed were hung. "You should wait for an answer next time Tai." She gave her brother a smug grin. "My bodyguard grows anxious when people come barging in."
Tai and Jyou, who of course did not by any of it, exchanged sensitive looks. While walking along they had been discussing how to best handle the sure to be awkward situation, and had come to the conclusion that Tai should say something along the lines of. "Hikari, Takeru, we realize what is going on. It is something that will need to be discussed later, but for now please help us in restoring order and safety to our land and people."
That was what Tai meant to say, but what came out was a little more direct and.....threatening. "Drop the act KARI, you're not fooling anybody." It did not exactly have an ideal effect
Takeru had unleashed his sword the moment the prince addressed his sister with the name only the blonde boy used for her, and before Tai could even think of slapping himself, let alone reach for his own weapon, both he and Jyou were deprived of their swordbelts by an expert flick of the wrist from TK.
Though to be fair it would not have made much difference even if they had time to arm themselves; Tai and Jyou were good, maybe even great, but TK was a natural born warrior. Much like his brother.
Hikari immediatly retrieved the fallen steel and stood at Takeru's side. "What the hell have you done Tai!" Her voice overflowed with anger and hurt.
"Hikari...I.....I" Tai was still too shocked at the sudden change in the situation to think clearly.
Jyou on the other hand, was quite adept at handling scenarios such as these. "Hikari, please Tai didn't mean anything by what he just said, we just came to talk."
The girl's eyes narrowed dangerously. "It sure sounded as if he meant something."
Jyou could almost feel all the dangerous emotions swirling about the room. "Hikari I swear on the house of my fathers that only your brother and myself know of this. We have not told anyone else, nor do we have the slightest intention of doing so."
The princess took a long look at the Lord of Kido. She knew that he was honest almost to a fault, especially where his family's name was concerned.
She nodded to TK who carefully sheathed his sword, but she paused a bit before giving Tai and Jyou back their own. "Talk then." she tried to keep her voice detatched. "First off, how did you find out?" She laced her hand with TK's, who gave her a supporting squeeze.
"Its hard to hide anything from someone who's been playing in the secret passageways of this castle since he was four."Tai had recovered enough to say with a nuetral tone.
"So you were spying on me then." Anger was once again slipping into Kari's voice.
"I prefer to think of it as watching out for my little sister." Ditto for Tai's
Jyou swallowed nervously. "Tai, remember why we came."
"I remember." Tai said harshly. "But right now I would like to have a word with my sister. Alone."
"But Tai!" Jyou started.
"NOW!"
"Of course." Jyou sighed and gave a curt nod before turning to leave.
Tai looked over at Takeru, who had not budged an inch. "You too."
The boy's eyes narrowed as he flexed his sword hand. "I obey only the Princess Hikari."
Kari placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay TK." She glared at her brother. "There are things that need to be said."
Takeru nodded and gave her hand a final squeeze. His eyes did not leave Tai as he left the room.
Once they were alone the siblings stood and stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Then Tai averted his gaze to the floor. It seemed like he could never match the will of his sister. "I want you to know," He began in a firm voice. "that my concerns have nothing to do with his station. He could be a nobleman and I would still worry."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better." Hikari sneered
Tai chose to ignore the remark as he looked his sister straight in the eye. "Do you truly love him?" He asked, even though he already knew the answer.
"With all my heart and soul."
"Does he love you?"
"Yes."
"How do you know?"
"Because I can hear him in my heart, and he can hear me in his." Kari's voice was as clear and strong as Church bells, and left no room for doubt.
Tai sighed loudly. "I am happy for you then."
Kari smirked. "Well even if you aren't you better get used to it."
Tai could not help but chuckle. "I'm sorry Hikari. This isn't what we came for."
The girl allowed her self to relax at his words, but she tried to stay prepared for any surprises. "Then why did you come."
Once again Tai's inability to think before he spoke got the better of him. "To get you to help me win a war."
"Wha-what?" Hikari was surprised to say the least.
Tai sighed at his mistake, but instead of worrying about it he decided to push ahead. "An army of my supporters is gathering to the North. They await my orders to march on the city and castle."
A light went on in Kari's head. {So that's why Cody needs to see us.} "Why do you need me?"
Tai looked away as he spoke. As if he were ashamed of the words. "Because the people of this kingdom will follow their beloved Princess, but they are afraid of their Prince. Please help me."
Confusion was still running rampant in her mind, but she could still think clearly enough to give an answer. "No Tai. I can't."
Tai took a surprised step forward. He honestly had not anticipated such a response. "What? Why?"
Kari could feel tears form under her eyes as she looked back at him. "Because I remember the last war Tai. I remember what it did to this kingdom and its people. I remember what it did to you, and to Jyou, and what it did to Takeru." the hot tears started to force their way up and out. "And I don't ever want to see that happen again."
Tai's voice took on an imploring tone. "But Hikari, our knigdom and our people are suffering just as bad, if not worse under our uncle."
Kari shook her head, refusing to give in. "He's old Tai. He won't live much longer. Why can't you just wait until he's weaker?"
"Because I can't!" Tai snapped. "Because everytime I have closed my eyes for the past six years, I see Dad! And he's ashamed of me for letting this happen, and he's even more ashamed of me for letting it go on so long!"
Kari rushed to hug her brother. "It wasn't your fault Tai. There was nothing you could have done."
The Prince returned his sister's hug and even he struggled not to cry himself. "But I can do something now Hikari. And if I don't at least try, I won't be able to live with myself."
Even as Tai pulled away from her embrace Kari found her resistance fading. For the first time ever, her brother was about to get the better of her. "I'll help you Tai, but only if TK agrees." She shivered as she thought of the scars along her lover's body. "He's been through so much already, I can't force him to go through anymore."
Tai nodded. If he had judged the boy correctly, there was no reason to worry anyway. He thought about asking what Kari knew of Takeru's expierience in the war with Tachikawa, but a soft rap at the door came before he had a chance.
"You can come in now." Kari called as Jyou and TK were already starting to enter. She rushed over to the blonde boy and through her arms around him. She was not sure why, except she just felt like she needed to be close to him.
"Are you okay?" He whispered, while wiping an undried tear from her cheek.
She nodded and settled her head on his chest.
"Lord Jyou was telling me of their plan." Takeru continued softly. "If you agree, I think we should help them."
Kari hugged her beloved tighter. "I agree if you do. We can use our connections to lessen the danger for everyone."
Tai and Jyou had been talking quietly to each other, but their ears perked up at Kari's words. "I'm sorry Princess." Jyou said confusedly. "What connections?"
The girl gave him a thin smile. "I guess you aren't as good as spys as you led us to believe, otherwise you would know that TK and I are part of the underground network."
Now it was Tai and Jyou's turn to be surprised.
"Don't act so surprised. You aren't the only ones who know your way around the secret passages." Kari gave a somewhat sad grin. "They're very useful in getting food and provisions to victims of the King."
"And for smuggling slaves out of the kingdom." TK added with a somber voice. "Which reminds me, at least one member of the underground knows about the troop movement to the North."
"That's impossible!" Tai exclaimed. "No one outside of our allies knows!"
"Well apparently someone else does too." Kari shot back as she retrieved the message from her sleave and handed it to her brother.
Tai hastily took the message, and Jyou scrambled to peek over his shoulder as they both read with gaping mouths. "I need to see this 'Cody'." The Prince managed to choke out finally. "I need to go and meet him tonight in your place."
The other three people in the room looked at Tai as if he had just gone insane.
"Don't look at me like that!" He shouted. "Its deadly important that we find out all that he knows, and how he knows it!"
His words were followed by an akward silence that TK was the first to break. "With all due respect Prince Tai, I think-"
"Just Tai." The young man cut him off with the barest hint of a smile. "We're going to have to learn to ignore those fancy titles if we're going to be family."
TK and Kari both blushed a deep red as the boy tried to continue. "We-well then Tai, I was going to say that Kari and I have a lot of experience working with the underground, and Cody in particular. We could find out what you need and be back in the castle before morning."
Tai shook his head as he began to pace the room. "That's true, but for what I'm thinking of someone would need to say out of the castle for a few days. I need enough time to study the general feeling of the common people, and to see just what the underground knows, and what it can do."
Jyou adjusted his glasses as he thought on what Tai had said. "That's all true Tai. But who says who have to be the one to go?"
"Because," The prince sighed as if it was the most simple thing in the world. "Hikari and Takeru can't be gone that long without arousing suspicion. And you can't go Jyou because you have to cover for me, keep in contact with our allies, and of course," Tai flinched as he spoke the last words. "you're going to have to explain everything to Davis."
Takeru and Hikari's eyes went wide from shock. "You mean Davis doesn't know about this?" The girl gasped.
Tai ran his hand through his hair shyly. "Well he knows about the nobles gathering to the North, but I might have neglected to tell him about this part."
And for good reason. Sir Davis of Motomiya was the other close friend of Tai, and one of the few people the Prince would think to trust with his life. He was brave, strong, and perhaps the greatest horseman seen in years, but he was also loud, obnoxious, and did not posses an especially long attention span. It was also no secret that he had hopes of winning the heart of the Princess Hikari, hopes that would soon be dashed forever.
"Great." Jyou closed his eyes and massaged his temples. "You save the fun part for me."
Tai did not bother to respond, he was too busy fidgeting with nervous energy. "Are we agreed that I will go?" He asked them all.
Jyou and TK nodded. "Just please at least try to be careful." Kari added.
Tai gave a cocky grin. "Aren't I always." He swaggered to the door and reached out for the handle. Unfortunately, the door came crashing into his face before he had a chance.
"Hey Hikari I....picked.....you.....some....uh.....flowers." Davis held up a handfull of mangled daffodills. He felt his face grow red as he looked at Tai, who was cupping his nose and glaring at him from his unwanted seat on the floor, to Jyou, who had suddenly decided to polish his glasses, and finally to Hikari and Takeru, who had once again linked hands and now looked at him with pitying expressions. "I take it I missed something important." Was all he could manage to say.
"I must remember to lock that damn door." Kari muttered under her breath.
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Two hours, one compicated explanation, and several hurt looks later, Tai emerged from a certain secret passageway at the edge of the city. Jyou had thought that Tai would be able to move around with the greatest amount of ease if he posed as a typical middle-class merchant. So the Prince had donned a tunic, trousers, boots, and a cloak, that while plain, were also respectable. He carried with him his sword, a small fortune in gold coins, and in case of emergancies; his signet ring, which would identify him as a member of the royal family.
From what Takeru and Hikari had told him, he knew he had about half an hour before he had to meet their contact 'Cody' at their regular rendezvous point; a tavern called The Dawn Treader, but Tai figured he should be there early in order better prepare for any surprises. Which considering the instructions he had been given, could be numerous.
"He'll come in the door exactly on time." Hikari had told him as he was preparing to leave.
"And what happens if a whole army decides to march in the door at the same time?"
Kari and TK gave each other sly looks. "Trust us." The blonde boy said. "Cody will stick out."
The girl nodded her agreement. "Just go up to him and say that 'TK and Kari sent you in their place'. From there he should provide you with what you need to know." But despite their constant assurances, Tai was not yet ready to believe that it could or would be that easy.
He was quick to admit however, that there was little difficulty in finding his destination, he merely had to follow the sound of rambunctious laughter through the darkened streets to its source. Which after a relatively short walk, he found to be a rather squat building scrunched in between a bakery and a rope maker's shop, both of which were closed for the night. Above the entrance was a fading picture of a Viking longboat with the establishment's namesake written across the bow. A smoky orange and yellow light spilled out from the windows and doorway, making the tavern bare resemblence to a hearth, and now that Tai was up close he could pick out pieces of agruements, jokes, and strains of disjointed singing along with the laughter.
Putting on what he hoped was a calm, confident air, Tai strode inside and immedietly sat down at the first empty table he found. The scratched wood bared the scars of many years of spills, stains, and rough brawls.
"What'll ya 'ave dearie." A rather large waitress said while looking Tai up and down with an approving eye. "Beer. Wine. A bit o' companionship to pass the cold night." She winked and flashed him an almost toothless smile.
"Um, a cup of mead will be fine thank you." Tai stammered. The waitress shrugged her beefy shoulders and went to get his drink. Tai made a mental note to have a talk with Hikari went he got home. The Dawn Treader was not a place he wanted his little sister frequenting, secret meeting place or not.
Tai got his mead after a short time, and he nursed it slowly as he anxiously watched the tavern door. When the appointed hour struck, the door flew open and to Tai's dismay at least half-a-dozen drunken sailors stumbled in. {I'm never believing Hikari again.} He thought as he bowed his head in frustration. Then he heard the slow creak of the door being open again, and as soon as he lifted his head he knew that it had to be Cody, and he certainly did stick out.
He wore the thick coarse robe and bowl haircut of a monk, and the rosary tied to his belt removed any further doubt about his occupation. He was young, maybe even younger than Hikari and Takeru, but there was such a profound air of discipline and wisdom about him that he seemed more like an old man than a young boy.
With a dumbfounded look on his face, Tai made his way to the door were Cody was still standing, and spoke as he was instructed. "TK and Kari have sent me in their place."
If the young monk was surprised by this unsuspected turn of events, his face did not show it. "Prince Tai, I presume."
Tai nodded. "And you must be uh, Brother Cody."
"Cody will be fine for now." He said with a faint grin. "I suspect there is much you would like to discuss with me. So I suggest we take a walk, it is the perfect weather to admire the beauty of the Lord's night sky."
Tai nodded his approval and followed him out the door. They went a short distance from the pub in silence before Cody spoke up. "You are about to undertake an attempt to sieze the throne from your uncle." It was more a statement than a question.
"Yes."
"And have TK and Kari agreed to join you in your quest."
"They have."
Cody stopped walking and turned to him. "From what they have told me, I know you to be a good and just man, who seeks the well being of this kingdom and its people above all. If TK and Kari are prepared to support you, then I am as well."
Tai smiled warmly as they continued walking. "I am honored."
"As well you should be." Cody grinned.
Tai laughed a little at the unconventional nature of his new friend, but he then remembered what he had originally come for. "Cody, I need to know how you found out about the nobles gathering in the North, and if there is any danger of my uncle finding out."
"I doubt it." The young monk replied. "I only know because I am the confessor to one of the lords who counts among your supporters. He was concerned about the upcoming loss of life and his part in it. I assured him that he should do as he thought was right in his heart, and God would understand." Cody began to blush like a child with his hand stuck in the cookie jar. "Then even though it was breaking the Lord's law, I sent a message to TK and Kari. I felt that it would be a far greater sin to not warn my closest friends of the impending danger than to keep silent."
Tai gave him a gentle smile. "I thank you for looking after my sister and her, uh, bodyguard."
The young monk grinned wistfully. "They are two of the most incredible people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing."
"How so?" Tai asked. "I mean I know I should know, but sometimes I don't exactly pay as much attention as I should." He knitted his brow in doubt. "Especially where my sister is concerned."
Cody nodded thoughtfully. Frankly he was used to hearing about concerns and doubts such as
Tai's, it was part of his job description. "I do not know if I can readily put it into words, but I shall try." He paused in concentration. "There is something about them that inspires people, even in the darkest hour they find a way to let hope and light shine through." Cody laughed a little. "I'm sorry but I don't think I am explaining it very well."
"No, no I understand." Tai assured him. "We're getting away from the main point anyway." He turned his mind back to practical things. " How much help do you think the underground can provide?" He asked hopefully.
Cody frowned. "With a few exceptions the members of the underground are not fighters, but they shall offer as much assistance as possible."
"Would you happen to be one of those exceptions?" Tai asked half jokingly.
Cody was as serious as stone. "I have sworn a vow never to shed the blood of another man."
Tai gulped and was about to apologize, but the young monk continued speaking.
"Which is why-" He said, reaching into his robe. "I carry this." He produced a heavy iron mace and held it up for Tai's inspection.
Tai tried to keep his jaw from dropping. "But I thought-"
"Ah." Cody cut him off again. "I never said I swore a vow not to bash in the the back of another man's skull. Especially when I frequently come in contact with those who would not hesitate to do the same to others. God have mercy on their souls." He crossed himself.
Tai was speechless.
"Do you need a place to the rest for the night?" Cody continued nonchalantly as he put away his weapon.
"N-no that's quite alright." The young prince answered. "I was planning on getting some general information on the spirits of the people, so I think I'll find an inn."
Cody nodded "There's a suitable one a few blocks that way." He pointed off to their left. "And do not worry, the spirits of the people will rise considerably when they hear that Princess Hikari has joined her brother in his quest for freedom."
Tai flashed a thin smile. "I hope you are right my friend, because we're going to need every bit of help we can get."
They parted ways shortly after that, and Tai walked towards the inn with a stomach full of nervous anticipation. The most important moment of his young life was fast approaching, and it would cost him and those he cared about dearly if he messed it up.
So much of Tai's focus was on these disheartening thoughts, that he did not notice the loose cobblestone in his path. He hit it, and went tumbling to the ground with a hard knock to the head.
As he lay there on the ground, trying to get his eyes to focus a wonderful thing happened. A glorius angel suddenly hovered above him. She had hair the color of autumn leaves, and matching eyes, and she smelled of strongly of the most inviting flowers.
"You're beautiful." He said, and then the darkness claimed him.
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In the history of the land called Digidania, there are many stories of true love and high adventure. There is the tale of the brave young prince of Kamiya, who fell in love with an enchanting peasant girl selling flowers in the street. Likewise there is the story of the prince's beautiful younger sister, and how she came to love the handsome slave boy forced to serve as her bodyguard. And there is the fable of a sullen, wandering knight, who became the loving champion of a vain young princess of Tachikawa. These, and others are written of in the Chronicles of Digidania.....
My Father's Crown
Tai simply adored his father. Oh he loved his mother too of course, but she was always babying him; making him wash his hands, spitting on a napkin and trying to wipe his face with it, and generally doing any number of things to embarrass him in front of the lords and knights. But his father would call out in his great booming voice that made the castle halls rattle. "GOD DAMNIT WOMAN!! YOU WON'T BE THERE TO WIPE HIS FACE WHEN HE'S IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE, AND COVERED FROM HEAD TO TOE IN ALL MANNER OF BLOOD AND GUTS!!" Then his mother would start to fuss and nag, but the King would have none of it, he would simply pull up a chair for Tai right next to his at the council table and that would be the end of discussion. The boy's heart would almost burst with pride at this honor; to be able to sit at council and talk of important things like war, and beer, and pushy wives. (or in Tai's case bratty little sisters) His mother may have treated him like he was still 'her little darling', but his father new that Tai was a man now, and the boy worshiped him for it.
The King was a great hero and warrior, so of course he taught his son everything he knew about swordsmanship and archery, riding and jousting, hunting and tracking, and these times of roughhousing and bonding were as dear to Tai as a they would be to any other boy. But surprisingly enough, it was the other subjects that his father taught him that Tai cherished above all others.
Almost every day Tai and his father would wake with the first glint of dawn. They would pack enough food for a light breakfast and lunch, saddle the king's steel-grey charger, and go galloping off at speeds that made the Queen wince with thoughts of broken bones and busted heads, but Tai loved how fast and exciting the world seemed from his perch in front of his father. Jumping over bushes, darting through rivers with an awesome splash close at their heels, it was all heaven to the boy, and his father's steed always seemed to be able to find new obstacles to crash through, seemingly doing so only to keep the young Prince amused. But whichever new path they took, they always eventualy ended up at the same place.
Mt. Julian was not exactly a large mountain, (in fact it was probably more of a medium sized hill)
but it was high enough above the spreading farmland and clumps of forest to provide a decent view. And on a clear day Tai could just about make out the tips of the Craddle Mountains that marked the western border of Kamiya. It was on this quaint patch of earth that Tai's father taught him all he knew of law, economics, diplomacy, and all of the other dull subjects that it is necessary for a young monarch to learn. There was one lesson however, that the young prince eagerly awaited every day. History.
The King was a born storyteller. His loud, demanding voice could at a whim become soft and mesmerizing. His scarred, blunt fingers would wave through the air, painting pictures of such brilliance and grandeur in the young boy's mind that would make the old masters of Rome pluck at their beards with envy. Tai would sit under the spell of his father's words for hours, as all the lore of Digidania was recounted for him. The glories of the Servinian Empire. The devastation of the Century War. The conquests of Ryo the Great. The tragic fall of the legendary house of Ishida. All of it and more was digested by the insatible curiosity and excitement of the young Prince, who would fall asleep at night dreaming of the heroes and kings of the past, and imagining the time when he would join them in history, and take his place alongside his father, who in the boy's eyes was the greatest of them all.
With times like these, it is not hard to see how and why Mt. Julian became a place very dear to Tai's heart. Nor is it overly difficult to predict that many of the most important moments in his life would take place there. One of these moments happened the summer Tai was fourteen. It was an akward time for him, as it is for many others when they are just about to leave childhood for the grownup world, but he pushed through as best he could. He was old enough now to have his own horse, a sleek black stallion, and his father was easing him into the more complicated duties of his role as Crown Prince.
It was a particularly hot day, and as the sun rested on the horizon both royals were covered in sweat and panting. They had been fencing for most of the afternoon, and though Tai was nowhere near as skilled as his father, he was making progress and the King looked at his son with eyes full of pride.
"Lets sit down and rest for a while." The King said as he ruffled Tai's hair in a display of fatherly love. The boy sat down next to his father in the cool grass, and watched with innocent wonder as the bold red sun was reduced to a faint purple glow. So captivated was he by nature's show, that he almost did not hear his father begin to speak.
"Tai." the King began with a bit of emotion in his voice. "For years now you've been telling me you were a man, and now those words are finally starting to ring of truth. I want you to know that I am very proud of you son."
Tai sat in respectful scilence as his father talked, but he could not fully hide his shock at his father's sentimental words, and the beginnings of tears forming in the King's noble eyes.
The man noticed this and laughed softly. "I know, I know. I'm starting to sound like your mother, but I just want to tell you that I can feel with great confidence in my heart, that you will be a fine man, and a worthy king." He paused a bit, and sighed as he reflected on his own life, and the future of his child. "I have taught you all I know, and can now only tell you that you must always look after your sister, because she looks up to you so very much, and is very special." The King took a deep breath, and looked towards the flickering lights of the castle and surrounding city. "And you must always protect the people who will put their trust and faith in you. Be kind, and just, and never fail to put their needs before yours."
"And always rule for the good of all."
The King looked at Tai intensely for a moment, as if he was trying to capture that moment in time forever in his memory. Then without warning, he wrapped his son up in a great bear hug, and whispered through tears. "I love you son." And he meant it with every fiber of his being.
Tai was understandably confused by all of this, but he hugged his father back and simply let his heart speak. "I love you too Dad."
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A week later the King and Queen were dead, murdered in their sleep. Tai locked himself in their room and cried for days. He ate only what his heartbroken little sister brought him, and slept only when his body forced him to. But after seven days the tears stopped, and Tai emerged from his parents' room a different person. His mind was sharpened, his heart had hardened, and his courage and resolve were miles above what they had been. He was a man.
But he was not the only thing that had changed, his cruel uncle was king now, and the same nobles who had once made merry with his father now laid flattery at the new king's unworthy feet. The happy, prosperous people of his father now cowered in shame and fear. Their limbs locked in iron and their bodies marked by burning iron, they were made to fight a war of envy and greed.
Trapped in this impossible situation, Tai did what he knew a man should do, he did what his father would have done. He found a safe haven for his sister, and kissed her goodbye on the cheek. He put on his father's armour and mounted his father's charger, and he rode off to war. For if his people were to fight then he would fight, and if his people were to bleed then he would bleed with them, and if his people had to face death then they would face it alongside their rightful and future king. A king who vowed to one day relieve their burdens and calm their fears. So did Tai vow.
=========================================
Six years later
Tai clasped his hands tightly behind his back as he gazed out at the brown and barren pastures. He let out a mournful sigh as he remembered when they had been a lush green, with fat cows eating the rich grass to their hearts' content. {And they'll be that way again soon.} He thought, making an excited tingle start to stir in the pit of his stomach. After five years it was almost impossible for Tai to imagine a time when he was not fighting for his birthright, but such a time might just be around the corner.
The young man began to let his thoughts drift back to where they often went; his childhood, when a loud knock sounded at his chamber door and dragged him back to the present day. "Come in." He called in a commanding voice, after making sure he assumed a proper royal barring. Back straight, shoulders back, head high.
The door was promptly flung open by a serious looking young man with thick spectacles. Tai immediatly dropped the kingly pretense as he recognized his best friend and most trusted confidant. "Jyou! Tell me you have good news" He asked anxiously.
The dark-haired man habitualy fiddled with his glasses as he answered with an excited voice "Most of the nobles loyal to you are gathering at Heighton View Manor. About.." He paused to look at a messy sheet of parchment in his hand. "about one to two days march from here." Jyou looked at his best friend with a cautious smile. "I know we've said it before Tai, but we could be nearing the end of this whole thing."
Tai smiled softly as he regarded the unknown idea of peace. He looked over to his friend who nodded his agreement. It was uncharted territory for both of them.
Five years ago Jyou, second son of the Lord of Kido, was living a pleasant if somewhat boring life. He had a warm castle and clothes, good food, and a loving family. He was highly intelligent, and had plans to go to a university and study the progressing art of medicine. His future held the promise of a very comfortable, if very mundane life. And then something horrible happened.
The King of Kamiya suddenly died, and when the King's brother began his unjustified pursuit of the crown, the Lord of Kido was one of the few brave and foolish enough to stand in his way. But despite their best efforts the tyrant quickly succeeded in his quest, and when he took the throne he made sure that the Lord of Kido and his associates were greatly punished for their 'disloyalty'.
Jyou watched helplessly as everything his family had was stolen from them, and when they thought there could not possibly be anything else for the King to take, the cruel monarch dealt them the harshest blow of all. It was a bitterly cold day when the Lord of Kido and his two sons rode off to war, but it was even colder on the day that only Jyou, the eighteenth Lord of Kido, came limping back.
From that moment on, Tai and Jyou were partners in their quest for justice, and though Tai knew that his friend could complain a bit and was commonly described as pessamistic. He also knew that the young man was an accomplished warrior, and as reliable as a rock in every kind of situation imaginable.
Which is why Tai was not surprised when his serious friend brought up a point that the young prince had been avoiding like the plauge. "You know," Jyou said biting his lip. "we're going to have to get Hikari to agree to help."
Tai slumped down in a chair. "I don't want to have her get involved in this."
Jyou looked at his friend with a look halfway between pleading and shame. "I don't either Tai, but she's already involved herself in her own way."
Tai scowled. "I should have put an end to that a long time ago."
Jyou sighed and gave his best friend a knowing look. "But you didn't. And you still won't because you know how special what they have is."
Tai turned to stare back out the window as the truth of his friend's words sunk in. "Still doesn't mean I have to like it."
Jyou gave a brief, snorting laugh before assuming an almost sad smile. "All that aside Tai, I honestly don't think we can pull it off without Hikari."
Tai tried unsuccessfully to swallow the lump in his throat as he nodded. "The common people will follow her through hell, but five years of my uncle's propaganda has made them just as afraid of me as they are of him." He looked back at Jyou who nodded glumly. "And we need the common people behind us."
The young prince sighed sullenly as he got up. "Well then let's go get this over with. Let's go have a talk with Hikari......and Takeru."
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Elsewhere in the castle, the boy known by most as 'Takeru', and by one special person as both 'bodyguard' and 'TK', was facing his most dangerous opponent ever. He flinched as he sized the beast up. It had impregnable leather skin, eyesight straining print, and a vocabulary so incomprehensible it threatened to swallow him whole. All together, it was something out of his worst nightmares. He looked at the brown haired girl next to him for support, but she only laughed.
"Its not going to bite you TK." Kari said as she lovingly brushed a lock of sandy hair out of his eyes. "Its only a book." She leaned over and gave him a gentle kiss that made them both shiver delightfully. "You'll do fine. I know it."
TK was still somewhat doubtful, but he opened the thick tome, placed his index finger under the first sentance, opened his parched and quivering lips, and began his initial attack. "Lu-Lu-ci-an....was a....lar-ge...f-f-fram-ed,.....lo-lon-g....legg-ed.....young...man,.....most-ly...." He paused as he tried to remember the strategy for the next opponent.
"Silent K." Kari whispered in his ear with a reasuring grin.
TK sighed and nodded gratefully as he continued "mostly...knees...and...el-el-bows."
The next several moments were painstaking at best, brutal at worst, but when the boy finished the task the girl had prepared for him he looked up at her with his eyes so full of pure joy that they both knew it had been worth ever bit. "I did it Kari! I read! I can read!" TK exclaimed as he took her in his strong arms and whirled her about the room in something slightly resembling a dance. To a poor boy whose whole life had been a struggle to survive, it was a greater gift than he could ever had imagined.
Kari laughed as she gazed into his ice-water eyes of the one she loved more than life itself. TK was everything to her; the brave soldier who protected her during the day, the warm lover who held her at night, and to be able to give him something he could treasure, even something most took for granted, filled her heart with happiness.
It was easy to see why Jyou believed the common people would flock to her. For if they had been smitten with her when she was only pretending to be kind and cheerful, they now whorshiped the goddess of mercy and sweetness she had become with her love at her side.
"I'm so proud of you TK." She whispered as she gently carressed his cheek.
The boy leaned over and kissed her deeply, and when he pulled away Kari could see his cheeks flush with color. "Thank you so much Kari. This means so much to me."
The girl gave a little giggle as she brushed her fingers over his lips. "It means so much to me that it means so much to you."
For a moment the lovers just moved slowly around the chamber, regarding each other with eyes filled with stars. Then a hushed "I love you." escaped both their lips as they settled into a long embrace.
It had been almost a year since the night the princess and the slave declared their love to one another, and since then their love and need for one another had only grown stronger as each new morning dawned. Takeru could not go a day without being able to run his fingers through her silky hair. Hikari could not last an afternoon without gazing into his comforting eyes. Both would begin to feel sick if they could not share at least one kiss an hour. And it was impossible for either one to fall asleep without the now familiar touch, scent, and sounds of the other to lull them into peaceful slumber Their hearts and souls were already so entertwined that it was hard for them to remember a time when they could not hold one another. Of course when they were holding one another it was difficult for them to remember anything at all. But sometimes there are things that need to be remembered, which is why they finally pulled apart with great reluctance.
"I almost forgot that Cody sent us a message last night." TK stated as he pulled a crumpled piece of paper from inside his tunic. "You better read it." The boy said handing it to Kari. "I don't quite think I'm there yet.
"You will be soon." She assured him before turning her attention to the paper. Her eyes quickly scanned the few lines of immaculately neat script. "He needs to meet us tonight. Something about nobles gathering a little to the north." She paused and knitted her brow. " -But what would that have to do with us?"
They turned to each other with questioning glances. But before they could speak someone gave a hard knock on the door. "Hikari, are you there? I need to talk to you." Tai called out in a tentative voice. Then without waiting for an answer he started to push open the door.
With practiced speed Takeru assumed his usual guard stance, while Hikari slipped the note up her sleave and pretended to be immersed in the way the drapes above her bed were hung. "You should wait for an answer next time Tai." She gave her brother a smug grin. "My bodyguard grows anxious when people come barging in."
Tai and Jyou, who of course did not by any of it, exchanged sensitive looks. While walking along they had been discussing how to best handle the sure to be awkward situation, and had come to the conclusion that Tai should say something along the lines of. "Hikari, Takeru, we realize what is going on. It is something that will need to be discussed later, but for now please help us in restoring order and safety to our land and people."
That was what Tai meant to say, but what came out was a little more direct and.....threatening. "Drop the act KARI, you're not fooling anybody." It did not exactly have an ideal effect
Takeru had unleashed his sword the moment the prince addressed his sister with the name only the blonde boy used for her, and before Tai could even think of slapping himself, let alone reach for his own weapon, both he and Jyou were deprived of their swordbelts by an expert flick of the wrist from TK.
Though to be fair it would not have made much difference even if they had time to arm themselves; Tai and Jyou were good, maybe even great, but TK was a natural born warrior. Much like his brother.
Hikari immediatly retrieved the fallen steel and stood at Takeru's side. "What the hell have you done Tai!" Her voice overflowed with anger and hurt.
"Hikari...I.....I" Tai was still too shocked at the sudden change in the situation to think clearly.
Jyou on the other hand, was quite adept at handling scenarios such as these. "Hikari, please Tai didn't mean anything by what he just said, we just came to talk."
The girl's eyes narrowed dangerously. "It sure sounded as if he meant something."
Jyou could almost feel all the dangerous emotions swirling about the room. "Hikari I swear on the house of my fathers that only your brother and myself know of this. We have not told anyone else, nor do we have the slightest intention of doing so."
The princess took a long look at the Lord of Kido. She knew that he was honest almost to a fault, especially where his family's name was concerned.
She nodded to TK who carefully sheathed his sword, but she paused a bit before giving Tai and Jyou back their own. "Talk then." she tried to keep her voice detatched. "First off, how did you find out?" She laced her hand with TK's, who gave her a supporting squeeze.
"Its hard to hide anything from someone who's been playing in the secret passageways of this castle since he was four."Tai had recovered enough to say with a nuetral tone.
"So you were spying on me then." Anger was once again slipping into Kari's voice.
"I prefer to think of it as watching out for my little sister." Ditto for Tai's
Jyou swallowed nervously. "Tai, remember why we came."
"I remember." Tai said harshly. "But right now I would like to have a word with my sister. Alone."
"But Tai!" Jyou started.
"NOW!"
"Of course." Jyou sighed and gave a curt nod before turning to leave.
Tai looked over at Takeru, who had not budged an inch. "You too."
The boy's eyes narrowed as he flexed his sword hand. "I obey only the Princess Hikari."
Kari placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay TK." She glared at her brother. "There are things that need to be said."
Takeru nodded and gave her hand a final squeeze. His eyes did not leave Tai as he left the room.
Once they were alone the siblings stood and stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Then Tai averted his gaze to the floor. It seemed like he could never match the will of his sister. "I want you to know," He began in a firm voice. "that my concerns have nothing to do with his station. He could be a nobleman and I would still worry."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better." Hikari sneered
Tai chose to ignore the remark as he looked his sister straight in the eye. "Do you truly love him?" He asked, even though he already knew the answer.
"With all my heart and soul."
"Does he love you?"
"Yes."
"How do you know?"
"Because I can hear him in my heart, and he can hear me in his." Kari's voice was as clear and strong as Church bells, and left no room for doubt.
Tai sighed loudly. "I am happy for you then."
Kari smirked. "Well even if you aren't you better get used to it."
Tai could not help but chuckle. "I'm sorry Hikari. This isn't what we came for."
The girl allowed her self to relax at his words, but she tried to stay prepared for any surprises. "Then why did you come."
Once again Tai's inability to think before he spoke got the better of him. "To get you to help me win a war."
"Wha-what?" Hikari was surprised to say the least.
Tai sighed at his mistake, but instead of worrying about it he decided to push ahead. "An army of my supporters is gathering to the North. They await my orders to march on the city and castle."
A light went on in Kari's head. {So that's why Cody needs to see us.} "Why do you need me?"
Tai looked away as he spoke. As if he were ashamed of the words. "Because the people of this kingdom will follow their beloved Princess, but they are afraid of their Prince. Please help me."
Confusion was still running rampant in her mind, but she could still think clearly enough to give an answer. "No Tai. I can't."
Tai took a surprised step forward. He honestly had not anticipated such a response. "What? Why?"
Kari could feel tears form under her eyes as she looked back at him. "Because I remember the last war Tai. I remember what it did to this kingdom and its people. I remember what it did to you, and to Jyou, and what it did to Takeru." the hot tears started to force their way up and out. "And I don't ever want to see that happen again."
Tai's voice took on an imploring tone. "But Hikari, our knigdom and our people are suffering just as bad, if not worse under our uncle."
Kari shook her head, refusing to give in. "He's old Tai. He won't live much longer. Why can't you just wait until he's weaker?"
"Because I can't!" Tai snapped. "Because everytime I have closed my eyes for the past six years, I see Dad! And he's ashamed of me for letting this happen, and he's even more ashamed of me for letting it go on so long!"
Kari rushed to hug her brother. "It wasn't your fault Tai. There was nothing you could have done."
The Prince returned his sister's hug and even he struggled not to cry himself. "But I can do something now Hikari. And if I don't at least try, I won't be able to live with myself."
Even as Tai pulled away from her embrace Kari found her resistance fading. For the first time ever, her brother was about to get the better of her. "I'll help you Tai, but only if TK agrees." She shivered as she thought of the scars along her lover's body. "He's been through so much already, I can't force him to go through anymore."
Tai nodded. If he had judged the boy correctly, there was no reason to worry anyway. He thought about asking what Kari knew of Takeru's expierience in the war with Tachikawa, but a soft rap at the door came before he had a chance.
"You can come in now." Kari called as Jyou and TK were already starting to enter. She rushed over to the blonde boy and through her arms around him. She was not sure why, except she just felt like she needed to be close to him.
"Are you okay?" He whispered, while wiping an undried tear from her cheek.
She nodded and settled her head on his chest.
"Lord Jyou was telling me of their plan." Takeru continued softly. "If you agree, I think we should help them."
Kari hugged her beloved tighter. "I agree if you do. We can use our connections to lessen the danger for everyone."
Tai and Jyou had been talking quietly to each other, but their ears perked up at Kari's words. "I'm sorry Princess." Jyou said confusedly. "What connections?"
The girl gave him a thin smile. "I guess you aren't as good as spys as you led us to believe, otherwise you would know that TK and I are part of the underground network."
Now it was Tai and Jyou's turn to be surprised.
"Don't act so surprised. You aren't the only ones who know your way around the secret passages." Kari gave a somewhat sad grin. "They're very useful in getting food and provisions to victims of the King."
"And for smuggling slaves out of the kingdom." TK added with a somber voice. "Which reminds me, at least one member of the underground knows about the troop movement to the North."
"That's impossible!" Tai exclaimed. "No one outside of our allies knows!"
"Well apparently someone else does too." Kari shot back as she retrieved the message from her sleave and handed it to her brother.
Tai hastily took the message, and Jyou scrambled to peek over his shoulder as they both read with gaping mouths. "I need to see this 'Cody'." The Prince managed to choke out finally. "I need to go and meet him tonight in your place."
The other three people in the room looked at Tai as if he had just gone insane.
"Don't look at me like that!" He shouted. "Its deadly important that we find out all that he knows, and how he knows it!"
His words were followed by an akward silence that TK was the first to break. "With all due respect Prince Tai, I think-"
"Just Tai." The young man cut him off with the barest hint of a smile. "We're going to have to learn to ignore those fancy titles if we're going to be family."
TK and Kari both blushed a deep red as the boy tried to continue. "We-well then Tai, I was going to say that Kari and I have a lot of experience working with the underground, and Cody in particular. We could find out what you need and be back in the castle before morning."
Tai shook his head as he began to pace the room. "That's true, but for what I'm thinking of someone would need to say out of the castle for a few days. I need enough time to study the general feeling of the common people, and to see just what the underground knows, and what it can do."
Jyou adjusted his glasses as he thought on what Tai had said. "That's all true Tai. But who says who have to be the one to go?"
"Because," The prince sighed as if it was the most simple thing in the world. "Hikari and Takeru can't be gone that long without arousing suspicion. And you can't go Jyou because you have to cover for me, keep in contact with our allies, and of course," Tai flinched as he spoke the last words. "you're going to have to explain everything to Davis."
Takeru and Hikari's eyes went wide from shock. "You mean Davis doesn't know about this?" The girl gasped.
Tai ran his hand through his hair shyly. "Well he knows about the nobles gathering to the North, but I might have neglected to tell him about this part."
And for good reason. Sir Davis of Motomiya was the other close friend of Tai, and one of the few people the Prince would think to trust with his life. He was brave, strong, and perhaps the greatest horseman seen in years, but he was also loud, obnoxious, and did not posses an especially long attention span. It was also no secret that he had hopes of winning the heart of the Princess Hikari, hopes that would soon be dashed forever.
"Great." Jyou closed his eyes and massaged his temples. "You save the fun part for me."
Tai did not bother to respond, he was too busy fidgeting with nervous energy. "Are we agreed that I will go?" He asked them all.
Jyou and TK nodded. "Just please at least try to be careful." Kari added.
Tai gave a cocky grin. "Aren't I always." He swaggered to the door and reached out for the handle. Unfortunately, the door came crashing into his face before he had a chance.
"Hey Hikari I....picked.....you.....some....uh.....flowers." Davis held up a handfull of mangled daffodills. He felt his face grow red as he looked at Tai, who was cupping his nose and glaring at him from his unwanted seat on the floor, to Jyou, who had suddenly decided to polish his glasses, and finally to Hikari and Takeru, who had once again linked hands and now looked at him with pitying expressions. "I take it I missed something important." Was all he could manage to say.
"I must remember to lock that damn door." Kari muttered under her breath.
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Two hours, one compicated explanation, and several hurt looks later, Tai emerged from a certain secret passageway at the edge of the city. Jyou had thought that Tai would be able to move around with the greatest amount of ease if he posed as a typical middle-class merchant. So the Prince had donned a tunic, trousers, boots, and a cloak, that while plain, were also respectable. He carried with him his sword, a small fortune in gold coins, and in case of emergancies; his signet ring, which would identify him as a member of the royal family.
From what Takeru and Hikari had told him, he knew he had about half an hour before he had to meet their contact 'Cody' at their regular rendezvous point; a tavern called The Dawn Treader, but Tai figured he should be there early in order better prepare for any surprises. Which considering the instructions he had been given, could be numerous.
"He'll come in the door exactly on time." Hikari had told him as he was preparing to leave.
"And what happens if a whole army decides to march in the door at the same time?"
Kari and TK gave each other sly looks. "Trust us." The blonde boy said. "Cody will stick out."
The girl nodded her agreement. "Just go up to him and say that 'TK and Kari sent you in their place'. From there he should provide you with what you need to know." But despite their constant assurances, Tai was not yet ready to believe that it could or would be that easy.
He was quick to admit however, that there was little difficulty in finding his destination, he merely had to follow the sound of rambunctious laughter through the darkened streets to its source. Which after a relatively short walk, he found to be a rather squat building scrunched in between a bakery and a rope maker's shop, both of which were closed for the night. Above the entrance was a fading picture of a Viking longboat with the establishment's namesake written across the bow. A smoky orange and yellow light spilled out from the windows and doorway, making the tavern bare resemblence to a hearth, and now that Tai was up close he could pick out pieces of agruements, jokes, and strains of disjointed singing along with the laughter.
Putting on what he hoped was a calm, confident air, Tai strode inside and immedietly sat down at the first empty table he found. The scratched wood bared the scars of many years of spills, stains, and rough brawls.
"What'll ya 'ave dearie." A rather large waitress said while looking Tai up and down with an approving eye. "Beer. Wine. A bit o' companionship to pass the cold night." She winked and flashed him an almost toothless smile.
"Um, a cup of mead will be fine thank you." Tai stammered. The waitress shrugged her beefy shoulders and went to get his drink. Tai made a mental note to have a talk with Hikari went he got home. The Dawn Treader was not a place he wanted his little sister frequenting, secret meeting place or not.
Tai got his mead after a short time, and he nursed it slowly as he anxiously watched the tavern door. When the appointed hour struck, the door flew open and to Tai's dismay at least half-a-dozen drunken sailors stumbled in. {I'm never believing Hikari again.} He thought as he bowed his head in frustration. Then he heard the slow creak of the door being open again, and as soon as he lifted his head he knew that it had to be Cody, and he certainly did stick out.
He wore the thick coarse robe and bowl haircut of a monk, and the rosary tied to his belt removed any further doubt about his occupation. He was young, maybe even younger than Hikari and Takeru, but there was such a profound air of discipline and wisdom about him that he seemed more like an old man than a young boy.
With a dumbfounded look on his face, Tai made his way to the door were Cody was still standing, and spoke as he was instructed. "TK and Kari have sent me in their place."
If the young monk was surprised by this unsuspected turn of events, his face did not show it. "Prince Tai, I presume."
Tai nodded. "And you must be uh, Brother Cody."
"Cody will be fine for now." He said with a faint grin. "I suspect there is much you would like to discuss with me. So I suggest we take a walk, it is the perfect weather to admire the beauty of the Lord's night sky."
Tai nodded his approval and followed him out the door. They went a short distance from the pub in silence before Cody spoke up. "You are about to undertake an attempt to sieze the throne from your uncle." It was more a statement than a question.
"Yes."
"And have TK and Kari agreed to join you in your quest."
"They have."
Cody stopped walking and turned to him. "From what they have told me, I know you to be a good and just man, who seeks the well being of this kingdom and its people above all. If TK and Kari are prepared to support you, then I am as well."
Tai smiled warmly as they continued walking. "I am honored."
"As well you should be." Cody grinned.
Tai laughed a little at the unconventional nature of his new friend, but he then remembered what he had originally come for. "Cody, I need to know how you found out about the nobles gathering in the North, and if there is any danger of my uncle finding out."
"I doubt it." The young monk replied. "I only know because I am the confessor to one of the lords who counts among your supporters. He was concerned about the upcoming loss of life and his part in it. I assured him that he should do as he thought was right in his heart, and God would understand." Cody began to blush like a child with his hand stuck in the cookie jar. "Then even though it was breaking the Lord's law, I sent a message to TK and Kari. I felt that it would be a far greater sin to not warn my closest friends of the impending danger than to keep silent."
Tai gave him a gentle smile. "I thank you for looking after my sister and her, uh, bodyguard."
The young monk grinned wistfully. "They are two of the most incredible people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing."
"How so?" Tai asked. "I mean I know I should know, but sometimes I don't exactly pay as much attention as I should." He knitted his brow in doubt. "Especially where my sister is concerned."
Cody nodded thoughtfully. Frankly he was used to hearing about concerns and doubts such as
Tai's, it was part of his job description. "I do not know if I can readily put it into words, but I shall try." He paused in concentration. "There is something about them that inspires people, even in the darkest hour they find a way to let hope and light shine through." Cody laughed a little. "I'm sorry but I don't think I am explaining it very well."
"No, no I understand." Tai assured him. "We're getting away from the main point anyway." He turned his mind back to practical things. " How much help do you think the underground can provide?" He asked hopefully.
Cody frowned. "With a few exceptions the members of the underground are not fighters, but they shall offer as much assistance as possible."
"Would you happen to be one of those exceptions?" Tai asked half jokingly.
Cody was as serious as stone. "I have sworn a vow never to shed the blood of another man."
Tai gulped and was about to apologize, but the young monk continued speaking.
"Which is why-" He said, reaching into his robe. "I carry this." He produced a heavy iron mace and held it up for Tai's inspection.
Tai tried to keep his jaw from dropping. "But I thought-"
"Ah." Cody cut him off again. "I never said I swore a vow not to bash in the the back of another man's skull. Especially when I frequently come in contact with those who would not hesitate to do the same to others. God have mercy on their souls." He crossed himself.
Tai was speechless.
"Do you need a place to the rest for the night?" Cody continued nonchalantly as he put away his weapon.
"N-no that's quite alright." The young prince answered. "I was planning on getting some general information on the spirits of the people, so I think I'll find an inn."
Cody nodded "There's a suitable one a few blocks that way." He pointed off to their left. "And do not worry, the spirits of the people will rise considerably when they hear that Princess Hikari has joined her brother in his quest for freedom."
Tai flashed a thin smile. "I hope you are right my friend, because we're going to need every bit of help we can get."
They parted ways shortly after that, and Tai walked towards the inn with a stomach full of nervous anticipation. The most important moment of his young life was fast approaching, and it would cost him and those he cared about dearly if he messed it up.
So much of Tai's focus was on these disheartening thoughts, that he did not notice the loose cobblestone in his path. He hit it, and went tumbling to the ground with a hard knock to the head.
As he lay there on the ground, trying to get his eyes to focus a wonderful thing happened. A glorius angel suddenly hovered above him. She had hair the color of autumn leaves, and matching eyes, and she smelled of strongly of the most inviting flowers.
"You're beautiful." He said, and then the darkness claimed him.
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