Ch.2

It's been several months since Sell was kidnapped. She hadn't forgotten but she pushed it to the side for the time being. She focused on running around with a boy her age named Hel who took her around the large sprawling underground base. They played small games and told stories. The men who were bandits for the King of the Underground which was what some called the man that Sell had met told the two kids about their adventures around the land, racing on horse back, seiging towns and ripping apart villages.

Sell pictured this man that they called King of the Underground as a heroic man that was trying to right the wrongs that had been done to him. She felt bad for the King. When the day that Hel asked Sell a question came around, a day she'll never forget. The two had been allowed into the garden above ground, hidden by mountains all around them. They had been eating rabbit stew, something that was very good when cooked by a certain person that Sell liked in the underground tunnel system.

Hel put his empty bowl down crossing his legs and stiffening his arms as he leaned on his folded knees. "Do you trust the King?"

Sell sipped the rest of her soup before looking to Hel. "Huh? Do I trust the King?" She had never thought of this. She was slightly confused by this question also. Sometimes when Hel had questions they were something that went deeper into a persons perspective.

He nodded to her, "Yeah. Are you going to be like those bandits and follow the King all around without asking questions of why?"

She had been correct on her assumption. Hel always saw a broader picture than the adults did. He was quite smart for a six year old. Sell gave a shrug placing her bowl next to her on the grass. "I don't know. The King did say we weren't of age yet to go on any raids and stuff. I think, until he did me wrong, I'd trust him. He's our new father after all."

Hel stared up at the clouds that passed over not smiling. Sell stared at him and turned her small frame towards him fully. "What? It's been a while since I've seen this look."

"I over heard some of the bandits yesterday when they were coming back." Hel shifted looking at the grass and pulling a handful of the blades. "They were talking about insubordination. Some of the men had quit, growing tired of the line of work."

"And?" Sell pressed leaning on her arms. "What happened?"

Hel shook his head. "Not something a lady should hear. Father said to not tell you about this. You are a delicate flower."

She rolled her eyes at him leaning back on her tucked legs. "Your brother will be there for you and protect you from anything harmful."

Hel gave a nod as he heard her finish up the usual quote the King used. "Yeah. You got it."

"There you two are!" A voice exclaimed as the passage was opened up. A boy a few years older than Sell and Hel stepped into the grassy garden. "I've been looking all over for you two! Come on, mother wants to take us to get clothes."

Sell jumped up excited. She loved going to the bazaar. "Yes! I was getting tired of the tunnels, Anzel!"

Hel stood too getting his and Sell's bowls. "A trip to the bazaar sounds good. What does mom want from there?" Their mother usually went there once a month to get supplies for the underground base. Since they were growing she would also buy them clothes that were a few sizes too big.

Anzel let Sell climb on his back since he favored her more than Hel. "The usual. You already know what she's going to get, Hel." He started for the secret tunnel with Sell giggling on his back chanting Bazaar,Bazaar.

Hel gave a shrug following them, "You never know. Mom could buy something else." As they walked through the dimly lit tunnels a hand reached out grabbing Hel roughly and pinned him against the tunnel wall with a thud. Hel pressed the inside of the bowl over his attackers face before he broke away from the pin by punching the other guys gut and rejoining Sell and Anzel. "Knives, what did I tell you? You aren't going to beat me."

Knives, a ten year old and half brother of Anzel, Sell, and Hel held the bowls in his hand staring at Hel with one red eye and another purple. Knives's red eye disturbed Sell a little but each time she talked with Knives she would get used to it. "You can't hurt me for trying. Your training is coming along fairly well though."

Sell pouted at hearing this and hugged Anzel's neck tighter. "It's not fair, brother! Why does Hel get training and I don't?"

Anzel motioned for Knives to follow them. "We're going to the bazaar with mom. Did you want to go too?"

Knives shrugged. "Sure. Beats roaming around here all day. Has our princess been fed yet? She won't cry on the way there will she?"

Knives enjoyed picking at Sell. Each time he got to talk to her he couldn't resist. Sell stuck her tongue out at him. "For your information Hel has fed me rabbit stew! I'm sorry I have a faster stomach than ya'll do!"

Knives gave a grin at her. She was always fiesty when he poked fun at her. It made her amusing to watch. "Good. If you hadn't eaten I would've tied you behind the mule and drug you all the way there." Knives passed them walking on down the tunnel.

"Knives! You jerk!" Sell barked after him angrily. Hel smiled at her reaction because it was the same reaction each time he got her riled up. "He's joking, Sell. He wouldn't do that to his little sister. Calm down."

Sell looked to Hel pouting. "Why does he always do that for? I try to have a nice conversation and he ruins it!"

Anzel giggled at this as he and Hel walked after Knives. Her voice clearly being heard on down the tunnel. "Because you're easy to pick on. You're the only girl he can do that with. He trusts you."

Knives was someone that was hardly ever seen. When he wouldn't show up after a few days Sell would seek him out and find him some where in the tunnels that no one would usually go. Hel would accompany her because she was afraid of the dark. The four kids climbed up on the mules that were waiting for them. Hel always rode on Sell's right while Knives rode behind her and Anzel was on her left.

This was how their father had taught them to ride. Sell was their only sister. She was precious to them all. She would be Princess one day and her word would be final after Hel or Anzel declared anything to anyone. This world would one day be theirs to rule.

Queen Serdra turned in her saddle to check the children and smiled seeing them situated in their riding places. She turned back giving her horse the command to go and lead the small group towards the bazaar. Sell loved riding the mules. They weren't as slow as the donkeys and could keep up with a horse at an alright speed. Knives coaxed his mule to aggrevate Sell's which Sell's brayed and gave a trot forward to get away from the annoyance. Hel turned to his older brother shaking his head. "You're going to make her mule throw her, Knives."

Knives gave a scoff towards Hel. " Her mule won't throw her. He never does. He's the old one after all." Knives knew the old mule didn't have the back or spirit to throw anyone anymore. He would just trot off from the persuer before falling back into the regular speed.

Sell gripped the mules mane tightly in fear of being thrown anyways. "Mom! Knives is aggrevating my mule!"

"Aw," Knives cooed from behind her. "The Princess can't stop her brother from bothering her? How can you be a Princess when you can't stand up for yourself?"

Anzel's turn came then. He drew his wooden sword pointing it at Knives. "There is a time for play and there is a time for enjoyment. We only get to go to the bazaar once a month and this is the time for enjoyment, brother. Stop. Look at the scenery."

Knives atred at Anzel and his sword knowing full well he could break it but he could also tell that Anzel was only doing this to put Sell at ease. He looked away with a grunt. "Fine. My bad, Sell." This he truely meant towards her. He knew her fears all too well.

Sell slowly looked back at him and gave a faint smile. "Thanks, Knives." She turned to Anzel and gave a bigger smile towards him, "Knives enjoys teasing me though it wasn't needed to draw a sword at him even if it was a practice one."

"A fine Princess in the making," beamed Serdra, proud to hear such words from her daughters mouth. "I'll be so proud to relieve my position to you one day, Sell. I know it'll be in good hands to my only daughter."

Sell perked at this sitting taller in the saddle at the praise of their mother. Hel smiled and gave a nod of agreement. "Yes. Our sister will be the best Princess to ever rule. She'll make an even better Queen when she gets married." He shook out his fluffy red hair that their mother kept short. She disliked long hair for the boys, it was a mess to deal with.

Anzel gave a respectable head bow to his younger sister as she exercised her authority. He had to admit, she had stated that clearly. He could see his younger sister become a Queen one day but it was a long ways off. Before long the family had arrived at the bazaar, which was already packed and rather loud. In an instant Sell's eyes fell upon a familiar face that they had seen regularly while coming to the bazaar.

"Aeno!" Sell was off her mule in a flash and sprinting towards the ten year old. "Aeno!"

Aeno allowed Sell to run flat into him, his arms hugging her tightly. "You've grown, Sell!" He beamed at her happily, just as excited to see her as she was. "How've you been?!"

"Great! Why haven't you been around? We miss you!" Sell was let down as Aeno stepped back for his own personal space. He could only stand people in his personal space for so long.

"Dad's kept me busy," he replied looking at the ground shyly. He had a crush on Sell and he was a few years older than her. To make matters worse his father didn't approve either. "It's why I'm here. Dad's business."

Hel, Knives, and Anzel joined them over hearing the conversation and knowing what was up. "What's the order description this time? To the moon and back?"

It was an old running joke between the four boys which was something Sell didn't understand. It was also similar to a greeting. Aeno cracked a smile towards them as each boy hugged him. He was considered a half brother or a cousin to them. Serdra walked up with a warm smile towards Aeno, doting upon him like he was one of hers. "You've grown since I last saw you! Good heavens! Before long you'll be ready to venture out and have your ceremony."

Sell looked to Hel then slightly confused. "What's a ceremony?"

"A ceremony is a trial for us when we become of age. We are given a bag, a boat or set out on foot and journey to new lands. From then we're on our own to survive and make our own way in life," Hel replied explaining the tradition. "Though for me, you, Anzel and Knives it'll be different than to what Aeno is doing. He's not directly linked to us."

Sell nodded her head understanding what they were talking about. She smiled glad to have a smart brother to tell her these things. Aeno reached out taking hold of Sell's hand. "Come on. I want to show you the new things in the bazaar that I know you'll like."

Sell smiled at him with eagerness which was held back by Anzel who took her other hand with a smile towards Aeno. "I hope you don't mind if I accompany my favorite and only little sister, Aeno. I can't allow her to be out of my sight you see."

Knives and Hel both caught on to Anzel's hidden threat towards Aeno. They both looked at one another briefly. Usually Aeno and anzel got along fine but this time something was a little different. It almost looked like they were fighting over Sell. Sell was oblivious to it all and was pulled along behind Aeno with Anzel behind her.

They squeezed through the crowd to go to each venue before finally coming to the ore seller. There Aeno gave the man money and plenty of it for a diamond that he offered to Sell. "Here. A gift for you. I missed your birthday, didn't I?"

Sell held the diamond staring at its shine and all of the sparkles that glittered from the sun. She looked at him then shaking her head realizing this was a gift for her. "I couldn't, Aeno! This was a lot!"

Aeno held the diamond to her, refusing to take it back. "It's a gift from me and my dad. Please take it for us? We care about you a really hurt him when we missed your birthday."

Sell gave him another hug in thanks for the diamond. "This is so kind fo you and your dad! Thank you so much!"

Anzel took Sell's diamond and placed it in his bag. "I'll protect it from thieves, Sell. Maybe dad can make this into something nice for you?" Hel and Knives both nodded to the idea. Sell lost things easily. Something like this she would cherish but would also lose.

"Celebrate Brundyrea's birth!" Shouted one of the venue sellers. "Come and get your fortune here!"

Sell, like a moth to a flame was instantly drawn over to the woman. The woman took hold of her hand and read her palm. "You will have much good fortune! Long life, many children but there is also a secret!" Before the woman could say anymore Knives, Hel and Aeno all grabbed Sell and drug her off through the thickening crowd.

"What? What's wrong? Why can't I get the rest of my fortune?" Sell asked completely lost at why they had drug her off.

"She's a fake," growled Aeno. "I warned you not to go to those types of people!"

"Sell, you don't leave our side like that!" Anzel stated rather sternly. "Some one could kidnap you!"

Without thinking about what he had said Hel and Knives both slammed their foot down on anzel's feet making him scream out which was drowned by all the people. Hel took hold of Sell, carrying her in his arms. "I'm not about to release you. You will learn to stay by our sides!" Hel was mad but not too mad. Sell still felt bad about not thinking on what she was doing, just walking up to a venue like that.

"I'm sorry everyone. I won't do it again," Sell muttered tucking her chin to her chest and being sad. "Please don't be mad?"

All worry left the boys as Sell began to cry. Not for herself or her feelings but because they were angry at her foolishness and she didn't want to see anyone angry. She disliked anger a lot. Anzel took Sell from Hel's arms. She was always light. "Sell, stop crying you silly girl," He consoled gently as they walked through the crowd. "I'll buy you some steak if you'll stop crying? You love steak, right?"

Sell wiped her eyes on Anzel's shirt and nodded, "Yes. It's my favorite. I'll stop."

Knives disliked bribing her like this but it really hurt them to see her so upset. It was amazing how she arrived just a few months ago and now she felt like she had been in the family ever since they had been born. Knives ordered four steaks on a stick, payed the man a few gold nuggets and returned with the sticks. Sell took a stick and began to eat it, savoring the flavor of freshly cooked steak. It was so mouth watering good!

"There you are!" Scolded Socaza as he pushed his way through the crowd. "Didn't I tell you to go wait by the- Oh!" He stopped when he saw Sell and smiled. "Sell! How have you been? Did you get our gift?"

Sell brightened up a bit and nodded. "Yes, I did! Thank you very much, Socaza! It's a lovely gift!"

"I'm glad you enjoyed the lapis Lazuli. It's a wonderful gem indeed! Reminded me of your mothers hair which flows elegantly when blown. Then I thought of you and how elegant you will be when you are grown!" Socaza beamed brightly as Knives and Hel both snapped their sticks at the mention of a worthless blue gem such as Lapis Lazuli. Anzel never missed a beat and jumped into the conversation before either of them could speak.

"Yes! It was wonderful! Aeno saw Sell as we arrived and he rushed to greet her! It was nice of him to bring Sell around the bazaar and explain what was new around here! We honestly didn't know half of what he did about these venues!"

"That was nice of my son to do so!" Socaza spoke in agreement before gesturing to his son to come along. "Please forgive us but we have work to do! Tell your father I send my reguards! Take care!" Before any could reply Socaza drug his son through the crowd and was gone from view. Sell tugged on Anzel's arm. "Will we have too..." She dropped off in her question and didn't want to finish it in fear of what her older brother might say.

Anzel shook his head as he finished his steak. "Don't worry about it. Socaza might act like he's poor and all but he's actually quite rich. He just enjoys playing a stingy ba- I mean a jerk." He gave his sister a one arm hug to relieve her of worry. "Lets go find mom."

The three boys and Sell made their way through the bazaar to find their mother at the clothing venue. Hel gave a groan as did Knives. Anzel fixed them a look that told them not to leave and pulled Sell along behind him. The two boys reluctantly followed. After a while of trying on clothese and making alterations they finally had a nice wardrobe for the next season.

Serdra looked to Sell as she folded the clothes. "Did you have fun today?"

Sell nodded with a yawn. The steak was making her sleepy. "I did, mom. I'm glad I came! Aeno showed us the new stuff that came today and I learned a lot!"

Knives picked Sell up watching her fall asleep on his shoulder. "I think it's time to head back home. A certain Princess is asleep."

Anzel gave a grin folding his arms. "I knew she would. She does it every time. How will a Princess possibly sit at a dinner and not fall asleep?"

"Anzel," Serdra said in a scolding tone. "You shouldn't have given your sister steak. She's allergic to it!"

"He would've still given her steak, mom," Hel said looking at Anzel expectantly. He could read him quite well. "He was trying to shut her up. She started crying."

"Crying?" Serdra asked giving a stack of clothes to Hel and another to Anzel. "Who made her cry?"

"We did," all three boys replied together. "She left us to go to some fortune reading woman and we scolded her."

Serdra lead them out of the bazaar loading up the donkeys. "Don't scold her too roughly. She's pretty delicate, boys. Women and girls are flowers and are to be treated as such." She turned to them with a warm smile taking the clothes from Hel. "Thank you, son."

Hel stepped back for Anzel to bring the load of clothes to their mother. She packed the third donkey with them. "The fortune teller said that Sell had a dark secret. It was when we all pulled her away from her and scolded her."

"You said something stupid yourself," Knives spoke up lifting himself with one arm into the saddle as Sell slumbered on him. "Along the lines of 'Don't run off you'll get kidnapped!' How do you think she got here in the first place?"

"That slipped, I'll admit that," Anzel replied pulling himself into the mule's saddle. "I'm sorry about that. I wasn't watching what I was saying. I was upset though because we would've been the ones at fault if things didn't go the way father wanted. We would've been the ones that lost her if something had happened."

Hel had nothing to say to him, sitting in the saddle of his mule quietly. He turned to check on Sell and turn back again, his left hand holding the reigns of the mule "Well we didn't lose her. Everything's fine."

Serdra checked them all before she got onto her horse and lead the way back to the tunnels. Almost there a young slender masked man stepped onto the path, something of a sign that Hel recognized. Serdra looked at him as his mule lead him past her to deal with the masked man.

"What's the matter Lord Inohani?" Hel asked staring at the skull mask.

"Socaza. The man is sneaking about the tunnels. Find him," directed the Lord firmly.

Hel handed the other mule to his trainer and spurred the mule on towards the base. The Lord got onto the mule and waited for the Queen and the three kids to join up with him. He gave a respectful head bow to the Queen, "Hel is dealing with a rat. I will be taking his place to guard the young girl."

Serdra nodded to the Lord that was awkward to her. "That's fine. We're almost to the tunnels anyways. How's your day been?"

The Lord shrugged in response. His voice only worked when it was required of him. After that he was as silent as sun in the sky. Knives rode between Anzel and the Lord. Lord Inohani took the sleeping Sell into his free arm with the help of Knives. Serdra never liked the Lord, his silence to her wasn't trusted in the least.

She couldn't get a read on him. The secret entrance opened allowing the mules to enter with their riders. Men took hold of the mules as the Queen and the kids got off. Lord Inohani turned to one of the butlers. "Take the clothes out of the donkeys bags and take them to the Queens chambers. She'll sort them out one again there. Keep each stack in its own pile side by side to each other on her bed."

The butler bowed to the Lord. "Sir." Inohani turned to watch the three donkeys get taken into the stable and unloaded. The butler giving the stable hands orders. He followed after the Queen while Knives and Anzel went off down a different tunnel. One that went towards the bandits quarters. He turned his skull mask slightly to cast a glance over the slumbering Sell.

He wondered just how long she would keep her silence on her kidnapping? What would it take for her to break out and try to run back home? Could they still trust her even when she became of age? The Lord placed the sleeping child in her bed that was near Hel's quarters across the hall. King Hatos hadn't revealed what he was going to do with Sell yet which had everyone wondering what would happen to her when he did.

The Lord watched Sell sleep for a moment longer before he turned away and stepped from the room, the door giving a soft and slow creak before it latched. He entered Hel's bedroom and shut the door. If anything happened to Sell the Lord would be nearby to save her. This was how the King had ordered things to be done, even though the child was not his own she was to be treated as such. Inohani propped himself up on the bed meditating and listening.

Within the King's chambers, the room that Sell was taken too when she was kidnapped had arguative voices over a touchy subject. "How do we know this will work on her?" Socaza exclaimed to King Hatos. "How do we know she won't return home after she gets the transformation? She'll have abilities that allows her to get away!"

"Be silent!" Hatos barked slamming his fist down making the room echo about from his outburst. "She won't recall anything that's happened to her! Her memory will be wiped before I give her the transformation."

Socaza fell silent further as he thought about this. His head slowly nodded while he sat in the wooden chair. "So you've already formed a plan for her entirely. I should've known." He leaned back with a sigh seeing his fear wasn't needed. "Once she's healed what will you do then?"

"She'll be mine for good," Hatos said smiling at him. "Nothing to worry about."

The portal maker nodded again. With Sell at his order she could rip apart the ones that had been opposing them for so long. Though the main question and biggest obstical lay before them. "What about the family that knows her? They'll recognize her. Her name."

Hatos gave an annoyed sigh with a shake of his head. "I and my wife have decided a name for her. When she takes the transformation she will be our daughter. None will recognize her. Her personality will be completely different."

With this said Socaza stood seeing that everything had been sorted and thought out by the aging King. He gave a bow to him, "It seems I will be of no help with the young girl then. I will take my leave then. Hope to hear from you on the raid idea."

Hatos stood moving around his desk to walk out with his long time friend. "I'm sorry you can not be of help with the girl. Though it must be this way to make things go the way I want them to go."

As the door was opened by Socaza Hel stood there holding Aeno in place, eyes dark purple. "My orders are complete. I have retrieved the rat, sir."

Hatos gave a snort of small amusment as Socaza took offense to this and glared at Hatos. "What's the meaning of this?! Calling my son a rat?!"

"I found him sneaking around the farther tunnels. What ever he was looking for there was moved last week," Hel replied with a smile. That was where Sell, himself, Knives, and Anzel were sleeping but the King seperated them up. Anzel sleeps near the King, Knives sleeps among the bandits and Hel sleeps across from Sell down a different tunnel that used to be the way to the barracks but that was also relocated.

Aeno ground his teeth glaring at Hel. "You know I am not a rat! I was going to see Sell!"

"What's with you and that girl?!" Roared Socaza very upset with his son's obsession with the young girl that was about to be untouchable to any of them. "I told you not to talk with her any longer! I also heard you bought her a diamond for her present when I specifically told you to get her lapis! Do you know how exspensive that was?!"

"A diamond?" Hatos repeated turning to Aeno. "I haven't heard this news. You bought my daughter a diamond? How highly thoughtful."

Socaza bit his tongue then wanting to keep that bit to himself and thrash hios son later but his anger got the best of his tongue. "I thought I had taught my son better on wasting money. He can't tell if it's a real one or a fake. It's probably a fake! He spent quite a bit of my money in the bazaar." The father pushed himself between Hel and his son to grab Aeno by the shoulder and steer him off. "I'll be seeing you, King Hatos."

Hel and the King walked with them out of the tunnels and saw them on their way with their horses. The King turned to Hel then with a smirk, "Did Inohani think of this idea?"

"My teacher hates them. Distrusts their background, sir." He turned to look at the King who stood a few heads taller than he. "In honesty I don't trust Aeno. He's too close to Sell."

Hatos clapped the boy on his shoulder. "I agree." He turned to walk off towards the gathering room to sit with his wife who could be found in there regularly. "You can return to your normal post, Hel."

Hel did as he was told, bowing to the King before disappearing in a teleportation. He appeared in his room to find his teacher laying on his bed in meditation. "They've left. You can get out of my room now, sir."

The Lord awoke. He left the room without a word in a teleportation. Hel checked on Sell knowing she'd awaken a little later for dinner. He'd have to prepare that with the cook. For now he would be able to rest a little and think over the details he had heard within between the King and Socaza.