Mirielle's first duty was to Ladon. She knew this was going to be the case when she took the oaths to become a Priestess of the god. Ladon's will was to supersede all else, including the welfare of her children. She had so far been able to reconcile this fact with her duties as a mother by reassuring herself that Ladon would want- would even command- that her children's wellbeing was attended to.
Yet now, as she stared at the wall of her simple meditation chamber, she struggled to understand- or even accept- her Lord's revelation and command. Everything he was commanding of her now went against every maternal instinct she had. How how how how was she to keep this a secret? Why did he bother to grant her this vision if she couldn't tell anyone?
Ladon was not a cruel god. He didn't give his followers handouts, however. He wanted her to take action. Telling someone who could stop this madness wasn't an action he wanted taken, for whatever reason. What is an action I can take?
The woman started as the front door to the home banged open. "Mom! Hey Mom, where are you?!" Mirielle smiled despite her turmoil at the sound of her older son's voice. She started to answer as she rose, and then stopped as Teepo cried out again. "Hey Mom, hurry up! Mika's home!"
"Mika's home?" she repeated to herself, stunned. A sudden idea struck the Priestess. It would require some manipulation of the youth, but… Saying a quick prayer for forgiveness from both her god and her step-son, she scrambled to her feet and dashed into the main area of the house.
Teepo had his head poked out the door, practically bouncing in excitement. "C'mon, slowpoke!" he shouted cheerfully. "Mom wants to see you, hurry hurry!"
"When you're carrying sixty pounds, you can call me a slowpoke," she heard her stepson retort good-naturedly. She smoothed her hands on her robe, took a deep breath, and put on her show the moment Mika walked in the door, her younger son in his arms. He noticed her anxiety immediately. "What's wrong?" he asked, concerned.
"Teepo, go play with your little brother," Mirielle said tensely.
Mika put the child he was carrying down, not taking his worried expression off Mirielle. The boy appeared as if he was about to cry, but Teepo held out his hand, clearly appearing disturbed himself. "C'mon, Ryu. Mika 'n Mom have something adult to talk about." With a watery nod, Ryu toddled away, his hand in Teepo's.
As soon as the boys were in the other room, Mirielle slumped over. "Thank the gods you decided to come back now," she said in a low, urgent voice.
"I had no choice. Ryu's journey started," Mika replied quietly. "What's going on?"
She looked around, as though fearing the very shadows, and lowered her voice further. "I think I've discovered why Ryu isn't developing as a normal child should," she said. "It's Aldin- he's-"
"He's not," Mika cut her off in a dark anger that frightened Mirielle. Perhaps this wasn't a good plan- "Don't finish that sentence unless you want your husband to die," Mika growled, quickly working himself up into a rage.
"I don't think he's actually hurt him yet," Mirielle said quickly. "But I did hear Aldin yelling at him. I intervened as quickly as I could. But he'sthreatening him."
Her stepson somehow managed to control the burning rage her accusation sparked in him. "Did he do this to Teepo?" he asked, his calm forced.
"No, I don't think so. But Ryu's a very sensitive child, like you were." Mirielle paused, trying to work out how best to word her story to get Mika's cooperation. "He couldn't bully Teepo. He's too strong-willed. But he can bully Ryu. And if he starts hitting Ryu-"
"He'll get arrogant enough to do it to Teepo," Mika finished grimly. "Do you want me to go get the pastor of your church while you watch them, get this settled?"
He's thinkingrationally about this? Damnit… "They won't do anything," Mirielle replied, thinking as fast as she can. "They are the Prince's children. They won't do anything to jeopardize their good graces with the court."
"The King knows what he did to me," Mika replied as evenly as he could.
"And the King still allowed him access to you," she pointed out. "He restricted it, but he still let Aldin see you. Aldin acknowledges your brothers, Mika!"
"Mirielle!" Mika exclaimed, chagrined. "You can't say-"
"I don't care about that stupid law and neither should you," Mirielle cut him off hotly. "It's absurd that we can't speak the plain truth because that man doesn't want it spoken." She got control of her temper- this was having the opposite effect of what she wanted, and said, "Mika, they are legally his sons. There's little anyone will be able to do to keep him from them. Even me."
"What do you want me to do?" Mika asked flatly, his voice betraying nothing of what he felt.
He's stonewalling me… damnit, Mika, don't do this… "I need you to take the children and get as far away from Dragnier as you can," she said evenly. "I'll arrange for church of Ladon to aid you in getting them away from here."
"I thought the church wouldn't risk pissing off the court."
"It is much easier to hide involvement when the church isn't directly involved in their removal," Mirielle replied, choosing her words carefully. What she was asking him to do was kidnapping. She had to paint it as though he weren't doing anything wrong, because he wasn't; Draconic law merely disagreed with it. If she didn't get these kids away from Dragnier… "Please, Mika," she pleaded, finally. "They're better off with you. You've been far more of a father to them than Aldin has. I simply cannot protect them from here!"
Mika was thinking hard about this, she could tell. His dark eyes seemed to reflect some inner turmoil; Mirielle held her breath. He was a knight in training. He was supposed to uphold the law, not break it. On the other hand, he absolutely adored those boys. From what she had been told after she married Aldin, if the Prince Ryu hadn't seen what was happening and gotten the Crown Prince, his father, Aldin may have murdered the boy the night he was taken from him. The last thing Mika wanted for his little brothers is to go through the same thing he did.
Finally, Mika seemed to make a decision. "Teepo! Ryu!" he called out. "Come in here for a second!" There was a shuffle in the den of the home and both boys pounded into the kitchen, quite cheerful. Mika knelt down to talk to them. "I want to ask you a question," Mika said lightly, obviously trying not to allow the kids to know what was about to happen. "Are you guys being bullied by your Dad?"
Little Ryu's sheepish smile abruptly disappeared. The child ducked half-way behind his older brother and looked around Teepo's shoulder in childish worry. "He is?" Mika asked, serious but as gently as he could.
It was Teepo who answered him. "He certainly is bullying Ryu!" Teepo spat. "He was yelling at him real loud not even yesterday because Ryu doesn't like to talk! I told Dad, 'Go pick on someone your own size!' and he spanked me."
Ordinarily, Mika and Mirielle's reaction would have both been "Good." However, both of them were aware of what "spanking" meant to Aldin, and Mika looked up at Mirielle grimly. She returned his grave expression, and Mika turned back to the children. "How often does Dad spank you?"
Teepo scoffed. "Almost never. He knows he can't pick on me like he can pick on Ryu. I'm too tough for him. It doesn't matter how hard he spanks me, I won't cry. And he knows I laugh at him behind his back because he's such a loser." With this, Teepo's eyes fixed on Mika's, reflecting what Mika thought was sympathy.
It shook the young squire to his core. "We're going to go on a trip," he told them as he regained his composure. "I want you both to go put together your back bags, with things you need," he said severely, "leave all but one of your toys here. You'll get brand new when we get there."
"Where are we going?" Teepo asked, his eyes wide.
"Dauna," Mika replied immediately, already plotting their route in his head. He looked up at Mirielle; this was too cryptic for them to understand. "Is that far enough?"
Mirielle nodded. "He'd have to go through Urkan Tapa and Wyndia and try to extradite you from across the world. He won't even bother."
"What's 'extradite' mean?" Teepo asked.
"Go get ready," Mika replied, standing. "Be quick. We need to go as fast as we can. And I meant it! Things you need, not toys!"
Teepo pouted at the fact that his question had been ignored, and stomped off down the hall. Ryu looked from his mother to Mika and back, stuffed his small hands in his pockets, and followed Teepo silently. Once they had both disappeared into the room they shared, Mika turned to Mirielle. "Did you tell him about that?" Mika demanded.
Mirielle shook her head, her pretty face completely pale. "I didn't tell him anything at all," she murmured. "Why would Aldin-"
"Do you think he told them I'm their brother?" Mika asked.
The priestess shook her head. "No. If he did that, Teepo would be getting you involved alot more in his issues with Aldin. Teepo already knows you love the two of them like they were your brothers; if he knew you were, he'd be asking your intercession all the time. Besides, if he did that, he'd have to face the consequences for what he did to you."
The bitterness and compassion in Mirielle's voice warmed over the mild anger this episode instilled in Mika. She was their mother- she should have known he was starting to do this! But he couldn't blame her, not entirely; his uncle and grandfather hadn't even been aware that Aldin never told Mika what his name was. That was a pretty big thing, and they were completely unaware. Those two weren't clueless men, either.
"So why're we going to Dauna?" Teepo exclaimed, his bad mood gone as he bounded back down the hallway. "Are we going on vacation?" The child animatedly turned to his little brother and winked, in an exaggerated way; Ryu, who still wore a long, sullen face, smiled slightly in reply, his back bag strapped to his shoulders and his hands still in his pockets.
Mika sighed heavily, clearly seeing what Teepo was attempting to do. "No, Teepo. We're not going on vacation," he replied sadly. "We're moving away."
Teepo's smile faltered. "Oh. Well, Dad knows, right?"
"No, honey," Mirielle answered this time. "He doesn't know."
At this, Ryu whimpered; Teepo whirled on him, irritated. "Stop it, you big crybaby! You know Mom and Mika wouldn't do anything that would hurt us!" He turned back to the young man and the Priestess, obviously not as confident as he made himself out to be. "Right?" he asked in a small voice, speaking low to try to hide his fear.
Mika knelt down again, and searched for his words for a few moments. When he had an idea of what to say, he said it. "You know how your father treated me when I was your age," he said evenly.
"No, I don't," Teepo replied with the awkwardness of someone who had told a secret they shouldn't have.
"You do too. Your Dad told you to frighten you into behaving, didn't he?"
Teepo stubbornly shook his head, sticking to his lie. Ryu, however, had a different reaction; the younger child wrapped his arms around Mika's arm, hugging him with an air of compassion unusual for a child so young. "I think your little brother just ratted you out," Mika said with a little smile, patting Ryu on the head.
The violet-haired child scuffed a foot against the floor, his face downcast in shame. "I'm in trouble now," he said, his voice quivering. Dad said that I better not tell anyone-"
"Nope!" Ryu squeaked, turning his hug to Teepo now. Teepo started to shove the younger child away, angry with himself, but Ryu said, "Goin' away! Daddy can't be mean if Daddy can't find!"
"Ryu's right," Mirielle said soothingly. "Mika's going to take you away to make sure Daddy can't be mean to you. Teepo, honey..." Mirielle knelt as well, and gathered her boys up in her arms. "If anyone says they're going to hurt you, tell Mika, okay? He'll take good care of you."
"Okay, Mom," Teepo said, his trepidation now sounding excited, and relieved. He shook his head, then added, "I was really afraid, Mom. I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry."
"It's okay now," Mika told him. "We know, and I'll make sure he can't do what he says he will, okay?" Teepo nodded, sighing in relief, and the two adults stood. "I'll have to swing by the house I'm staying," he said quietly. "I didn't unpack when I got here from Caer Xhan; I wanted to see the boys first. I'll have to give my landlord some kind of payment-"
"I'll take care of it," Mirielle said quickly. "Tell him to come talk to me, and I'll settle it."
"Will Aldin let you do that?"
"Does he have a say in it?" Mirielle countered with a grim smile. "Go now, Mika, hurry. You need to get them away from here as soon as possible."
"All right," Mika said. He hugged her warmly, kissed her on the cheek, and backed away for the kids to say their goodbyes. As soon as Teepo was done demanding that Mirielle follow them as soon as she could, Mika scooped Ryu up in his arms again, and the three headed out.
"Ladon, protect my children," Mirielle whispered as she watched them walk quickly away. She hadn't included Mika separately in such prayers in years. Ladon knew that to her, she was as much her son as her own boys were.Aldin had to fight to get away from the palace today. This was not the way it was supposed to happen. It wasn't time yet. He knew they weren't prepared. And yet, his efforts to prevent his nephew's departure were in vain. Prince Ryu, the Destined Child, set out to defeat Myria's forces and save the Dragons once again, as many other Ryu Batesons had done in the past.
This meant that their plans had to be accelerated. And as soon as Aldin realized he couldn't delay Prince Ryu's leaving, he tried as hard as he could to get away, but the damned bureaucracy held him there. The King had no regard for Aldin's opinion; he kept him in his advisors to keep an eye on him.
Although Aldin supposed he did that to himself. It had taken Teepo's birth and ensuing crisis to get him to realize raging wouldn't get him what he wanted. Manipulation would. He had a lot more freedom now than he had when he was discovered to be beating that servant child, but it still wasn't enough.
So the story formed in Aldin's head as he walked home as quickly as he could. There was a doctor in Wyndia who specialized in shy children. A colleague of this doctor's had been at the castle that day; after describing his youngest son's behavior, the man was positive his partner could help little Ryu. So he was going to take him to Wyndia to see if this doctor could bring his son out of that subdued shell.
Mirielle would be ecstatic. She had been desperate for a doctor who could get to the root of the little boy's stunted emotions. The story was perfect.
Aldin arrived at the house, entering it without hesitation for once. "Well hello, my love," Aldin said with a charming smile as he laid eyes on Mirielle, who was standing at the counter.
The charm in that smile was strained, "my love," spoken with an air of sarcasm he thought no one could detect. She was beautiful, yes; the second most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on. Mirielle was an example of the reason the Dragons had a reputation of being beautiful people. But to him, she was the mother of his children. That was all. He married her because he was told he had to marry, and if he had to marry, he might as well marry someone he could use.
Usually Mirielle kept up the façade. Today, however, she didn't. She didn't turn to face him, an equally tenuous smile on her own face. She, in fact, barely stopped doing the dishes. "Hello," she said quietly as she rinsed a dish and set it aside. "How was your day? I heard Prince Ryu has started his Destined Cycle."
"Yes." Aldin narrowed his eyes at her, staring hard at her back. "I thought you had off today."
"I did," Mirielle said with a bit of a sigh. "Mika dropped by to see the kids."
"Why do you let him see them?" Aldin growled. "He's a Dark Dragon-"
"He has the right to see them," Mirielle cut Aldin off crisply. "So I guess your foul mood is indicative of a fairly bad day, hm?"
"You know the deal. Bureaucracy and all kinds of other rakda dung." He shook of his confusion at Mirielle's behavior and smiled. He quickly went over his story once more and said, "But there was one bright spot. There was a doctor from Wyndia at court today. His partner specializes in child development; he believes there might be something his partner can do for Ryu."
Mirielle stiffened, pausing in her dishwashing for a barely detectable moment. "Then perhaps Mika will hear about him and take a detour to have the good doctor see him when they get to Wyndia," Mirielle said finally, in a low voice.
Aldin pounced on the woman, grabbing her and turning her forcefully around to face him.
He pinned her to the counter, his body pressed against hers and his face mere inches away from hers. "What have you done with my children?" he yelled at her, his fury at yet another plan being ruined apparent.
"I've sent them somewhere that they're not in danger from your treachery!" Mirielle spat back. As the color drained form Aldin's face in rage and fear, Mirielle smiled a mirthless, vindictive smile. "That's right, Aldin! I know what you're doing and you will not get away with it!"
The Prince roared in his rage and snatched a knife from the counter waiting to be washed. As he brandished it threateningly, Mirielle laughed. "Go ahead, kill me! You know if you so much as harm a hair on my head, you'renever getting out of jail and your title won't save you!"
Aldin knew, through his rage, what she was really saying: hurt me and your plans fail, period. If he could catch them, he may still be able to salvage the operation… As much as he wanted to slash her throat, he threw the knife away from him, threw the Priestess to the floor, and dashed back out of the house. The door banged open and stayed that way as he ran back to the castle, probably to report that Mika had kidnapped his children.
Mirielle stayed on the floor, shaking in fear. It wasn't Aldin's threat to kill her that scared her. It was the idea that he would be able to catch them. It was imperative that they escape him. If not for their own sakes…
She repeated her prayer to Ladon for the safety of her children, moree sincere than she ever had been before. If Aldin caught them, there was no telling the damage he could do.
