The next morning Mason was pacing back and forth in his room, thinking of a way to get Mikayla to forgive him. He finally sighed heavily and walked out of his room, passing the kings' room and noticing Boz and Boomer were the only ones in there.
"My kings?" He questioned, walking into the room.
"Oh, hey, traitor." Boomer greeted, changing the channel on his TV.
"Hey, papa Squatch." Boz sat next to Boomer.
"Where is king Brady?"
"I don't know." Boomer said. "You don't think he left again, do you?"
"No way. He wouldn't have left without telling me anything."
"Then where would he be?" Boz asked.
"Probably running." Boomer suggested. "That IS one of the training exercises Jason had him do, isn't it?"
"Well, yes, but-."
"Then, there's no need to worry, is there?" Boomer propped his feet up on the table in front of him.
Brady pulled his shirt over his head as he stepped out of Mikayla's room. He ran as quickly as he could to the room he shared with Boz and Boomer, becoming instantly nervous as he saw Mason.
"Hey, Mason." He tried laughing. "What, uh, what are you doing here?"
"I was looking for you." He put his hands on his hips. "Isn't that the shirt you were wearing yesterday?"
"Oh, uh, yeah." Brady looked down at his shirt. "You see, I was, uh…umm…I was-."
"Hey guys." Mikayla walked in the room. "What's going on?" She slipped her hand into Brady's and laced their fingers together.
Brady smiled at her and kissed her cheek. "Morning."
"What is this?" Mason pointed between them.
"What's what?" She smiled innocently and dragged Brady out of the room.
"Hey!" Mason called after them. "We're not done here!"
By the time Boomer, Boz, and Mason caught up with them, they were sitting on the couch in the throne room with Mikayla on Brady's lap.
"Hey, guys." Brady tried to act casual as he bite down on a waffle.
"You…and my baby girl…and the shirt you wore yesterday…and…and…I'll kill you!" Mason pounced.
"Daddy, no!" Mikayla pushed him away. "Just stop, and let's think rationally about this!"
"Oh, I don't need to think, baby girl, I need to kill!"
"Dad!"
"Mason!" Boomer yelled, getting everyone's attention. "I forbid you from killing my brother!"
"But, my king-."
"Dut, dut, dut." Boomer held up his hand. "I have spoken."
Mason growled and huffed, crossing his arms. "Then I demand he be punished."
"What for?"
"For…you know what for!"
"Dad, would you please just calm down?" Mikayla tried.
The doors swinging open interrupted their argument. They turned to look at the doors and found the elders walking in.
"Mason." One said. "We heard about King Brady being back."
Mason started to panic; he didn't know what would happen if they knew he had been hiding it from them. He didn't want Brady to leave again, even though he was in trouble, it would still upset Mikayla even more.
He opened his mouth to respond, but Brady had stepped up.
"I'm here." Brady said.
"Why?" The Elder asked, glaring at him. "You were to not return. That was your orders."
"I came back because…" Brady's sentence trailed off, letting his eyes wander over to Boomer and Mikayla. "I came back because I was ready to."
"That was not our deal!"
"So what?!" Brady stepped forward, making the group of Elders step back. "I never agreed to stay away forever, that was YOUR decision. No one here is to blame, except you."
"Very well." The elder said. "Mason…you've been removed from your duties. Turn in your weapons and leave the castle at once."
"What?!" Everyone shouted.
"No!" Brady argued. "You can't do that!"
"I agree!" Boomer spoke. "Don't blame Mason for your bad idea!"
"Elders, please?" Mikayla pleaded. "Please don't do this? We have nowhere else to go. The castle is our home."
"I've made my decision."
Brady's hands clenched; how could he make this right? How could he get Mason off the hook so he and Mikayla could stay at the castle?
"I'll leave." Brady announced. "If Mason and Mikayla can stay…I'll leave."
"No!" Mikayla shrieked, grabbing his arm. "You can't!"
"Mikayla." He sighed, turning to her and wrapping his arms around her.
The elders looked at each other, some frowning.
I'm still working on this story. So, I apologize IMMENSELY for this chapter being so super short =/
