Don't Fall, part 24
FIC START!
When Shelia came out to greet everyone, Kain didn't even bother trying to be covert about giving Sakinah a kiss on her forehead. If everyone was just going to tease him about it anyway, there was no reason to hide it. Sakinah blushed and went with Shelia, even though she wanted to participate in finding the royal children who'd run off, but she noticed that the duties of men and women were very different in Fabul. While men were training their martial arts and guarding the castle, women were doing more demure things, like what Queen Shelia was doing now. Taking care of a lady guest. While things were similar in Troia, it wasn't quite the same. Instead of making a fuss about it, Sakinah just followed Shelia.
Kain then turned to Yang. "Once we are done with this, I have more to discuss with you. I have reason to believe we may once again be on the brink of war."
"...has the moon returned?" Yang asked quietly.
"No… this is something else entirely. But I cannot discuss it with you in the open. Let us find the children for now."
"...mm, yes, I would rather not spread fear if I can avoid it."
…
Down in the fields where most of Fabul's crops were planted, Ceodore and Ursula had been fighting off any monsters that come their way for a while now. With the combined strength of her martial arts and his sword and shield techniques, they were well on their way to gaining plenty more battle experience. The duo took on every monster, back to back, loving every moment of the rush that came with the battle. They had snuck out before first light, and it was nearing sunset all ready.
"Do you think we should go back to the castle?" Ceodore asked.
"Nahhh," Ursula replied, thrusting her fist into a goblin's skull. "We're good enough that we can even fight all the way through the night! I am Princess of Fabul, daughter of the mighty Yang! I can take on any opponent!" The corpse of the goblin fell over before fading away as all monsters did, leaving behind a potion. She snatched it up and jumped right back to Ceodore's side.
"I don't think that would be very responsible," Ceodore said. "King Yang would be very cross with you."
"Since when did you care what my father has to say about anything? He's not your dad and he's not even your commanding officer in the Red Wings," Ursula said. "He has literally no say in your life. And I can go toe to toe with him in a fight, so he wouldn't even say anything to me should I stay out late."
"That may be, Ursula, but… everyone knows that the monsters out at night are more fearsome, and we haven't a white mage with us. We didn't even bring food."
"I don't care. We can hunt some creature, or go pick something from the fields. Food is all ready at our feet," Ursula said, pointing over to where all the crops were planted.
"That food feeds not just you, but your people, and your people are who tend that field," Ceodore said, finally putting his sword in the sheath on his hip. "It is not yours simply because you are princess and your father is king. Plus you have no idea what is growing, and if it's in a stage of its growth where you can even pick it and eat it without becoming sick!" He shook his head. "Tell me what's wrong, Ursula. You've been avoiding the question as to why we even came out here before dawn all day to begin with."
She sighed. "I don't want you to leave, Ceodore," she confessed. "And I overheard my parents speaking last night. They got a letter from Damcyan about Sir Kain's situation. You have to go back to Baron with him. You have training to do, you have Princely duties..."
"I do, yes, but that does not mean we'll be away forever. You have just as many duties as I do here in Fabul, with your training and your duties as the heir to your crown," Ceodore said, walking up to her. "Ursula, I do not wish to throw away the favor I carry with your father, because I wish to remain close to you. I have to please your father if I'm ever to…"
"...ever to?"
"...be with you, Ursula." He took her hands into his, and even with her massive claws strapped onto her hands, he could still feel the gentle places of her skin underneath them. "You have a rough exterior, but I know your heart is as soft as the palms of your hands…"
"Ceodore?" Ursula asked in disbelief. "So you do… the same way I…"
"Yes..." Ceodore whispered into her ear. "But I do not wish for anyone else to know now. Not until I've finished my training, at the very least."
"Mmm," she agreed, taking her hands from his only so she could hug around him as tightly as possible. Her physically toned body almost squished Ceodore with as tight as she embraced him. That warrior monk spirit was the one thing about her that he loved the most, though. All of the girls in Baron's royal court were simply too much too dainty to attract him. Even if he had to completely give up being king of Baron to be with her in Fabul, should it come to that, he would be more than willing to do it.
That's when they heard the rustling of leaves in the distance. Voices came along with them, calling out "Princess!" repeatedly. Soon they were visible, a group of warrior monks had come looking for Ursula, as they both knew would happen. Immediately, the two split apart, and headed in that direction.
"Ceodore…" Kain's calm voice came from within the crowd of monks. He walked out in front of them. "…what of the lessons I left with you?"
"Sir Kain, I… I…" the young prince couldn't even get his words out, he felt so ashamed.
Ursula shook her head. "Sir Kain, it was me. I brought him out here before dawn so he wouldn't get drawn into his lessons."
"...and I did not refuse her," Ceodore confessed. "I knew it was wrong to abandon my lessons, but I did it anyway…"
Kain sighed, knowing full well that he'd been distracted from his duty as much as Ceodore, and Yang was completely correct earlier. "I will not punish you. Come, you must rest before we head back to Baron. Your mother must be worried sick about you."
"...yes, Sir Kain," Ceodore nodded. "I'm sorry."
As the whole group turned to head back up to the castle, there was a low rumble within the ground. Many of the warrior monks were knocked off balance, but Kain made a leap simply by instinct. He noticed there was something below them. It was so dark he couldn't make out what it was, however. Whatever torches the monks had carried were put out almost the instant the ground started to rumble. And he heard it - a gigantic crack - which sounded as if the earth itself was splitting.
"Yang! Ceodore!" Kain yelled out, hoping for a response.
No reply.
Kain thrust himself away from where things were falling, landing on land that seemed to be untouched by the tremors. When he landed, he noticed there was a crater in the ground where everyone else had been standing. "Ursula? Yang? Ceodore?!" he yelled out again.
No reply again.
Kain looked around as best he could, but without either magic or light to look further, there was nothing he could do. No one responded to him calling out. He felt as if something was chasing him, considering all of the disasters that had occurred since he arrived at Troia. He didn't understand why. He figured that since Sakinah had the blessing of the Crystal of Earth, she would know something as to what happened here or at least be able to figure out what happened here, so he headed back to the Fabul Castle as quickly as he could manage.
