FEAR THE TURTLE!!! (sorry, even if I go to school in Vermont, I was
born and raised in Maryland) :D
Yes, it's late. Gomenasai!!! I have a good excuse! I had food poisoning and a temperature of 102.2 degrees F. I tried to type, but I was seeing two keyboards, so it didn't work so well. I won't be late with the next chapter, I promise!!
~Enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yoshi gure ya kara yobisareshi ammabou
{The cold rain at night, [and] the useless call unto the blind [traveler]...}
(a haiku by Issa, translated by myself)
It was easy to be ignored when everyone else was twice your size. Chizitsu spent most of his time slipping under other peoples' noses. It wasn't that he particularly enjoyed being ignored, but he did find that it came in handy every once and a while. How strange that today was a good day to be invisible.
The castle had just pulled to its full bustle in the two hours after dawn, and the youngest of the royal family was minding his own business, much like he always was. That is, he was quite ready to mind someone else's for them should the interesting sound of it cross his idle ears. But he had business, business in the kitchen, which was where he was headed in order to obtain his ever-important daily consumables. He had no intention of encountering what he heard as he came past the split staircase of the main hall.
"His Royal Highness is not to be disturbed right now," Steiner said in his normal, loud voice.
"I come under orders of Lady Eiko," an annoyed voice answered. "I demand an audience with the prince at once." Eiko? thought Chizitsu. Has she sent us help? The boy stopped and nonchalantly sidled against the wall. He managed to get a view of Steiner as the Captain of the Royal Guard continued to argue:
"An audience may be arranged in an hour or so. In the meantime, get your army out of here." Army?! Chizitsu sidled over to the corner and peaked out. A large, grotesque nobleman with shifty eyes accompanied by a dozen armed knights stood in the doorway of the castle.
"They are on orders to be with me," the man sneered. "And they shall be with me when I see the prince."
"How dare you approach his Highness in such a war-like manner!" Steiner's gauntlets jingled as his fists shook with fury.
"The accusations keep coming," mused the noble. "I'm curious to see why you are so uptight…" Chizitsu had heard enough. Dodging between working servants, he scampered up the stairs to the royal chambers and nearly barreling his sister over at the top.
"Chiz!" she interjected with irritation, but he paid her no mind and raced on towards his brother's bedroom.
"Tabi! Tabi, wake up!" he yelled as he shoved past Lance and into the room. Tabito, the widely acclaimed light-sleeper, was already sitting up and glaring at him when he jumped onto the bed.
"This had better be good, you," he growled.
"There's a strange man downstairs with a group of men with swords who said he was sent by Eiko and he demands to see you," the boy explained.
"Eiko did?" the acting king asked as he quickly got out of bed, running his fingers through his hair to straighten it. "Has she sent us help?"
"I don't know," the younger prince shrugged. "But Steiner's not making a good impression on him."
"Great," Tabito rolled his eyes and began to leave.
"You won't be making a good impression either," Raven said from the doorway, where she had listened to the whole exchange.
"Why?" he asked her, giving her a less-than-patient look.
"Get dressed, Tabi," she sighed and shook her head. "You're beginning to make a reputation for yourself."
"This could be important," he grumbled as he ran back to the dresser and grabbed a pair of pants. Pulling them on, he ran out the door. "Be happy," he called back to his sister, who, as well as Chizitsu and Lance, followed him all the way to the split staircase.
"Steiner, what's going on?" the Crown Prince asked as he stopped at the railing.
"Your Highness!" Steiner saluted. "I thought you were asleep."
"I was," Tabito replied as he glanced meaningfully at his younger brother, but then moved to save face, "but then I heard raised voices. Yours, precisely." He paused for a second while the abashed Steiner shrank back, then asked: "and who, pray tell, is this?"
"Lord Shido Mart," the noble introduced himself with a bow. "I come on behalf of Lindblum."
"What business would the Regent have with me that would have her send armed soldiers?" Tabito asked immediately.
"My, everyone's edgy in this castle," Shido remarked snidely. "It makes one wonder."
"You are aware that her Majesty the Queen turned up missing yesterday?" Tabito asked in a similar tone, apparently not appreciating Eiko's choice in messengers.
"She was?" the noble's eyebrows raised. "I did not know. That makes this quite interesting…"
"Steiner?" Tabito sent an angry look towards the Captain.
"My men sent Regent Eiko notice yesterday, as you had commanded, your Highness!" Steiner reported.
"Well, she didn't tell me," snapped the Lindblum noble.
"I see," Tabito controlled his temper well. "Then what is your business in Alexandria?"
"You are summoners, are you not?" he asked.
"Yes," the prince answered. "All three of us." If he heard Chizitsu's snicker at admitting that he was a summoner, he hid it perfectly.
"And among you, the Princess, Raven, is the one capable of summoning Ark?"
"Sure," Raven cut in, her voice testy, "would you like me to demonstrate?"
"Raven…" Tabito chided in a whisper.
"She admits it then," Shido Mart nodded. "Raven til Alexandros, you are under arrest for the attempted destruction of Lindblum."
"What?!" the entire group chorused and dropped into silence.
"On what grounds?" Tabito's voice rose then, as he recovered first from the shock.
"She can summon Ark, and no other," the noble said flatly.
"Are you trying to tell us that Ark has attacked Lindblum?" Tabito asked calmly, although Chizitsu could see that his hands were shaking. "For if you are, be clear about it."
"Well, if you aren't the sharp one," remarked the lord. "Yes, that happened last night, although I am surprised I had to tell you. I have come to arrest the assailant."
"Wait, Ark attacked Lindblum?" Raven suddenly came out of her daze. "But… Ark is my eidolon."
"Precisely," Shido heaved a bored sigh. "Now either give yourself over, or I shall have to use force." Raven sputtered for a moment, clutching her hands into fists.
"No," she growled. "You can't force me to do that."
"Raven," Tabito grabbed her arm, attempting to calm her, but she shook him off.
"I see then," Shido Mart nodded, and all twelve of his knights drew their swords. The girl took a step backward, significantly alarmed.
"How dare you threaten the princess?!" Steiner shouted, pulling his own sword and pointing it at them.
"I am under orders, Sir Knight," the nobleman raised his voice. "And you, your Highness, should be aware that if you harbor this warmonger that you are violating the pact with Lindblum." He waved his hand, and immediately, the knights began to move towards the stairs.
"But she's our sister," Chizitsu shouted, then remembering his own place, "Tabi, do something!" But it was Steiner who acted first.
"I am sworn to protect the princess and I shall!" with a battle cry, the Captain of the royal guard attacked the knights of Shido Mart.
"Steiner, stop!" Tabito hollered across the main hall. "Steiner, I command you to stop!" The old knight paid no mind to the prince as he dealt heavy blows upon the enemy swords with his Excalibur.
"Father!" Lance called above the sword clashes, and pushed past the Royals with his hand on his Ragnarok. However, Tabito was fast, grabbing his arm and yanking him to a stop.
"No, Lance!" the Crown Prince cried as he pulled with all his might against the much larger man, and then called down once more, "Captain, put up your sword! Now!" Chizitsu in the meantime gripped the railing and watched the scene below, too terrified to take his eyes away. He watched as Steiner slammed one man to the ground then turned to parry blows from the others. In his quickness, he had not realized that the one he had beaten down was not even injured, and the nightmare played forever onward as Chizitsu shouted:
"Steiner, behind you!" In a split-second that lasted for all of Chizitsu's life, the blade was buried into the Alexandrian Knight's back until it hit the back of his iron chest-plate, and blood streamed down the furrow in the flat of the blade. The battle had lasted less than a minute. The sound of the Excalibur hitting the floor shattered the silence as the captain slid off of his bane and onto the floor. The next splitting sound was the voice of his son.
"Nooo!" Lance howled as he yanked out of the stunned prince's grasp and jerked out his sword.
"Lance, stop now!" came a sudden shout behind him. At the sound of the princess, the young knight froze in place and turned to look at her. "Stop it all of you!"
"Raven…" Tabito grabbed her hand, his expression suddenly belying all of his concern at once. It was her face that was hard now, although her eyes brimmed with tears.
"Be well, and be smart," she told him, and turned to the stairs. "Stay," she commanded Lance as she slipped past him and down the stairs. She walked straight up to Shido Mart and addressed him. "Stop this senseless violence. I shall come quietly, but if I find that you do not take me to Eiko immediately, I promise I shall retaliate."
"See?" Shido sneered and motioned to his entourage. "That wasn't so hard, was it?" The dozen, armed men sheathed their swords and escorted the princess out of the castle.
"Be well, Raven!" Tabito called after her as she disappeared from sight, then chased after his brother and remaining guardian as the sped down to the fallen captain. Chizitsu approached first, the Revive spell already on his lips. It failed…and none could deny the truth. With a cry of fear and dismay, the boy whirled around and caught his brother around the waist and began to sob hopelessly. Despite the horn, the acting king pressed his brother's face against his stomach as he looked down upon his family's longtime protector. Gently, Lance knelt beside his father's body and lifted his head.
"No…father, no…" black eyes filled with bitter tears, as Lance pressed his forehead against his father's. "No…" Tabito heaved a great sigh as he stroked his crying brother's head; it made the younger prince quite aware of the elder's growing despair. It made him cry more. For a long while, nobody spoke. Then, Lance stood, and walked towards the door.
"Don't take another step," Tabito said firmly.
"I am going to save Raven," the Knight stated as he looked over his shoulder.
"You're not going anywhere," the prince shook his head.
"You'd abandon her to that bastard?!" Lance spun around to face the prince, and took several steps toward him.
"She's safer than any of us are now," Tabito said gently. "Now is not the time to be acting recklessly."
"So you would abandon her then!" Lance shouted. "After my father gave his life!"
"I shan't dishonor your father," the prince shook his head urgently. "Listen to me, Lance! We cannot act now."
"You deny me the chance to avenge him!" Lance Steiner pointed a finger at the prince, tears streaming down his face. Chizitsu glanced up at his brother's face, only to be amazed how calm he looked, for he could feel the anger and the grief against his cheek. He hugged the Crown Prince in an attempt to comfort him.
"Lance, calm down," Tabito said softly.
"Calm down?!" Lance's normally placid face was twisted with grief and rage. "They killed him! They killed my father! Right before my eyes!"
"I know…" the gentleness continued. "I know how you feel—"
"How can you, you ungrateful 'twit?!" the larger man came closer as he continued shouting. "You held me back when I could have helped him!"
"Lance—"
"He gave his life protecting you, and you haven't the decency to let me avenge him!" Chizitsu pressed himself against his elder brother as the angry knight descended on the two of them.
"Please, Lance," Tabito somehow kept his voice level and his body steady. "Your father died because he would not listen to me, please—"
"Don't flatter yourself, you pretentious whelp!" Steiner's son roared.
"Please listen to me—"
"Shut up! All of this is your fault!" and Lance struck Tabito's face with the back of his hand, gauntlet and all.
"Tabi!" Chizitsu cried out as the Crown Prince was forced to take a step backwards. After a strained second, Tabito slowly lifted his head, groaning as he nursed a tender cheek. It was then that Lance realized that he had struck the very person he was sworn to protect.
"Your Highness…" he stammered, "are you all right? I don't know what came over me…"
"No, my fault," Tabito's voice was still gentle, "I should've dodged." The tension began to seep away as he continued. "I know how you feel, Lance. Honestly, I do. But we can't afford to act on our feelings right now. Please, Lance…you are now the Leader of the Knights of Pluto."
"I am…?" Lance questioned, looking into the violet eyes. Tabito nodded. "But what about, her Highness?"
"She's safer than myself and Chizitsu right now, " he answered, his tone dropping some. "If there's any way Raven could be innocent, Eiko would know. And Eiko would never let any harm come to Raven."
"Eiko knows everything there is to know about summoning," Chizitsu nodded helpfully.
"And if that man was lying?" Lance challenged, as his fists again began to shake with rage.
"Raven's a smart fighter," Tabito's voice was growing quieter. "She'll have to make do…"
"You are abandoning her!" Lance accused again, shaking his fist at him. Tabito said nothing turning his face away as his eyebrows knotted themselves together over his eyes, squeezed shut. "Coward."
"Shut up!" Chizitsu screamed back in indignation. "There's no telling what could happen next! Tabito has to trust his instincts now!"
"He has the instincts of a coward!" Lance shouted, taking a step forward.
"What would you know?!" the little boy took two steps forward and yelled up in his face. "You're the one who hasn't the faintest hint of a brain!"
"Cease, you two," Tabito interrupted. "Now is not the time for us to fight ourselves. Not when we're under attack."
"Under attack?" Lance asked. "That happened five minutes ago!"
"The past is behind. The future is ahead," Tabito whirled around, looking very annoyed. "That means something to me. They've gotten three of us in three days. I truly doubt that is coincidence."
"Exactly," Chizitsu nodded. "We've got to prepare!"
"Lance, cooperate," Tabito said firmly. "I am down a general, and now a captain." Lance kept his peace, looking silently upon the body of Steiner. Tabito followed his gaze with a sigh.
"We must give him a hero's interment," Tabito stated, his voice barely above a whisper. Chizitsu knew what it meant when his brother's voice went like that. It meant he would disappear into his room, and only their father could ever bring him out. But father's not here, he thought with alarm. Does that mean he won't come out? Worriedly, he grabbed Tabito's hand and held tight. Tabito glanced down at him and then pulled the boy closer, saying: "It somehow seems…wrong…to do it without mother and dad…and Beatrix." For a moment, all three were reverently silent.
"Your Highness," Lance suddenly addressed. Tabito turned his head to look at him and waited expectantly. The knight saluted: "I shall not fail you."
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*runs and hides*
Yes, it's late. Gomenasai!!! I have a good excuse! I had food poisoning and a temperature of 102.2 degrees F. I tried to type, but I was seeing two keyboards, so it didn't work so well. I won't be late with the next chapter, I promise!!
~Enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yoshi gure ya kara yobisareshi ammabou
{The cold rain at night, [and] the useless call unto the blind [traveler]...}
(a haiku by Issa, translated by myself)
It was easy to be ignored when everyone else was twice your size. Chizitsu spent most of his time slipping under other peoples' noses. It wasn't that he particularly enjoyed being ignored, but he did find that it came in handy every once and a while. How strange that today was a good day to be invisible.
The castle had just pulled to its full bustle in the two hours after dawn, and the youngest of the royal family was minding his own business, much like he always was. That is, he was quite ready to mind someone else's for them should the interesting sound of it cross his idle ears. But he had business, business in the kitchen, which was where he was headed in order to obtain his ever-important daily consumables. He had no intention of encountering what he heard as he came past the split staircase of the main hall.
"His Royal Highness is not to be disturbed right now," Steiner said in his normal, loud voice.
"I come under orders of Lady Eiko," an annoyed voice answered. "I demand an audience with the prince at once." Eiko? thought Chizitsu. Has she sent us help? The boy stopped and nonchalantly sidled against the wall. He managed to get a view of Steiner as the Captain of the Royal Guard continued to argue:
"An audience may be arranged in an hour or so. In the meantime, get your army out of here." Army?! Chizitsu sidled over to the corner and peaked out. A large, grotesque nobleman with shifty eyes accompanied by a dozen armed knights stood in the doorway of the castle.
"They are on orders to be with me," the man sneered. "And they shall be with me when I see the prince."
"How dare you approach his Highness in such a war-like manner!" Steiner's gauntlets jingled as his fists shook with fury.
"The accusations keep coming," mused the noble. "I'm curious to see why you are so uptight…" Chizitsu had heard enough. Dodging between working servants, he scampered up the stairs to the royal chambers and nearly barreling his sister over at the top.
"Chiz!" she interjected with irritation, but he paid her no mind and raced on towards his brother's bedroom.
"Tabi! Tabi, wake up!" he yelled as he shoved past Lance and into the room. Tabito, the widely acclaimed light-sleeper, was already sitting up and glaring at him when he jumped onto the bed.
"This had better be good, you," he growled.
"There's a strange man downstairs with a group of men with swords who said he was sent by Eiko and he demands to see you," the boy explained.
"Eiko did?" the acting king asked as he quickly got out of bed, running his fingers through his hair to straighten it. "Has she sent us help?"
"I don't know," the younger prince shrugged. "But Steiner's not making a good impression on him."
"Great," Tabito rolled his eyes and began to leave.
"You won't be making a good impression either," Raven said from the doorway, where she had listened to the whole exchange.
"Why?" he asked her, giving her a less-than-patient look.
"Get dressed, Tabi," she sighed and shook her head. "You're beginning to make a reputation for yourself."
"This could be important," he grumbled as he ran back to the dresser and grabbed a pair of pants. Pulling them on, he ran out the door. "Be happy," he called back to his sister, who, as well as Chizitsu and Lance, followed him all the way to the split staircase.
"Steiner, what's going on?" the Crown Prince asked as he stopped at the railing.
"Your Highness!" Steiner saluted. "I thought you were asleep."
"I was," Tabito replied as he glanced meaningfully at his younger brother, but then moved to save face, "but then I heard raised voices. Yours, precisely." He paused for a second while the abashed Steiner shrank back, then asked: "and who, pray tell, is this?"
"Lord Shido Mart," the noble introduced himself with a bow. "I come on behalf of Lindblum."
"What business would the Regent have with me that would have her send armed soldiers?" Tabito asked immediately.
"My, everyone's edgy in this castle," Shido remarked snidely. "It makes one wonder."
"You are aware that her Majesty the Queen turned up missing yesterday?" Tabito asked in a similar tone, apparently not appreciating Eiko's choice in messengers.
"She was?" the noble's eyebrows raised. "I did not know. That makes this quite interesting…"
"Steiner?" Tabito sent an angry look towards the Captain.
"My men sent Regent Eiko notice yesterday, as you had commanded, your Highness!" Steiner reported.
"Well, she didn't tell me," snapped the Lindblum noble.
"I see," Tabito controlled his temper well. "Then what is your business in Alexandria?"
"You are summoners, are you not?" he asked.
"Yes," the prince answered. "All three of us." If he heard Chizitsu's snicker at admitting that he was a summoner, he hid it perfectly.
"And among you, the Princess, Raven, is the one capable of summoning Ark?"
"Sure," Raven cut in, her voice testy, "would you like me to demonstrate?"
"Raven…" Tabito chided in a whisper.
"She admits it then," Shido Mart nodded. "Raven til Alexandros, you are under arrest for the attempted destruction of Lindblum."
"What?!" the entire group chorused and dropped into silence.
"On what grounds?" Tabito's voice rose then, as he recovered first from the shock.
"She can summon Ark, and no other," the noble said flatly.
"Are you trying to tell us that Ark has attacked Lindblum?" Tabito asked calmly, although Chizitsu could see that his hands were shaking. "For if you are, be clear about it."
"Well, if you aren't the sharp one," remarked the lord. "Yes, that happened last night, although I am surprised I had to tell you. I have come to arrest the assailant."
"Wait, Ark attacked Lindblum?" Raven suddenly came out of her daze. "But… Ark is my eidolon."
"Precisely," Shido heaved a bored sigh. "Now either give yourself over, or I shall have to use force." Raven sputtered for a moment, clutching her hands into fists.
"No," she growled. "You can't force me to do that."
"Raven," Tabito grabbed her arm, attempting to calm her, but she shook him off.
"I see then," Shido Mart nodded, and all twelve of his knights drew their swords. The girl took a step backward, significantly alarmed.
"How dare you threaten the princess?!" Steiner shouted, pulling his own sword and pointing it at them.
"I am under orders, Sir Knight," the nobleman raised his voice. "And you, your Highness, should be aware that if you harbor this warmonger that you are violating the pact with Lindblum." He waved his hand, and immediately, the knights began to move towards the stairs.
"But she's our sister," Chizitsu shouted, then remembering his own place, "Tabi, do something!" But it was Steiner who acted first.
"I am sworn to protect the princess and I shall!" with a battle cry, the Captain of the royal guard attacked the knights of Shido Mart.
"Steiner, stop!" Tabito hollered across the main hall. "Steiner, I command you to stop!" The old knight paid no mind to the prince as he dealt heavy blows upon the enemy swords with his Excalibur.
"Father!" Lance called above the sword clashes, and pushed past the Royals with his hand on his Ragnarok. However, Tabito was fast, grabbing his arm and yanking him to a stop.
"No, Lance!" the Crown Prince cried as he pulled with all his might against the much larger man, and then called down once more, "Captain, put up your sword! Now!" Chizitsu in the meantime gripped the railing and watched the scene below, too terrified to take his eyes away. He watched as Steiner slammed one man to the ground then turned to parry blows from the others. In his quickness, he had not realized that the one he had beaten down was not even injured, and the nightmare played forever onward as Chizitsu shouted:
"Steiner, behind you!" In a split-second that lasted for all of Chizitsu's life, the blade was buried into the Alexandrian Knight's back until it hit the back of his iron chest-plate, and blood streamed down the furrow in the flat of the blade. The battle had lasted less than a minute. The sound of the Excalibur hitting the floor shattered the silence as the captain slid off of his bane and onto the floor. The next splitting sound was the voice of his son.
"Nooo!" Lance howled as he yanked out of the stunned prince's grasp and jerked out his sword.
"Lance, stop now!" came a sudden shout behind him. At the sound of the princess, the young knight froze in place and turned to look at her. "Stop it all of you!"
"Raven…" Tabito grabbed her hand, his expression suddenly belying all of his concern at once. It was her face that was hard now, although her eyes brimmed with tears.
"Be well, and be smart," she told him, and turned to the stairs. "Stay," she commanded Lance as she slipped past him and down the stairs. She walked straight up to Shido Mart and addressed him. "Stop this senseless violence. I shall come quietly, but if I find that you do not take me to Eiko immediately, I promise I shall retaliate."
"See?" Shido sneered and motioned to his entourage. "That wasn't so hard, was it?" The dozen, armed men sheathed their swords and escorted the princess out of the castle.
"Be well, Raven!" Tabito called after her as she disappeared from sight, then chased after his brother and remaining guardian as the sped down to the fallen captain. Chizitsu approached first, the Revive spell already on his lips. It failed…and none could deny the truth. With a cry of fear and dismay, the boy whirled around and caught his brother around the waist and began to sob hopelessly. Despite the horn, the acting king pressed his brother's face against his stomach as he looked down upon his family's longtime protector. Gently, Lance knelt beside his father's body and lifted his head.
"No…father, no…" black eyes filled with bitter tears, as Lance pressed his forehead against his father's. "No…" Tabito heaved a great sigh as he stroked his crying brother's head; it made the younger prince quite aware of the elder's growing despair. It made him cry more. For a long while, nobody spoke. Then, Lance stood, and walked towards the door.
"Don't take another step," Tabito said firmly.
"I am going to save Raven," the Knight stated as he looked over his shoulder.
"You're not going anywhere," the prince shook his head.
"You'd abandon her to that bastard?!" Lance spun around to face the prince, and took several steps toward him.
"She's safer than any of us are now," Tabito said gently. "Now is not the time to be acting recklessly."
"So you would abandon her then!" Lance shouted. "After my father gave his life!"
"I shan't dishonor your father," the prince shook his head urgently. "Listen to me, Lance! We cannot act now."
"You deny me the chance to avenge him!" Lance Steiner pointed a finger at the prince, tears streaming down his face. Chizitsu glanced up at his brother's face, only to be amazed how calm he looked, for he could feel the anger and the grief against his cheek. He hugged the Crown Prince in an attempt to comfort him.
"Lance, calm down," Tabito said softly.
"Calm down?!" Lance's normally placid face was twisted with grief and rage. "They killed him! They killed my father! Right before my eyes!"
"I know…" the gentleness continued. "I know how you feel—"
"How can you, you ungrateful 'twit?!" the larger man came closer as he continued shouting. "You held me back when I could have helped him!"
"Lance—"
"He gave his life protecting you, and you haven't the decency to let me avenge him!" Chizitsu pressed himself against his elder brother as the angry knight descended on the two of them.
"Please, Lance," Tabito somehow kept his voice level and his body steady. "Your father died because he would not listen to me, please—"
"Don't flatter yourself, you pretentious whelp!" Steiner's son roared.
"Please listen to me—"
"Shut up! All of this is your fault!" and Lance struck Tabito's face with the back of his hand, gauntlet and all.
"Tabi!" Chizitsu cried out as the Crown Prince was forced to take a step backwards. After a strained second, Tabito slowly lifted his head, groaning as he nursed a tender cheek. It was then that Lance realized that he had struck the very person he was sworn to protect.
"Your Highness…" he stammered, "are you all right? I don't know what came over me…"
"No, my fault," Tabito's voice was still gentle, "I should've dodged." The tension began to seep away as he continued. "I know how you feel, Lance. Honestly, I do. But we can't afford to act on our feelings right now. Please, Lance…you are now the Leader of the Knights of Pluto."
"I am…?" Lance questioned, looking into the violet eyes. Tabito nodded. "But what about, her Highness?"
"She's safer than myself and Chizitsu right now, " he answered, his tone dropping some. "If there's any way Raven could be innocent, Eiko would know. And Eiko would never let any harm come to Raven."
"Eiko knows everything there is to know about summoning," Chizitsu nodded helpfully.
"And if that man was lying?" Lance challenged, as his fists again began to shake with rage.
"Raven's a smart fighter," Tabito's voice was growing quieter. "She'll have to make do…"
"You are abandoning her!" Lance accused again, shaking his fist at him. Tabito said nothing turning his face away as his eyebrows knotted themselves together over his eyes, squeezed shut. "Coward."
"Shut up!" Chizitsu screamed back in indignation. "There's no telling what could happen next! Tabito has to trust his instincts now!"
"He has the instincts of a coward!" Lance shouted, taking a step forward.
"What would you know?!" the little boy took two steps forward and yelled up in his face. "You're the one who hasn't the faintest hint of a brain!"
"Cease, you two," Tabito interrupted. "Now is not the time for us to fight ourselves. Not when we're under attack."
"Under attack?" Lance asked. "That happened five minutes ago!"
"The past is behind. The future is ahead," Tabito whirled around, looking very annoyed. "That means something to me. They've gotten three of us in three days. I truly doubt that is coincidence."
"Exactly," Chizitsu nodded. "We've got to prepare!"
"Lance, cooperate," Tabito said firmly. "I am down a general, and now a captain." Lance kept his peace, looking silently upon the body of Steiner. Tabito followed his gaze with a sigh.
"We must give him a hero's interment," Tabito stated, his voice barely above a whisper. Chizitsu knew what it meant when his brother's voice went like that. It meant he would disappear into his room, and only their father could ever bring him out. But father's not here, he thought with alarm. Does that mean he won't come out? Worriedly, he grabbed Tabito's hand and held tight. Tabito glanced down at him and then pulled the boy closer, saying: "It somehow seems…wrong…to do it without mother and dad…and Beatrix." For a moment, all three were reverently silent.
"Your Highness," Lance suddenly addressed. Tabito turned his head to look at him and waited expectantly. The knight saluted: "I shall not fail you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*runs and hides*