Barrum Bum.
Interlude I
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"victorious warriors win first, and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first, and then seek to win."
Sun-Tzu
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Passive is Aggressive, Boy
Simon moved through the crowd of his kinsmen, his eyes open for only one man, one leader—Charlie had to be found. His hand shot out, catching on the sleeve of a farm girl carrying a basket of wheat. She dropped it, and the bales scattered all over the dirt road. Her eyes were cold when she looked up at him, her lips pinched into a thin line.
"Simon," she whined, "what's the big deal?"
He ignored her, looking back out over the crowd, "Have you seen Charles?"
The girl rolled her eyes, motioning vaguely to a tent behind her. Simon loped off just as she bent to collect her wares, grumbling about rushing soldiers.
"Charlie!" Simon burst through the flaps of the tent, startling the men and woman inside. Billy rose, his one eye hard as stone as he surveyed the boy.
"Oi, Simon," Billy barked in his rough voice, "can't just barge in on a Council like that, boy! You nearly gave me a stroke…"
Simon rolled his eyes, advancing towards the middle-aged brunette in the center of the gathering. His wise eyes locked with his—and he knew, he knew something had gone terribly wrong.
"It's Bella," Simon murmured, "Bella, she…"
Charlie rose, clutching his pistol as it sat, secured in his holster, "Spit it out, Simon."
"She's been found out… after she murdered the Congressman."
"Murdered the Congressman?" Charlie growled, "she wouldn't hurt a fly!"
"Well, she killed a rather large one—some of his other servants say he got too comfortable with her, too friendly. You did say she should try any means possible to stop his slave trade."
"I didn't mean murder…" Charlie slumped back into his chair, placing is hand on his forehead, "where is she?" he whispered.
"She was first sentenced to hang. And the noose was 'round her neck before Aro decided he didn't want her dead, but questioned. They found out, somehow, that she was your daughter—and now she's living amongst the lions, with the family Volturi."
"She's living with Aro?" Charlie murmured, his worst fear confirmed, "but she's well, is she not? He wouldn't treat her badly, not as long as I stay away."
"She fares rather well, Milord," the young squire paused, wringing his hands, "You know… we do have operatives inside the castle. We could attempt an extraction…?"
"No," Charlie shook his head, "no, we wouldn't make it past the gates. Bella is strong," he sighed, gaze straying to Jacob in the corner, "she knows she's stuck. For now."
Jacob finally spoke, kicking his chair as he rose, "You won't go after her?"
Charlie gave him a long, cold look, "No."
It's not that I don't wish to save my own daughter, Jake, I swear it. But he couldn't say that to the kid, couldn't tell him that he wanted very much to get on his horse now, ride through the night and day, and every night that followed until he reached Bella. But he had promised her, sworn to her that he wouldn't go after her if she was caught.
And he would keep this promise, at least.
What a time to be loyal.
Destroy this City of Delusion
Break these walls down
I will avenge
Justify my reasons
With your blame