During the rowdy dinner for the Range, Nipal slurps his soup and hides behind Lores. His eyes barely peer over the table, but he doesn't see the harem, or Zera, the entire time. While the crowd is jovial and boisterous, praising the Rook as he drinks his wine, Nipal scrambles out of his seat and bypasses the table in a few steps. The guards are unaware of his presence.
He skitters on the slick floor, aggravating his tender, bandaged wounds. The curt Lores had interrupted his training once he wailed against an attack and his legs creaked under him. Though she is very aggressive, he pillages into whatever heart she has and uses it to his advantage. Nipal feels weird taking life by its horns, and he treads carefully, as the former Rook had taught him. The real Rook.
Navigating through the castle worries his tiny mind, as it's almost a gem-like maze, dazzled in history and culture. He follows what has to be bigger statues towards the Rook's quarters, to hold and surround his colossal ego. Their milky stares frighten Nipal, and he juggles through the vines and labyrinth towards the sounds of female chatter. He tiptoes behind the guards and shuffles into a stately and pretty edge of the castle. Pink and yellow colors, like the sky, flower through lush red furniture and dim, scattered light. Antique art of sophisticated, unclothed women hangs from the ruby walls. He switches from the walls and immediately notices the bouncy, elegant group of females. Yet in the midst of the energy, he finds Zera sitting tight in front of a mirror, waiting patiently as another gives her a makeover. The hairdresser's songs fill the room, which makes Zera's whiskers twitch in sporadic increments. He sighs relief, knowing the new Rook hasn't changed who she is.
A gong rumbles through the castle, and the harem's pandemonium ceases as they gather their gowns in hands and silently march out of the room. Zera is the final one out of the room, and Nipal hisses at her. At first, she didn't notice until he takes a leap of faith and jumps in front of her before she hits the door.
"What are you doing here?" she snorts, scooping him in her arms and hiding behind a thick amber curtain. "I'm no longer your Retainer."
"I have a present for you, Lady Zera," he stammers. She quickly looks over her shoulder.
"You have to make it fast."
He cups her hands in his. "Here." She feels warmth rush through her hands and arms, followed by a cold lump of material. Once the spell is finished, a pink, diamond-studded telephone appears.
"What is this?"
"My last gift," he says with a smile. "Just find the Moon Tree, Lady Zera, and use it. It's no longer in the same place because it owes back rent, something like that. I know you can find it."
She's speechless and watches Nipal fight his way through the curtain and pitter-patter out of the room, ducking behind the guards and disappearing into the vines. She tucks the phone box behind the fabric and, through her haste, bows at the guards and jogs to the mess hall. Her mind reels through a list of explanations to the Rook for her absence, submerging the thought of the Moon Tree and the phone into the corner of her mind.
"I require my harem to move next to my room," the Rook's whirring voice echoes around the table. "Pack up, ladies, and meet me after dinner. Zera, how nice of you to show up late. Please come feed and clean me."
The Range's snickers and giggles slant her ears in agitation. She grows weary of being the one who brings up the rear; the court jester; the lowly maid. Zera picks up the elongated spoon and watches with hidden distaste at the Rook's slithering tongue sucking the food up. While she repeats the task many times and the Range yodels in spurts and launching food at one another, a safe thought balloons in her mind. It's the one place the Rook has no control. During the night, a small window of time creaks open and she trains hard, persuading every muscle, including mentally, until she goes back to the castle in tears.
"I have soup on my chin." His tongue flicks at her right ear when she wipes the liquid from his chin.
Her master Gurion's dojo is still operational, and she returned to it with renewed guts and as vehement as he once was.
The Rook whispers in her ear, "I'll eventually get to you, dainty lergnok." A slight twitch hits her whiskers over the vulgar term.
She gently lifts off his chin and a thought hits her: this creature, his intimidating eyes and foul mouth agape, enjoys hoarding items. He had treasures and landmarks placed in the castle once he arrived. The Moon Tree doesn't owe back rent. It was moved.
"Can I come tonight?" Zera presses her muzzle into his head. "I'm always the last one. Can I be first?"
The Range finishes their meals and entertainment, dispersing through the hall, and the harem line around the table. They wait for their next command. The Rook's nasty big grin is all the answer Zera needs.
Deep into the evening, before the Rook retires, Zera breaks from the hold, professing she's 'getting ready' for him, and, instead, peeps through his lavish ebony quarters with the phone in tow. She's never seen the inside of it and doesn't quite care to take notice. The dance to the closet claims her instincts, and her heart takes over the rhythm. She places her hand on the glossy door and pushes it quietly. She swallows in her breath as the once grand, flowing Moon Tree is reduced to a pink, spider branched sapling. A bitter taste exhales with her breath.
Time is important; she rushes around the sapling, finding a way to connect the phone into the tree. She feels pathetic, touching on the squishy plant and avoiding its thorny branches. Just as her temper reaches its peak, the phone steams and vanishes. She sits there, clamoring her hands around the tree, searching for the lost box.
"How did she get in-" comes a sharp, garbled voice. She leaps to her feet and flashes at the closet door, but it remains closed. Then, where is the noise coming from?
Another voice. "I'll fucking kill her!"
Her ears perked, she listens closer. The first voice returns. "We have to pick up the pieces and move on, Raph." Her sour mouth evaporates as it becomes clear who the voice belongs to. She almost squeaks through her nose.
Raphael's long tirade of grunts and curse words bore her. She interrupts in a whisper, "Can you hear me? Hello?"
Silence. Leonardo continues, "Can you shut up for one minute and think this through? We need a plan. A plan! The Foot knows where we live, and we..." Static crackles inside the tree, and Zera pops on it.
"I'm doing my own thing. Adios, chumps."
"Raph!" Leo yells. "Get back here!"
"Hello!" she whispers louder, desperate. "Leonardo, it's me!"
On the other end, Leo sighs and talks at someone else. "Let him go. I don't care anymore."
"You can't hear me..."
"Nobody listens."
"I do," she mumbles, rubbing the soft part of a branch, "It'll be okay. Your brother will come back."
The transmission fizzles out; the Moon Tree stands silent. She smiles back at the event, which has given her new hope. "I'll come back. Give me time and I'll help you."
The moment is cut short when the closet door scratches, and there stands the Rook, glaring at her. No words are spilled as she follows him into his chambers.
Next chapter: New York City. What is going on with the Hamato family?