A/N Whoops I guess when I said two weeks I mean four... oops. Sorry school work had me swamped for a while plus I had a tournament to go to also. I would like to thank NinjaKiwi96 once again for reviewing, especially since she was the only one to do so. (grumbles about certain friend not reading story yet.) Anyways enjoy. :D
Chapter 2: Splat!
Time went by quickly, and before he knew it, Kai had been at the Westtons' farm for over a month. Abby was right in the sense that working for her family wasn't so bad, three square meals a day, a comfortable bed, where could you go wrong? Today they were going to the village to collect supplies and try to sell a few things.
The marketplace was bustling full of life with people going this way and that. Kai couldn't even hear himself think with all the people calling out to one another, trying to make some sort of deal. The sea of people made it difficult for the Westtons to find a spot to park their wagon. Peter had bragged that since they were so close to Aldmere Forest, Baybrook was one of last places travelers stopped before entering the forest. Once they found a place for the wagon Lisa left to do some buying of some much needed supplies, while Abby stayed behind to try and sell some of the goods that they had brought with them.
"Well come along Kai," Peter called.
He followed the older man into a shop full of all short of trinkets for farming. Two elderly men sat by the window playing a game of chess. A group of middle aged men were sanding around the counter, discussing something. One of the men turned his head and spotter them.
He waved. "Hello Peter, long time no see," the man greeted.
"Hello Taro, I have had lots to do back home. Its the busy season after all," he answered, shaking the man's hand.
"Who did you bring with you?"
"This is Kai, He's just passing though and decided to earn some extra money for his journey. Kai this is Taro Tate, the village carpenter."
The man laughed. "You always hired the oddest help. Did you hear about Master Ozuma? Captain Peptrov and his squad burnt down his dojo."
"What! Was there anyone inside? How did this happen?" Peter demanded, practically yelling. The usually calm farmer clenched his hands into fists.
"Thankfully no. Captain Peptrov was demanding Master Ozuma for soldiers from his dojo but he refused. Obviously, that didn't go over well," Taro answered. "I also heard that they might be headed for your way next."
"There's nothing I can offer him."
Kai began to tune the two men out at this point. It was apparent that Peter was going to be a while so he decided now would be a good time to wander around. His first impression of the village, tiny. It took him no time to explore around the small area. Everyone seemed to swarming the marketplace. There seemed to be more people in the marketplace than the houses could hold. Even though it was likely that half of the population in the square would most likely leave Baybrook in the morning everyone was smiling and laughing, as if they owned the world's riches.
Splat.
Something fragile landed on top his head and cracked. Gooey yoke ran down his head into his eyes. He could hear laughter over the crowd's constant hum. A pair of teenagers stood by the Westtons' wagon with eggs in their hands. From this distant Kai could not make out what they were saying but he could see Abby glaring at the two. She held out her hand as if demanding for something. One of the teens merely grinned and raised an egg above his head and smashed on her head.
Abby stood there with her mouth agape as if she couldnt't believe that they had just done that. The two laughed even harder. He shook his head, there was no way troublemakers like that would listen to her scolding.
"What do you think you're doing?" he demanded.
The boys turned and stared up at him in awe. Was he really that scary looking? He crossed his arms and glared at them. What was their problem?
"We were just looking," one of them answered.
"I hope you're going to pay for those," he stated.
"OF course, we were just about to do that," the other squeaked.
The first boy dropped a few coins in Abby's hands and then the two were gone. Abby shook her head and looked up at him. A smile crossed her face when she spotted the clear goo on top of his head.
"Thank you Kai." She pulled out a handkerchief. "Here."
he snatched I from her hand. "No problem, though I was kind of hoping that they would put up some sort of fuss. I wanted to at least hit one of them."
She tried to give him a stern look but failed miserably. "Violence isn't always the answer Kai."
"Yeah well, its usually the most fun."
"Of course a boy would say that," she said, rolling her eyes.
"What don't tell me that there has never been a time where you have wanted to hit someone because of something they have done?"
She shrugged, taking back the handkerchief and wiped off her own egg goo. "I suppose, but there are usually more peaceful ways to do things."
"And that is why you couldn't get rid of those brats."
Before she could argue any further, Lisa and Peter came into view. Lisa had a huge smile on her face, while her husband was lugging a large sack of something. When they reached the wagon Kai helped him hoist the thing into the back.
"Well, we will have fresh bread in the morning," Lisa stated cheerfully.
"Yum," Abby mumbled.
"So, are we ready to go yet?" Peter questioned.
"Yep," Lisa agreed. She then turned to Abby. "Did you sell anything?"
She couldn't help but grin as she replied, "A couple of eggs."
"Well that's good."
The ride home was unevenful and dull. Lisa and Peter spent most of the ride talking about village gossip. Once in a while Abby would pipe in and add her opinion. By the time they got home it was time for the afternoon milking so the adults left Kai and Abby alone to tend to the cows and horses.
For once the Westtons' farm was quiet. It was about time. Peter and Lisa's constant chatter was really starting to get to him. They were a nice family but after so many years of silence he found it hard to jump into the conversations all the time.
The silence did not last long. The sound of beating hooves could be heard outside the barn. The Westtonns never got company. Both, Abby and Kai, made their way to the door at the same time and peeked through a crack in the door. Outside the house were seven men mounted ontop of horses dressed in the red uniform of the military. Looking at their uniforms Kai spotted two corporals and a captain. The captain looked be be in his late twenties. He had a muscular frame and blond hair. His skin, like all the other soldiers, was tanned from being outside for long hours.
Peter and his wife came out to greet the squad. For some reason Lisa looked worried. Peter looked upset as well, he wasn't even smiling. The captin dismounted his horse and walked towards hem. Peter wrapped an arm around his wife's waist.
"Peter Westton?"
"Yes."
"Captain Spencer Peptrov, his majesty request your services in Loch Bridge."
"No."
"You have a duty to the King. As a member of the Royal Guard you gave an oath to-"
"I swore to protect King Susumu and his desendants, not some tyrant who knows nothing about his people!" Peter yelled. He had released Lisa and now stepped towards the Captain. He looked furious.
"Be careful what you say sir, you're very close to speaking treason," Captain Peptrov warned. "Now I will say this one more time, as a member of the Royal Guard you gave an oath to protect your King, to obey his every command, and to come when summoned. Our King has summoned you and you will obey."
Peter looked Captain Peptrov right in the eye. "You must be quite desperate for recruits. My answer is still no. I left the Guard a long time ago. I'm just a simple farmer now. I have too much work to do here."
"Well maybe we should lighten your work load." Captain Peptrov looked a one of his men and gave a nod.
The red haired soldier dismounted his own horse and headed towards the barn. Peter was in front of him in a flash. The soldier tired to get past him but Peter knocked him to the ground with a blow to the head. The man did not get up. As the red head fell, three other soldiers took his place with bows raised.
"I don't obey false kings and if he is so afraid of a rebellion he should have though of that before he took the throne! I will never follow that man's orders," Peter snapped, glaring at Captain Peptrov.
The Captain stepped closer towards Peter. His eyes were blazing with rage. "I warned you. You have spoken treason against our King. Penalty for saying such things is death. Take them inside."
Two of the soldiers that held bows grabbed either of Peter's arms and dragged him towards the house. While the third soldier grabbed Lisa by the hair and yanked her inside the house. Peter struggled against his captors, trying to get loose but they were too strong. Beside Kai Abby tried to run into the yard. Before she could get away Kai latched onto her, just like her parents she tried to struggle, kicking and wiggling, anything to get free. She opened her mouth to scream, but he quickly covered it.
He pulled her away for the door so they could no longer see what was going on. After a while she stopped struggling, although he didn't believe that she was finished fighting. The smell of something burning wafted into the barn. The animals started to become restless and began to fidget. Unlike the creatures Abby did not try to get out of his grip again, but sat perfectly still. She stared straight ahead in a daze. What could he do? If he went out there himself he would merely be killed also. He couldn't let the people that had taken him in die like this though.
Before he could make up his mind, the barn door began to open. His instints took over. Quickly, he sat Abby in one of the horses' stalls out of sight. Once she was hidden he grabbed the closet thing to a weapon, a pitchfork.
The door opened and reveal a purple haired man, maybe a year older than himself. His eyes widened at the sight of Kai. He took advantage of the soldier's shock and charged forward. He swung the pitchfork at the soldier. The man moved just in the nick of time. He wasn't fast enough to avoid he sharp edge of the fork, slicing his right cheek. He looked murderous.
The soldier drew his sword and advanced forward. as he came forward he eyed the sharp end of the pitchfork, ready for anything. He swung first. Kai raised his weapon to block the blow. A chip of the wood flew from the shaft and hit him in he forehead. The soldier pulled his sword free and swung again, slicing the wood in half this time.
'Dammit,' he thought. Quickly, he threw the sticks aside and got ready for the next attack. The soldier grinned at him and advanced once more. All Kai could do was dodge his attacks. He continued to back away from his foe until his back was pressed against the wall. The soldier raised his sword to administer the final blow. He closed his eyes. How could it end like this? He hadn't even began his journey yet.
He waited for the pain to come, but it never did, not even a sting. He opened his eyes and stared down at he tip of the soldier's sword, pointed at his neck.
"You will come with me," he ordered. "And don't make a fuss or I will chop off your head."
He nodded. The soldier led him outside where the rest of his squad was. He stiffened at the sight of the Westtons' house on fire. He could hear Peter and Lisa's muffled cries from inside. It took all his strength not to break free from his captor and race into the burning inferno.
"I found something in the barn sir," the soldier called.
Captain Peptrov turned around to face hem. The colour drained from his face and blue eyes widened. His jaw hung lax in a state of shock. His mouth tried to form the word 'no' repetitively but no sound came out. Slowly, he began to regain his composure.
"Dead," he murmured. "You're suppose to be dead."
Kai stared at the Captain in confusion. What gave him that idea? At the same time an idea dawned on the two men. Now it was his turn to go white while the Captain began to smirk.
'Oh, his majesty will be pleased."
A/N Ta-da! All done. I still have to type out the next chapter I think so it may take me a while since I have exam in two weeks, plus I'm moving too. I will do my best to update though. Please review for comments, concerns, and/or suggestions.