A/N: And another chapter :)
Aubrey: Good to go down memory lane every now and then :)
Saberin: Have to fan the ships somehow :P
Raider: Sadistic voice...I always imagine something like President Snow or Hannibal Lecter. And I'm trying not to be sick, I promise!
Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan. And still not Australian.
For five days they stayed in the cell. Life was better even though their status as prisoners never changed. A woman came with cushions and herbal tea for Talia and treats for Elizabet. Unlike the ship they were all given full meals. Kineta became violently ill their second night. Sean and Scout felt nauseous upon being presented with food too but Kineta's reaction made them realize just how much she'd had gone without. They'd all been hungry but Scout still felt guilty for letting Kineta get so bad. Strange mats were brought in for sleeping and Nihon-Ja style robes were brought for them to change into.
On the fifth day, however, three official-looking men crowded into the small space. Scout had been sitting between Talia and Sean while Kineta slept on a mat on the other wall. Sean passed Elizabet to Scout and stood. Even as prisoner he looked like a king.
"Why are we here?" Sean demanded.
The youngest of the men whispered to the oldest. He nodded and whispered something back. "You here for prisoner," the man said in broken syllables. "You help Shigeru hurt Senshi class. We take you to put down Shigeru."
Sean glanced over to Scout. "You want to see if you're cut out to be a translator?" he asked. Scout realized it was more of an order than a request. Quickly she passed Elizabet to Talia and joined her cousin. Kineta stirred as she became aware of the newcomers.
"What do you want me to say?" she asked quickly. The provided translator obviously wouldn't be able to keep up if they spoke fast.
"Tell them we're the royal family of Hibernia and we demand to know why we were taken from Araluen. Introduce us by name including Elizabet and Talia…say Talia's a cousin and a lady of the court."
Scout nodded. She formed the sentences in her mind before moving on. "I am Crown Princess Scout of Hibernia. I learned this language long ago. This is King Sean. That's his wife, Queen Kineta, and the child is Princess Elizabet. That is Lady Talia, our cousin. King Sean demands to know why we were taken from Araluen."
The older man narrowed his eyes to her. He slammed the hilt of a knife against the bars of their cell. "Woman will only speak if spoken to!"
"He said women only speak when spoken to," Scout told Sean.
"Tell him we…"
Shouting came from behind. Suddenly katanas and tessens both were flying and everyone was fighting. Sean pulled Scout back by the waist and pushed her to the ground. Kineta scrambled to her feet and took a defensive position alongside her husband. Talia pulled Scout back to hover over Elizabet.
More Nihon-Ja men appeared only they wore different uniforms. "Follow us!" one of them shouted. It took Scout a moment to realize he wasn't speaking the common tongue.
"He wants us to go with him," she translated. Sean nodded. He seemed to trust the new face well enough so he helped Talia to her feet while Kineta scooped up Elizabet. They ran quickly through the narrow hallway. Scout put her hand on Talia's back when she slowed. "You alright?"
"I can't keep this up," Talia panted. Sean, who was just ahead of them, turned around.
"Go ahead," he ordered Scout. Scout slipped past him but hesitated. Sean lifted Talia up in his arms. "Go!" he shouted. Scout ran. They wove their way through the labyrinth of hallways until they came to a door. Outside were several horses.
The Nihon-Ja warriors pointed to the horses and began mounting. Scout looked back to Sean. "How…" she began but her cousin cut her off.
"Kineta, take Elizabet. Scout, help me get Talia up."
Scout nodded and did as told. Once Talia was positioned Sean mounted behind her. Kineta and Elizabet were already riding away. Sean went after them. Scout mounted the last horse and urged it forward. They rode for just a few hours before reaching another castle. They were greeted by an elderly man and striking young man about a decade younger than Scout's parents.
"Welcome," the elder greeted them. "I am Shigeru and this my son Koru. I am emperor of Nihon-Ja. I am very sorry about what happen to your family. It was last attempt. They over now. We send you home soon but first you be my guests." His eyes settled on Scout. "You Amarante's daughter, yes?"
Scout nodded. Amarante was the name Lina went by in Nihon-Ja. Scout remembered learning the language early and her mother explaining how their usual names were hard to pronounce for the people in Nihon-Ja. It wasn't unusual for people to take other names while traveling there.
"You have Nihon-Ja name?"
"Takara," Scout answered, using the name her mother had given her to use when speaking Nihon-Ja.
"Treasure? Good name for child of Amarante. You all come be guests."
He led them to a large hallway where servants waited. Sean was ushered one way while the women and Elizabet were ushered another. They were taken to a room with a steaming pool. The serving woman pressed her hand against Talia's middle. "You careful. No fall."
Talia nodded. The woman left clean towels and robes for them before flitting away. "I guess they want us to be clean," Kineta said after a few moments. They disrobed Elizabet first and sent the child in. The water went above her head quickly but she was a good swimmer. She made a face that brought laughter to the others. "It's supposed to be hot," Kineta told her daughter gently. "Don't worry it will feel good in a few moments."
Scout and Kineta stood on either side of Talia and they joined her. The water felt great against their cramped muscles. Once they were clean they dressed in the fresh Nihon-Ja clothes a maid brought in and combed out their hair. Scout played with the pendant from the Araluen princes she received so long ago. Sean stood with Shigeru once they came out. He also wore Nihon-Ja clothing. Elizabet, for the first time in a long while, smiled. She left Kineta to wrap herself around her father. Sean picked her up and set her on his hip.
"There's that smile I love so much," Sean told her. Elizabet hugged him tighter.
"You must be Evi-bet," Shigeru said gently. Elizabet's eyes cut to him and she whimpered silently.
"She's very shy," Sean explained. "Sorry."
"No sorry. Pretty little girls allowed to be shy."
"Thank you," Kineta spoke up to draw attention away from Elizabet. "You are very kind."
Shigeru nodded to her. "You need something you say. I send word to Araluen about your rescue."
Scout felt something rise inside her. "Will Papa and Mama know we're here?" she asked Talia. Talia nodded.
"I'm sure of it."
"Amarante is here?" Shigeru asked with a raised eyebrow.
"We know she and her husband were following us," Sean answered.
"I send people to find her then. This very good. Please, be guests as long as you need." He nodded to Talia. "You especially. You need attention and rest."
"Thank you," Talia told him.