Dark Stag Ch. 10

That was incredibly facetious! Everyone at the table looked on in shock, no one knowing mother was so cutthroat. It was a shock to both Brija and I, the two of us somewhat amazed. The brunch eventually came to an end, it being extremely awkward. As it ended, Brija didn't bother to hide how upset she was. She made her way to the aviary.

"Hey..." I said, catching up with her, "Are you okay?"

"No... They got Mercury..." She said.

"I know. It's awful, right?" I said, disgusted. She didn't respond.

We arrived, the girl going into her kestrel's paddock. She didn't gear up or anything, just grabbing the bird gently in her hands.

"What are you doing?" I asked. She still didn't respond, walking towards the exit. She walked a considerable distance into the pasture, opening her hands. The kestrel flew away, hovering above her. She ignored the bird, heading towards the stables. The kestrel followed, the poor bird completely confused.

"What are you doing, Brija?" I asked.

"I'm leaving, Roi. I can't take this any more..." She said. It made me pause.

"You can't..." I responded.

"I'm not about to stay here and watch this place fall... It's too much for me." She sighed.

"So you're just gonna cross the plains by yourself?" I asked.

"Yep..." She said back.

"Why are you doing that... It's not safe out there... there are bandits, doyles, steppe lions..." I argued.

"It's not safe here... I must say for you to be so incredibly smart, Ricky, you are failing hard to see this situation for what it is... You should leave too before it's too late." She responded.

"You and Roi are both little cowards... You're running away from your issues instead of facing them! Both of you!" I said out of rage. It made her stop.

"The only one who is being a coward here, is you! You're refusing to see this situation for what it is because you're afraid of the truth. The truth is creeping up on you and you're just letting it! Take some initiative and get out of here before it's too late. Come with me..." She said.

"No... I'm not leaving..." I said, losing my composure.

"If I lose you, Richard..." Brija said, her eyes welling up.

"If I lose you!" I countered, truly loving my sister. She came and gave me a hug.

"Don't tell anyone I left. Act like you don't even know! Let it be a surprise to them all! You know where I'll be and how to get in touch with me." She responded.

"I do." I nodded.

I left heading back to the palace. Guilt was eating me from within, just thinking about what would happen when everyone discovered Brija was gone. I wanted to find mother. I went up the stairs to her and father's room, knocking. The King's Guard was standing like statues at the door. It made me nervous.

Mother answered the door, with a warm smile.

"Come on in." She said. She closed the door behind me, her servants pouring me tea.

"No thanks..." I chuckled. They bowed, placing the tea back on the platter. Mother looked at me curiously.

"Why have you come? You never visit me..." She smiled.

"I want to come to the emergency meeting with the council tomorrow." I said.

"Why?" She asked, surprised. It took me a while to gather my thoughts.

"I'm not sure. I feel like something might happen to you. I didn't like the way Sir Socoshian looked at you last night." I said. Mother smiled.

"I can handle myself just fine. I'm the one who taught your father how to use a saber and broadsword. I'm the ones that taught you and your brother archery." She grinned, "But you're not coming..."

"Why?" I asked, growing upset.

"For the reasons you said!" She looked around, "All my servants, go into another room..." The servants did so, "And close the door..." The women all crowded into a closet, "I don't know what is going on but something isn't right here," She whispered, "And I have to fix this. I want you to leave... take your sister, and go."

"I'm so confused... what's going on, mother?" I asked.

"I feel like there is going to be an overthrowing, a mutany within this palace. I don't want you to be here. I'm not going to the council to remove your father from power, but to inform the council of what is happening within the walls of this city. I tried to tell your father about Sir Socoshian but he's too far gone to be reasoned with. His days are numbered, Ricky..." Mother said. Those words hit me hard. She placed a hand on my shoulder.

"No, don't say that. We can still fix this..." I said. Guilt spread across mother's face.

"This is all my fault. I let Jared take you under his wing and shelter you from what's real. And now you can't see what you need to see." She said, her eyes welling up.

"You're asking me to be a coward and run..." I said, so confused.

"No, I'm telling you to live to fight another day!" She said. The words stunned me.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"You stay here your, death is eminent. I'm doing what I can to protect our family. Do you know why Jared was going so hard after Kijus?" Mother responded.

"No..." I said back.

"Because Sir Socoshian has a massive, massive drug industry and Kijus could bring this drug industry to the light. Sir Socoshian's power has surpassed that of ours, Richard. He is at investor level. This is a fight we cannot win from these positions! The issue is that he made his money without taxation which means he can be smited by the Council. Kijus is a loose end that they need to take care of. Considering you, Roi and Brija were incredibly close to him, you're also loose ends too. One loose end they don't know about is me... I know everything that goes on within these walls." Mother explained. It was a shock to my very core.

"What?!" I asked.

"I want you to leave without a trace... Make sure you're not followed. Take a gun and a knife and the fastest horse..." She said.

"And you just want me to leave? Mother, I can't!" I responded.

"I don't want you to either... But I need you too! If anything happened to you, I'd burn this world! You've been training to be a ruler your entire life! This situation will get resolved... You will be able to come back one day and this will be yours." She said, trying to reassure me.

"But there's one thing that isn't clear, mother... What's going to happen to you?" I asked. She froze, not expecting the question.

"I'll be alright! Don't you worry about me! This is what I do. You don't know how many silent battles I've fought. This is what queens are for!" She smiled.

"No..." I said shaking my head, "If you think I'm just gonna sit by why you make so many sacrifices to save this place? I'll stand by your side every step of the way, but I can't run away and hope for the best. I've already done that!" I said back.

"What do you mean?" Mother asked.

"Kijus..." I began, "I was in love with him. He left because he learned his sister was in the brothels and he was willing to do anything to save her. Family is all he knows, mother..."

"He's in the brothels?" Mother asked, shocked.

"Yes. We've been covering and covering for him because of this. He claims he'll get out but I don't believe it anymore. He hasn't written us back." I responded.

"Tell me more about him?" Mother demanded.

"I don't know much, surprisingly. He was always super careful about what he'd revealed. He always had this extremely poised composure. I never saw him get angry. But he always talked about the things he had to do to survive and they were not pretty. I don't know if I believed him. He seemed to have gotten in way over his head..." I responded.

"The brothels have Sir Socoshian's name written all over them. Sir Socoshian's goons sell the drugs to the brothels for high profile clients... I'm pretty sure that is where your father got addicted. Your father never even knew Sir Socoshian's plans. You're like your father in many ways. Super caring, extremely passionate and gullible! I don't know what the future holds for you but if you don't want to be the mess that your father is, use your common sense and think for yourself! It takes nothing more than twenty seconds to reevaluate a situation, my son." Mother said.

"Just so you know," I began, "Brija already left... She left as soon as she learned Sir Socoshian arrested the official Kijus had helping him. She said she could see clearly what is going on..."

"Then she is truly my daughter..." Mother said, sitting back in her chair deep in thought, "You should have left with her. I may have seemed upset when I saw Roi leave, I was, but that was what he needed to do! Brija leaving, tomorrow I'm going to have to put on the waterworks but I'm proud of the girl! You... Use your common sense before it is too late."

"Okay, I'll leave when you come back..." I responded.

"Is that a deal?" Mother smiled, extending out her hand.

"Yes." I smiled, shaking her hand.

This deal was going to be honored. It was the only thing I could think about until tomorrow. When tomorrow arrived, the brunch took place. All eyes fell upon Brija's empty chair. Mother clenched her head, tapping her foot.

"Where is my daughter?" She said through the grit of her teeth. Father was staggered by the sight.

"I...I..." Father said, trying to find proper words.

"You're just letting your family fall apart! One day," Mother said reclining in her seat, "You'll have to realize that everyone else isn't the problem. It's you!"

Father got to his feet, unable to bear mother's burning gaze. He searched the palace for his daughter, her room, even the aviary. To his shock, even her kestrel was gone. He began to shake, unable to return to the the brunch. He walked past us all, heading into the palace. Mother followed him. Sir Socoshian eyes crept along as mother entered the home. He took a bite of his scone as the door closed.

Robin looked nervous. The boy was obviously torn between his father and us. Mother came back out.

"Ricky..." She said, her voice low and womanly. I hurried in after her.

"Yes...?" I asked.

"Your father is in a very precocious state at the moment. Don't let this fool you into believing he is back no normal. Keep those drugs away from him if you can... I'm leaving early and I don't know when I'll be back." She responded. I watched as she left.

She rushed out of the home, rushing off the terrace.

"My lady..." Sir Socoshian began, "You're leaving already?"

"I have to find my daughter. This has gone too far..." Mother said. Sir Socoshian sat back down, worry written across his face. We all watched as mother made her way to the stables. She wasn't riding with a carriage which had me confused. Maybe she was going to speak to the Council. I hoped so! This was one hell of an awful situation.

The wait was scrutinizingly long. I sat in the lounge, waiting for mother to return. Father hadn't came out of his room since mother left. I was too afraid to enter it, unsure how he might react or what I might see. When mother walked through the door, that evening my heart could finally relax.

"You've returned..." Sir Socoshian smiled, seemingly enthused to see her.

As she came further down the hall, two blood covered sabers were in her hands. She was not happy. She extended out her blade as she passed by Sir Socoshian.

"Shut your fake mouth..." She said. It shocked Sir Socoshian, blood from the blades dripping on his shoes.

"What happened?" I asked. She didn't respond. She marched up the stairs, extremely upset. I followed, wanting to know.

She arrived at her room, dropping her sabers on the floor. She tossed the doors open, not hiding her rage any more. She froze at the sight of father sniffing white powder from a flask.

"My king..." She said, seeing the man a sobbing mess. His breathing was choppy.

"I messed up everything. My baby girl is gone..." He cried.

"We'll bring her back." Mother said, easing over towards him, "You don't need this anymore." She reached for the flask, only to have father refusing to let it go. He glared at her, "Baby, let me take it..."

"No..." He growled.

"I just walked from the highland steps because some masked horse riders shot my horse," Mother said, "I am trying to fix this, you have to let me."

"You went to the Council?" Father asked, betrayal written across his face.

"No, I tried. Before I was even halfway there masked riders stopped me. I fought them off and walked back." Mother said, trying to appeal to father's senses.

"I should have watched him." I said, feeling responsible.

"No, Ricky get out of here." Mother responded.

Father looked at me menacingly.

"Get out! You don't need to see me like this!" Father said, getting to his feet. He placed the flask down on the table, pushing me out the door. As he did, he turned seeing mother collecting all the flasks, "Put them down..."

"No... these are killing you!" Mother said trying to reason with him. Father slammed the door, shutting me out. I felt shut out.

"GIVE ME MY FLASKS WOMAN!" Father screamed.

"NO! YOU'RE GOING TO KILL YOURSELF! I'm not going to let you kill yourself Jared! I LOVE YOU!" Mother said.

"GIVE THEM TO ME!" Father screamed. There was a thud followed by screams and struggle.

"YOU'RE HURTING ME, JARED!" Mother roared. My hand shook as I cautiously reached for the door. I paused as things grew silent. Maybe things were simmering down in there. I looked at the two guards, both still standing like statues at the door.

Suddenly there was a giant thud at the door causing all of us to jump. Mother slipped out of a door, rushing towards the stairs. She was very bruised. Father rushed after her, grasping for her. He stepped on her cloak, causing her to trip across the foyer. She tumbled over the railing falling thirty feet to the longue below.

"GISELLE!" Father screamed, extending his hand out from the balcony. Mother lay on the ground, barely alive. The flasks were in her hand. She dropped them as her life began to fade. Her blood pooled on the black tiles spreading more and more.

Father's breathing grew sharp and rapid as he realized what he had just done. He backed away, horrified by his actions.

"No...no..." He whimpered. Tears streamed down his face.

Mother's sabers still lay on the foyer floor. I picked both of them up, creeping towards father.

"You monster..." I growled. I rushed towards him, drawing the sabers up, ready to stab this evil man! I was picked up by my waist from behind, the swords taken from my hand. The two guards had me, toting me down the stairs. Father looked at me, seeing he wasn't the only one in shambles, "YOU KILLED MY MOTHER!" I said, tears and snot dripping into my mouth, "I can NEVER FORGIVE you! NEVER!!"

The guards toted me through the lobby, past my mother. I had to see her.

"LET ME GO!" I screamed, kicking and twisting trying to get free. However the men were much bigger than me. Everything slowed down as they dragged me to the terrace. This couldn't be happening. My mother didn't just die at the hands of my father. No, this was not real. If it was, what was I supposed to do without a mother?

They held me out on the terrace until I calmed down. Eventually I just sat there, until the sun rose. My mind kept replaying the horrible death over and over again. It sat so heavy on my heart. I was without a mother...

"Richard..." Someone said. I slowly turned to see Robin coming up the stairs,"I'm so sorry about what happened. I know what it's like to be without a mother! Trust me. But you have to listen to me. With your mother out of the way, my father can make all the moves he want. My father tried to kill your mother in the steppe yesterday! He gave your father those drugs last night as a fail safe because he knows what stage of addiction your father is at. He also knew your mother would try and take those drugs from him! He's plotting, Richard! With your mother out the way, my father can go after your father. It's my final warning to you. Leave. After this, my father will come for the children... You're next!" Robin said.

"What does he want?" I asked.

"This..." Robin said, pointing to the palace, "That!" He pointed to the kingdom beyond the upper ring.

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked.

"You're stupid... You're just stupid. Do I need to spell it out to you? Leave before it's too late, Richard... for me!" Robin begged.

"No! I can't leave! This is my home, my kingdom and I can see now that it needs someone protecting it... And I will protect it..." I said.

"How?" Robin asked, fully skeptical.

"I don't know yet but I will..." I said getting up, heading back into the palace.

Father sat in the chair just in front of where mother tumbled off the foyer and hit the floor. He stared at the spot for so long.

"I'm sorry..." He said, tears rolling down his cheeks. He looked up at me, "How long have you been standing there?" I just walked away, unable to look at him, "Don't leave me!"

How could he say this? After all of what he put the family through he deserved to be deserted! I went to my room, a flood of emotions hitting me upon entering. Something silver sitting on my balcony glimmered. It was Bazahra! After several days, she has returned. What was this?

I approached the regal raptor, unsure what to expect. I opened her flight pouch, shocked to see a letter. It was from Kijus! I wasted no time in reading it:

'I didn't know you had written me! I'm so sorry I couldn't get to you in time! I've been busy beyond belief. This is an awful, awful place but I must reassure you that I am fine. I miss you so much and will be able to see you again some day very soon. Thank you for being there for me even thought you didn't have too! What I'm doing, I must admit, is stupid and selfish and for you to be by my side during this means the world to me! You literally have no idea what this means to me. Thoughts of seeing you again is the only thing giving me sanity. I love you, Richard...

Yours Forever,

Kijus'

I never felt so relieved in my life. However, it made so many questions arise. What horrible things did he have to endure? What took him so long to reach me? When was he going to write me again? Did he know about Mercury being taken? I had to write him. I scrambled across the room for pen and paper.

"Stay, Bazahra..." I said, the large raptor somehow understanding. I began to write:

'My god, Kijus, I am so glad to hear from you! I've been missing you so! I have so many questions but they'll have to wait. Father is on really, really bad drugs. That is why he's been acting crazy. Roi found this out and confronted him then left! The day after, we find out that Mercury has been captured. Brija leaves after learning that. Mother and father got into a fight and... she was killed. I don't know what to do. I would leave too but father is not one hundred percent to blame. His left hand nobleman has had his hand in all of this. It runs deep, Kijus. Father isn't the issue. Sir Socoshian is! He's starting a mutinty and I don't know what to do. It's only father and I left and father is in bad shape. The drugs are pulling a number on him. His days are numbered. I'm going to lose the everything.

I must thank you though. If it wasn't for your actions, I don't think we would have ever found this out. We would be just sitting duck on the pond until it blew up. When you were here, you brought our family together, amended the relationship between my brother, sister and I. You made us work together, something we've never done! When you left, you showed us what was really going on behind these walls. You have a profound effect on all things. This is why I love you! You bring honesty and truth to everything!

Your love,

Ricky'

I wrote one for Roi too! He needed to know mother was gone. A part of me told me I should have left while another part of me told me to stay. I folded both letters up, placing them in Bazahra's pouch.