by Lance Wilson
“He never laid a hand on me, and I know he never laid a hand on her… . Attonnan, why didn’t you tell any of us, does mom know.” Mellyruna asks his eyes now blazing like hot coals.
“Yes, she’s found me once or twice, put slave on the wounds” Attonnan says knowing full well that it is all over, they will want answers and he as a sibling has no choice but to answer with honesty.
“How, how often” Byrdi says shocked at all this.
“Not too often, once, twice a week” Attonnan says and looks down
“You’re lying” Maeraer says growling at him.
“More or less” Byrdi asks now looking at his sister
“More, more like four, five times a week” she says her eyes too rimmed with tears.
“There is your answer, clearly Attonnan is the strongest of us. To go through that without saying a word” Mellyruna says now looking at the sorceress as the other siblings pull close to Attonnan and hold him.
“I agree, and that is why I think the gods choose him for what they did. I made a pact when I gave Feff his change of fate. Attonnan was my gift to the gods.” she said and smiled at them all.
“It is time to leave, all questions have been answered and as you can see the sun is setting” Gnar said calmly and smiled at all of them.
“My friend is right it is time for us to part” Maeraer and Byrdi can show you the way, Gnar take them as far as the passage” the sorceress says calmly
Gnar bows to his sorceress and then the five of them walk back down the stone carved staircase, they go as far as the first five steps where Gnar pulls away of the cover of vines and moss to uncover a perfect tunnel.
“Follow this, it does not turn, it does not split up, there are torches lining the way so you can’t get lost. Vulge will be waiting for you on the opposite side” Gnar says and leaves them to the tunnel.
Byrdi and Maeraer lead the way down the tunnel. The entire time all of them are silent. Attonnan knows that it is all about him. They never knew of the things that their father had done to him. He’s not sure why he never told them, he knew that they would always be there for him. The more he thinks about it though, the more he knows why. Every time he saw any of them with their father, they were happy, their father was happy. He never wanted them to think of their father the way he did, as a cruel tyrant that only lived to hurt. Watching them, he can only remember the longing he felt, he wanted to be them, for once he wanted was for his father to smile at him like he did them. As they walk through the tunnels he smiles at his siblings. Both of his brothers, strong and fierce. His sister, cunning and beautiful. Mellyruna walks for a bit and slowly looks back at his brother. Attonnan has his head down and looks like he is deep in thought. He never knew, oh sure he knew that there father was cruel to Attonnan, his snide remarks and coldness, but to find out that he beat Attonnan to the point of bleeding. He is furious with his father, how can he be such a cold-hearted man to one, and then to the rest of them, so warm and inviting? His father had never laid a hand on him, never thought about it. And he knows he has never laid a hand on Maeraer or Byrdi either. So why was Attonnan the focus of all his hate. He slows his pace tell he is right next to his brother.
“Attonnan, I would like to talk to you” he says and gently puts his hand on Attonnan’s shoulder.
“There’s really nothing to talk about, and you have larger things on your plate my prince” Attonnan says with a smile and a polite bow, he always did like poking fun at Mellyruna
“Attonnan, come on, this is serious. Why didn’t you ever tell me” Mellyruna says and stops just in front of him.
Byrdi and Maeraer hear the stop of their footsteps and turn to see Mellyruna standing in front of Attonnan
“I didn’t want you to feel bad for me, and I didn’t want you to hate father, he’s been so good to you” Attonnan says calmly not sure if it makes any sense
“But we could have been there for you, why did you feel that you had to keep it from us” Mellyruna said calmly trying to figure it all out.
“Now that you know, how do you feel about father” Attonnan asked calmly his eyes piercing and sharp
“I’m not sure, I still love him, but to know he did this to you, I want to hurt him, a lot” Mellyruna says and watches as Attonnan begins to take lead
“That is exactly why” he says and keeps moving down the path.
They walk the rest of the path silent, all of them now looking at Attonnan in a different light, all of then knew that he was perhaps just as strong as Mellyruna, but now they all know, he is easily the stronger of the two, but his is a silent strength, something deep and burning inside.
When they get to the entrance Vulge is waiting with a smile, and to his right is a young elven woman, probably just reaching her own rite of passage. Her skin is fair with long light brown hair. She is wearing a white elegant gown with a silver hooded cape. She has a golden belt and a thin elegant crown on her head. Both Attonnan and Mellyruna’s heart skips a beat seeing her. It is Ishtar, they have known her for as long as they can remember, she started there mischief making, she introduced both of them into the art of courtship.
“Ishtar” Attonnan whispers to himself he can hear Maeraer chuckle to herself as she passes him.
“Ishtar, it is always a pleasure when you come” Mellyruna says walking calmly and with a polite bow kisses her hand.
“Why, my prince, are you hinting you want my company, such ill manners” Ishtar says and gently curtsies
“Are you two done with the act, come on there is a feast waiting” he says calmly and hands the rains of each horse to which they belong.
“Vulge, I have a question, and I want you to be honest” Mellyruna says looking down then up into the eyes of his horse.
“I have never lied to you” Vulge says calmly
“I have my doubts” Mellyruna says taking a deep breath
“Mellyruna, now is not the time, just drop this, please” Attonnan says looking hard at Mellyruna
“Attonnan” he says but then looks down. Between family is one thing, but Attonnan is right, there is no point in bringing this up in front of Ishtar or Vulge.
“It is cause he hates your brother, cause he thinks it is Attonnan that took your mothers strength letting the winter chill take her and kill her, he blames him for all of it” Vulge says already knowing the conversation
“What, that’s, that just sick” Mellyruna says growling
“You have to understand Mellyruna, your father is hurting, he loves Rin, but he keeps her at arms length, when your mother died all that pain, all that hurt. He focused it on Attonnan” Vulge says calmly but he too is now looking at the ground.
“This is all well and good, but I have to admit I’m lost” Ishtar says and looks at both of them
“This is nothing. Lets go home” Attonnan says and kicks his horse into a gallop
“And what was that all about” Ishtar says shocked
“Nothing that you need to concern yourself with. He just needs to cool off” Mellyruna says and gently strokes her face.
“Come on, Attonnan was right, there is a feast waiting and I am starved” Vulge says and kicks his horse into a gallop.
Keeping the pace of a gallop Attonnan gets to the castle gates long before the others. How could they do that to him, he never wanted they sympathy. Now all they do is look at him like some wounded animal that needs tending to, it’s just as bad as the hate he gets from his father, tears stream down his eyes and whip though the wind. All of his anger and distain quickly empties as he sees his mother standing dressed in her nightgown and a red hooded cloak. Seeing this puts him in a shock and he slows the horse just enough so that he can dismount, not stopping it at all
“Mother, what’s wrong” he says dashing up to her letting a guard catch his horse as it goes for the gate.
“What, how, when” he asks calmly but wraps his arms around her to comfort her.
“Vulge told me that he had a meeting late in the night last night. With the Oda clan, he’s not been back yet and the Oda clan has told me that he never arrived. Oh Attonnan, I fear the worst” she says her voice quivering as she sobs into her sons shoulder.
“I shall gather a best scouts and hunters, we’ll go out right away. The others will be here soon” Attonnan says and looks at the guard with his horse.
“Gather the hunters and scouts, we leave in a few minutes.” He shouts and the guard quickly bows handing the rains back to Attonnan.
“Attonnan, thank you, I know how much you hated him.” she said calmly and smiled at him
“He is my father, no matter what has gone on between us, I do it for you, and the others” Attonnan says calmly and smiles at them.
“My prince, the hunters are gathered and waiting your orders” the guard says dropping to one knee.
“He would want to meet the clan on his territory, we search for tracks, start north, and go around the territory tell something is found. None of us return tell tracks and my father is found” Attonnan shouts
He then mounts his horse and rides to the gate where the hunters are waiting. All of them nod their head in a show of respect and his authority. With that, they all kick their horses into a galloping pace. Like Attonnan’s orders they all ride north, three of the sharpest eyed hunters take lead. Attonnan staying in the middle watching as they scour the countryside for tracks. A time here or there the hunters pick out a part of the path that look like someone might have passed in the night. Each time they spot a trail they follow it, each time it come further and further, they have to slow the pace to make sure they follow it to it’s fullest. Then, finally they come to it, the end of all the trails; it is a small church in the lands, abandoned, forgotten. Without words Attonnan points to areas then hunters, he does not want to let what ever might be around, know that he is there. The hunters stalk with silence befitting them. Attonnan only dismounts and walks into the old church. Ten years of dust and dirt lay everywhere. Slowly as he walks though the church, he sees them, tracks in the dirt. But not of just one man, it looks like a small force was here, some of smaller nature, some of larger. So his mother was right, he did walk into an ambush. But who, was it the Hitori clan, from what Vulge has taught him and what his father has told him, that seems unlikely; the Hitori clan is warriors, not assassins or thieves. The Oda clan maybe, their leader with no name is cold and calculated, he wouldn’t be above this. None of this matters, all that matters is that his father has been taken, perhaps killed.
“My prince, we have found tracks, it looks like your father rode right into an ambush.” A hunter says from the doorway
“Hunter, have any of your men fought the other clans?” Attonnan asks calmly
“Yes, the lead hunter, fought against all the other elven clans, even Mecmed in his first attempt for this land” the hunter says calmly
“Has he seen what needs to be seen” Attonnan asks still kneeling, looking at the tracks in the dirt and dust.
“He has” the hunters says and nods, he knows the orders even before they are spoken.
Attonnan stares at the floor, why would his father be so foolish, why wouldn’t he have seen this coming. Sure the church is still deep in the land. But still, his father should have known. It only takes a bit of time before the lead hunter is now in the church kneeling next to him.
“You think the same as me.” the hunter says as Attonnan slowly raises and looks at the hunter
The hunter is an older man, gray hair, short, not much past five feet. His face is wrinkled and shows of the age and experience he has.
“He walked into an ambush, that is obvious any novice tracker can tell you that. My question I ask you is by which clan” Attonnan asks looking hard at the hunter.
“I have looked over all the tracks, it was an easy ambush, and he was taken off his guard. If I had to wager, that was an Oda trick, but other things I have seen, I would say all the clans where here, or someone from them” he said calmly but lowers his head.
“So the clans unite against the Unagi… . why” Attonnan asks growling and glaring at the tracks in the dust.
“That I couldn’t tell you, but if all the clans are against us, Ronin is not safe” he says calmly but starts to walk off to the door.
“What do you think happened to my father” Attonnan says calmly but his mind reels at the thought of what they would do to his father.
“Does it matter, we cannot help him where he goes now. We don’t even know to which clan has him, or perhaps, they sold him to Mecmed. All that matters is to keep your brother safe and your family” the hunter says his hand on the doorframe.
“Yes… we shall go home and I shall tell my mother the news, and my brothers and sister” Attonnan says wondering how they are going to take it. Their father taken, to where and why no one knows.
“What then” the hunter says calmly but looks hard into Attonnan’s eyes
“I shall leave that problem to Vulge and my brother, either we must go home” Attonnan says calmly and walks out to the church.
With that the hunters gather back again, all mounted on horses they gallop off back home. Back home to give the horrible news that for now, Ronin and the Unagi clan is without a king.
Mellyruna is second to show up at the gates, his horse only trotting now. Vulge is just slightly behind him. Like Attonnan the first thing he sees as he nears the gates is his mother still dressed in her nightgown, still covered in a red hooded cloak. Mellyruna pulls his horse to a stop and then dashes up to his mother, she has never met him at the gates not for any reason. The closer he gets the more he can see that she has been crying.
“Mother, what’s wrong” Mellyruna asks calmly pulling his mother to him.
“Your father has gone missing.” She says looking over at Vulge as he approaches.
“He has not returned from the Oda meeting” Vulge asks curious and in shock
“He never arrived at the Oda meeting. Lord Oda himself asked of the delay” She says and watches as her other children gather around her.
“We shall gather the hunters and set out a scouting party, Vulge do you know where the meeting was?” Mellyruna asks calmly but her mother puts a hand on his shoulder.
“There is no need, Attonnan has already gathered the hunters and left almost an hour ago scouting for anything about your father” she says and lays her hand on her daughters head.
“Do you know when we should expect him to come back?” Mellyruna says looking now into the blackness of the forest.
Almost as if on cue they hear the sound of horses galloping to the castle, Vulge and many of the other guards ready themselves and push the queen and her family deep into the folds so that they are well protected.
“Hold fire.” A hunters voice shouts and the guards relax the bowstrings and swords are sheathed.
In lead is Attonnan on his black horse. Like the last time he dismounts not so much stopping the horse but slowing him down a bit. Seeing his family he takes a deep breath, he has to tell them, he can tell by the looks on their faces they know about there father and that he was out looking.
“Attonnan” his mother says, her voice only a whisper.
“Father is with one of the clans, it seems the Unagi clan stands alone against Mecmed. Father walked into an ambush, there were no traces of blood so there is no real idea of what happened” Attonnan looks over the faces. He can see the fear on the younger and the worry on his older brother. He wishes he could have avoided this but they had to know, what else could he have done.
“What do we do?” Maeraer says looking arou
nd at everyone else.
“Tonight we feast, tomorrow Mellyruna will be announced as king, he shall step down when and if his father comes back” Vulge says calmly and looks hard at Mellyruna who is now pale as a ghost.
“You were told that you would be king, why so shocked” Attonnan says smiling at him trying to lighten the mood.
“It’s only temporary, tell father comes back” Mellyruna says calmly but they can see the thought running through both Vulge and Attonnan, who says father is coming home.
“Come let’s feast” Vulge says and puts his arm around Mellyruna
They all make there way to the feast hall, which has kept the foot and the room warm for them all. There are cheers and yells of celebration as they all walk in. but it is at the door when Rin slowly puts her arm around Attonnan and pulls him to the side there is much to talk about she’s not sure why but she knows he will be the one to talk to, to get her answers.
“Attonnan, you saw where the ambush was, what did you think” she asks calmly but as he looks into her eyes he can see that she is pleading.
Thinking back to the sight of the ambush he thinks to himself, what was his first thought. First of course was the question of why his father was so foolish. But then, as he thought about it about he asked questions about why all clans would be there, the only though was that Mecmed bought them, now the question was, was Mecmed with them.
“What ever that meeting was about, it was desperate, looking around father made a lot of mistakes I don’t think he would have normally done.” Attonnan says focusing on the first thought rather then the second. He’s hoping she doesn’t ask the questions he doesn’t want to answer.
“All the clans, how could that have happened” she asks now looking in on her children who are now laughing with friends and other guards.
“I think they were bought, I think this is the only clan not yet bought by Mecmed” Attonnan says calmly
“Tomorrow, I do not know what vows your father was going to have you take, but watching you tonight, I know what vows I will have you take. You will be Ronin’s guardian” she says calmly and places her hand on his shoulder
