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 Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 12:14 am
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There!
"Liuhe!" Yueyun hissed as soon as he came within earshot. Voice low and urgent, he continued, "Mother's turned, I think. You said she knows and...she said something to me. Something about how Father would be...vulnerable...after the challenge. I think, if we want to do this, we need to do it. Now. Like, right now." He tried not to think too hard about what he was suggesting. That this would mean killing his own father. Or that no matter how he lived the rest of his life, that he might be a little bit the monster his father had become.
Right now, the pride needed them to be just that, to rid them of worse.
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Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 12:20 am
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Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 12:34 am
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"If you know where they are, then get them. But even if he won, he's tired and hurt right now and the guards won't be expecting any trouble because he won." Yueyun checked their surroundings a beat after Liuhe did, taking a few deep breaths as he tried to organize his thoughts. Not too many, though. Maybe if he kept talking, kept moving, kept doing, he wouldn't have to think about it all. The terrible weight of it lurked in the back of his mind, threatening to overwhelm him. He had to stay focused and keep pressing forward. "This is the best chance we're going to get, brother. The best chance anyone's going to get."
Unmentioned was the fact that, as royals, they could get in unchallenged.
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Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 12:43 am
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s**t.
His mind raced as he tried to sort out what they were supposed to do. It was the sound of Yueyun stopping to breathe that reminded him that panicking was the absolute worst thing they could do right now. So he forced himself to stand still and took a deep breath, looking back at Yueyun.
"OK, step one, we stay calm," he instructed, telling himself as much as his brother, "Mother's right, he thinks he's won, he's worn down from the fighting.. we have to act, but we still can't do it thoughtlessly. Did you see him during the fight? He was scary."
Liuhe knew he didn't have that in him. If they were lucky, their father wouldn't have it in him right now, either. It was their best hope.
"Behram is our best bet," he said, again as much to himself as Yueyun, "He's got to be somewhere nearby, he can get us help.."
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Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 1:13 am
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Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 1:33 am
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Shangyue was feeling the same strange sort of calm that had consumed him shortly after the death of his grandmother and the fight with his parents. He'd won. He'd be foolish to think the rebellion ended there but Meshach could not hold honor against him now. If they continued to fight, they would have to fight dirty. And if that was truly what swayed the pride, then they had no reason to push for continued fighting when they could settle for what they had now. Shangyue had promised his sister if she accepted his claim to the throne that the killing would stop, he had kept his word and they all knew that. Everything seemed to be back on track.
He had noticed the quiet, too, but he didn't worry about it.. except that he could practically feel Yueyun nearby. It helped that he was the only one who seemed intent on staying in one place. A past argument with Parisa played in his mind and he decided to reach out.
"Yueyun," he called, not turning to look at his son but speaking loud enough to show that he did indeed know he was there, "Come here, son." |
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Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 1:57 am
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Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 2:08 am
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Even if the relief that surged in him wasn't for the reason Shangyue thought, Yueyun hoped it would be enough to satisfy his father as he relaxed fractionally. Shangyue thought him put off by the fight today, worried by the rebellion, perhaps fearing being sent out against the rebels again. If he worked with that, he could buy some time. "I've never seen anyone fight like that," he admitted truthfully, hoping the king would take it as a compliment. Disturbingly, his father had appeared to enjoy drawing blood--the prince thought he'd even seen him laugh. Had he enjoyed slaying his parents and grandparents just as much? "But they...they would have killed me if I'd found them, wouldn't they? It wasn't just the one, they tried to throw two at you..."
He did allow the quaver into his voice this time.
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Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 2:18 am
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"You saw how Meshach fought today," he said with a slight shrug, "He didn't seem to have it in him to even try to kill me. I don't expect he would have killed you."
Did he still believe that, after Mari's death? After Chunyue's near miss? Tyfu's children were not on the same level, but Yueyun was still his son.. and Firaga's grandson. Perhaps he was not so safe as Shangyue expected.
"Nevertheless, you're safe," he said, an almost warm smile on his face- looking well out of place with the blood that still stained his pale fur, "And the worst is behind us."
Liuhe didn't think he had taken that long to find Behram and send him on his way. His friend, Great Lion bless him, had taken it much better than either prince and hurried on his way to round up whatever help he could muster for them. The plan, he hoped, was for the rebels to get into place to distract any who might help if Shangyue called for it. He had waited to see some friendly colors headed their way before seeking out Yueyun again so he knew they were approaching readiness.. and Yueyun hadn't been there. It had taken him a few minutes to realize he was already talking to their father.
Cursing under his breath, he put on the best mask he could manage (which wasn't a very good one, thanks to Shangyue's reluctance to have an heir ready to take over should the worst happen) .. and approached the pair.
"Yueyun!" he called, his voice slightly higher than normal but even, "I thought we were supposed to meet up by the tree."
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Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 2:30 am
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Yueyun was struck by how macabre Shangyue looked, bloodstained and smiling. This was his father? He didn't have long to reflect on it, or to answer, before he heard Liuhe's voice.
For a moment, sheer panic set in. Surely he'd know--
Then, the prince felt relief. He wasn't alone anymore. They had a chance. He just needed to play his part a little longer, and give his brother an opening to get into place. "That's good to hear, father," he responded, forcing what he hoped was a warm smile in return. Then, he turned just a little towards his brother's voice. "Liuhe! Father was just discussing Meshach's challenge tonight with me. Did you have anything you wanted to say about it?" Play the part, play the part, just a little longer and it would be time.
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