The convoy has stopped. For a couple minutes the women sit and wait for someone to come give them an update. They assume they are at the gates of Bellum, but they can’t be certain from inside the Queen’s carriage.
An expected knock on the door finally comes, it is opened by the contrasting silhouettes of David and Ser Stephan.
“My Queen, Roasa… Mother…” David says as he is cut off by Lieutenant Rain.
“I have told you not to call me that.” She insists.
“No, that was King Aero, you never told me.”
“I am sorry, all non-Bellumi looks the same.”
The Queen bursts into laughter. She has never heard anyone use such blatant stereotypes before.
“Forgive my interruption, but I’ve had guest with me all morning. They were rescued at the battle and have been riding in my carriage. Since we stopped, I thought I would take the opportunity to introduce them to the Queen.” David states
“Of course, there is room in my carriage. Please send them in.” Queen Asna replies.
“Queen Asna, this is Raven Summerset, but she prefers to go by the alias Yorba. The gentleman is Rune, you will remember him from when we spoke about our time at the Old Palace prior to coming into Meego. He was the man with the axe and bear.”
“You have got to be kidding me!” Roasa blurts out. “Sorry… I can’t believe you are here!” Roasa says as she tries to cover her dislike of the overly opinionated Yorba.
“Welcome Yorba, Rune. If I remember my stories correctly, both of you oppose monarchy rule, correct?” the Queen asks.
“Yes.” Yorba responds.
“Then what are you doing here?”
“King Aero invited us to be advisors to the crown.”
Roasa, who has been extremely laid back since she departed the mainland, has suddenly found her Durrie fire. Before she can make a comment, Queen Asna calmly places her hand over Roasa’s and gives a gentle squeeze. It isn’t much of a gesture, but it is enough to calm Roasa down.
“You changed your name? Why?” Asna asks.
“I ran away from home. My father was trying to force me into a marriage. I left in the middle of the night about three years ago. I was going to the Breaker Islands because I thought no one would ever find me out there, but then I found the desolation of the Dump. I knew that I could build a community based on the freedom writers and no one would ever look for me there.”
“A free community? Do you mean self-sufficient?”
“Partly, but we governed each other as equals. We had no rulers and lived within our means. We were independent from the outside world except when the Bellumi forced a tax upon us.”
“You would have loved Meego. It’s everything you speak of, but we had to be due to the curse.”
“Except for your fighting pits.” Roasa adds.
Asna can’t hide her embarrassment upon hearing Roasa’s comment. It’s true, the fighting pits is one of the biggest struggles that she has had in her life. She always thought it was an outdated practice, but never found an opportune moment to voice her opinion.
“Violence is something we both hate.” Rune adds.
“Which is understandable. I prefer living in harmony myself.” Asna replies.
“But violence is what freed you this morning.” Roasa snaps.
“It was, I also participated in the fight at the Old Palace. Violence is something of an enigma to me now. I always thought it was a barbaric practice but now, I can see some of its benefits… In a twisted way.” Rune replies.
“What did you say?” Yorba blurts out as she is deeply offended by Rune’s comment.
“I know, it’s crazy. I do not want to participate in it ever again but the men who destroyed your community were all slain this morning. In some twisted way I am relieved that they won’t be able to hurt anyone again.”
“War should always be the last course of action, but sometimes it can’t be avoided. Sometimes the cries of justice from the weak and powerless are too loud to ignore.” Ser Stephan adds.
“I for one will always advise against it!” Yorba stubbornly proclaims.
“Then you will be a great advisor, but I fear war is on the horizon. The powers in the Capital now aren’t just going to give up their control because we ask. Even if Aero holds the Royal Blade and I am the rightful Queen. We have a lot riding on Bellum supporting us, this meeting is critical. We must have Bellum’s support.” Asna says as she strokes Princess Fluff.
“Agreed, but will Bellum join your side?” Roasa asks.
“Our side.” Ansa responds.
Yorba turns toward Rain but before she can ask, Rain answers “A soldier does not ask these questions, it is for the high command to decide.”
“If only we had a guy with a magic axe riding a Halo Bear with us…” David says.
Everyone looks to Rune.
“You would get tired of the bear, he was a jerk.” Rune jokes. “Besides, no one has asked a very obvious question about it.”
“Which is?”
“How did it know to come to your aid at the palace? It called me three months before that day. It feels like something is guiding our journey. It’s as if someone wants Aero and Asna to take over the kingdom. To me not knowing is very frightening.”
Everyone thinks on Rune’s words and he has a point. Nearly everyone has experienced something extraordinary since the Meegan journey began. No one wants to admit how unsettling that thought is though. After a moment of silence, David speaks.
“It’s been a long day so far; I am going to go back to my carriage and get a little rest.” David says as he looks up to Stephan “We will be at the gate in a couple hours.”
“We aren’t there? Then why did we stop?” Asna asks.
“I was able to convince Aero to bathe, we stopped at a small river.”
“What? Why didn’t you tell me? I need to go check that out!” Asna says as she places the rabbit in Roasa’s lap. “Watch Fluffs for me, Rain come with me please.”
Asna and Rain exit the carriage leaving Roasa alone with Rune and Yorba. Asna immediately darts for the river. Roasa looks at David still standing in the door, he gives her an evil smile and shuts her in the carriage with her guest. Roasa has a shocked expression, how did she get stuck with these two of all people?
David and Stephan return to their carriage. As they look toward the river to see Asna speaking to Aero who has finished bathing. Once inside, and all the curtains are drawn Stephan grabs David by the neck and pulls him in for a kiss. A couple of hours is plenty of time for these two.
Relics of the Old Age 