Chapter 13: Bothersome

We eventually arrive at our destination, a seemingly deserted barn over rice fields. No sooner than we breach the forest do the hound-like Topaz worshippers race to us. I suppose this farm is church-affiliated and sponsored. Mika sighs once before putting on the mask of the altruistic leader I’m sure he’s been wearing the entirety of his adult life.

“Your Holiness, bless my child!”

“And our marriage, Your Holiness!”

“Your Holiness, forgive me, I repent of my sins to the Topaz!”

Mika-El starts reciting Topaz scriptures and waving his hands in prayer over those clinging to him.

Insects. They practically shove me and Akechi out of the way to get to him. 

It seems no one can be bothered to recognize an unfavored thirteenth prince in the out-country. 

I tuck his bag under my armpit and grab Akechi’s wrist before we get separated by this swarm. The last thing I need to do is go back and claim I lost the prince. He hasn’t spoken once to us since the bandits. I was assuming he was afraid of me when he loops his fingers through mine, his hands all sweaty. 

He’s too familiar, but I can’t object now. 

We make our way to the barn’s garage where I plan to find the key to reasonably safe passage through the WarLands. Two pietists block our way.

I reach for the handle of the barn, gladly letting go of Akechi, and one swats my hand away.

“The contents of this barn are property of His Holiness. None may enter without his consent,” the brawnier woman states.

“We have it, His Holiness retrieved that vehicle in there for us,” I smile, attempting to maintain my composure.

“And I’m the queen of the North,” she shoots back.

I feel my eye twitching. Stay calm, fake it until I make it.

“Please let us through, if you feel the need to speak with His Holiness about the veracity of my statement, feel free to wade through your sister and brother devotees,” I gesture to the cult downhill currently singing Mika’s praises.

“I can go, Sister Mikaba,” the thinner one chimes in.

Oh no, they’re even naming their children after him.

“And bother His Holiness? No, we can deal with these curs by ourselves,” she hisses.

I set our bags down. Mika said don’t hurt his followers. Mika said don’t hurt his followers. Mika-

My fist flies into the woman’s face, knocking her back a couple of feet. I don’t need Topaz blood to whoop this vermin’s ass. Akechi throws himself around me in a hug, acting as a barrier between us. His forehead is nestled into my collarbone, but he’s not strong enough to stop me. The woman struggles to stand with a cheek injury that will hurt like hell tomorrow as the other one hurries in front of her.

“Listen up, mutts. I have fought enough people in these last two days to last a lifetime. If you two wanna be added to my tally of cadavers, just let me know,” I rage.

They’re quivering in front of me until I feel a plump arm holding me back.

“Your Holiness!” the second guard bows.

“Yuu Huwi-eh!” the first guard babbles.

Mika-El had rushed his way through the crowd to get up here before I caused any further harm. The doggies start pleading their case to him like he’s a judge.

“Your Holiness, we only informed her that she could not enter without your OK,” they explain, trying to make themselves out to be the victims.

“That was after this one,” Akechi lifts an accusatory finger, “swatted her and call her a ‘cur’.”

It’s the first time he’s speaking since the ax woman and he’s defending me committing assault against a priestess. How ironic.

“Apologize,” Mika commands the women.

Not a moment’s hesitation ensues before the women lower their heads to me, feigning remorse. Would they also offer him their gems if he asked it of them? Akechi releases me now that my anger has quelled.

“You should put a muzzle on your dogs, Mika. They-”

He slaps me. 

I touch my abrased cheek as the sound resonates through the area. That hand had the force of a hundred behind it, I’m surprised I saw it coming. 

He grips my arm and clutches Akechi’s hood before dragging us through the barn door he kicks open. Once we’re inside, Akechi turns to berate him but when he spins away from the barn door, Mika’s eyes are teary. He crouches and turns away from us again, trying to stifle his sobs. 

I wasn’t thinking about how difficult this must be for him. He’s the head of a religion dependent on Topaz and his mine just got blown up. The two people willing to help him in this endeavor are either inexperienced or violent against the same people he’s trying to protect. All these people are placing their hopes and aspirations on him. I didn’t expect to see him this vulnerable when I’ve only known the man for two days.

“Shit, Mika, I’m sor-”

“No, no, I’m sure they deserved it. I’m sorry I struck you,” he sniffles, “give me a moment to compose myself, and then we can head out.”

“I’ll drive,” Akechi offers.

Mika didn’t seem like he wanted to talk about his mini-breakdown after he dried his eyes so I didn’t inquire further about it. I know he will tell us when he feels comfortable enough to do so.

 The armored pick-up truck I’m now seeing was more than I expected. Its windows are tinted and thick, able to withstand quite the amount of force before cracking. The trunk is sealed over in what looks like titanium, given its shimmer and durability; our stuff will be just as protected as we are with this. 

That’s what I get for underestimating worshippers. 

The two padlocks over the trunk’s handle make it more than secure but I worry that we won’t be able to access the weapons promptly if the need arises. 

While I’m admiring the vehicle, Mika had retrieved his bag and a keyring from one of his henchmen standing outside. I bet he didn’t even have to ask for them to bring those to him. I also grab the suitcases I dropped to put them in the trunk while Mika-El tosses Akechi the keys. When I make eye contact with Mika again as we enter the car, one wouldn't be able to tell that he had been crying. It’s not like he suddenly rubbed his eyes dry but like he had never been crying in the first place. I recall that he has to be able to don the face of the impassive priest at a moment’s notice as we pull out of the barn.

“Thank you, sisters, brothers, for your assistance. May the blessings of the Topaz shine upon you,” he appeases the crowd standing beside the truck. 

Their hands are outstretched so that they may have the chance to graze their fingers against his. I don’t understand how people could do this much for a person they barely know. Their dedication is almost unnatural.

While Mika’s window is rolled down, I use my whistle to call Phoe. He perches on the hood of the car above my window.

The drive through the WarLands will take a little less than a week to reach the Northern Queendom. We will be entering through the nation’s west gate as it is closest to the royal advisor’s estate. We already determined that it would be impossible to interrogate the queen’s confidant with Her Majesty present and expect the truth from them. So we have to catch them in the comfort of their home when they aren’t expecting us. 

I don’t know how we’re going to cooperate in an interrogation, though, when the car ride has been dead silent since we left the barn. 

With Akechi driving, Mika in the passenger, and me in the back seat, each passing second of silence only stretches out the awkwardness of our situation. Fortunately, there was quite a variety of snacks in the glove compartment so we could use the excuse of eating to justify our quietness for a while. I mix in some antibiotics with my red bean bun. I’m feeding my crumbs to Phoe out the window when Mika speaks.

“When I was younger… I was homeless,” he starts. Me and Akechi don’t respond allowing him to continue, whenever he was ready.

“I don’t know if parenting is that much different in North and South Yenia, but in the Republic, if a child didn’t please their parents, they had every right to cast them out, regardless of age. Children are dispensable; if one didn’t like the child they made, they could always make another. My parents wanted me to be a tailor, but I wanted to be a researcher, something like your mother, JJ. I wanted to see if I could craft Topaz into something that could help people, more than just enhancements, something like prosthetics, or cure-alls. So I used the money they gave me to apprentice under a renowned seamer to apply to a research facility. I got in. But I knew they wouldn’t be as excited as I was so I packed my bags as soon as I got home. They kicked me out in December and my studies started in May, room and board provided. All I had to do was scrape it out until then. The change I had saved up lasted me a few weeks but by the end of the month, I was starving and begging for scraps. The worshippers took me in. The followers of Topaz were very different from who they are now. When I joined them, they were performing experiments on sickly patients and trying to make Topaz, the gem itself, sentient. I did what I could with my research skills and before I knew it, I found myself being elected as the High Priest. I had the privilege to give back what was given to me so I couldn’t very well abandon them and chase my childish fantasies. But I find myself in this position, having to lie straight to the faces of the people who believe in me. Believed in me. Believed that I could protect them and our mine. Seems I’ve failed at both,” his head sinks, marking the conclusion of his account.

I don’t have anything to say. Akechi, the one person in this car who would most likely understand what it’s like to be neglected by one’s parents and given that much responsibility because of his position, doesn’t say anything either. Hell, he has to bend over backward just for his father to acknowledge him as his child.

Maybe I’m lucky that Boss treats me the way she does; not as an object for her amusement, not as a way to provide the ‘great parenting’ she believes she should have received as a child, not to force her dreams upon a child she recognizes as having no will of her own because as long as that child depends on her, that child belongs to her, the way a slave belongs to a master. The way a slave serves a master. The way a slave fears a master. Yes, I’m quite lucky that Boss treats me like her subordinate and not her child. At least with her, everything that is expected of me by her is equally reciprocated from her to me. One of the reasons I respect her is because she treats me with respect.

Akechi drives fast so we should get there soon; he switches out with Mika whenever he gets sleepy. I don’t need to be driving with my rib and those near-hallucinogenic antibiotics. So I’m sprawled out in the back cuddling my bird; he decided on riding inside the car every now and then after the third day on the road because the temperature dropped to better fit the climes of the North. Sharing our body heat provides well-needed extra insulation. 

With a couple of stops sprinkled in to relieve ourselves and redress my wounds, we’re making good time. We also get in some target practice whenever we stop; Akechi’s getting better, I’d say he’s a little less experienced than the average castle archer at this point. Phoenix also uses the time to stretch his wings so he doesn’t regurgitate crackers on me because of his motion sickness. 

3:00 AM the next day, me and Akechi are passed out when we finally arrive at the gate.