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They had been sitting in court for several hours, listening and passing judgements on disputes that could only be settled by the king. Most concerned land rights or trade deals and a few cases dealing with criminals. \n\nThere was a crowd gathered. A bunch of busy bodies with nothing more to do during the day than to see what they can gossip about tomorrow. \n\nArigio sat in a large chair with Raphael and Michelangelo in smaller seats on either side of him. Donatello stood with Nevio, behind the royal trio and several other servants stood at the ready to be summoned at a moment’s notice. \n\nThe princes’ teacher, April, sat at a small, nearby desk to take notes. She used a special form of shorthand that she could later elaborate on for record keeping. \n\nA noble family of humans, a man, his wife and their daughter, stepped forward to stand in front of the king. The daughter was being comforted by her mother. A human commoner in shackles was dragged up by guards and forced to kneel a few feet away from them. \n\n“This man attacked my daughter,” the noble man said. “He violated her, forcing himself on her.”\n\nThe king looked the girl over. “Did he?”\n\nShe nodded in response. \n\n“Are you sure this is the man,” Arigio asked. “I do not want to condemn one man to the fate that should befall another.” \n\n“It was him,” the girl sobbed, keeping her eyes down.\n\nArigio then turned to the prisoner. “Do you have anything to say in your defense?”\n\n“I touched her breast,” the man said with a touch of fear in his voice. “She was coming on to me like a harlot. I had no idea she was a noble’s daughter.”\n\nArigio growled and then turned to Raphael. “That was as much of a confession I need. For his crime the punishment is either life in prison or death. You can decide.”\n\nRaphael leaned back and thought. “I think we should let the victim decide. She also has the option of asking for mercy and a lesser sentence.”\n\nArigio’s eyes narrowed slightly but he said nothing. \n\n“Death,” the girl said without hesitation. “He took from me something I can never get back, my peace of mind.”\n\n“Death it is,” Arigio said and gave his son a measuring glance. “Raphael, kill him.”\n\nStone faced, Raphael stood and drew his dagger. “Yes, father.”\n\n“I don’t deserve death,” the man yelled as he struggled against the guards. “Please don’t do this. I didn’t know! She was coming on to me.”\n\n“Ignorance does not excuse you from the law,” Arigio said. \n\nThe guards held the man’s head back as Raphael pulled his blade across his throat. The floor was covered in sand for this very reason. \n\nAs the man struggled to breathe the guards released him, allowing him to fall to the floor. It didn’t take long for the life to drain from him. Servants rushed forward and lifted the body into a wheelbarrow and then shoveled the blood-soaked sand on top of him. \n\nAnother team added more sand and smoothed it out while the body was carted out a side entrance. The evidence was erased before Raphael was able to clean his dagger and return to his seat. \n\nOne of the nearby human slaves fainted, the try of goblets she was holding clattered to the floor. The crowd gasped as all eyes turned to her. Arigio turned to see who it was but said nothing. Other slaves hastily collected her from the floor and carried her away. \n\nAs the nobles were being escorted from the room, the announcer introduced the next to appear. “Miyamoto Usagi is here to request land for his people.”\n\nMichelangelo perked. “Isn’t that the rabbit?”\n\n“Tact,” Arigio warned under his breath. “You are royalty. People are supposed to be in awe of you, not the other way around.”\n\nA servant opened the door and a white rabbit stepped into the court. He walked up the narrow path, through the crowd to stand in front of the king and bowed. It wasn’t a deep bow but was more than just an inclination of the head, revealing that the rabbit saw himself as greater than a commoner but not quite a noble.\n\n“I come from across the sea with my people,” Usagi said as he stood erect. “We have fled our war-torn country and now seek refuge here. At the moment, we live on boats but that cannot last. I am told that you have farm land that you might be willing to allow my people to settle.”\n\n“I do,” Arigio said. “The field can be flooded for rice and there is an orchard full of plum and apple trees. It will support livestock and is close to a trade route. It is also close enough to the ocean that the village could support fishermen.”\n\n“The locals in that village will welcome us?” Usagi asked. \n\n“There are no locals.” Arigio stated. “The village is vacant. There was a plague nearly seven years ago. Wiped out the whole village. The priestesses assure me that the area is clear of both the illness and vengeful spirits, and that a water spirit has moved into the river.”\n\nUsagi lifted an eyebrow. “A spirit?”\n\nArigio nodded. “Do you not have them where you are from?”\n\n“We do,” Usagi said. “The ones that dwell in the water are known as Kappa and are not pleasant.”\n\n“I assure you that this spirit is good,” Arigio said. “I can have a priestess teach you and your people about our different spirits.”\n\n“I do not expect you to give up land for nothing,” Usagi said. “What is your price?”\n\nArigio smiled. “You would be correct. For start, you and your people would have to pledge loyalty to me as your king and my father as the emperor. Some will be required to join the guard.”\n\n“That will not be a problem,” Usagi assured him. “My people are accustomed to monarchies.”\n\n“Second,” the kind continued. “You will obey our laws and pay respect to our gods.”\n\n“That is understandable,” Usagi replied. \n\n“I have been told that you call yourself a bodyguard,” Arigio said. \n\n“I am.” Usagi nodded. \n\n“Good,” Arigio said. “My brother’s kingdom has seen a rare influx of young girls while my kingdom has seen too few. For you to have the land, I will need you and a handful of men to escort a caravan of young boys to my brother’s kingdom on the other side of the empire and then return with a caravan of girls. You will get all the food and supplies you will need from each kingdom as you travel.”\n\n“That will take months,” Usagi said. “My people cannot live on the boats for that long, many of them will die before I return.”\n\n“They can have the land in good faith while you perform the task,” Arigio said. \n\n“Thank you,” Usagi said, bowing a little deeper this time. \n\n“If you fail,” Arigio said, his tone dropping, “your people will pay.”\n\n“I understand,” Usagi said. \n\n“Oroku Saki will give you the details,” Arigio said, indicating the commander of his army. \n\nUnderstanding that he was being dismissed, Usagi followed Saki out of the court. \n\nThe remining cases were simple land disputes and arguments over who had what rights. For the most part, the king was settling petty squabbles between nobles. \n\nWhen he dismissed the court, Arigio remained sitting. It was apparent that he wasn’t done but he did not wish to handle the matter in front of the gathered crowed. \n\n“Where’s the slave that made a scene,” he asked as soon as the court room was cleared. \n\nThe young woman was led by the high priestess, Karai, to stand in front of the king. \n\nArigio glared down at her. “Give me one reason why I should not have you whipped within an inch of your life?”\n\n“Please, your highness.” Karai stepped forward. “She did not know it at the time but she passed out because she is pregnant.”\n\n“Who gave you permission,” Arigio demanded. \n\n“I did not choose it,” the slave sobbed. \n\n“She was forced, your majesty,” Karai clarified. \n\nArigio thought for a moment. “If you did not willingly participate, why did you not come forward sooner?”\n\n“Because I am a lowly slave,” the woman said, keeping her eyes on the ground, “and the man who forced himself on me is a member of the guard. He said he was in his rights to have me.”\n\n“Ah.” Arigio nodded his head in understanding. “Do you know who it was?”\n\n“Hun, your majesty,” she answered. \n\n“Bring Hun,” the king ordered, sitting back in his chair, his eyes never leaving the slave. \n\nThey didn’t have to wait long. Hun entered the courtroom and strode up to stand before the king. “You summoned me, your majesty?”\n\n“Did you take your pleasure with this slave,” Arigio asked, indicating the young woman. \n\nHun looked her over. “I’m not sure, I have had so many. She’s pretty enough, so I might have.”\n\n“She says that you did,” Arigio stated, “and that she is now carrying your child.”\n\n“Is she sure it’s mine,” Hun asked. \n\nArigio looked at the woman, expecting an answer. She nodded. “I was a virgin before and have not been with any other. There is no other possibility.”\n\n“Is she old enough to be married,” Arigio asked. “It’s hard to tell with humans.”\n\n“Barely,” Raphael answered. “Though they do tend to marry young, they usually wait until they are at least eighteen.”\n\nArigio turned his attention back to Hun. “Since she is pregnant with your child would you like for me to allow you to marry her? It wouldn’t be the first time I released a slave at the request of a member of the guard.”\n\nHun shook his head. “Never desired a wife or children. I prefer to take my pleasures from the slaves.”\n\nArigio leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand as he thought. “From now on, take your pleasures from the slaves I have assigned to servicing such needs and not from the ones here in the palace.”\n\n“Yes, your highness,” Hun said with a bow. \n\n“You may go,” Arigio said and went back to considering the slave. “What to do with you? We still have to deal with the fact that you drew unwanted attention to yourself. You are fortunate that I do not kill children.”\n\n“I like her, father,” Michelangelo said. “She tends to me often and I like having her around. She has a beautiful singing voice. Please be merciful. She one of my favorite slaves. Let me keep her.”\n\n“I told you not to pick favorites or get attached,” Arigio said. “They are fragile creatures that don’t live very long.”\n\n“I know,” Michelangelo whimpered, “but I couldn’t help it. Please don’t take her away from me.”\n\n“She will be easily replaced,” Arigio argued. \n\n“I don’t want another one,” Michelangelo pouted, “I want her.”\n\n“Very well,” Arigio sighed. “I will indulge you in this. The slave will continue to work while she carries and when the bastard is born it will go to the priestesses. For the distraction in court today she will receive ten lashes.”\n\n“Father,” Michelangelo pleaded. \n\n“Five,” Arigio said. “That is final.”\n\nThe girl gasped as two guards grabbed hold of her and forced her to her knees. Tear filled eyes looked to Karai for help but the priestess turned way. \n\nAn old fox with a bamboo cane stepped behind her. The first lash drew a heart wrenching scream from the young woman. Michelangelo winced and his eyes filled with tears but Raphael sat stone faced like his father. \n\nWith each following lash, the girl’s cries weakened. By the time the fifth one landed, she had blacked out. The thin fabric of her dress, bloodied and tattered, fell from her torso. The guards released her and she slumped to the ground. \n\n“Take her,” Arigio said with a wave of his hand. As the salves took her away, Arigio stood. “Go see to dinner preparations. It’s been a long day and I am ready for a hot meal.”\n\n“Yes, your highness,” Nevio said and urged Donatello to follow him. \n\nLeonardo’s jaw hurt from clenching it so hard to keep from crying out. It took every ounce of restraint not to rush into the court room and kill Arigio for what he had done. The rats’ indifference was nothing compared to Arigio’s. \n\nStaying in the hidden corridors within the castle walls, Leonardo decided to follow the two young princes. The fact that the king and his guards were ignorant to these halls made them a spy’s dream. \n\nEach chamber had a way to watch and listen in on the unsuspecting occupants. Leonardo wanted to get to know the royal family himself. At the moment, he didn’t like them very much and was beginning to regret the failed assassination.\n\nThe two princes stood in silence while slaves removed their ornate attire. It disgusted Leonardo how they would put on such a show. All this pageantry just to feel superior. \n\n“Leave,” Raphael ordered once it was all put away. \n\nThe slaves scurried from the room in fear, knowing that a simple mistake could lead to a beating. \n\nThe brothers stood in silence for a while. Then, Raphael cried out and punched the wall. \n\n“Don’t!” Michelangelo moved to stand in front of his brother. “If you bloody up your knuckles, father will ask questions.”\n\n“I knew that if I had chosen imprisonment, father would not have been pleased,” Raphael said through gritted teeth. “I didn’t think that spoiled noble would condemn that man to death.”\n\n“You tried,” Michelangelo soothed. \n\nRaphael leaned on Michelangelo as he fought to hold back tears. “Why did he have me do that? That man didn’t deserve to die.”\n\n“He’s training you, like grandfather trained him,” Michelangelo said. \n\n“I don’t want to be like him,” Raphael whimpered. “He’s evil. I hate him.”\n\n“I know,” Michelangelo said, pulling his brother close. “Calm down. If father catches you like this, he’ll beat you. Please.”\n\n“Thank you, for what you did for Olivia,” Raphael mumbled as he returned his brother’s embrace. “If I had tried….”\n\n“I can get by with more than you can,” Michelangelo said. “Might as well take advantage of it. I wasn’t lying when I said she was one of my favorites. I could listen to her sing for hours.”\n\n“Me too.” Raphael pulled away from Michelangelo and took a few deep breaths to regain control. “He’s gonna wear me down eventually. He’s going to break me like grandfather broke him.”\n\n“I won’t let that happen,” Michelangelo promised. \n\n“I don’t know if you can stop it,” Raphael said, locking away his emotions. “I die a little more every day.”\n\nLeonardo sat down, overwhelmed with conflicting emotions. It seemed that everyone suffered under the rule of King Arigio, even his sons. \n","writing_bbcode_parsed":"Michelangelo stifled a yawn, earning him a sideways glare from his father. They had been sitting in court for several hours, listening and passing judgements on disputes that could only be settled by the king. Most concerned land rights or trade deals and a few cases dealing with criminals.
There was a crowd gathered. A bunch of busy bodies with nothing more to do during the day than to see what they can gossip about tomorrow.
Arigio sat in a large chair with Raphael and Michelangelo in smaller seats on either side of him. Donatello stood with Nevio, behind the royal trio and several other servants stood at the ready to be summoned at a moment’s notice.
The princes’ teacher, April, sat at a small, nearby desk to take notes. She used a special form of shorthand that she could later elaborate on for record keeping.
A noble family of humans, a man, his wife and their daughter, stepped forward to stand in front of the king. The daughter was being comforted by her mother. A human commoner in shackles was dragged up by guards and forced to kneel a few feet away from them.
“This man attacked my daughter,” the noble man said. “He violated her, forcing himself on her.”
The king looked the girl over. “Did he?”
She nodded in response.
“Are you sure this is the man,” Arigio asked. “I do not want to condemn one man to the fate that should befall another.”
“It was him,” the girl sobbed, keeping her eyes down.
Arigio then turned to the prisoner. “Do you have anything to say in your defense?”
“I touched her breast,” the man said with a touch of fear in his voice. “She was coming on to me like a harlot. I had no idea she was a noble’s daughter.”
Arigio growled and then turned to Raphael. “That was as much of a confession I need. For his crime the punishment is either life in prison or death. You can decide.”
Raphael leaned back and thought. “I think we should let the victim decide. She also has the option of asking for mercy and a lesser sentence.”
Arigio’s eyes narrowed slightly but he said nothing.
“Death,” the girl said without hesitation. “He took from me something I can never get back, my peace of mind.”
“Death it is,” Arigio said and gave his son a measuring glance. “Raphael, kill him.”
Stone faced, Raphael stood and drew his dagger. “Yes, father.”
“I don’t deserve death,” the man yelled as he struggled against the guards. “Please don’t do this. I didn’t know! She was coming on to me.”
“Ignorance does not excuse you from the law,” Arigio said.
The guards held the man’s head back as Raphael pulled his blade across his throat. The floor was covered in sand for this very reason.
As the man struggled to breathe the guards released him, allowing him to fall to the floor. It didn’t take long for the life to drain from him. Servants rushed forward and lifted the body into a wheelbarrow and then shoveled the blood-soaked sand on top of him.
Another team added more sand and smoothed it out while the body was carted out a side entrance. The evidence was erased before Raphael was able to clean his dagger and return to his seat.
One of the nearby human slaves fainted, the try of goblets she was holding clattered to the floor. The crowd gasped as all eyes turned to her. Arigio turned to see who it was but said nothing. Other slaves hastily collected her from the floor and carried her away.
As the nobles were being escorted from the room, the announcer introduced the next to appear. “Miyamoto Usagi is here to request land for his people.”
Michelangelo perked. “Isn’t that the rabbit?”
“Tact,” Arigio warned under his breath. “You are royalty. People are supposed to be in awe of you, not the other way around.”
A servant opened the door and a white rabbit stepped into the court. He walked up the narrow path, through the crowd to stand in front of the king and bowed. It wasn’t a deep bow but was more than just an inclination of the head, revealing that the rabbit saw himself as greater than a commoner but not quite a noble.
“I come from across the sea with my people,” Usagi said as he stood erect. “We have fled our war-torn country and now seek refuge here. At the moment, we live on boats but that cannot last. I am told that you have farm land that you might be willing to allow my people to settle.”
“I do,” Arigio said. “The field can be flooded for rice and there is an orchard full of plum and apple trees. It will support livestock and is close to a trade route. It is also close enough to the ocean that the village could support fishermen.”
“The locals in that village will welcome us?” Usagi asked.
“There are no locals.” Arigio stated. “The village is vacant. There was a plague nearly seven years ago. Wiped out the whole village. The priestesses assure me that the area is clear of both the illness and vengeful spirits, and that a water spirit has moved into the river.”
Usagi lifted an eyebrow. “A spirit?”
Arigio nodded. “Do you not have them where you are from?”
“We do,” Usagi said. “The ones that dwell in the water are known as Kappa and are not pleasant.”
“I assure you that this spirit is good,” Arigio said. “I can have a priestess teach you and your people about our different spirits.”
“I do not expect you to give up land for nothing,” Usagi said. “What is your price?”
Arigio smiled. “You would be correct. For start, you and your people would have to pledge loyalty to me as your king and my father as the emperor. Some will be required to join the guard.”
“That will not be a problem,” Usagi assured him. “My people are accustomed to monarchies.”
“Second,” the kind continued. “You will obey our laws and pay respect to our gods.”
“That is understandable,” Usagi replied.
“I have been told that you call yourself a bodyguard,” Arigio said.
“I am.” Usagi nodded.
“Good,” Arigio said. “My brother’s kingdom has seen a rare influx of young girls while my kingdom has seen too few. For you to have the land, I will need you and a handful of men to escort a caravan of young boys to my brother’s kingdom on the other side of the empire and then return with a caravan of girls. You will get all the food and supplies you will need from each kingdom as you travel.”
“That will take months,” Usagi said. “My people cannot live on the boats for that long, many of them will die before I return.”
“They can have the land in good faith while you perform the task,” Arigio said.
“Thank you,” Usagi said, bowing a little deeper this time.
“If you fail,” Arigio said, his tone dropping, “your people will pay.”
“I understand,” Usagi said.
“Oroku Saki will give you the details,” Arigio said, indicating the commander of his army.
Understanding that he was being dismissed, Usagi followed Saki out of the court.
The remining cases were simple land disputes and arguments over who had what rights. For the most part, the king was settling petty squabbles between nobles.
When he dismissed the court, Arigio remained sitting. It was apparent that he wasn’t done but he did not wish to handle the matter in front of the gathered crowed.
“Where’s the slave that made a scene,” he asked as soon as the court room was cleared.
The young woman was led by the high priestess, Karai, to stand in front of the king.
Arigio glared down at her. “Give me one reason why I should not have you whipped within an inch of your life?”
“Please, your highness.” Karai stepped forward. “She did not know it at the time but she passed out because she is pregnant.”
“Who gave you permission,” Arigio demanded.
“I did not choose it,” the slave sobbed.
“She was forced, your majesty,” Karai clarified.
Arigio thought for a moment. “If you did not willingly participate, why did you not come forward sooner?”
“Because I am a lowly slave,” the woman said, keeping her eyes on the ground, “and the man who forced himself on me is a member of the guard. He said he was in his rights to have me.”
“Ah.” Arigio nodded his head in understanding. “Do you know who it was?”
“Hun, your majesty,” she answered.
“Bring Hun,” the king ordered, sitting back in his chair, his eyes never leaving the slave.
They didn’t have to wait long. Hun entered the courtroom and strode up to stand before the king. “You summoned me, your majesty?”
“Did you take your pleasure with this slave,” Arigio asked, indicating the young woman.
Hun looked her over. “I’m not sure, I have had so many. She’s pretty enough, so I might have.”
“She says that you did,” Arigio stated, “and that she is now carrying your child.”
“Is she sure it’s mine,” Hun asked.
Arigio looked at the woman, expecting an answer. She nodded. “I was a virgin before and have not been with any other. There is no other possibility.”
“Is she old enough to be married,” Arigio asked. “It’s hard to tell with humans.”
“Barely,” Raphael answered. “Though they do tend to marry young, they usually wait until they are at least eighteen.”
Arigio turned his attention back to Hun. “Since she is pregnant with your child would you like for me to allow you to marry her? It wouldn’t be the first time I released a slave at the request of a member of the guard.”
Hun shook his head. “Never desired a wife or children. I prefer to take my pleasures from the slaves.”
Arigio leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand as he thought. “From now on, take your pleasures from the slaves I have assigned to servicing such needs and not from the ones here in the palace.”
“Yes, your highness,” Hun said with a bow.
“You may go,” Arigio said and went back to considering the slave. “What to do with you? We still have to deal with the fact that you drew unwanted attention to yourself. You are fortunate that I do not kill children.”
“I like her, father,” Michelangelo said. “She tends to me often and I like having her around. She has a beautiful singing voice. Please be merciful. She one of my favorite slaves. Let me keep her.”
“I told you not to pick favorites or get attached,” Arigio said. “They are fragile creatures that don’t live very long.”
“I know,” Michelangelo whimpered, “but I couldn’t help it. Please don’t take her away from me.”
“She will be easily replaced,” Arigio argued.
“I don’t want another one,” Michelangelo pouted, “I want her.”
“Very well,” Arigio sighed. “I will indulge you in this. The slave will continue to work while she carries and when the bastard is born it will go to the priestesses. For the distraction in court today she will receive ten lashes.”
“Father,” Michelangelo pleaded.
“Five,” Arigio said. “That is final.”
The girl gasped as two guards grabbed hold of her and forced her to her knees. Tear filled eyes looked to Karai for help but the priestess turned way.
An old fox with a bamboo cane stepped behind her. The first lash drew a heart wrenching scream from the young woman. Michelangelo winced and his eyes filled with tears but Raphael sat stone faced like his father.
With each following lash, the girl’s cries weakened. By the time the fifth one landed, she had blacked out. The thin fabric of her dress, bloodied and tattered, fell from her torso. The guards released her and she slumped to the ground.
“Take her,” Arigio said with a wave of his hand. As the salves took her away, Arigio stood. “Go see to dinner preparations. It’s been a long day and I am ready for a hot meal.”
“Yes, your highness,” Nevio said and urged Donatello to follow him.
Leonardo’s jaw hurt from clenching it so hard to keep from crying out. It took every ounce of restraint not to rush into the court room and kill Arigio for what he had done. The rats’ indifference was nothing compared to Arigio’s.
Staying in the hidden corridors within the castle walls, Leonardo decided to follow the two young princes. The fact that the king and his guards were ignorant to these halls made them a spy’s dream.
Each chamber had a way to watch and listen in on the unsuspecting occupants. Leonardo wanted to get to know the royal family himself. At the moment, he didn’t like them very much and was beginning to regret the failed assassination.
The two princes stood in silence while slaves removed their ornate attire. It disgusted Leonardo how they would put on such a show. All this pageantry just to feel superior.
“Leave,” Raphael ordered once it was all put away.
The slaves scurried from the room in fear, knowing that a simple mistake could lead to a beating.
The brothers stood in silence for a while. Then, Raphael cried out and punched the wall.
“Don’t!” Michelangelo moved to stand in front of his brother. “If you bloody up your knuckles, father will ask questions.”
“I knew that if I had chosen imprisonment, father would not have been pleased,” Raphael said through gritted teeth. “I didn’t think that spoiled noble would condemn that man to death.”
“You tried,” Michelangelo soothed.
Raphael leaned on Michelangelo as he fought to hold back tears. “Why did he have me do that? That man didn’t deserve to die.”
“He’s training you, like grandfather trained him,” Michelangelo said.
“I don’t want to be like him,” Raphael whimpered. “He’s evil. I hate him.”
“I know,” Michelangelo said, pulling his brother close. “Calm down. If father catches you like this, he’ll beat you. Please.”
“Thank you, for what you did for Olivia,” Raphael mumbled as he returned his brother’s embrace. “If I had tried….”
“I can get by with more than you can,” Michelangelo said. “Might as well take advantage of it. I wasn’t lying when I said she was one of my favorites. I could listen to her sing for hours.”
“Me too.” Raphael pulled away from Michelangelo and took a few deep breaths to regain control. “He’s gonna wear me down eventually. He’s going to break me like grandfather broke him.”
“I won’t let that happen,” Michelangelo promised.
“I don’t know if you can stop it,” Raphael said, locking away his emotions. “I die a little more every day.”
Leonardo sat down, overwhelmed with conflicting emotions. It seemed that everyone suffered under the rule of King Arigio, even his sons.
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