Lack of Reason

[Northen Light36]

Shadow's whistling cheerfully as he rides Lightning through the gates of the mansion. In the back of his mind he knows he's been away two days longer then he thought he'd be, but he's had such a good time it's hard to care.

"Makes me remember what it was like to be a child again," Shadow laughs as he stables and grooms his horse. "We should drag Damien out more often, Lightning. It does everyone good I think." Finishing up and still whistling cheerfully, Shadow makes his way inside. "Lya? Lumi? I'm home!"

[Kender Bard]

Wind precedes Lya, her fury made tangible. It rattles the pictures on the walls, makes cloth flutter, the hem of her dress rippling on the winds as she storms quite literally towards Shadow, looking furious. "Shadow! I can't believe you left our daughter all alone here!"

[Northen Light36]

Shadow blinks at Lya, then frowns. "Dear, calm down before something breaks," he scolds. "And Lumi was hardly alone. Flash is here, and Vortai's always glued to her side. Besides, what did you expect me to do? Take her hunting with Damien and I? Why the hell didn't you take her with you, Lya?"

[Kender Bard]

Lya, for a brief moment, looks shocked. Her glare turns steely. "Because I was making a good impression on almost all the other nations in the world. That's awfully hard to do with an infant around me. I can't very well say, 'Oh excuse me Lord Aslan, seems my daughter is about to wander off into the endless catacombs of this hellish underground prison, I better go get her.' You weren't doing anything more than playing with your friend. Where are your fathering skills? Where are your king skills for that matter? Sending me off without you at such an important event! I can't believe you Shadow!"

Luminous peeked around a doorway with eyes wide. She'd heard her parents shouting and followed the noise. Now she watched with a sort of horrified fascination.

[adris]

Vortai had heard the sound as well, and after entering the room saw exactly what it was and kept his distance. At least it wasn't an invader or something like that. This couldn't be good at all though, he had never seen these two this mad at one another. He scanned the room for a way out and just happened to catch a glimpse of Lumi to the other side. His eyes widened with shock as he tried to move around the room without making much sound and lean down in front of the princess.

"Hey kid, are you all right? Lets go somewhere else you don't have to watch this."

[Northen Light36]

"Damien is DYING, Lya," Shadow hisses. "Excuse me if I consider spending some time with him more important then flattering that brainless twit River or whatever girl was desperate enough to marry him." Shadow glares. "And I have no regrets. For the first time in months I was being driven insane by this force damned kingdom."

[Kender Bard]

"Poor Shadow, trapped in a land that isn't really his home," Lya sneered. "Oh wait, that's right, that would be me. The one who, if I go outside, might as well be wearing a bullseye on my back with a sign that says 'Strike here to regain autonomy'."

Luminous's eyes began to fill with tears as she took a few steps forward and clung to Vortai, the only sane one around currently. "Vor," she cried quietly. "Make stop."

[Northen Light36]

Shadow grits his teeth. "No one's holding you prisoner here Lya!" he growls. "And the only target is in your damn mind! If there's anything left of it." Scowling, Shadow adds something he doesn't mean at all, "Forces damn it, I wish Mathew had actually killed me. At least then I'd have some peace!"

[adris]

Vortai patted her gently and swallowed hard, he didn't know exactly what to do. He did return her snuggle with a soft hug of his own. He didn't know what to do, he wanted them to stop too, this wasn't right for the poor girl. But, they were the king and queen, he couldn't speak out against them, that and more yelling just wouldn't help right now.

"Just hold on my lady, it will all be over soon. Just close your eyes and count to ten, can you count to ten for me Lumi?"

He picked her up as swiftly as he could and found whatever direction out was closest. She didn't need to be here, she didn't need to hear this. They could tear themselves to shreds for all he cared, but if they hurt Luminous that was too much, he just needed to give her a time out from them for a little while.

[Kender Bard]

Lya's anger was almost too great for her to speak. She managed to sputter, "If that's how you feel, then fine! Let's see how you like it when I'm the one running off and leaving you to pick up the slack!" Turning on her heel she stormed her way to her room to pack.

Luminous clung to him like a drowning child and buried her face into his shoulder. She couldn't count to ten, so instead she kept repeating, "One.. two... one... two..." Over and over until he told her she'd gotten to ten.

[Northen Light36]

Without even seeing Vortai or Lumi, Shadow turns on his heal and stomps out again, slamming the door so hard a couple of pictures DO fall off the wall.

[adris]

Vortai got her as far away from the palace as he could in such short time to a little meadow giving out a little sigh he sat down and let Lumi slink herself out of his arms at her own pace. He really didn't know what to do at this point, he needed a moment to think.

"You did good Lumi, you got real close. You are getting smart real fast huh? You will be smarter then me in a little bit."

The scary thing was that last part probably wasn't a lie. He had only just learned how to read, and even then it was blocky. Right now he needed to know what to do with Luminous, he didn't want to take her back to the palace. There was a good chance that the royals could still be fighting.

"Hey... Lumi. Would you like to see my family?"

[Kender Bard]

Lumi didn't go far; she was still upset and feeling emotionally drained. Sitting down next to Vortai she looked at him somberly and nodded a little. "Uh huh." Blinking so that some leftover tears squeezed out, she curled up, head on his lap and sighed sadly, "Vor."

[adris]

Vortai sat like that for a little while, he didn't know what he was getting himself into but this has got to be better then leaving her here. Luckily the walk to Talen'sul isn't that far and if she really is this tired he should be able to make some good ground on the voyage home before she even realizes it.

"Everything will be all right Lumi, your mom and dad just need a little time to breathe and cool their heads. In the meantime, you and I get to go on a little vacation, I'll do my best to make it all sorts of fun."

He really didn't know how to do that last part, but he only promised to do his best. He picked the girl up gently again and began the march towards the border. Seriously, he was committing a federal offense in all probability, but he also vowed to protect Lumi with his life. If that defense included the king of Maelstrom himself he would fulfill that vow.

[Kender Bard]

Lumi sighed softly again when he picked her up, her breath like warm butterfly wings against his neck. She nestled as comfortably as she could into his arms and shut her eyes, drifting to sleep...

---

When she woke again, she was looking upon a somewhat familiar sight; Talen'sul was before her. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, trying to remember where she'd seen this spectacular, shiny city before but couldn't grasp it. She'd been only a smaller baby then after all. "Where we Vor?"