CHAPTER
TWO:
The
prince blinked in confusion for several moments, trying to get his mind to
adjust to the chaos around him. Had that Ba’an actually thrown a rock at
his men? And to make it worse, it looked like the boy had vanished into thin
air. With his tail swishing angrily behind him now, he growled in annoyance,
wishing that he could just fly after him, but
knowing that these were the sacred no-fly zones, that would be impossible to
do. Already tired, hungry, and generally moody from their long trip from the
east, this was not what he needed right now.
“Gradun!”
He bellowed out, already leading his steed across the river towards the
direction he had seen Kakkarrot run through.
“Ahi,
my lord?”
“I
want you to organize the wa’zuai and make sure that they search every
nook and cranny of this blasted forest for that l’arun! And when he is
found, make sure you bring him to me, got it?!”
“Yes,
my lord!”
And
with a loud cry, Prince Vegeta led his chosen fighters back into the gloomy
forest.
-*-*-*-*-
Kakkarrot
felt as if his chest was going to burst at any given minute. As if he didn’t
have enough problems already. The basket was beginning to weigh a ton on his
now aching back, his robes were causing him to slow down and the blasted vines
were now trying to strangle him to death again. He couldn’t afford to stop now.
He could hear the cries of the outraged wa’zuai, and he was sure that he
was going to die if he was caught.
~ Tak’na!
How much further to these stupid farmlands anyways? ~
“Augh!!
Ka’tai n’hi!” He cursed aloud as another vine had now twisted around his
ankle causing him to fall to the muddy earth and to lose his grip on the sword.
The vines were now beginning to wrap around him in earnest, and with a
frustrated growl, he struggled to reach his only way out of it.
~
Ah! I can’t breathe! Somebody please help me! ~
The
vines were now completely over him, and
Kakkarrot, wishing fervently that he could summon enough of an energy blast to
cut his way out, could only wait for his imminent death. The vines were slowly
draining away his strength. Feeling his eyes grow heavy with weariness, the
sound of running footsteps and someone or something slashing through the thick
cords was heard. He was immediately splattered with the ‘blood’ from the vines,
and some of the foul-tasting liquid got into his mouth. Spitting it out in
disgust, he felt himself pulled up and coming face-to-face with his older ba’rana.
“Radditsu!!”
he yelled out in joy and over-relief, crushing his older brother in a bear hug.
“Am I glad to see you!!”
“What
is going on here, Kakkarrot? You look like you have been running.” The tall,
longhaired Saiyan asked, as he stared at the distressed state of his younger
brother.
“I
will explain all later.” Kakkarrot said, pulling his brother’s arms and leading
him back towards the group of hiras and the other Saiyans that were now
gawking at the approaching brothers in faint alarm.
“What
seems to be the problem, Radditsu?” another lanky but well built Saiyan asked,
as he walked towards them. “Nakai said he heard horses approaching the site.
This wouldn’t have anything to do with your brother now, would it?”
“I
do not know, Pakaru,” Radditsu
said quietly. Turning back to Kakkarrot who was now removing his soiled robes,
he asked curtly, “Kakkarrot! Did you cause any trouble…”
His
words were cut short as the bordering forest suddenly exploded with the
presence of about twenty horse-riding Saiyan warriors, all with their weapons
drawn out, ready to kill someone or something.
The
shocked spectators suddenly woke out of their dazed stupor and readied
themselves for a fight, each of them withdrawing their own weapons of
self-defense. Kakkarrot ran behind his broad brother’s back, now clad in only
his inner skin-tight clothing that did nothing but cover from neck to knees,
causing him to feel extremely vulnerable.
“Give
us the sa’an!!” Gradun cried out, as he stalled the movements of his
men.
“N’ehi!”
Radditsu bellowed out, growling low in his throat as he felt Kakkarrot clutch
his robe in a death grip. “Who are you? And what do you want with him?!”
“He
is to be arrested for treason! He dared to speak back to Ha’ji Vegeta,
and he will be punished for it!”
~ Ha’ji
Vegeta?!! ~
As
if on cue, Vegeta led his horse to the front of his men, a frown of displeasure
etched on his face. His sharp eyes took in the group of young Saiyan males and
the two females that were now all on their knees. He had heard about the
farmlands over the mountains, and he was now seeing it for the first time. He
glanced at the well-cultivated lands that grew the most amazing plant life he
had ever seen. He guessed that the waters from the K’atun were
responsible for the richness of the place. However, his main concern was the
boy whom had defied him, and from the look of things, the boy seemed to be
hiding behind his brother.
“You
heard him,” Vegeta said curtly. “Hand over the sa’an, and we will leave you in peace.”
“But, my lord…” Radditsu began. “I beg of my lord. What has my brother done? I do not believe he would have done that on purpose, if he had known who you were.”
“The
prince asked for his basket,” Gradun said haughtily, “And the worthless filth
would not give it to him. The insolence!” he finished, spitting out in disgust.
“Is
this true, Kakkarrot?” Radditsu asked in a lowered tone as he glared at his
brother.
“I
didn’t know who they were. I swear it! If I had known, I would have given it to
them. Honest!” Kakkarrot said, hoping that his brother would understand. He
hoped he hadn’t ruined his brother’s chances now of ever being an elite wa’zua.
“I am sorry, brother,” he said softly, lowering his gaze in apology.
With
an exasperated sigh, Radditsu turned back to the prince and bowing in respect,
he said,
“A
thousand apologies to my lord. You may have all the contents of the basket if
you wish. Although we would like to extend an invitation for you and your
fighters to feast with us tonight. We are going for a hunt, and then we will have a proper feast…fit for a
prince!” He bit his lip, silently hoping that the prince would accept
the invitation. This was his chance to prove his worth in front of him, and Za’ani
knows that he might never get this chance again.
“Fine.
We accept your invitation,” Vegeta said wearily,
already feeling the weight of his exhaustion take over him. “Gradun. We camp
here for the night,” he
added, noticing the already setting sun on the
horizon.
“Ahi,
my lord,” Gradun said quietly, a tone of
displeasure in his voice. He had hoped that they would have at least punished
the l’arun. ~ He is getting too soft. His father would not be pleased. ~
And turning over to the other wa’zuai, he issued out the commands.
-*-*-*-*-
“Can
I come with you?”
“No,
Kakkarrot. How many times do I have to tell you? You are not a member of the Pa’hi
yet. When you are, you can come hunt with us.”
Kakkarrot
pouted brusquely as
he watched his brother pick up his hunting gear from his hira. He would
have to wait for one more year to become an official Pa’hi member, and
to Kakkarrot, that seemed like forever.
Sinking to the floor gracelessly, he drew his knees up his chest and buried his
face within them, beginning to rock back and forth. A
low humming sound began, and Radditsu, who was
about to head out, frowned in growing irritation.
“Cut
that out, Kakkarrot! Stop acting like a s’au and help the females get
the place ready for the feast.”
“I am not helping the females!!” Kakkarrot snapped in anger. “I am not a weakling!”
“Grrr…then
stop acting like one!” Radditsu yelled back, his tail snapping angrily behind
him. “Tak’na! I don’t know why pa’un sent you here. You can be
such a pain sometimes.”
Kakkarrot bit his lower lip, trying hard to ignore the pain that went through him at his brother’s words. He watched as Radditsu made his way to his laughing friends and then disappear into the other side of K’elean. Brushing away a stray tear that had made its way down his face, Kakkarrot turned his head away; only to look straight into twin obsidian eyes that had been staring at him for Za’ani knows how long.
Feeling his face burn with embarrassment at having the
prince see him in such a weak state, he jumped to his feet and made his way to
the opposite end of the clearing that had been set out for the events of the
evening.
-*-*-*-*-
Vegeta
had seen and heard the exchange between the brothers from his position at the
opposite end of the rough semi-circle of hiras. He had felt a small
twinge of jealously and sadness. He wished he could have had someone to call a
brother or even a sister. But he was the only child of the royal bloodline of
Vegeta, and growing up being the center of
attention from childbirth was no easy task. He was supposed to be perfect in
everything. He could have no flaws. He couldn’t even act his age. He was only
twenty-two, but yet he acted like a fifty-year-old.
Sighing
wearily, he unclasped his cape and armor, allowing one of his fighters to take
them away from him. Pulling off his gloves with his teeth, he stared idly at
the hustle and bustle of the commoners around him. According to one of them,
the Ra’un was to take place that evening, and he knew that he was going
to have to make his decision on who was to join the elite fighting forces. Za’ani
knows how much they needed more of them. The rebellion in the east was picking
up again, and to top it all, they still had to contend with the tyrant, Frieza,
who still sought to control their planet.
~ Za’ani…I hate my life. ~
“My
lord…”
“Yes,
Gradun…” Vegeta answered wearily, closing his eyes and leaning against the wall
of the hira behind him. He honestly did not want to listen to the l’arun’s
whining and complaining voice again.
“My
lord, if I may speak frankly,” Gradun began, sensing the prince’s passive
state. “I do not believe it is right for us to be here with these…these…the Ba’an.
It is beneath us, my lord.”
“Gradun?”
“Yes,
my lord.”
“Get
away from me, before you become a permanent fixture on this soil,” Vegeta said
calmly, never once opening his eyes.
Gradun
grit his teeth and smiling wanly, he said stiltedly, “Ahi, my lord. I
will leave you in peace.”
-*-*-*-*-
Kakkarrot
walked around the females, swaying his tail in flirtatious little spins.
Grinning wickedly, he wrapped the dark brown appendage around a strong neck and
purring lightly, he drawled,
“Ahi,
Saida. You will make a fine mate for my brother.”
“Ha’tun,
Kakkarrot. You are such a ka’tai,” the
beautiful, longhaired female said, laughing in
suppressed happiness. “Go pick on someone your own age.”
“Why,
who else is here?” Kakkarrot queried, twisting
his handsome features into a look of pained suffering. “Everyone is too old for
me. I am so lonely.”
The
women laughed in glee, when suddenly the other spoke up, a mischievous tone in
her voice.
“Why,
Saida. I think we can pair up Kakkarrot with our prince, ne? After all, he is
the most eligible bachelor in the land. I am sure he will make a perfect mate
for you.”
Kakkarrot
felt his face heat up and using his tail, he tried to swat the giggling women.
Glancing sideways, he stole a look at the still figure of the ha’ji in
question and shrugging lightly, he turned back to the females.
“N’ehi.”
Kakkarrot said lightly. “We are Ba’an, and we do not mix with royalty.”
Translations:
Tak’na – dammit / curses
Ba’rana – brother
N’ehi – no
Pa’hi
– a hunting
group of male saiyans, where one has to be at least eighteen years of age.
S’au
– baby /
little one
Ha’ji - prince