Page 58 of Avery

"He became friends with others who were unhappy with how things were, those who thought the only way to bring about change was to make the others see whether they wanted to or not.

"Vial didn't know his brother was being kept in the wealthy family's home above the mine where he worked. It made no sense for Vial's brother to be there, but that is where he was, and that is how the world changed.

"You see, the princess had never wanted anyone in her life. Not any of the wealthy cousins her parents tried to marry her off to."

I have to pause the story at this moment so the children can get their 'ews' out of the way. The amount of inbreeding in Sytharian culture was and still is, to some degree, disgusting. Then again that was among the elite of which I was not.

"And she most definitely didn't want any of the other wealthy royalty across Sythar. However, she was willing to marry whoever her parents chose for her so long as she was able to keep Vial's brother. He would work in her employ, be her friend in secret, and no harm would befall him. Her parents were unhappy, but they allowed it. What other choice did they havesince they only had one daughter to marry off and create a stronger fortune with?

"Down in the mines, though, Vial and his companions had no idea that his brother was living a life that none of them could even imagine. So they plotted, and they planned. And they came up with the best way to get back at the wealthy family for how they had always been treated.

"Vial was given many responsibilities when he was tasked with being in charge of the explosives. Because his job was so important, he made sure he never looked suspicious or like he wanted to cause trouble. He was always careful. More careful than he needed to be, but it was important if they were to make their point and get payback for Vial's brother being taken and all of the other hardships the wealthy forced on them.

"One night, many, many nights after Vial's brother was taken, they struck. Vial and his companions gathered up so many explosives that they could blow up the entirety of the estate above the mines. The plan was to make a statement. To tell the elites above them they wouldn't stand for the mistreatment any longer.

"Now, this is the important part of why Vial's companions were so eager to allow him to help them. Yes, yes, it was partially because he could get access to more explosives than they could ever need. But more important than that was his ability to turn nearly invisible. Many Sytharians can, but the effectiveness of camouflage is different for each one. Vial was a lucky male. Like I said, the mother blessed him on the day of his birth.

"So, they worked all through the night when their overseers were asleep. They planted explosives in important places in the mines directly below the estate above. It was dangerous work because they couldn't use any light. Thankfully, all of thesemales knew the mines like the back of their hands. They were born in the mines, raised in them.

"When morning approached, Vial began to worry if this wasn't the best idea. Many innocent Sytharians could be hurt by what he and his companions planned to do. So, he made a foolish decision. A foolish decision that forced him into leaving his home when all was said and done.

"Right before morning began to lighten the sky, Vial used his camouflage to sneak into the estate. The whole place was set up with security systems that should've alerted someone to his being there, but this was still part of the plan. Every one of Vial's companions thought he was still following the plan. But the mother was whispering in his ear, telling him what he was doing wasn't right.

"He made it deep into the private quarters of the wealthy family. All the way to the princess's bedroom. Now, he had no plans of hurting the princess. Well, he no longer had any plans of hurting the princess. See, he and his companions were going to sink the estate and its inhabitants into the mines. It was going to be their way of punishing the wealthy family for how they always treated those below them, to bring the land and the house and its inhabitants down to the same level. This would've killed many, many innocent Sytharians, and at the time, it seemed right."

"And killing isn't right," Holoth interrupts my story. I don't know why he even allows me to tell this story if he's going to interrupt it because of his morality. Then again, his children are still very young. They don't know of rebellions or how revolutions are started.

"Yes, yes, killing is wrong," I emphasize Holoth's point, giving each of his children a good long look to make sure they understand. "That's why this is just a story, not a recounting of real events. Now, back to it."

"Vial entered the princess's room. He was going to speak with her. To see if there was an agreement she could take to her parents, an open line of communication so that things might get easier in the mines. He hoped that it would not come down to bloodshed and death, especially now that the mother was on his shoulder telling him what he was doing was wrong.

"However, the princess wasn't alone in her room. No, Vial's brother was there. They were talking with one another over breakfast, a smile on both of their faces. His brother's scales were clean and shiny, his feathers growing back full and healthy. That was when Vial may have thought about making some bad decisions.

"All of this time, he was plotting revenge for his brother's imprisonment. He thought he would never see him again, and yet there he was, happy and healthy. It hurt Vial because, as far as he knew, his brother wasn't going to come back for him, and he wasn't going to tell him that he was safe.

"Vial didn't care about the life of luxury his brother now had, though he would've liked a little for himself. He was upset that he had been forgotten, or at least, he felt as though he had been forgotten.

"Thankfully, before Vial could let his anger win over, his brother spotted him even though he was camouflaged. They had grown up with one another, so his brother knew him even when he wasn't there. That or he was just hopeful that they would see one another again one day. Vial never did get to ask his brother how he knew he was there. It's good he knew, though, because Vial was back to contemplating blowing everything up.

"The princess was more understanding than anyone had any right to be with a strange male breaking into her room with the detonator to so many bombs her whole home would crumble.No, she didn't even shake when she spoke. She kept the poise of the most sound leaders as she told Vial he needed to kidnap her.

"Now, this plan seems foolish, and you're right it was. The only way Vial could keep the princess safe, deep down in the mines, was with his reputation. He was not a strong male nor a fighter, but many knew him and respected him enough that he hoped no one would harm a female he was in charge of. He even explained to the princess the dangers of going into the mines where people would know of her. Where they might want their burdens taken out on her. She told Vial she was his only leverage unless he was willing to pull the trigger.

"So, Vial kidnapped the princess–"

"Alright, I think it's time for bed," Holoth says with a side glance at me.

He thinks it's funny to interrupt my story right before we get to the end. His children groan and whine, begging for just a little longer. When he relents–because, of course, he does, he's only interrupting me to be annoying–all his children think him a hero again.

"No more interruptions," I say before turning back to the young."Vial's companions all had different ideas of what to do with the princess. Some thought to—"

"Nope, still too young." K'Vella is the one to cut in this time.

"I tell them how my brother and the princess are just friends and are eating breakfast, and you still think I'm going to say things that they are too young to hear?" I whisper hiss at K'Vella.

"Wait, they weren't eating breakfast?" Jovi asks from the hallway as Sloane peeks around the doorframe.

"Someone was eating breakfast," I grumble just loud enough for the adults to hear.

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