Rogues of The Story

Chapter 10: Merlin's Prisoner

Mimi returned about ten minutes later with Martin in tow. The young Guardian looked utterly confused, particularly when he saw Philip putting dirt in a pile and stab the butterfly swords into the dirt. "Erm ... Philip?" Martin said. "What ... are you doing?"

Philip stood up, brushing his knees off. "Burying a worthy opponent," he said. "How are you?"

"Stiff, but alright," Martin answered. "This is the Water of Life, right?"

Philip nodded. "Yeah." He picked up his sword, cleaning the blood off it. Mimi wouldn't even look at him. She probably hated him, thinking he was as crazy as Merlin. And the truth was, he didn't know if he was or not. There had been absolutely no reason to kill Lu. "Mimi, you want to scoop some up for Merlin?"

In answer, she went to the water and scooped some in the cup. Then she and Martin opened a Story door back to Merlin's rebellion, and waited while Philip knelt in front of Lu's grave. Aware of the other two's eyes on him, he said his prayers silently. Lu ... I don't know why it had to come to this. I didn't want to kill you. Something is horribly wrong. I won't take another life without good reason. I promise. Rest in peace, my friend. Feeling horribly sentimental, Philip picked a flower and laid it on top of the grave.

Then he stood and turned to Mimi and Martin, brushing tears from his cheeks that he hadn't realized he'd shed. "I'm ready," he said. "Let's get this water to Merlin."

. . . . . . . . . .

While Philip went to deliver the Water of Life to Merlin, Mimi decided to avoid another confrontation with the unpleasant sorcerer. To her annoyance, Martin accompanied her as she sought to explore the castle. Night was fast approaching, and other than a few guards, most of the rebels had gone to bed. Martin stuck by Mimi's side as they walked through the silent halls.

He spoke about twenty minutes after they'd left Philip. "Who did Philip kill?" he asked.

Mimi stared down at her feet. "He murdered Lu."

"One of the Guardians, right?" Martin guessed. "I didn't know him very well. Weren't they fighting?"

"Y-yes."

"Then why did Philip feel so bad?" Martin inquired. "We're at war with the Guardians, Mimi, and thanks to your oaths, you're on our side. I don't like it, but Guardians will die. At Philip's hand, at Merlin's, maybe even at my own. They're not our family anymore. They're our enemies."

Mimi spun around to face him, her curls whipping around her face. "You may be so callous as to think that," she snapped, "but I'm not! These are the people who taught us, who raised us. Maybe their rules are too ... strict, but that's no reason for them to die. And if it is ... I'd rather spend eternity in the River Styx."

She kept walking, but to her annoyance Martin followed her. Didn't he know that she just wanted to be left alone? Martin tugged on her arm. "I'm sorry, Mimi," he apologized. "It's just ... knowing what the Guardians did to my parents ... what they will do to us ... it makes me realize they aren't my family. They killed my family. I'm afraid that I am more callous than you, Mimi. Don't think that I'm an innocent because of my youth. I am willing to do whatever is necessary to remove the Guardians from complete power."

Mimi was taken aback by Martin's forceful speech and just looked at him. She hadn't anticipated such an emotional reaction from him, but it did make her think. The Guardians weren't completely innocent, that was true, but neither was Merlin. Was there really a right side in the war? Surely there was some way to find a compromise. But neither the Guardians nor Merlin seemed to want that. It was one way or the other, there was no in-between.