Scye…3 days before the war
Mabel's pub.
"Woah! You look done in, Lion. You too, ya vegetable."
An elderly woman walked into the shop from the back door carrying trays. A huge apron hung from her waist and one towel was strapped on her shoulder. She had a toothpick in her mouth and looked very rough. Her physique was not far from a man's as she had broad shoulders and a height of 6 feet.
She squeezed her face when she saw Lion and Basil's beaten up faces, she knew they'd been fighting.
"Hi auntie…it's nice to see you're well", came Lion's sarcastic response
"Auntie…" Basil stretched out his hand to shake the old lady.
"Now don't you go acting all familiar with me. Get outta my face…don't do all that familiarity stuff." She said as she refused Basil's handshake.
"Auntie, be nice." Lion helped the old lady to a chair.
"I don't like him. Coming up in here, looking suspicious."
"You've met him countless times, auntie."
"I still don't like him." She whispered.
"Well you didn't always like me too." Lion chuckled.
"Hmmm." She shot Basil daggers.
"Also, his name is Basil."
"Like the vegetable. It's what I said!" She retorted.
Grandma Belle as she was fondly called, was Mabel's aunt and a very fearsome woman. Even in her old age, she still had a lot of action in her. The Scye locals knew her to be a troublemaker, a regular at the local correctional facility even at her age. After getting tired of her truancy, her sister Elyne—Mabel's mother—decided to set up the pub as a contribution to their small town and as a way to keep Grandma Belle in check. Belleyne's place, as it was called, was the only place you could get a good glass of beer in the city. Even nearby folks from Omir had become regulars at Belleyne's. But over time, business became slow and the pub was getting out of shape.
"Is May in?" He asked Grandma Belle.
"I don't know where the hell that child went, I don't care. That child is just like her mama; leaving the bar and going where they damn well please…"
"I'll go look for her."
"Well go then, hell! If you knew you would look for her, why bother asking me?"
Grandma Belle got up and picked up her tray, complaining as she went back inside. It was hard getting on her good sides, especially since she was such a tough old lady.
"Vegetable? Really?"
Lion laughed loudly
"It was worse in my time"
"She's so annoying everytime we come here."
"Don't sweat it, she'll warm up to you soon enough."
"Yeah, I bet."
Lion laughed again.
"I'll go grab us some drinks."
Just then, Mabel's mother came inside the bar. Her eyes lit up when she saw Lion. She hadn't seen him in weeks!
"Ohh my dear! Look how scruffy you are! Have you been eating well?"
She cupped his face in her palms.
Her palms were very soft even though she worked the pub day and night.
Lion placed his palms on hers and rested his face on her hands, he smiled softly and gently grabbed her hands, nodding his head in response to the kind old lady. He smiled at her again.
Compared to her sister, she was the opposite! While Belle was the unfriendly and impatient one, Elyne was rather kind and polite. Elyne's good nature however, was also her flaw while Belle's nasty attitude was sometimes helpful and the duo complemented each other.
"Is Mabel in?" Lion asked again.
"She's running errands. She'll be here soon."
"Ohh, good. I can spend time with my daughter before she gets back."
"Oh, she took the baby with her."
"Ohh…" He said in a sad tone.
Elyne looked at the man with concern. She knew how much he loved her daughter and their child. But Mabel, she just had to be as stubborn as her aunt. She looked at Lion sitting patiently by the counter, wondering if he was just too stupid to let go, or if that was all he had to lose in his life and so he had to hold on to it, no matter how bad Mabel treated him. She felt bad for him, but he had chosen this life, so he had to live it. She sighed deeply and placed a hand on the man's shoulder, her eyes filled with motherly love and concern.
"Why do you still hold on?"
"Hmm?"
She paused and held his face in her hands
"Mabel. Why do you still come back to her?"
"I…she's the mother of my child, is all." He lied
She knew.
"You're a fine young man. I see how the women look at you, how they throw themselves at you. Yet you still won't let Mabel go."
"Auntie, you know how I feel about her. How she makes me feel. And it would leave a bad impression if I were to be seen frolicking around when I have a child. I don't want her to grow up and hate me."
Grandma Belle came back in holding a tray of food. She gently placed it in front of Lion and gave him a playful nudge. His eyes lit up when he saw the delicious food in front of him. Grandma Belle could be mean to others, but to him she was extremely sweet. He watched her walk over to Basil's table and she also gave him some food and a large jar of alcohol. She then told him to eat up so he wouldn't get so easily beaten by his friend. Lion laughed when he heard what Grandma Belle told Basil. She was warming up to him afterall.
"You're still leading the resistance?" Elyne asked.
"Mmh" Lion said between mouthfuls
"Hmm. Do you worry?"
"All the time. I worry about my child and my lover."
"Then why don't you just leave Ocsic and move here. There are plenty of opportunities for you here." Elyne said, her voice filled with concern.
She was right. Scye was the most industrious part of the kingdom. It was a small settlement at the time consisting mainly of traders, technologists and farmers. The land was very fertile for farming and raising livestock; the simple life Lion always wanted. But he had a duty to fulfill for his homeland, he needed the people to be rid of the corrupt government. Ocsic controlled the whole internal revenue stream and it was only a matter of time before the Scye people would also be heavily taxed.
He couldn't just sit by and watch the kingdom crumble. I want my daughter to grow up in a peaceful place, a world devoid of corrupt government, he thought to himself. He looked at Elyne and smiled. The woman had been nothing but kind and accommodating to him, and he wanted to repay her kindness. Fixing the kingdom would help her make more profit, then we can make repairs on the Belleyne, he thought. He pushed his plate forward and chugged on his drink, letting out a loud burp.
"I would love to, auntie…"
"But? You sound like there's something else to it." She cut in
"Mmm…there is."
Elyne looked at the man. His eyes conveyed an intense feeling of guilt and regret, but also anger and frustration. She knew there was no convincing him. He had already made his mind up, there was nothing she could do or say to change it. She could only hope that things would work out just fine like he had promised her daughter and her grandchild. She silently prayed for him, hoping that something would change his mind for good. She felt his warm, big hands envelope hers. She looked at him, the tears in her eyes betrayed her and fell in streams.
"…I have a duty to fulfill." He started to say
"I…I have a responsibility"
"I have…"
"A family to come back to" Elyne's voice broke out in tears.
"What if something happens to you? Think about how your daughter would have to live."
"Auntie, she already believes she doesn't have a father, it would make no difference if i…"
Thwack! A slap echoed across the room.
Lion eyes widened. Elyne stood in front of him, her wrinkled fists balled up tightly, she slapped him again and angrily threw her towel at him, storming out of the bar and into the house. Lion sat there holding his cheek, still in shock that this sweet, old lady could actually put up a fight when she wanted to.
Not long after, Elyne came back to the bar and gave him a stern warning.
"You had better not die, you hear me?!"
"You promised that child a good life! And a good life she will get!"
And with that, she went back inside the house.
Lion turned around, hoping Grandma Belle hadn't been too shaken by what had just occurred. To his surprise, he found Mabel and his daughter standing at the door looking confused.
"Auburn!" He gasped.