Children of Another Cause
The Return of the Runaway Princess
Luna had gone to get a few things from the market that morning, and had left Tiesa and Pen hidden in Vienu and Rekiās cottage. They had agreed that neither could leave unless it was necessary, in case they were recognised.
Tiesa had taken out a sketchbook and was doodling the scenery from a bay window in the attic. After awhile, she tired of the landscape and started a drawing of Pen. She had never been bad at art, but she needed the practice, and Pen was a recurring subject.
Just then, the door swung open. Tiesa frantically flipped back to the landscape before Pen could see. āLunaās back,ā he said with mild relish. She stepped in behind him, carrying a small crate of assorted fruits and breads.
āLuna!ā Tiesa said, smiling. āWait a second. How on earth did you afford all of that? I only gave you enough money for half of it.ā
Luna gave a sly smile. āDonāt worry about it, Tiesa.ā
āYou know I worry a whole lot more every time you you say that, right?ā Pen interjected.
Tiesa glared at him. āLet her explain herself.ā
āI donāt see why itās such a big deal,ā Luna said. She set the crate down on a desk near the window. āItās food. Take it or leave it. If you leave it, thatās just more for me.ā
āAs long as you paid for it,ā Tiesa said, shrugging. Luna fell silent.
Pen pointed at her, exclaiming, āSee? I told you! She canāt even be trusted with this! Why did you do this to us, Ti?ā he asked despairingly.
āDid you steal it, Luna?ā Tiesa asked in an effort to clear things up.
āNot all of it,ā she said. āLetās face it. You donāt have the funds with you to keep this going for much longer. We all have to eat, so this is the only logical answer.ā
Tiesa was speechless. Pen was not. āI canāt believe you! You canāt just go around stealing! Itās illegal! Not to mention obscenely amoral-ā
āPencari,ā Luna answered harshly, āI am not dying because of some stupid morality code.ā
āFirst of all, no oneās going to die. Second of all, it isnāt just morality. Itās the law.ā
āFirst of all,ā Luna mimicked, āwhat do you think happens when people donāt eat? Second of all, who ran away to aid an illegal rebel movement? Iāll give you a hint: it wasnāt me.ā
āCalm down, both of you,ā Tiesa interjected. āLuna, youāre right, we canāt starve. But it wonāt happen again, alright? Weāll figure something out. We have to. Pen, you canāt freak out like this. We have to be on the same page. Sheās here for a reason, and she knows what sheās doing. Weāll be back in a couple of weeks with any luck, and then weāll have bigger issues. We just need to get there, together. Got that?ā
Luna and Pen both nodded. āThereās a ship that stops here tonight. Weād better pack,ā Luna said.
Tiesa set about collecting her things. She met the others at the door, and made sure that everything was just as it was when they had arrived. The house was erie and silent, and it startled Tiesa for reasons she couldnāt explain. Luna locked the door behind them.
