Getting A Bearing

Inside the tree. A forest.

"I'll make this quite clear now."

Vulcan was seated by a pavement. There was a large apple tree before him. Prium was seated on a stool, while Ayla on the railing bordering the pavement. Well, they were still inside the tree.

"I have few tasks before me and I wouldn't want to lag because I have been warned severally."

He continued, to be interrupted by his daughter,

"By Athena?"

He nodded his head instead of words. She seemed to had taken an offense in that. He didn't allow himself to be bothered by that.

"Spread your points out, Master."

Ayla called from the railing. Prium shot her a glare and looked back at her father. She could let that pass.

"I have some games of revenge to play and I wouldn't mind if you all will be a great part of it. Having it executed by a group would be quite a fun and easy."

He added. He allowed himself to be distracted by the stretch of  the green lawn beyond the railing. Quite sincerely, most times he found it quite hardly to believe that they were in a tree.

The wandering winds sent salient shrills down his spines easing the pressure on the nerves. He felt a peace coursing through him, the depth of his consciousness set ablaze by the frenzy of the guts.

"What's the plan?"

Ayla asked. Prium had been cornered again. At least that was the way she considered it.

"What do I have to do, dad?"

Her half of the support. Vulcan sighed not sure what to say. Twas quite better to be sincere. So they say,

"The funny thing is I have no plans yet."

He chuckled, more of a torture to himself than a borrowed joy.

"I could help out with the plan."

Ayla offered, but like you would guess, Prium countered,

"I got it covered."

There was a strange peace sitting in her face at that. Ayla looked away. Awaiting her mistress's opinion.

"Oh, good. Let's hear it."

Vulcan's interest had lit his face. There were expectations reaching at the corner of his face.

Prium thought for a while then said,

"You haven't told us what you want to do yet. How do we -- I make a plan if I don't know what to plan on. Like the basis of the actions."

Vulcan shook his head,

"Oh true. What was I thinking?"

But then he lost track of what to think. He looked past the railing again towards the green lawn which had began to grow clusters of shrubs. There was a rill breaking forth from the base of the large apple tree. Even the charm of that place was capable of sucking his wits dry.

"Can't remember, Master?"

Ayla asked, her tender gaze on Vulcan's beardy face. Vulcan's stare said it all, he couldn't remember what Athena had told him.

"How about I be of help, or does Mistress has a way?"

She had digressed from an offer to a scorn though she was thoughtful enough to hide it. Not because Prium could hurt her in any way, but because she was tied to Vulcan's will.

Vulcan gave Prium the do-you-have-a-way kinda look. Prium looked away in irritation. Vulcan wanted to laugh but held it back.

"Ayla, it's your call."

Ayla held her stance immediately,

"Make the leader of those protesters who had violated your daughter pay. Make the priest who had violated your wife pay. Make your wife who had conspired to end you pay. And make all those who had supported and framed the rape allegation on you pay!"

She had said those in a mimick, as though she was dubbing Athena's voice.

Vulcan only awed her. Prium on the other hand was moved by the news or say, plan. Few of the things seemed strange to her. She couldn't help being mute,

"Ataola assaulted my sister sexually?"

Prium stood up from the stool. Damn! There seemed to be a million and one thing she didn't know.

"So I was told. But be at peace, we would take vengeance."

Vulcan promised but Prium wasn't done yet. She reeled on,

"Does Mom know about it? I bet she doesn't. She couldn't possibly keep quiet after getting to know such hideous thing."

Vulcan stood up from where he was and walked to Prium. He put one of his hands on her left shoulder and peered into those brown pupils of hers,

"There's only one way to find you."

He started and looked away, his hand still on her shoulder. He continued,

"And I bet that there are several other things we don't know. I'm sure Athena held some back from me that day, probably because she didn't want me to crash under the weight of the news."

Vulcan dropped his hand and walked to the railing. Prium seemed to be disappointed at that. Despite being caught up in such troublesome mood, she still made a room for thinking Vulcan would hug her or hold her tightly in any manner.

"What's the plan now?"

Vulcan asked, leaning towards the direction of Ayla who was on the railing. Ayla turned to him and replied, a slight smile,

"Mistress might have a plan now. Now that we know the basis of the actions."

Prium stood up and walked to the railing too, but she stopped two steps away. Her gaze supplanted on Ayla, who to her was rude and pompous.

"Yes, I have a plan."

She fueled her ego, shooting the fiery gaze.

"We go first to Ataola and destroy him instantly."

She shot flaming in rage.

"Won't going in disguise be wise."

Ayla made an exception, looking at Vulcan instead of Prium who had proposed the idea. Not only was that rude to Prium but belittling. She felt like pushing Ayla off the railing, but bruised the urge instead.

"I guess Ayla is right."

Vulcan intervened, looking at Prium who obviously was not in support of the compliment.

"She's always."

Prium turned her back and made a walk for the room. Then she heard Ayla gasp and her father asked concerned,

"What happened?"

Prium turned to the two who to her were acting a soap opera.

Ayla looked up towards the green layer hovering above them and said,

"There's someone on the tree."

She said, her voice had ranged, her eyes fiery.