The Scepter of Marahuyo

Chapter 028

The weather is hot when it’s supposed to be the rainy season. The guests are happy about it, though, and the day is just perfect to be outside. As for me, I am still angry at no one in particular. I am mad at the people laughing as if this funeral is a game for them. I hate the person or people who stole Master Orson from us. I hate how the weather is so hot when it’s not supposed to be that way. I hate the citizens casually enjoying all the good things in life without any appreciation for it, and some even had the gall to complain!

I take a deep sigh. During the funeral, I find myself getting angry at even the most minor things. Like when some kid plays inside the inn; when I hear loud voices; and when someone accidentally drops some dishes.

And this is the worst I’ve become. The funeral is quiet, thanks to the anitos, but I’m sure as hell I’ll fly into a rage if someone so much as giggles, even if it’s not directed to the actual funeral service. 

I watch the priest say some words and blessings to the dead, but the actual meaning behind it is something that I don’t want to understand. I don’t want to hear things like; He’s old, it’s his time or the same litany about Master Orson being with the gods and having the peace he deserves after his whole life of helping other people. For the anito’s sake! It’s not yet his time! He’s fvcking murdered! He’s still--I sniff. Aaron notices and puts his arm around me. I snuggle next to him and stop myself from crying. I’d rather be angry than becoming a broken wuss in front of everyone. I’ll find who did this to him, and I’ll make him pay.

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It’s already late at night when finally the last guest stands up to say goodbye.I start to sweep the floor and organize the inn to be ready for the next day. I’m not even sure if we will receive customers, being the place of Master Orson’s internment. 

“Let me do it,” Aaron says and attempts to take the broom from me.

I stop him and say, “Just go take care of cooking and stuff, or the horse. Let me do it as repayment for letting me stay for free.”

“You always seem to forget that you’re being considered as a family now.”

“And families always need to support and help each other. If you do this always, I won’t feel like I am really a family member.”

Aaron clenches his jaw but doesn’t say anything. When Aaron leaves, Senyor Pablo gets close to me and asks, “What are your plans?”

“About what?”

“Don’t fool me, Holly. My grandson might not sense it, but I’m old enough to see that you are enraged, very much so, from what I can see.”

“It is normal for me to get angry. We just lost Master Orson, not because of natural means, but being a victim. Can you believe that? A powerful Scepter being a victim of murder?! And we still don’t know who the suspect is!”

“And that makes me angry as well. So that’s why I’m asking what your plans are.”

“I need to know why he’s killed and who killed him.”

“How much do you want it?”

I frown.

“If you’re going to start this, I need to know how determined you are.”

“I can give up my dream of becoming a traveling mage if need be.”

We stare at each other, and he says, “How about my grandson?”

“He doesn’t need to know.”

“You do understand that this, whatever it is, if it’s not a simple, random case, then this will fall under a power struggle area?”

I know. I understand that much due to returning from the future.

“And if, unfortunately, this is a power struggle, you will need power, strength, influence. So you might give up things. And if I’m going to help you, I’ll need you to understand how you can use me.”

I frown.

“I know this is opposite from what my grandson is telling you, but you will need to think of me as your pawn, not as a family. I am old now. I was content with just spending my life with my grandson. But this gets me angry too, as much as it made you.”

Senyor Pablo points at the chair and says, “Sit down.”

I do as told and he starts, “Orson thinks that you should be the next Scepter. I don’t share that idea with him.”

I clench my jaw. It still stings when someone tells me that they’re not expecting anything from me, as if my bad experiences as a child are coming back to me.

“I thought that it’s only because Orson loves you as his child, so naturally, he’ll think highly of you. But Master Deborah is a different matter. She sees the same things as Orson. I don’t get it, but I will trust you.”

I feel the pressure coming, but I don’t care; this is what I need. If Senyor Pablo is willing to support me, I will accept it willingly.

“I will train you, but not Scepter-specific. Our family is that of Caltra’s sword, but my daughter is a well-loved concubine of the previous Ruler of Caltra despite having the Benia’s lineage.”

“I can teach you combat from Caltra and the way to know and understand people. If this is really a power struggle, then you only have two years before the Scepter selection or less since the position is currently vacant. And for those remaining days, I will teach you. But there is one thing I must ask from you.”

“What is it?”

“Do not involve my grandson if ever this becomes a power struggle.”

I scowl.

“My grandson loves you more than you know. And if you ask him to be your pawn, he’ll gladly do it. And even if you don’t ask him, he will gladly become your pawn once he realizes what you got yourself into.”

“You mean to make this a secret from him, especially when I become sure of it as a power struggle.”

“Yes. My grandson does not have the personality to thrive in this. He’s like his mother, and I bet you read about a concubine who almost becomes a queen but falls from grace instead. Her family was all killed in the power struggle? Aaron and I are the only survivors.”

I remember reading it with Olivia before. It happened around three years before I even came to Marahuyo as a ten-year-old kid. It is a romantic story at first, until it becomes a tragic love story. 

“I understand.”

“I will give you two years to find out the cause. And in two years, if you weren’t able to do that, you will strive to become a Scepter and use the influence from the position to find the truth behind Orson’s death.”

“You don’t have to make me promise that. I already decided the same, and your help will greatly help me do just that.”

To be continued...