A KISS OF RAGE AND FIRE

TWENTY-NINE

KATHARINE ARATHORNE

Nagising siya kinaumagahan. And it felt like she had the most wonderful sleep. She slept so well she was worried if she drooled but she figured Killian couldn't care less.

Napatingin siya sa oras at labis nalang ang gulat niya nang makitang alas singko pa lang ng umaga. Hindi niya alam kung bakit ang aga niyang nagising but then she remembered what happened last night and what she did that's she drained all of her energy.

Bumangon naman siya sa kama only to see Killian on the opposite side of the bed at naglilinis ng punyal nito. Napansin naman nito ang paggising niya at agad itong tumayo.

"Get ready. We're leaving in thirty," saad ng lalake saka ito lumabas para bigyan siya ng oras para mag-ayos. She didn't really need much. Nakita niya naman ang damit na nakalatag sa kama niya. Hindi niya mapigilang pamulahan ng pisngi. Killian must have gotten them from that portal he had shown her yesterday. What she thought was embarrassing was that it included some underwear.

But she shook her head and took the clothes para makapagbihis na. She didn't take much time to prepare. After ten minutes, she's done. Naabutan niya si Killian sa labas nakaabang. With what happened at them in Baylorcliffe, hindi niya maiwasang magduda sa mga kwarto katabi nila. But thankfully, they reached the counter and nothing happened. 

In Killian's estimation, they're going to reach Viles tonight. Kung saan nila kikitain ang ibang kasamahan ni Killian. She doesn't who will show up. Kung lahat ba sila ay makikita niya mamaya. 

Killian's Shadow Demon, Moondin, hasn't returned yet. Sa pagkakaalam niya ay hinahanap nito ang ibang kasamahan ni Killian and also to tell the news to Arythea. 

"What will happen to your lands?" tanong niya sa lalake habang naglalakad na sila paalis ng syudad. The surrounding was already bustling despite being early dahil may nakikita na siyang mga mangangalakal na nagbebenta ng mga paninda nila. She could also see some street sweepers using their magic to clean the leaves off the road. 

Killian gave her a sideways look before he said, "What about it?" 

She fumbled on her cloak. "Well, you're branded as a criminal for saving the Princess who's supposed to be dead. What do you think will Alastair do?" 

Killian was silent for a moment habang patuloy pa rin ito sa paglalakad. He was looking straight ahead. Then he said, "He wouldn't dare attack my lands." He looked at her. "Alastair is wise enough to know that attacking my lands would be the worst decision he'll ever make." 

It was a cold and brutal statement. Something that tells her he isn't lying. 

"I asked Moondin to deliver the news to my dearest brother but I think he already knows it by now. He'll be prepared. The only one who can break the barrier in my lands is me." 

Hindi niya maiwasang mamangha sa lalake. He wasn't showing off. He was just stating one brutal fact. Attacking his lands, the strongest land in Terrasen would be a one-sided m******e. The Royal Capital being on the losing side. 

Arythea is the home of Dark Magic. That's why Killian's magic is especially centered around the darkness. It was strong magic, perhaps the strongest among all the magic that ever existed. The North magicians are mainly conjurers and warlocks. But so far, Killian is hailed as the strongest conjurer in the North and the strongest magician in all of Terrasen. That's why he became the Captain of the Kingsguard. But power has its own costs. Ang Dark Magic din ang pinakadelikadong gamitin sa lahat. And she couldn't help but wonder what cost did Killian had to pay for his magic. 

"But what if they manage to break the barrier?" tanong niya sa lalake. She knows it's close to impossible but then she couldn't help but wonder. Napatingin naman si Killian sa kanya. 

"Then Lauris and my father face an entire Lancaster army." He said it as if he was just talking about buying books at a local library. He looked at her. "The Royal Capital wouldn't stand a chance." Another cold and brutal statement. He knows how strong the North is that even the Lancaster army wouldn't dare attack. 

And she definitely felt goosebumps all over her body. Alam niyang malakas si Killian. He wouldn't be the Captain of the Kingsguard for no reason. But his sheer confidence about the North's strength is something that makes it even more convincing. Not that she needed convincing because she has witnessed it firsthand--his sheer power. 

Hindi na siya nagsalita pa. The walk was bearable compared to the first time. Perhaps she got used to it. It was noon when they reached Galvadene, a town before the city of Viles. They stopped in Galvadene for refreshments and food. Bumili na rin siya ng mga damit sa isa sa mga tindahan na naroroon. She was embarrassed when Killian gave her money to buy some but she didn't have a choice. 

Nakatayo lang si Killian sa labas ng tindahan habang pumasok siya doon. She had her hair cut but she still had her mask on. The lady was kind and escorted her inside before presenting her with the clothes that she thought would suit her. 

"This one, my lady." The woman picked a red dress. It was made of silk and looked comfortable but it looked more like a dress to be worn in the bedroom. Magalang na nginitian niya ang babae. 

"I just want some clothes that are comfortable to wear. You see, I'm a traveling woman." She smiled and the woman nodded continuously na para bang naiintindihan nito ang nais niyang sabihin. Agad naman itong nagpunta sa isang kwarto. Naghintay siya ng ilang minuto at agad namang lumabas ang babae, bringing new sets of clothing. May nakikita siyang kaaya-aya sa mata ngunit hindi niya naman pwedeng bilhin. But the woman gestured her to turn around to check her size and when she was done, she excitedly picked up a dress. 

Napataas naman ang kilay niya rito. "I don't think--" 

"Yes, it is. You can try it on for a moment. See for yourself first before you say no." Ngiti ng babae sa kanya. The woman was insistent at wala na siyang nagawa kung hindi sukatin ang damit. It was a bit tight as it wasn't designed to be comfortable. It was rather designed inside a bedroom. She stood in front of the mirror and beheld herself wearing the flimsy dress na halos wala nang tinatago sa harapan. 

The woman was busy trying the ribbon at the back and then she leaned and said, "This dress was designed wisely. This ribbon in the back holds the dress but it is also easy to untie. Your husband wouldn't find it hard to undress you tonight." 

Doon siya natigilan. 

"Husband?" tanong niya sa babae ngunit bago pa man siya makapagsalita ulit ay bigla nalang nitong tinanggal ang ribbon dahilang para matanggal ang damit. She shrieked and tried to cover herself but when she looked at the mirror, may suot pa rin naman siyang damit. Though it was even more revealing than the first one. Napangangang nakatingin siya sa repleksyon sa salamin. It was indeed a dresss one wears in the bedroom. 

"See? Very easy to remove--" 

"What the hell happened?" 

Napatingin silang dalawa ng babae sa pinto kung saan nakatayo si Killian. His eyes were alert and were searching frantically for any signs of trouble. But there was no trouble. It was just her, in an almost see-through dress while she holds it frantically to cover what needs to be covered. 

Killian's eyes roamed in her body in very revealing clothing. Agad siyang pinamulahan ng mukha at hindi niya magawang sumigaw ulit. 

"Oh, my!" the woman exclaimed and when she looked at Killian again, he was already leaning to the door frame with his arms crossed and his eyes were staring directly at her body in the flimsy clothing. A smirk tugged on his lips as he beheld her. 

Pinandilatan niya ang mapang-asar na ngiti ni Killian. 

"Get out of here!" singhal niya rito ngunit tumawa lang ito nang bahagya bago tumalikod. 

"I kinda liked the sight, though." 

"Stop! You did not see anything." 

"But I did see something." 

"Shut up!" sigaw niya at dali-daling hinubad ang damit. Sinamaan niya ng tingin ang babae na nakatakip lang sa bibig ang kamay. 

"I thought you two are--" 

"We're not! We're not husband and wife. Like I said earlier, I am a traveling woman and I need some clothes perfect for it. I don't need bedroom clothes," she said while breathing hard. Hindi niya alam kung saan siya mas magagalit, sa babae ba o kay Killian. But she figured it was the latter. Hindi man lang ito tumalikod agad at pinasadahan pa talaga siya ng tingin. 

Napalunok naman ang babae ng laway saka agad nagpunta sa pinto kung saan ito kumukuha ng damit. Maya-maya pa ay nagdala na ito ng iba't-ibang klase ng damit. Hindi na niya hinayaang ang babae ang pumili sa damit. Siya na mismo ang pumili at agad na sinukat. Nang magustuhan niya ito ay agad niyang binayaran ang babae. 

The lady waved goodbye, still apologizing for what happened but she just told her it's fine. Agad naman silang naglakad papalayo doon. Nauna siyang naglakad kaysa kay Killian and she could feel Killian's eyes on her back. 

"Are you still mad?" tanong into sa kanya na hindi naman niya sinagot. She's still mad. But not the kind of mad that would send explosions of magic. Gusto lang niya talagang sabunutan ito o sampalin dahil sa ginawa nito kanina. 

"I'm sorry, okay?" saad nito at inis naman niya itong hinarap. She could have sworn she saw him swallow as he looked at her pissed-off face. 

"Tingin mo ba madadala mo sa pagsosorry iyon? If I was still at the castle, you would have to marry me. It's that serious." 

Killian just blinked. "I don't think there's a rule like that--" 

"There is," saad niya at tinalikuran ang lalake at nagsimula naman siyang maglakad. 

But then Killian said, "Then I would marry you." 

Napahinto naman siya sa paglalakad. Hinarap niya ang lalake at nakangisi lang ito habang naglalakad papunta sa direksyon niya. When he was close enough, he leaned to her ear and whispered, "That would mean I get to see you more in that clothing." And then he gave her a smirk and started to walk away. Hindi niya napigilan ang pamumula ng kanyang mukha as his words finally reached her. She could have sworn her face was about to burst and she was so tempted to shout at him ngunit nasa gitna sila ng kalsada and it would be more embarrassing for her for sure. 

Kaya naman nagsimula na rin siyang maglakad at sumunod kay Killian at hindi niya nalang ito kinausap. Hindi niya alam kung anong magagawa niya sa lalake kapag nagkataon. 

When they reached the end of the Galvadene, they started to walk through the woods again. Minsan nagpapahinga sila para uminom ng tubig. It was almost seven in the evening when they reached Viles. 

It was another city, smaller than Fliore. But it was also bustling. Maraming tao sa paligid but unlike Fliore, who's mainly run by magic, the city of Viles was not. Perhaps it's the reason why Killian decided to meet the others here. 

Killian stopped walking and she did too. Hindi niya alam kung anong mayroon but she heard him sigh as if he's had enough. Then he looked at her. 

"She's here," Killian said ngunit hindi niya alam kung anong tinutukoy nito. 

"What do you mean?" tanong niya sa lalake but he didn't respond at nagsimula na ring maglakad. Sumunod naman siya rito. Hindi niya alam kung ano o sino ang tinutukoy nito but based on the things she knows so far, he must have meant one of the Kingsguard.

Killian walked towards the alleyway. It was dark and quiet but she still followed him dahil mukhang alam naman nito kung saan papunta.

And the more they walked, the more she could hear the shouts of some people. Not shouts of fear but it was more like cheers. Very familiar cheers dahil naririnig niya rin ito noon.

And when they reached the end of the alleyway, they saw a huge arena where there were lots of people with paper bills on their hands, betting about who's going to win the match.

It was a familiar sight and the feeling's different because she wasn't the one who's in the arena. This time, she's just a spectator.

And when she looked at the center of the arena, hindi niya mapigilang mapansin ang babae na naroon. Her hair was of the brightest shade of red and judging from way she holds herself with so much power and confidence, hindi niya maipagkakaila na kakilala niya nga ito. 

"Maybel Whitdur," saad naman ni Killian.

And they both watched the arena hanggang sa tumunog ang bell, hudyat na magsisimula na ang labanan.

* * *