A KISS OF RAGE AND FIRE

TWENTY-ONE

KILLIAN ARCHERON

West of Baylorcliffe

Some Tavern

Never in his entire life did he expect the scenario. Well, maybe he expected it a little but he didn't expect it to be that worse. Halatang galing ang dalawa sa pag-aaway.

"Murdu," he called, his voice in warning. He heard him whine softly na para bang sinasabi nitong hindi siya ang nagsimula. He looked at him sharply and the Demon's ears flopped down.

"Anong sinabi ko sa iyo kanina? I told you not to let her see you."

"But my lord--"

He held up a hand and looked at Katharine. Nakatayo pa rin ito sa kama habang masamang tinitingnan si Murdu. "And you? Why the f**k would you fight my Shadow Demon? I asked him to guard the area as I checked the whole perimeter tapos ito ang aabutan ko? Akala ko ba tulog ka?"

Katharine blow out some air. She always does that especially when she's frustrated. "Paano ako makakatulog? Nanunuod siya ng projector. Nakaupo pa sa kama. And he had it in full volume!" The Princess pointed her finger towards Murdu dahilan para magalit naman ang huli. He gave Murdu a sharp look and his fierce face switched to a puppy face instantly.

Napapikit siya nang mariin. He couldn't believe it. Tiningnan niya si Murdu. "Since when did you learn to watch the projector?"

Umupo naman ito sa sahig at ipinatong ang dalawang kamay sa nakatuping tuhod habang nilalaro ang mga daliri. "Just now," sagot naman nito.

It was his strongest Shadow Demon. The merciless Murdu, a prisoner from the Mount of Terrors. He was the strongest monster that was imprisoned there and he fights a woman because of a damned projector!

"This is very disappointing," he muttered dahilan para yumuko ulit si Murdu na para bang pinagsisisihan nito ang ginawa. And the Princess sat on the bed, looking at the Shadow Demon. Nakikita niyang naaawa ito kay Murdu but she didn't say a word.

"Dinner's coming and I want you to eat, Princess. Nobody starves. And don't give the 'I'm-grieving' sort of excuse. You eat. Am I understood?"

Ngunit masama lang siyang tiningnan ng babae. "You don't tell me what to do!"

"Unfortunately for you, you're stuck with me. Whether you like it or not, you'll have to follow me. Naglalakad ka buong araw. That fish you devoured earlier must have been digested by now." Hindi na niya ito hinintay na sumagot and thankfully, the Princess didn't say another thing.

Then he looked at Murdu. "And you, tell me if you wanted to watch the projector. And you can only watch it if you're alone or if your companion wants to watch it too—"

"But what if my companion doesn't want to watch it?" tanong naman nito sa kanya.

"Ask your companion if it's okay for you to turn it on," sagot naman niya. Murdu just nodded and he sighed. Kinuha niya ang bola ba naroon sa mesa kung saan naroon amg projector ba nagpapalabas ng kahit anong palabas. Pinatay niya iyon at kitang-kita niya ang panlulumo  ni Murdu.

Oh for the love of god! Pakiramdam niya'y para siyang nag-aalaga ng mga bata. He knows that Murdu gets excited over these sorts of things. He's been imprisoned in the Mount of Terrors for god knows how long and everything outside his prison was new.

"Murdu," tawag niya rito. Agad naman itong nag-angat ng tingin.

He placed the bottles of sheep's blood on the table. Kitang-kita naman niyang nangningning ang mga mata nito sa nakita. "Call the others," he ordered at agad naman itong nawala.

It was then that he felt the Princess's hard stare on him.

"They're going to feed here?" tanong nito. Hindi niya ito sinagot at agad nagtungo aa pinto kung saan dinalhan sila ng  may-ari ng hapunan nila. Agad niya itong kinuha at pinasalamatan. Nilagay niya ang pagkain sa ibang mesa before he gestured her hand for the Princess to finally eat.

And then Murdu appeared, his slanted eyes narrowing at the sight of the sheep's blood. Kinuha niya ang isang bote at ibinigay iyon sa kanya. He could have sworn Murdu giggled bago ito nawala. Sunod namang lumabas ay si Thorin ngunit kamay lang nito ang inilabas. Napabuntong-hininga nalang siya at binigyan din ito ng isang bote. Everyone came out but only with their hands.

Sinabihan niya kasi si Murdu kanina na may kasama siya kaya ganoon na lamang ang nangyari at puro kamay lang ang nilalabas ng mga ito.

Nang matapos na siya ay saka niya tiningnan si Katharine na manghang-mangha sa nakita.

"If I have a portion of your power, does that mean I could have power over them too?" tanong nito. Umupo siya sa kaharap nitong upuan saka binuksan ang kaserola. It was a soup and he'd rather not know what's in it.

He looked at the Princess. "No. My Shadow Demons are loyal to me as I am the one whom they swore their loyalty to. But it is possible that you could conjure."

Nanlalaki naman ang mga mata nito habang nakatingin sa kanya. Alam niyang may gusto pa itong itanong ngunit kinuha niya nalang ang plato nito at nilagyan ng pagkain.

"Eat first. Questions later." And he dug in. Whatever the soup was made of, it was rather tasty.

Tahimik silang kumakain and he doesn't find it uncomfortable. Ngunit alam niyang hindi komportable ang babae doon kaya naman sinimulan niya ang usapan.

He jerked his thumb outside the balcony. "There's a pond over there. You might want to wash up. It's uncomfortable to sleep with all that dust in your body," saad niya. It was then that he realized what he said was subtly insulting but when he looked at the Princess, she looked like she didn't hear a thing after he said that there's a lake. Dahil nakapunta na ito sa balcony at pilit na tinatanaw ang sinabi niya.

"Wait here." Agad naman siyang lumabas ng kwarto at nagpunta sa may-ari. He took out another smaller pouch full of coins at binigya iyon sa may-ari.

"I"ll have the pond for tonight."

The tavern owner just nodded. Agad naman siyang bumalik ng kwarto and tells Katharine she could have the bath all for herself tonight.

Dali-dali naman itong sumama sa kanila. Dumaab sila sa likod a binagtas ang maliit na daan papunta sa paliguan. The place was well-decorated. Iyon ang masasabi niya. The front of the tavern was nothing compared to what's behind it.

Tumalikod ang babae at magsimulang maghubad. Hindi mapigilag pamulahan ng mukha kaya agad din siyang tumalikod. Napapikit naman siya nang mariin. The Princess was used to having the servants see her naked body. Ngunit iba na ang sitwasyon ngayon. He reminded himself to talk to the Princess about it.

Umupo siya sa lilim ng puno. His back against the pond. He could hear the sound of the water as the Princess finally stepped into it. He roamed his eyes around, to see anything peeping ngunit wala siyang nakita. And besides, the pond was isolated. Mahirap itong kitain mula sa mga kwarto at sa labas. He made sure of that.

He remained seated there and took out his dagger saka ito pinunasan. It was his favorite dagger. One he uses every time he doesn't need to use his magic. It has become his habit na punasan iyon kapag wala siyang ginagawa. 

"What was it like, Kill?" tanong ng babae dahilan para mahinto siya sa pagpupunas ng punyal niya.

"What is what like?"

"Having to travel around. What was it like? You seem to have a fair share of experience. I figured you're the best person to ask."

Narinig niya ang tunog ulit ng tubig, senyales na gumalaw ang babae.

"Terrifying. Exciting. Challenging." He started to wipe his dagger again. "It's terrifying in a way that you don't know what could be waiting for you. It's exciting in a way that you don't know what could be waiting for you. And it's challenging in a way that you don't know what could be waiting for you," he answered, emphasizing his point. 

Narinig naman niyang tumawa nang mahina ang babae. He gave her a sideways look at nakaharap na pala ito sa kanya her chin was rested on the edge of the pond.

"Why do you ask?" tanong niya rito.

The Princess was silent for a moment as if she was gathering her thoughts or perhaps she was calming herself down first for what she was about to say. 

And then she said, "Because I'm out of Lancaster. And I think this will last a long time. My betrothed betrayed and killed me and my father. My people think I was the one who killed my father. I am basically a criminal. A Queen without a throne, just like what the prophecy said. I am banished from my own lands. Just because I was blinded with love, I didn't see what's coming."

He heard her drew a sharp breath. He put his dagger down and then looked at the moon.

"Nobody expected that to happen."

"But my father did! He knew something bad is going to happen. He knew! Nagagalit ako kasi hinayaan lang niyang mangyari iyon. He knew about my death. That's why he didn't use the Kingstone that was supposedly for him. Because he knew I would need it. That I would die and I would need it."

Natahimik si Killian. Because he understands the Princess. She was being kept in the dark. The King loved her so much that he did everything he could to protect the Princess in a way that he knows. But the Princess died anyway and the first part of the prophecy has already happened.

"What your father did..." he trailed and then hid his dagger once again "It was all for you. You may not understand it now but you will, soon. I am not going to force you to change your outlook at the moment. You're grieving. You have every right to grieve. But remember this, Princess," he said and stood up.  "Your father has faith in you. You will figure everything out. You always do."

"But it's very hard, Kill. Hindi ko alam kung makakaya ko." She scoffed but a sob came with it. "Al was the only man I loved. He was the one I saw my future with. I loved him for so many years and everything just ended in one night." The water moved at nakita niyang tumalikod ito sa kanya. Her head rested on the side of the pond as she stared at the starry sky.

"I was a fool. And what happened to me, what happened to my father—was all because I trusted him."

There was enough bite her words trying to mask the pain behind it. And then he heard her sobbing. Her eyes were closed and her beautiful face was lit by the moonlight. As if the moon favored her and made her even more beautiful with its light. And yet she looked so sad that it stirred some unknown anger inside of him.

Thinking about what Alastair did, kumukulo ang dugo niya. When he saw the lifeless body of the Princess, his world stopped. Mainly because he was scared and he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Hours ago they were bantering and then he finds her dead. And he was mad beyond measure at Alastair.

The Princess continued to sob. It was something new to him. The last time he saw her cry like that was when they were still kids. And seeing her again heartbroken, he just wanted to search for any cure if there is one. Ngunit alam niyang wala siyang magagawa sa sakit na nararamdaman ng babae. And all he could offer is his presence.

He removed his coat and stood next to her. The Princess opened her eyes and he looked the other way bago ito tumayo mupa sa tubig. Agad naman nitong sinuot ang bigay niya and he picked up her clothes on the ground.

He started walking ngunit napatigil naman siya nang hawakan ng babae ang damit niya. Tiningnan niya ito. She was clutching the coat, covering her body and she was looking on the ground.

"I"m sorry if I was mean to you," she said dahilan para tumaas ang kilay niya. Nag-angat naman ng tingin ang babae sa kanya. "I'm sorry if I was being a brat."

Tinitigan niya ang babae. He totally didn't expect it. But he let out a small chuckle dahilan para nagtatakang napatingin ito sa kanya.

"That was the first in years that you have said sorry to me because you were mean." Nakita niya namang namula ang pisngi nito. "For the record, I was mean to you too. There's no need for you to be sorry, really."

Hindi na sumagot ang babae at sa halip ay nagpatianod nalang ito habang naglalakad sila paalis doon. When they arrived in the room, he stayed outside for a little bit at pumasok lang dahil tapos na magbihis ang babae.

He asked Murdu to check the perimeters once again just to make sure and Murdu came back without any news.

The Princess was fast asleep. And he was too, eventually.

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