A Shade of Midnight

FIVE

Tahimik ang paligid ngunit alam kong may nagmamatyag. Napansin ko iyon at mukhang napansin din ni Raven. Ngunit patuloy lang siya sa paglalakad at isinawalang-bahala ko nalang rin ito. 

I knew it wasn't going to be smooth. And I know Raven has purposely come here in this specific area kung saan narito naninirahan ang mga katutubo. 

The moment they came out from where they were hiding, they already have all their weapons pointed towards us. Raven stopped walking and I did too. There are more than ten of them surrounding us and ready to attack should they see anything suspicious from us. At hindi ko alam kung makakaya namin silang labanan. Kagaya ng sinabi ni Raven, these people are born warriors.

I looked at Raven and I couldn't read what's on his face. Ever so slowly, he took his hands out from his pockets and slowly raised them up, showing he had no weapons and he has no malicious intent and I did the same.  

Ngunit hindi man lang sila natinag at hindi pa rin nila ibinababa ang kanilang mga sandatang nakatutok sa amin. At mukhang inaasahan iyon ni Raven. They really don't recognize High Lords kahit na si Raven Lancel na ang kaharap ng mga ito. They rule on their own and iyon ang isang bagay na sa tingin ko ay kahanga-hanga. 

Raven opened his mouth and said something I couldn't understand. Saka ko naman napagtanto na iba ang pananalita nila and it was even more amazing that Raven knows how to speak it. Hindi ko iyon maintindihan but I heard him say his name and I suppose he was introducing himself to them. The people looked at each other and then at Raven at saka napunta ang mga tingin na iyon sa akin. One of them said something while looking at me at base sa mga tingin nito ay alam ko na agad kung ano ang tinutukoy nila. Then Raven gestured his hand to me, introducing me to the natives. 

Matapos ang ilang segundo, one of them walked away, probably to tell whoever it is that ruled them that the High Lord of the North Court is here. 

I inched closer to Raven at napabulong sa kanya, "I thought they know you?" 

He leaned closer and whispered back, "They do. But they don't know what I look like."

"And how did you introduce me to them?" tanong niya. Napatingin naman si Raven sa akin, an incredulous look on his face. 

"I introduced you as a member of my court," he answered. Akmang magtatanong pa ako nang mapansin kong mas dumami ang mga taong may bitbit na sandata. I looked around, trying to figure out where they came from. 

Raven nudged me and I looked in front kung saan may isang matandang papalapit. He looked like he's in his late seventies and yet he looked strong enough to body slam somebody. The old man has his white beard so long that it reached his stomach. His white hair was long too but he has tied it into a high ponytail. Same with the other men around him. But unlike the others, this man was someone who oozes a certain kind of aura that tells me he isn't just an ordinary man. I instantly knew he's the one who leads these people. 

Beside him was a woman. Her golden skin shone under the bright sunlight. Like the others, she has tattoos running on both her arms and piercings on her nose and her lips. She has a golden ornament around her head and her stance tells me she is someone used to fighting. She reminds me of Al, someone who doesn't need any kind of weapon to defeat someone. But I could still see weapons strapped on her waist on on her tattooed thighs. 

The old man gave Raven a small smile before he raised his arm and the others put their weapons down in unison. They really only follow the leader they know. 

"What a surprise," the old man started and he looked at me, "to see the High Lord in this place," he said in his thick accent. Agad naman akong nahiya nang magtanggal ang tingin niya sa akin. Na para bang sinusuri niya ako gamit ang mga matatalas niyang mata. And somehow, I got the feeling that he could easily slit my throat open should I do something that he doesn't agree. 

"Forgive us for coming without notice," Raven said, making the old man look away from me. "This is Delta Summers, my emissary to Oregon." He then turned to me. "Delta, this is Master Hol, the head of the Alvaros clan."

The old man smiled at me before he faced Raven again. "Refreshments are being prepared for our guests," he said, an implicit invitation for us to follow. He then turned his back on us and started to walk. The girl didn't so much as say something and started walking again together with the others who pointed their weapons at us earlier. No one spoke to us except the old man called Master Hol kaya naman hindi na rin ako nagtanong pa kay Raven. I don't want to be the only one talking in the middle of the silence. 

Nagkibit-balikat si Raven at napabuntong-hininga nalang ako habang nakasunod kami sa kanila. They seem to recognize Raven as their equal, not as a High Lord, unlike the other Courts who see Raven as their enemy, the bad guy, when in fact, he's so much more than that. 

The group led us to a clearing and then after several minutes of walking, nakarating kami sa isang bayan. Well, not really a big town but something that has about a hundred houses in it. And the houses were made of wood and the roofs are made of dried woven leaves of some plants around the area. Most of the houses are just single floored and they're just the right sizes enough to accommodate a family of four. In the distance, I could see a certain spot swarmed with people. I supposed that was their market. Maliit ang bayan pero masasabi kong payapa iyon. Something to be treasured. To be protected. 

May nakikita din akong mga bata sa di kalayuan na naglalaro ng sibat. Hindi ko maiwasang mamangha sa nakikita ko. These people are training their children to become warriors of the future. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang maalala ang kwento ni Raven sa akin noon tungkol sa mga Valyrian. Somehow, Valyrian and the Alvaros clan has something in common. And that it to make warriors. 

Mukhang nabasa ni Raven kung anong iniisip ko dahil lumapit siya sa akin at bumulong, "This tribe, just like the Valyrians, are cutthroat. They train their kids as early as that to fight." He jerked his head towards the kids who are playing with a spear and occasionally throwing it to a dummy a few meters away from them. 

Nalulula ako kapag natatamaan nila ang target and they don't even hit just every part. They target the parts that could make their target dead in an instant. 

Napatingin ako sa unahan and saw the clan head was whispering to someone and the others who were with him earlier were already gone. Pati na ang babaeng kasama nito kanina.

It was when a kid came running toward us. He was about ten years old. He was not wearing any clothes to cover his torso just like the men in their tribe. Wala pa siyang mga tattoo sa kanyang katawan but looking at how solid his little muscles are at a very young age, he's ready to get his body inked. But then I don't any of their rules when it comes to when they should get their tattoos. I made a mental note to ask Raven about it. 

The kid said something to Raven in their language. I watched them have a short conversation. Nakatingin ako sa bata at kung paano niya dalhin amg sarili sa harap ng pinakamakapangyarihang pinuno ng Sandovia. The kid wasn't scared. And he looked like he's inviting Raven to play with the spear too nang ibigay ng bata ang sibat.

A small smile played on Raven's lips nang tanggapin niya ang sibat na iyon. He weighed it on his hands at tumingin sa bata habang may sinasabi. Hindi ko maintindihan iyon ngunit tumango lang ang bata which delighted Raven even more.

The clan head noticed the small interaction and stopped walking to see Raven walking towards the group of kids, holding the spear that was given to him by the kid. 

He gave me a sideward glance as he passed by me and a wink when he saw my confused look.

"Watch," he said before he went to where the kids surrounded him. They looked at him curiously, to the clothes he was wearing, to the watch on his hand, to his shoes, and most especially to his face. I let out a small scoff as I realized iyon din ang naging unang reaksyon ko nang makita si Raven sa unang pagkakataon. Sinfully beautiful. 

I swallowed hard as the clan head walked towards me, chuckling as he saw Raven twirling the spear on his hands.

"The High Lord has been very good to us," the old man said as he stood beside me. "We don't recognize him as our ruler but we go to him if things go south." The old man chuckled at tinitingnan si Raven na ipinosisyon ang sibat. 

"He's been very good to me, too," sagot niya dahilan para mapatingin ang matanda sa akin. It was then that I realized that what I said sounded wrong for someone who doesn't know the whole story. The old man might think me and Raven are in some kind of relationship kaya naman agad namula ang mukha ko. Sumilay ang isang ngiti sa labi ng matanda and I was about to explain myself nang marinig ko ang sigawan ng mga bata. 

Napatingin ako sa gawi ni Raven at wala na itong hawak na sibat. Napatingin naman ako sa target nito at doon ko nakita na tumama ang hawak nitong sibat sa ulo ng target. Raven looked at me, a proud smile plastered across his face. 

"He's a warrior through and through." The old man looked at me before he started walking away. Napansin ko nalang na nasa tabi ko na si Raven, wringing his hands as if he has not used them with fighting for a long time.

"Ah. That was rather refreshing," he said. "What did he telll you?" tanong niya dahilan para pamulahan ako ng mukha nang maalala ang sinabi kong katangahan kanina. 

I shook my head immediately and said, "Nothing. He just said you're a born warrior." 

A conceited smile plastered across his face and shrugged. "That is true." 

 I didn't need to ask where he learned to throw a spear like that. Just like what the clan head said, Raven is a honed warrior through and through. Valyrian blood flows through him. He is born a warrior. 

"Was it that impressive?" he asked and that was when I realized I was staring at him. I blinked many times and cleared my throat. 

"It was the first time I see you do...something like that so it was--"

"Downright impressive," he continued.

"I was going to say refreshing." I gave him a blank look before he laughed. 

He then shrugged as he said, "Same thing." 

I was about to say something witty to counter but then the Clan head faced the two of us. Behind him was a shack bigger than the rest. There are different kinds of ornaments hanging around it. May nakikita akong balat ng mga hayop. Naikwento nga ni Raven na mahusay sa pangangaso ang mga Alvaros. Sa kabilang banda naman ay kitang-kita ko ang mga tuyong halaman. Hindi ko na alam kung anong mga klaseng halaman iyon dahil tuyo na ang mga ito ngunit may nakikita akong mga presko pa at nakabilad ilang metro ang layo sa amin. 

I wonder if they use those plants for medicinal purposes or for their rituals but I didn't get the chance to ask when the Clan head urged us to follow him inside. 

The inside of the cabin was very different compared to how it looked outside. The inside of the cabin looked modern enough. The woods were varnished and it shone under the dim candle lights. There were some candles just enough not to make the ambiance creepy. 

The clan head sat on a cushion while the woman sat behind him. Her face remained expressionless and she looked like she's trained to talk only when talked to. 

It was then that Clan head took a sip from his tea and some maiden poured us some tea too.

"The High Lord rarely visits this place. May I know what brings you here, High Lord?"  Master Hol asked and put his teacup down gently on the wooden table it didn't even make a sound. 

Raven took a sip from his tea and I did the same. Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong huwag ubusin ang laman ng baso. 

Raven was silent for a moment but then he blurted out, "My court wants to challenge you to a duel, Master Hol." 

And that's when I choked on my tea. 

* * *