ELEVEN
2241 Words
We arrived in Varsis City after our business with Master Hol and his clan. Hindi na ako nasurpresa na manalo si Aliana. After all, as I said, she is someone who doesn't need to strap a weapon around her body to defeat her enemies. She can bring them down with her own hands.
"Kanina ka pa nakatingin kay Aliana," narinig kong sabi ni Raven. Napatingin naman ako sa kanya at ngumiti.
"She was amazing," sagot ko naman habang nakatingin kay Aliana na agad na umupo sa sofa doon katabi ni Az. Nanatili kaming nakatayo sa veranda habang pinapanood namin silang nagkukulitan. It's quite unbelievable that these people around me are labeled as monstrous, dangerous, merciless, and any other negative things I could think of.
"You were amazing too, you know."
Napatingin ako sa kanya na nagtataka. He then smiled before he tured his back and walked to the veranda. Sumunod naman ako sa kanya and we both oversaw the city as it glinted under the buttery sunlight. The most beautiful city I have ever seen.
"It's been a while since I have seen Al fighting with a worthy opponent," he said and gave me a sideward glance.
Namula naman ang pisngi ko doon. Raven noticed it at tumawa lang siya nang mahina. "Para namang natalo ko si Al," I said.
"Well, at least it was a fight worth watching," sabi niya. Binalot kami ng katahimikan but it wasn't uncomfortable. Naramdaman naman naming ang paglapit ni Al sa gawi namin. Nang tumingin kami sa kanya ay binigyan niya kami ng dalawang papel. One paper was enclosed in a rosy envelope while the other one was a plain white envelope.
Napatingin ako kay Al na nagtataka. "Ano 'to?"
Al gave the rosy one to me and the plain one to Raven. Then she said, "The High Lord of the West, Matthew Guderian sent them."
Napatingin naman ako kay Raven at tumaas ang kilay niya habang nakatingin sa hawak kong papel at sa kanya. "Well, I can see he has a favorite," sabi niya at saka binuksan ang envelope.
Binuksan ko na rin ang akin only to find another scented rosy paper.
"Enjoy reading your love letters," saad ni Al bago ito bumalik sa living room. Kitang-kita ko naman ang mga tingin nina Az at Bry habang binabasa naming ang laman ng papel.
Dearest Delta,
During your time here, I was fond of your presence. I am writing this letter to thank you again for the visit. We see you as the savior of this continent and we will be forever grateful to you. And I figured that necklace I gave you is not enough to express our gratitude. In addition to that tiny gift—
Napasinghap ako. Tiny gift? That necklace he gave me was a family heirloom. A jewel that was passed down from several Guderian generations and he just gave it to me because he was fond of me? I swallowed and continued reading.
In addition to that tiny gift, I would also like to offer you a piece of an island in my court. During your time here, I could see how you marveled at my Court. Of course, this is something you could always refuse if you think it is too much but I am known to be a generous man and I would love it if you accept my gift. But if you wish I give you another gift, then please tell me. I will give it to you as the West Court's gratitude.
An island? A whole island? A gift for me? Who gifts people island?
Napatingin naman ako sa gawi ni Raven ngunit nakita kong nagdidilim ang mukha niya. Hindi ko tuloy mapigilang hind macurious sa kung anong sinulat ni Matthew sa kanya.
"W-What did he write to you?"
Hindi muna nagsalita si Raven at nanatiling nakatingin siya sa liham na binabasa. And then a dark smile curved his lips.
"The contents of this letter are as dry as this paper," he said and then looked at me. Tumingin din siya sa hawak kong papel.
"Bakit? Ano bang sinulat niya sa iyo?" tanong ko naman.
Raven leaned on the railings. "He said he will agree to this alliance," sagot niya. Ngunit ramdam ko naman na may karugtong pa iyon.
"But?"
"But only if the High Lords join the alliance too. And because I am the one who proposed this, I should be the one to convince the others too."
Napalunok naman ako ng laway. Convincing the other High Lords. It would be hard. Lalong-lalo na sina Maxim at ang ama ni Tyrell.
"I have no problem with it. This alliance is our only hope to defeat the enemies. It just upsets me how Matthew sets this condition."
"Then we're going to make the alliance happen, Raven. We have to," I said. Tumingin naman siya sa akin at saka naglakad papunta sa upuang naroon. He picked up a bottle of wine and then poured it on his glass. Napatingin naman ako sa living room ngunit wala na sina Al, Bryen at Az doon. Hindi ko rin alam kung nasaan si Mel.
Sinundan ko naman si Raven at naupo kaharap niya. Akala ko nga rin na maayos ang naging usapan nila. Na sasali si Matthew sa alyansa. And then this condition...
"Isn't that what we're planning to do from the very beginning? Ang kunin ang loob ng ng ibang High Lord?"
"Yes. And that is also the reason why I came to Matthew Guderian first because, among all the other High Lords, he is the most reasonable. And I want him to help me get the other High Lords. The others see me as an enemy. A threat."
I know what he was talking about. He was talking about how Maxim treats him now as a public enemy of the South Court. And yes, I don't think that Maxim would even let Raven set foot in the South.
Napatingin ako kay Raven. He was staring at the paper and I sighed. "It's not the end of the world. We can still get through this."
Tumingin naman siya sa akin. "If I don't convince Maxim then Matthew won't join the alliance."
Napahigpit ang paghawak ko sa papel because I already know what to do.
"We'll be good. We will make him join the alliance even if we don't convince Maxim. I know you're upset because you wanted to be Matthew's friend as much as he wanted to be yours."
Tumaas naman ang kilay niya habang nakatingin sa akin. Tinaasan ko rin siya ng kilay. He looked definitely upset. It's just something new to me because I have never seen him being upset like this. He always gets it together. Perhaps it was because he is the High Lord and it's his responsibility but seeing him like this, this side of him, I wanted to stay beside him too.
"Ano sa tingin mo ang sasabihin nila kapag nalaman niya iyan?" tanong ko sa kanya.
"The three would be as positive as you but I am not sure about Mel."
"Why?"
Then his eyes darkened. "Because Mel would suggest we go to the West Court and wipe the whole court off the map."
Tumayo naman ang balahibo ko. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang isipin na baka si Mel ang napiling pangalawa ni Raven because she is ruthless.
I stared at Varsis, with him, listening to the sounds of the end of the day and the night about to come. And as I watched, I realized that the West Court's capital, Moran City, could not even compare. That's why I know that I don't need an island from the West. I need something else. Something that could help Raven.
"You have done so much to protect this city, Raven. I understand you would do anything to continue protecting this." So I will do my part to protect this too. Naalala ko ang pag-atakeng nangyari sa syudad na ito ilang lingo na ang nakaraan. It was heartbreaking to see. My blood run cold.
His eyes slid to me. I swallowed hard. "Get through this war, Raven. If they don't want to cooperate then we'll have to stand by ourselves. Let's stop the Liberian King from attacking. Let's win the war. And then we'll figure out the rest after."
"You sound as if you plan to stay here for a while." It was a bland but edged question.
"With the generous pay you give me being the emissary of this court, I can find my own lodging if you want me to leave," sabi ko.
Come on. Stop being so gloomy. Play with me. Wink at me. Just—stop looking like that.
But he only said, "Spare your paycheck. Your name has already been added to the list of those approved to use my household credit. Buy whatever you want. Buy yourself a whole house if you want."
I gritted my teeth. I don't like seeing him upset. And I wondered if that's what he felt too. Noong nakita niya akong wala sa sarili, noong sobrang lungkot ko...did he feel this way too? I just have the urge to remove every sadness in him.
And perhaps it was desperation or panic, but I said sweetly, "May nakita akong tindahan sa syudad noong nakaraang araw. They sold those tiny lacy things. Am I allowed to buy that on your credit, too, or sa sahod ko ba kukunin ang pambayad doon?"
His violet stare drifted at me. "I'm not in the mood."
Gone was his usual humor and arrogance, and mischief. I could go inside and leave him alone to wallow with his sadness but he had stayed with me before. He had stayed with me even those times when I practically shove him away. He fought for me. Even when I had no reaction, even when I had been able to speak or bring myself to care whether I lived or died or ate or starved. I couldn't leave him to his own dark thoughts. He'd shouldered them alone long enough.
So I held my gaze. "I never knew Valyrians are such ill-tempered drunks."
"I'm not drunk. I'm drinking."
"Semantics." I leaned back in my seat, feeling the cold bite of the wind.
"Maybe you should have slept with Eliza so you two could be sad and lonely together."
"So you're entitled to have as many bad days as you want, but I can't get a few hours?"
"Oh, take however long you want to wallow with your sadness. I was going to invite you to come shopping with me for that lacy little underwear, but...you can sit here all you like if you have to."
Hindi siya sumagot.
I went on, "And maybe I could a few to Matthew. Sasabihin ko sa kanya na susuotin koi yon sa harapan niya kung papaya siyang makipag-alyansa sa atin."
He didn't smile. "He'd see that as a taunt."
Tumingin naman ako sa kanya. "I gave him a few smiles and he handed over a family heirloom. And in this letter, he said he'd offer me an island if I want. Imagine what I could ask if I offer to wear that lacy underwear in front of him."
"Someone thinks highly of herself."
Tumingin ako sa kanya. "Bakit hindi? Sa nakikita ko, you seem to have difficulty not staring at me day and night."
That was truth and question at the same time.
"Am I supposed to deny," he drawled, but something sparked in his eyes, "that I find you attractive?"
"You've never said it."
"I've told you many times, and quite frequently, how attractive I find you."
I shrugged, even as I thought of all those times he showed me and I just dismissed them as teasing, compliments, and nothing more.
"Well, maybe you should do a better job of it."
And then there it was. His eyes gleamed into something predatory. A thrill went through me as he braced his powerful arms on the table and said, "Is that a challenge, Delta?"
I held his gaze. Sinubukan kong titigan din siya. "Is it?"
His eyes narrowed. Gone was the quiet sadness. The only thing left was his lethal focus—on me. On my mouth. On the bob on my throat as I tried to keep my breathing even.
He said, slow and soft, "Why don't we go down to that store right now, so you can try on those lacy little things—and then I can help you pick which one to send to Matthew."
My toes curled inside my shoes. It is such a dangerous path we walk in. A very thin line. I felt the cold bite of the ice-kissed night. Raven's eyes remained on me until he looked behind us and I could see Az walking in our direction.
I stood from my seat before Az arrived, giving the High Lord and his spymaster some privacy. And as soon as I entered the dimness of the stairwell, I could feel my cheeks heating, leaving a cold feeling in my stomach.
What we did...that was flirting. There was flirting, and then there was...this.
I have loved Maxim. Loved him so much na handa akong mamatay sa kanya noon. And then everything had happened and now I was here, and...and...
I sighed and took the first step. Realizing what we were doing and that I recognize this feeling.
* * *
- Writer
