A Shade of Midnight

SIX

That was unexpected and I was suppressing my coughs as I choked on my tea the moment Raven said it. I cleared my throat and looked at him. He was looking at Master Hol. I wanted to ask him what he was thinking but I couldn't say anything. 

When I looked at the old man, he plastered a small smile as he rested his hands on the table.

"Very well," he said dahilan para manlaki ang mga mata ko. "We will have a duel in three days' time," Master Hol said and poured Raven some tea. 

I don't understand why they were having a duel all of a sudden. All I thought was that Raven came here to ask for their assistance should the war against Liberia come. But having a duel? Is this some kind of a rite of passage before we gain their cooperation? 

Kung ganoon, I respect Raven for respecting these people's culture.

"Choose your best fighter and try to win the duel, High Lord," sabi ng matanda kay Raven. The latter drank his tea in one gulp at saka ngumiti sa matanda. 

"In fact, I have already chosen my warrior," Raven said and stood. Sumunod naman ako. He didn't bow or anything but placed a hand on his chest as a sign of promise. "I will come back in three days' time with my chosen warrior," he said.

The old man nodded in recognition before Raven turned to walk away. I followed him, masking my face in disinterest--something I have learned from Raven from spending lots of time with him. 

The woman who was beside the clan leader earlier led the way and walked with us until to the mouth of the forest. She didn't as much say anything and just bowed before she turned to go back. I looked at her. 

"She's going to be their warrior, right?" I asked Raven and he started walking. He immediately knew who I was talking about.

"Indeed."

Just as I thought. The way she stood with wariness and the way she walk--it sends signals to her enemies not to mess with her. She's someone who doesn't need to bring her weapons as she can take down enemies with her bare hands. Someone like Aliana. 

"But why duel?"

"It's their tradition. If we beat their representative in a duel, they're going to listen to what we have to say."

"That means they could also accept or decline it," I said as I realized the situation. 

"Precisely." He gave me a sideward glance. "They're an uptight bunch. But if we need their help, the least we could do is respect their ways."

"But once war breaks out, they'd be affected too. Isn't that only natural for them to help?"

Raven only chuckled dahilan para mapatingin ako sa kanya. "True. But like I said, it's their way. And besides, once they hear what we're going to say, they'll accept it. Whether they like it or not." 

I didn't say anything for the whole walk. Even until we reached the end of the forest and even as we were already inside the car. It was when Raven started driving when I asked, "Who's going to be your warrior?" 

He took his time to answer. And then he looked at me and said, "You."

Muntik na akong mabulunan sa sarili kong laway sa sinagot niya. Ako? Bakit ako? Nagsasanay nga ako kasama si Bryen but that isn't enough to win the duel! And if I am chosen to be the warrior for the coming duel then I won't stand a chance! That woman earlier is someone who could snap all the bones in my body. 

"Are you out of your mind?" I exclaimed.

He laughed and I don't know kung matutuwa ba ako dahil nakikita ko siyang tumatawa nang madalas o magagalit ako dahil tumatawa na siya nang madalas and it was particularly directed to me.

His eyes were on the road ngunit bakas pa rin sa mukha nito ang tuwa niya kanina. "Yes, Mel would say the same. And yes, I would be crazy to throw you into that duel without proper training. It's not like I don't have faith in you. I am fairly certain you could take their warrior down if you've had enough training." He looked at me briefly as he went on, "So perhaps Aliana would take on the offer." He grinned.

I sighed in relief at napatawa nang mahina habang nakatingin sa daan. "I think Al would be thrilled."

"Oh, she delights more in fighting someone and making them suffer. Perhaps I should remind her not to underestimate the Alvaros." It was a warning. And to think that someone like Raven Lancel says not to underestimate the Alvaros means that these people are indeed strong. Strong enough to gain the respect of the strongest High Lord in Sandovia. 

Napaisip ako sa sinabi niya. Aliana does look like someone who would take pleasure when it comes to fighting. She is the third in command, after all. Kung wala si Raven o si Mel, siya ang maaatasang mamahala sa syudad. I have seen her fight. During trainings, I have seen her. Mabilis siyang kumilos. She is someone who could disarm an ordinary soldier kahit wala siyang gagamiting sandata. She could fight with her bare hands and I think it's really terrifying. Kaya naman nang makita ko ang babae kanina, naalala ko si Al sa kanya. In a duel, both of them are on par.

Mel, however, is not someone who's fond of fighting. If anything, she prefers to use her brain. Kaya naman naiintindihan ko kung bakit siya ang pangalawa ni Raven. Mel might have a short temper but she is someone effective when it comes to giving advice to Raven. After all, sa kanilang lahat, si Mel ang nakakatanda. She knows things that come with age. And Raven listens to her. But I am inclined to think that everyone in the circle fears Melisandre. Even Raven himself. 

I have not seen the other High Lords and how they rule, except the South and the West. And among the three, I could totally see the difference.

People in Varsis respect Raven as their leader. They don't call him High Lord. They call him by his name and it amazes her how Raven knows the names of almost all the people in his city. The others who are outside his court treat him as their enemy. But of course, that is something Raven has little care about. He doesn't care if the world sees him as the enemy. He doesn't care if the rest of the world calls him a monster. So long as the people close to him know the truth, the rest of the world doesn't matter. Iyon ang sinabi niya sa akin noon. 

And I honestly think it is admirable.

"I know my face is something that could really make one stare, but Delta darling you've been staring longer than usual," biglang sabi nito habang nasa daan pa rin ang mga mata. Bigla naman akong nahiya sa sinabi niya. Hindi ko naman namalayan na nakatitig na pala ako sa kanya. And there was his usual over-confident remarks as if telling me na palagi niya akong nahuhuling nakatitig sa kanya. 

"Your high regard for yourself still amazes me even until now," I said and shook my head at napatingin na rin sa daan. In my periphery, nakita ko siyang tumingin sa gawi ko and then a low chuckle came out of his mouth. 

"And yet you have called me the most beautiful man you have ever seen," he said. I gave him an incredulous look and he just shrugged. Somehow, I have a feeling that he is going to repeat that over and over again. 

I just groaned and laid back on the seat at narinig ko naman siyang tumawa nang mahina. The rest of the trip was filled with a comfortable silence and it was something that made me think of all the things that have happened so far and the possible things that might happen soon. All the other Courts, like the West, have viewed Raven as the one who stole the bride of Maxim. At galit siya sa mga paratang na iyon. As what Raven continues to remind me before, I am not anyone's possession. I am not anyone's subject. And as these people continue to label me as Maxim's bride, it boils my blood. Gusto kong ipagsigawan na hindi ako ninakaw. That I left the South Court and joined the North Court all in my own will and not because I was stolen. I am mad at those people who were so easy to label Raven as the bad guy when it was him who has saved their asses during Meredith's invasion. Although pinipilit ni Raven na ako ang nagligtas sa buong Sandovia but I think it was also because of him, keeping me chained to my own sanity. I couldn't have done with without his constant taunting and mockery, making me feel something other than emptiness. 

"You look like you want to say something. Come now, say it," biglang sabi nito. 

I looked at him and swallowed hard before I said, "Thank you." 

His brows furrowed at tumingin siya sa akin na para bang hindi siya naniniwala sa sinabi ko. Bigla naman akong nahiya. "Don't look at me like it's the first you heard me say thank," I said at napatingin sa labas. 

He was silent for a short moment before he said, "I am most thankful to you, Delta." 

Napatingin naman ako sa kanya. His eyes are back on the road and a small smile curved his lips. "I couldn't have done it without you," sagot niya. 

I swallowed the lump in my throat because it was also what she thinks. Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na hininga. "We couldn't have made it without each other," I said and looked outside. I didn't get to hear his response, whatever that was, dahil namalayan ko nalang na nasa syudad na pala kami. The drive to his house wasn't even long at agad kaming nakarating doon. 

Naabutan namin sina Bryen at Azrael na nakaupo sa sofa habang umiinom ng wine. Al was cleaning her nails sa veranda kasama ni Mel na nagbabasa ng libro. The two men merely looked at us and raised their glasses. I heard Raven sigh.

"Al, you'll fight the Alvaros warrior," Raven started without so much a greeting. Kita ko naman ang paglingon ni Al and when I looked at her eyes, I could see pure excitement. She ran towards the living room and looked at Raven.

"The Alvaros?" she asked, grinning. Ni hindi man lang ito nagtanong kung bakit siya mapapaaway. I gave a similar sigh to Raven. 

Raven nodded. "Yes. If we win, they'll listen to my proposal. The duel will commence in three days' time."

Al played the dagger in her hands before she said, "You can count on me." Kumuha siya ng isang punyal at itinapon iyon sa direksyon ni Az. She looked at him nang masalo ito ng lalake.

"Azrael, help me train," Al said and walked out of the room to proceed to the training room. Az didn't say a word at kaagad nilagok ang iniinom na wine kanina. He followed Al to the training room.

"Those Alvaros bastards really get on my nerves." Napalingon naman ako kay Mel habang naglalakad ito papunta sa amin. She looked at Raven and crossed her arms. Looking at the two of them they look like siblings. With Mel as the older sister reprimanding Raven for what he has done. 

"And you agreed with that duel?" Mel asked and eyed Raven. 

"I suggested the duel. After all, it's the fastest way to get them to listen. And besides, respecting their culture would give us an edge, don't you think?"

Mel rolled her eyes and dragged the chair para patungan niya at ilagay ang librong hawak sa pinakamataas na shelf. 

Hinarap niya si Raven. "If you think that's best," she merely said before she followed Al and Az to the training room.

I looked at Bryen who was lounging on the sofa, already drunk. Nakatingin lang ito sa aming dalawa ni Raven. 

"I guess they have finished constructing the houses?" I asked Raven while I was looking at Bryen.

Raven didn't say anything and just looked at me. "Now we should do our next task," he said as he removed his coat.

Itinaas ko ang kilay ko habang nakatingin sa kanya. What the hell is this all about now? "We have a next task?" tanong ko sa kanya. 

He just grinned at me before he unbuttoned the first three buttons of his shirt, showing a glimpse of the whorls of his tattoos.

"We have now," he said as he took out a knife.

And I instantly knew what the next task is. 

* * *