In all his years of sitting on a golden throne, King Ronan had never imagined they would face such a strange adversary. 

Ilang taon na niyang hinanda ang kahariang ito para sa giyera laban sa mga potensyal na mananakop. Pero ni minsan, hindi niya sukat akalain na kakailanganin nilang depensahan ito laban sa mga lobo. And whether he admits it or not, he knew that the kingdom was already weakened.

First by the queen's death.

Now by his daughter's absence.

Matapos maudlot ang coronation ceremony ng kanyang anak, magsisinungaling ang hari kung sasabihin niyang naging maayos ang lahat.

In fact, the guests were infuriated with what happened and condemned him for the werewolf attack. Sa kabila ng katotohanang wala namang nasaktan sa nangyari, hindi pa rin nito napawi ang takot at paghihinala ng mga maharlika. Hindi naman niya masisi ang mga ito. If King Ronan would be invited to a ceremony with werewolves as "special guests", he would surely think the host was planning to assassinate him, too.

'That's how it works with royals. Nobody fully trusts anybody as long as power is concerned,' he thought in dismay.

At ngayon, nararamdaman na nila ang consequences ng trahedyang 'yon. Wala nang nagtatangkang tumulong sa kanila. Maging ang mga dati nilang kaalyado ay wala nang balak makipagkalakalan.

They're on their own.

"K-Kamahalan! Sinusubukan na naming itaboy ang mga lobo. Kasalukuyan silang nasa kanlurang bahagi ng kaharian, sinisira ang agrikultura natin!"

Hinihingal pang sabi ng isang gwardiya sa kanya nang sumalubong ito sa pasilyo. Sinubukan niyang 'wag pansinin ang mantsa ng dugo sa uniporme nito. Instead, King Ronan kept his voice calm and steady.

"Prepare the archery unit. Strike those bastards down! Sabihan mo agad sina Major Pancho na ilikas agad ang mga sibilyan."

"Masusunod po, kamahalan."

Pinanood ng hari ang aligaga nitong pag-alis ng palasyo. Sa labas ng palasyo, naririnig na niyang hinahanda ang mga kabayo at armas pandigma.  Naikuyom na lang niya ang kanyang mga kamao. King Ronan fled through the hallway, passed the servants who looked visibly paler in the early hours.

The commotion must've awakened them. Heck, he wouldn't even be surprised if it woke the entire palace!

'Nangyari na nga ang kinakatakot ni Rieka,' nag-aaalalang isip ng hari bago natungo sa balkonahe. Sinalubong siya ng malamig na ihip ng hangin habang unti-unting gumagapang ang liwanag sa kalangitan. The sun was beginning to rise, but instead of a peaceful morning, a dreadful attack shook their kingdom.

In that moment, he wished they can cast away the darkness too.

"Paano nakalusot sa mga bantay ang mga halimaw na 'yon?"

Hindi pa rin makapaniwala ang hari sa mga nangyayari. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin siya kumbinsidong naisahan nila ang mga bantay sa kabila ng paghihigpit nila rito.

Kung anuman ang pakay nila, sisiguraduhin niyang hindi sila magtatagumpay.

'Ipinangako ko kay Rieka na hindi ko papabayaan ang kahariang pamumunuan niya balang-araw... Hindi ko pwedeng biguin ang aking anak.'

But as he watched the distressed villagers scurried away as the guards rode off with silver arrows and chains, hindi niya napigilang balikan ang isang alaalang matagal na niyang ibinabaon sa limot.

He revisited that vision.

Standing among the crowd as the palace guards passed by the dirt roads on their horses. Hiding from their sights as he concealed himself under that cheap and tattered fabric. Sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon, muli niyang binalikan ang pakiramdam ng panandaliang kalayaan.

Yes, as shameful as it is, King Ronan had his fair share of "running away" from obligations.

Hindi niya maipagkakailang minsan na rin niyang naramdaman na tila sinasakal siya ng kanyang tungkulin sa kahariang ito. He, too, once wanted to experience a life outside these golden binds. Kung kaya't hindi rin niya masisisi kung bakit ganoon ang ugali ni Rieka.

Kaya hinayaan na rin niya itong sumama sa Big Bad Werewolves at gampanan ang responsibilidad na ibinigay sa kanya ng Eteilla.

The determination in her amber eyes reminded him so much of his younger self.

Yes, Rieka probably inherited that from him.

'It seems like she inherited something other than my eye color.' The old king thought in amusement.

A dry laugh escaped his lips.

But with it, King Ronan pushed aside those days...those darker days. Bumigat ang kanyang pakiramdam. Kung sakaling---

"Kamahalan!"

Agad na natigil sa pag-iisip ang hari nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses. Nang lingunin niya ito, hindi na siya nagulat nang makita roon si Elpidio. Nakayukod bilang pagbibigay-galang. Nakasuot pa ito ng kanyang damit pantulog. Following standard protocols, the king should've taken this as an act of disrespect.

But King Ronan didn't.

No, they have different priorities right now.

"Ano 'yon, Elpidio?"

Tumayo ito nang maayos, hindi na nag-abala pang ayusin ang magulong buhok.

"Kamahalan, may kailangan ka pong malaman."

There was an urgency in his voice.

At kahit pa minsan nang nadismaya ang hari sa mga ikinilos ni Elpidio noong coronation day ni Rieka, King Ronan couldn't deny the fact that Elpidio was competent in his job. Besides, the king later on discovered out that he was just a victim to his daughter's plans. Kaya hanggang ngayon, nananatili pa rin ito bilang kanyang royal adviser.

"Anong problema, Elpidio?"

"Sa pananaliksik ko, may natuklasan po ako, Kamahalan... Pero sa tingin ko, hindi natin ito dapat pag-usapan dito." Kapansin-pansing ninenerbyos ito.

"Tell the maids to prepare my morning tea and we'll talk about this in the throne room."

Bawal na nga pala siyang uminom ng alak.

"O-Opo!"

Matapos 'non, nauna nang bumalik sa loob ng palasyo ang kanyang royal adviser.

Naningkit ang mga mata ng hari. Sa ilang taon na niyang pamamahala, bilang lang ang mga pagkakataong ganito ang ekspresyon ni Elpidio. It bothered him. In those few times Elpidio acted this way, it was usually concerned with their kingdom's security.

At sa nangyayaring pagsalakay ng mga halimaw, hindi nila pwedeng isawalang-bahala ang anumang impormasyon.

King Ronan sighed and turned to leave when he suddenly found something lying on the ground.

Kumunot ang kanyang noo at pinulot ito. "Anong ginagawa ng isang baraha dito?"

TWO OF SWORDS.

Habang tinitingnan ito, naramdaman niya ang talim ng isang punyal sa kanyang leeg. Natuod ang hari sa kanyang kinatatayuan. Naramdaman niya ang lamig nito sa kanyang balat at ang presensiya ng taong pumuslit mula sa balkonahe.

"A king should never turn his back on the enemy... Am I right or am I not wrong?"

Bago pa man makapagsalita si King Ronan, naramdaman na lang niya ang pagbaon ng punyal sa kanyang leeg.

In one swift move, the king was silenced...

The card fell to the floor...

Drops of crimson followed.

---

Well, I was tired of life; the silly folk,
The tiresome noises, all the common things
I loved once, crushed me with an iron yoke.
I longed for the cool quiet and the dark,
Under the common sod where louts and kings
Lie down, serene, unheeding, careless, stark,
Never to rise or move or feel again,
Filled with the ecstasy of being dead...

---"Poor Devil!", Stephen Vincent Benet