The gray skies loomed over a distance. The wind brought a certain chill, almost as if it can even make the thousand-year-old palace walls shiver.

'Sayang at hindi ko naririnig ang musika ng wind chimes sa shop ko.' 

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ang fortune-teller. Gustuhin man niyang bumalik sa kanyang "personal space", alam niyang may mas mahahalagang bagay siyang dapat pagtuunan ng pansin ngayong araw.

Bigla niyang naalala ang pagsundo sa kanya ng isang gwardiya kaninang umaga. He was in the middle of brewing some tea when the reckless guard banged his large knuckles on his shop's fragile door. Sisigawan na niya sana ito kung hindi niya lang alam ang ibig sabihin ng kanyang presensiya. His tarot cards already told him about this, of course. Kaya kahit na nabulabog ang binatang fortune-teller, tahimik lang siyang sumama sa gwardiya pabalik sa palasyo.

It was a small price to pay for the slave and master of fate himself.

"The Chariot."

Pinuno ng kanyang baritonong boses ang tahimik na silid. Inilahad ng fortune-teller ang baraha sa harapan ng heneral na tahimik na naghihintay. General Simon eyed the lone tarot card ontop of the table, before he finally asked, "Ano naman ang ibig sabihin nito? Ligtas ba ang prinsesa o hindi?"

Lancelot shifted in his seat, trying to make himself comfortable on the expensive cushion. Sa totoo lang kanina niya pa gustong magtaas ng mga paa sa mesa, pero alam niyang baka kaladkarin siya papalabas ng heneral sa sandaling "dungisan" niya ang anumang gamit sa pinakamamahal nilang palasyo.

'Sadly, a palace isn't an ideal place for a humble fortune-teller like me.'

Again, he sighed.

His silver eyes then darted towards "The Chariot". Sandali niyang pinakinggan ang sinasabi sa kanya ng guiding spirits bago sumagot.

"Right now, the princess is with one of her kidnappers. Sa mga sandaling ito, ligtas ang kanyang pisikal na katawan. Pero nararamdaman kong may gumugulo sa kanya..."

"Ano naman 'yon?"

Lancelot shuffled the tarot cards and randomly pulled out one card from the deck.

NINE OF SWORDS.

'Such a curious card,' Lancelot thought with a smirk on his lips.

Nakaguhit sa baraha ang imahe ng isang dalagang nakaupo sa kanyang kama. She has her hands covering her face, as if she was jolted awake by a nightmare. Sa kanyang likuran, makikita ang siyam na espada. Sa kanyang kumot, mapapansing nakaburda roon ang mga "rosas" at ilang astrological symbols. The designs on the wooden frame of her bed depicts a man defeating the other.

As for the meaning...

"The princess is experiencing restlessness, general. Sinisimbolo ng 'Nine of Swords' ang labis na pag-aalala ng isang tao sa isang problemang posibleng gumugulo sa kanyang isip. Worrying about something is fine, but obsessive worrying isn't. It causes her anxiety and sleepless nights," Lancelot simply stated and placed the card next to The Chariot.

Whether the princess is conscious of this or not, he cannot tell.

Hindi palaging sinasabi sa kanya ng tarot cards kung ano ang gusto niyang malaman. Sinasabi lang sa kanya ang mga "kailangan" niyang alamin at iparating na mga mensahe sa kanyang mga hinuhulaan. Indeed, tarot reading is more than just randomly picking cards and reciting meanings---it's a passion, an ancient art, and a psychic responsibility. It greatly evolved from being a mere "card game" in the 1400's.

Tila nabahala naman ang heneral sa kanyang narinig.

"Malalaman mo ba ang eksaktong lokasyon ng prinsesa?"

Umiling ang fortune-teller at muling binalasa ang kanyang mga baraha.

"Unfortunately, no. Pero katulad ng ipinangako ko sa'yo kanina, matutulungan ko kayong bawiin ang pinakamamahal ninyong tagapagmana."

General Simon frowned. Natawa naman si Lancelot nang maunawaan niya ito.

"You're worrying if you'll have enough gold coins to pay me. Am I correct or am I not wrong?"

"Magagawan ko naman ng pa---"

"Don't worry, it's free of charge."

Ngumisi ang manghuhula at ipinaliwanag, "The night of the full moon. Sa gabing 'yon, muli ninyong mahahanap sa kagubatan ang prinsesa, sa parehong lugar kung saan siya nawala. But she won't be alone. A werewolf will be with her, so you need to be prepared, general."

Upon hearing the word "werewolf", lalong tumalim ang mga mata ng heneral. Mula sa kanyang kinauupuan, nararamdaman ni Lancelot ang galit nito. He doesn't even need to be a fortune-teller to predict what the general might to do the beast who kidnapped her.

Blood will be shed, that's for sure.

'Humans and their predictability,' he mused.

"The night of the full moon. That's...one week away!" General Simon realized.

"Exactly."

"Maaari mo ba kaming samahan sa gabing 'yon, Lancelot? I'll have my men escort you."

Aliw na sumandal ang fortune-teller sa kanyang upuan (kahit na hindi pa rin siya kumportable rito) at binalingan ang kabuuan ng silid. Kahit na nasa isang guest room lang sila ng palasyo, para bang silid na ito ng hari sa dami ng mamahalin at antigong mga kagamitan.

"Wouldn't the old king be mad once he found out his most trusted general is seeking the advice of a mere fortune-teller?"

General Simon hesitated, "Kung hindi niya ito malalaman, wala itong magiging problema. Ipinangako ko sa kanyang ibabalik ko si Princess Red...and I'll fulfill my promise, no matter what the cost is."

Even the king's trust.

Dahil dito wala nang nagawi si Lancelot kung hindi sumang-ayon...

Samantala, tahimik namang nakamasid sa kanila ang royal adviser ng kaharian habang pinapakinggan ang kanilang pag-uusap. Elpidio stood beside the opened window, his figure being concealed by the thick satin curtains. Mula nang makita niyang pumasok ng palasyo ang manghuhula kanina, agad siyang kinutuban nang masama.

He was about to head back to his office after receiving news about a missing villager an hour ago when he spotted the fortune-teller passing by a hallway.

Lalo siyang naghinala nang makitang sinasamahan ito ng heneral.

'Mukhang may mga bagay na hindi sinasabi si General Simon sa hari,' naaaliw na isip ni Elpidio.

Sino namang nasa tamang katinuan ang ipagkakatiwala sa isang manghuhula ang paghahanap sa prinsesa? Aside from that, the general had already broken enough "rules" today just by inviting an outsider inside this palace without the king's consent!

Tiyak na hindi magugustuhan ng hari kapag nalaman niya ang ginagawa ng kanyang paboritong tauhan.

"Wrong move, general."

But aside from that, the royal adviser can sense that there is more to that fortune-teller than meets the eye. Isang kakampi o isang kaaway? Mukhang kailangan niyang magsaliksik mamaya sa katauhan nito.

*

The forest watched in silence as a black figure made its way past several trees. The birds and squirrels moved away in fear. Hindi nahahagip ng mga mata ng pangkaraniwang nilalang ang bilis nito. Tanging ang tunog ng nabaling mga sanga at mga bakas sa lupa lang ang indikasyon ng kanyang presensiya.

Soon, the black wolf stopped in his tracks.

Tuluyan na nitong nakalimutan ang frisbee na ilang talampakan na lang ang layo sa kanya.

His dark eyes were focused on something else.

"It's been a long time since you've visited me, Acontes."

Hindi na nilingon ng higanteng lobo ang dalagang pinagmulan ng boses. Iisa lang ang kilala niyang may lakas ng loob lapitan siya sa kagubatang ito. A low growl escaped the black wolf's lips as he transformed back into his human form. Hindi na niya alintana kahit pa halos wala siyang saplot sa harapan ng bagong-dating.

The dead body still held his full attention.

"A game of frisbee brought me here, Ynara... But I wasn't expecting to see death, as well. Alam mo ba kung sino ang may gawa nito?"

The alpha turned to look at her.

The muse of the forest averted her eyes away from his body. She eyed the dead human on the ground.

Halos hindi na makilala ang bangkay nito. Wakwak ang kanyang tiyan, nakalabas ang mga bituka, at kulang-kulang na ang ilang parte ng katawan. His face was clawed and his ears were bitten off. The only identification Acontes can be certain of was the ripped clothes---a fabric similar to those available in the kingdom in Eastwood. Isang villager ang biktima, at base sa naaagnas na nitong laman, mukhang ilang araw na rin itong namatay.

Pero sa kabila ng hindi kaaya-ayang tanawing ito, the muse showed no emotion. No empathy for mere mortals.

Her golden eyes momentarily stared at the dead body before returning them to Acontes.

"Those are wolf bites, alpha. Alam kong may ideya ka na kung sino ang may gawa nito."

"That doesn't answer my question."

'Such a stubborn man,' she mused to herself. Hinawi ng muse ang kanyang mahabang buhok at nagkibit ng balikat. Maya-maya pa, seryoso na niyang idinagdag, "To confirm your suspicions, yes... Sila nga ang may gawa nito. Dumayo sila rito sa gubat ilang gabi na ang nakararaan."

Sandaling natahimik si Acontes.

"It seems like the consequences of your curse is finally taking manifestation," Ynara noted with a hint of concern in her melodic voice.

She wasn't concern about anyone, aside from the werewolf standing in front of her...

Ngunit hindi na muling umimik ang alpha ng Big Bad Werewolves. Wala sa sarili niyang hinawakan ang peklat sa kanyang mukha at huminga nang malalim. Sinusubukan niyang pakalmahin ang kanyang sarili, kahit pa alam niyang hindi na ito posible.

'I just hope the princess can help us.'

---

Time collapses between the lips of strangers
my days collapse into a hollow tube
soon implodes against now
like an iron wall
my eyes are blocked with rubble
a smear of perspectives
blurring each horizon
in the breathless precision of silence
One word is made.

---"Never To Dream of Spiders", Audre Lorde