Chapter 28: The Queen's Alliance

Should I really get used to these unexpected appearances of different creatures in one of the most crucial events in my life?

From the wedding that we orchestrated that was supposed to be an escape from this journey, and Livius participating in it, and now with our little reunion as once friends with these ladies, which were seemingly conflicted with their newly discovered news.

Kapwa na kami naging alerto ni Kreios. How could we possibly access this situation? If what we heard was true, Livius was right, these ladies were criminals for an attempted murder.

Mariin akong napapikit. How could he quickly change the situation and make it to his advantage?

Hindi lang ako ang nakalabas ang pangil at mahahaba na ang kuko kundi ganoon din si Kreios. The woman they called Luna had her hands glowing, a witch or probably a priestess, one was a vampire noble, still in her fancy dress with her sharp parasol as a weapon, she looked utterly out of place and scared, another woman was dressed in pure black like a spy, she had a dagger, another one had a pointed ear with her bow and arrow, a faery, and last was dressed like a typical commoner yet she had a small bag, both in her hands, probably poison.

Shit. These women are fighters.

I knew that they were all familiar... maybe not through my eyes, but their combination and these descriptions.

"Luna..." the woman with the parasol nervously glanced at the priestess. She could be the leader of the group.

Habang alerto ang dalawang grupo, si Livius na tanging nasa gitna ay nakapamulsa lang. Natuyo na sa sarili niyang kasuotan ang sarili niyang dugo.

"Were you sent here because of us?" The woman with the parasol asked.

"You were eavesdropping a moment ago. Did you hear us talking about Pryor?" sagot ko.

"Did he die?" Luna asked.

"To be honest, I don't care if he dies. We are not enemies here! And he's alive! I think? I did not receive a letter of his death," sagot ni Kreios.

Marahas akong napalingon sa kanya at nanlalaki ang mga mata ko. He is a damn king, and a tight relation with Deltora... is crucial. Gago.

I shut my eyes irritatingly.

Hindi ko pa rin ibinababa ang mga kamay ko habang pilit kong inaalala kung bakit naging pamilyar sa akin ang mga babaeng ito. Hanggang sa bumalik ang isipan ko kung kailan madalas kong samahan sina Kamahalan at Lily sa aklatan para basahin ang iba't ibang papeles ng kaharian.

I read something about the selected groups of women who were sent initially to find Divina, but everything was just a cover to confuse Atlas's group, just like how Kreios and I initially planned this whole façade of a wedding that ended up into this tangled mess.

"Kilala ko na sila, Kreios. They are initially sent to find Divina."

Nang sabihin ko iyon ay natahimik si Kreios, kung kanina ay tila kaya niya pang makipagbiruan ngayon ay tila higit siyang naging seryoso habang isa-isa niyang pinasadahan ng tingin ang mga babaeng nasa harapan namin.

"We are! We are those women!"

"Elena, keep quiet!" the woman who dressed like a spy hissed.

"They abandoned us, remember? This queen is the princess of Sartorias... and a queen?" kumunot ang noo niya habang pinagmamasdan ako.

They were out for how many months... it could be a year. I was not sure, and it was not surprising that they were not aware of the situation in Parsua.

Habang nakatitig ako sa mga babaeng ito na alerto pa rin, ramdam ko ang mga kamay kong unti-unting bumababa sa aking tagiliran, ngunit ang hindi ko inaasahan ay ang biglang pagyuko ni Kreios sa harapan ng mga babae.

Hindi lang ako kundi pati na rin si Livius at ang mga kababaihan ay natigilan, nanlalaki ang mga mata at napatulala sa ginawang iyon ni Kreios. Because he's a king... and he couldn't just easily bow his head to anyone.

Kreios had that playful and cunning nature, but for the very first time, I witnessed how he could be grateful genuinely.

"Princess Divina... is my niece. I am grateful that you took the journey to find her. Maybe you're aware of my name... and you're not familiar with my face. But I am the current King of Mudelior, I should have gone there, taken the journey, and found her myself, but I am tied to my throne. My position is nothing without all of those creatures like you, who are willing to take the mission for the empire. The mission was bestowed by King Tobias and King Dastan... but I am willing to take the blame for this miscommunication and misunderstanding because my little princess was taken inside my empire."

"Kreios..."

Hindi lang ako nagulat sa haba ng mga sinabi niya, sa pagyuko niya, kundi pati na rin sa paraan ng pagtawag niya kay Tobias. I didn't even hear him address Tobias in his name. Madalas ay iyong long hair sa Deltora na may kasamang pag-ismid, pag-irap at pagngiwi.

"Princess Divina is also my niece... and just like the King of Mudelior, I am truly grateful." Hindi ako yumuko pero alam kong nakikita nila sa aking mga mata ang sinceridad.

Hindi pa rin umaalis sa pagkakayuko si Kreios at dahan-dahang gumala ang mga mata ko sa nasa harapan namin. The women looked conflicted, one even had a small smile, but what I noticed the most was how surprised Livius were until his eyes softened as if recognition, but when he felt my eyes on him, he avoided my gaze.

For a moment... I suddenly witnessed the familiar gaze of him when we were young.

"Divina is already in our hands, but something happened in our empire... King Tobias was heavily injured. He was in comatose... babago pa lang siya nagising bago ako magtungo sa Mudelior."

Tumayo na nang tuwid si Kreios at itinuro niya si Livius. "It is his master. He is a slave of the creatures who wanted Divina's power. We lost soldiers, royals, innocent people because of them."

Nang sabihin iyon ni Kreios, hindi ko inaasahan na sabay-sabay aatake ang mga babaeng iyon kay Livius. With Luna's power and a gigantic necklace that surprised us, she managed to tie Livius.

Ngayon ay kasalukuyan na siyang nakaluhod sa aming harapan habang mariin siyang nakatali at pinaliligiran namin. And Livius, now captured by us was looking disturbingly relaxed. I hated it.

"Are you hiring us?" tanong ni Luna na ngayon ay nasa harapan namin ni Kreios. Nanatili siyang nakatalikod.

Lumingon sa akin si Kreios. "Should we hire them?"

Ang balak ko sana'y kami lang ni Kreios ang siyang maglalakbay na magkasama ngunit ngayon na nasaksihan ko ang ilan sa kakayahan ng mga babaeng ito, nasisiguro ko na malaki ang magiging tulong nila sa amin.

"Yes."

Luna nodded. "We will need to increase our rate. Sa inyo rin ba namin sisingilin ang utang ng Sartorias at Deltora?"

"No way. Utang nila iyon. I will send missive. Bakit ko sasaluhin ang utang ng mga long hair na iyon?"

"Didn't you just tell them that you're taking the blame?" I asked.

"Not financially."

"Naghihirap ba ang Mudelior?" muling tanong ko.

"Hell, no."

Nang masiguro nilang nakatali na si Livius ay humarap muli sa akin ang grupo ni Luna. "Maybe we have the rights to at least listen to the situation of Parsua."

I nodded.

The one dressed like an assassin and the commoner positioned themselves on both sides of Livius as they dragged him with a magical rope. Nauna kaming maglakad ni Kreios at nakasunod na sa amin ang mga babae.

We looked for the best spot where we could sit around and listen to each other. Alam kong hindi lang kakaibang kapangyarihan ay mayroon ang mga babaeng ito. They could be smart and cunning as well. Dahil hindi sila tatagal sa labas ng isang kaharian kung wala silang kakayahan para makaligtas.

We were sitting on some stumbled trees as we huddled around, and one of the women made a fire between us. Hindi umalis sa tabi ko si Kreios habang sina Luna at ang ilang kasamahan niya ay nasa harapan namin. Naroon naman sa bandang kanan iyong dalawa pa na nasa tabi pa rin ni Livius na nakatali.

"Una, hindi ko inaasahan ang biglang pagpasya ninyong sumali sa misyong ito. You could easily abandon the mission—" Luna cut me off.

"Princess... I mean Queen Harper, we need the money."

"Good point. We're not a scam. We will pay you after this mission. Huwag ninyo akong igagaya sa dalawang long hair na iyon," sabat ni Kreios.

Nakangiwi na akong lumingon sa kanya. Pansin ko na kahit iyong mga babae'y tila nagsisisi na nadala sila sa ilang salita ni Kreios kanina.

"Then tell us, why is the king and queen of the empire of Mudelior outside?"

Huminga ako nang malalim. Iniharang ko na ang braso ko sa dibdib ni Kreios dahil mas nais kong ako na ang magpaliwanag sa mga babaeng ito.

"We encountered Atlas that killed one of the royals from Parsua Sartorias. My brother Finn now is comatose... and Kalla, the last surviving woman who had the white curse. This happened in Parsua Trafadore. We lost the battle and Atlas succeeded. King Tobias's mate fell into comatose as well, but when she recovered another attack happened in Deltora. King Tobias's wounded mate was taken unexpectedly, engulfed by the mirror. But when she came back with the other woman from the prophecy, another attack happened... the help from Sartorias was blocked with all the portals closed unable to access by Queen Leticia... Deltora had it on their own, Luna... walang nakatulong mula sa labas kundi ang mga itinakdang prinsipe lamang at si Claret. Kezalli, Tobias' mate is inside the mirror again because of her attempt to bring Prince Rosh's mate. It was a mistake..."

Habang nasa akin ang atensyon ng lahat ng mga babaeng naroon, si Kreios ay mariin ang mata kay Livius na nakikinig din sa akin.

"That's why I apologize for King Tobias's mistake... for my brother's negligence..." I trailed off.

Hindi ko matanggap na darating ang araw na hihingi ako ng tawad para kay Dastan sa isang responsibilidad na hindi niya ginawa. Dahil kilala ko ang kapatid ko at si Tobias, sa gitna ng suliranin ay handa silang tumulong sa isa't isa.

Kahit ako ay hindi makapaniwala na hindi man lang sinubukan ni Tobias alamin ang sitwasyon ng mga babaeng ito. He could even send a missive or send someone to find them. Dahil may ideya rin sa kanila si Dastan, hindi maaaring walang gagawing aksyon ang kapatid ko.

Why do I feel like someone was trying to lure these women into thinking that our empire abandoned them?

"This is so much information... ang daming nangyari habang wala kami." Sabi ng babaeng may hawak na payong kanina.

"Should I know your names first?"

Isa-isa silang nagpakilala sa harapan namin ni Kreios. Luna is a witch, the most talkative and dressed like an aristocrat is Elena, the one dressed like a spy is Delilah, the one in commoner's dress is Remi, and the faery looking woman was Catalina.

I was aware of how King Tobias selected them, they passed physical and intellectual challenges. Malaking usapan rin iyon sa Parsua na puro mga babae ang siyang nagtagumpay sa pagpili ni Haring Tobias.

"But before anything else, what is this information about Pryor?"

Huminga nang malalim si Luna. "It is the truth. It was an attempted murder. At sa susunod na magkukrus muli ang landas namin ng Le'Vamueivos na iyon ay hindi ako magdadalawang-isip na ilibing siya nang buhay."

Napasipol si Kreios at lumingon ako sa kanya na nanliliit ang mga mata. He raised his hands dismissively, not looking at me, but with these women.

"I have nothing against you. You can even bury not just Pryor, isama ninyo na rin iyong si Rosh pati iyong long hair. Don't worry, Pryor is alive, and I will keep it a secret. I don't think that Le'Vamueivos will even admit that he was buried alive. It's not a problem, really." Nagkibit balikat pa ang magaling na si Kreios.

Hindi na ako makapagsalita at napapamasahe na ako sa aking noo.

"So, is this alliance settled? Should we start explaining to them our real mission, My Queen?" tanong ni Kreios.

"Why don't you kill me right now? Are you sure that you have to keep one of Atlas's minions alive?" sabat ni Livius.

Pinagkrus ko ang mga braso ko at matalim kong tinitigan si Livius.

"Should we kill him?" tanong ni Delilah na mas inilapit na ang kanyang punyal sa leeg ni Livius.

"We will need him."

"Come on, Princess..."

"Queen." I corrected.

I stood up and held my head high. "Queen Harper."

Gumala ang mga mata ko sa paligid. "We will use him against Atlas."

Livius laughed. "If you think that my life is valuable for him, think again, Queen."

I huffed. "I don't think I'll do the same strategy of your master, Livius, taking someone as a hostage? Threatening someone emotionally? You will join this journey with us, and you will give us all the information I need. If not..."

Inilahad ko ang aking mga braso kasabay nang mabagal na paggalaw ng ulap at unti-unti nitong pagtakip sa sinag ng buwan.

Everything around us was suddenly engulfed by the shadows of the forest, covering our faces and allowing the glint of our eyes to overwhelm the sudden darkness. Slowly, the women positioned themselves behind me, and strong arms crawled around my body as a warm face nearly buried itself in my neck.

Pointed weapons glimmered, eyes glared, and as the shadows passed across my cheeks, I dramatically leaned my cheek against Kreios's head buried in my neck, one hand caressing his hair. "I am afraid the Harper you see right now knows the real definition of torture..."

Kreios whistled, pressing his cheek closer. "God, I am loving this side of you."