Chapter 6: Turning Tables

What she did was extraordinarily aesthetic. For a moment, I was really taken aback.

Para akong kinuryente ng milyong-milyong boltahe ng kuryente dahil don. I was so exhilirated by her sudden act like it just came out of nowhere.

Why is she hugging me right now anyway?

But before I answer that, I responsed to her hug. Making it tighter than hers, but not so much that it would suffocate her to death.

Tama lamang para maiparamdam ang init ng aking pagmamahal sa kanya na kahit ang hagupit ng pinakamalakas na bagyo ay hindi matutupok. I hope that my warmth is just enough to thaw her icy cold exterior.

The wind under the trees blew right at us stealing away the warmth that was slowly enveloping. Because of this, she slowly pulled away.

Gustuhin ko mang hilahin siya muli at mas yakapin pa ng mahigpit ay hindi ko magawa. She seems so vulnerable right now and I don't want to exploit it. Alam kong maiilang lamang siya kapag ginawa ko iyon.

Instead, she packed her things as I stood right in front of her watching her every move.

"Hey prince," she voiced. "Can you drop me off?"

Finally, she said something that sounds like a request rather than a command. Marunong din pala siyang makiusap.

At dahil ayaw kong ibahin ang momentum ng paligid, nagawa ko pa siyang biruin. "Isang suhol ba ang binigay mong espadang ito, Maxima?"

Nakataas kong kilay na tanong habang inilalagay na ito sa aking baywang. Looks like I won't be needing any other swords since I have this.

She just rolled her eyes and I just simply chuckled at her gesture. Pumunta na ako kay Florel at saka sumakay. Inalalayan ko pa siya upang makaakyat sa aking alaga.

We carefully strode along the steep side of the mountain. Every time Florel took a step she would bump into my back as if riding a carousel. Sa sobrang lihis ng dinaraanan namin hindi niya mapigilan ang mapayakap. I can say I am enjoying this, ewan ko lang sa kanya.

"Tangina, sinasadya mo na lang eh!" galit niyang usal. Hindi ko na lang siya sinagot, ayaw kong mapaaway sa kanya lalo na sa ganitong sitwasyon.

Even so, I still see myself smiling even with the joyful joyride we're having. Para akong tangang nakangiti sa kalagitnaan ng matarik na bundok.

That lasted until we reached the flat surface. She said to drop her off by the seashore, so the seashore we will go.

The wind earlier was replaced by a breeze of salty air. We were indeed near the sea, with scorching sands and the unforgiving sun. In contrast, it was opposed by the calm and cool color of the blue sea in front of us. What a nice day to swim. Ano naman kaya ang gagawin niya rito?

"You want to swim, Maxima?" I joked.

"Gusto mo bang malunod, Aragorn?" she hissed making me shut up.

I was about to go and leave her be when she called my name.

"Meet me here later, at midnight."

With that being said, I rode away leaving instantly as though I'm acting cold.

Hindi ko na talaga alam kung anong ikikilos ko kapag malapit siya. I cannot choose whether to act nice, teasing or being just plain impolite. I should carefully read her mood first before acting. Isang maling sabi o galaw ko lang would tip her off.

Tanga na nga ata ako. Tanga sa kanya.

I came to the center of town, welcomed by sounds of swords clashing and arrows in quivers being shot by the bow. Looks like they started training already.

As I walked past by them, I saw Garfiel joyfully parrying against a soldier in training. His form was nice but not that impressive.

Garfiel was exclusively taught how to use bow and arrows and not built for swordfighting. Kaya naman hindi siya gaano kagaling sa paghawak ng espada. He only know the basics at gayon din ang mga baguhan.

I can say that the one he's battling with has really improved as he can one on one with Garfiel. Receiving parries and thrust, passable footwork and even got the right stance.

Mukhang hindi na nila kailangan pang turuan. They passed the basics mukhang kailangan na naming pahirapin pa ang ensayong ito.

I paced through the archers next. Garfiel should be the one governing this sector but I don't mind their change of agenda. Basta ba'y matuto ng mas maaga ang mga sundalong ito.

I want to end this war as quickly as possible.

And quickly as possible means more time with Maxima.

I should probably get my head into the game but her gradual request makes me throw out all of my hardwork just to be with her.

Ang makasama siya ang pinakang nais ko ngayon. Kasunod lamang ang ipanalo ang guerra.

Funny, that the objective of seeing her earlier was to confront her of nearly killing me and maybe subtlely confessing. But it ended up in ways I did not imagine.

She hugged me, she made a request from me. The only thing missing is for her to want me back too or just plainly kiss me.

Bakit ba hindi na lang niya sabihin sa akin ang kaniyang totoong nararamdaman? I don't like this act of hers, giving me mixed signals that make me don't understand anymore.

Gusto ko siyang intindihin pero parang siya na mismo ang gumagawa ng paraan para ilayo niya ang sarili niya sa akin. I simply don't understand what the hell is she thinking.

"Aragorn."

A familiar voice approached me, holding a quiver. "Mukhang hindi nyo na kailangan ang tulong ko. You've trained them pretty well, Iston." I applauded. Napahanga talaga nila ako.

"No," he said displeased. "Hinahanap ka ng Chancellor at mukang naiinis siya sa pagkawala mo."

Isa namang kamay ang lumapat sa aking balikat at base sa bigat nito, kilalang-kilala ko na kung sino ang may ari nito.

"Did you kill her yet, Aragorn?" Garfiel hooked his arm around me.

"Hindi. Ikaw, baka gusto mo." pabalang kong sagot sa kanya.

He always see her as the enemy. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ang init ng dugo niya kay Maxima. They don't converse, they don't see each other often, maybe they even don't know each other yet. Still, he speaks badly about her.

"You need to tell us now, my prince." Iston said, hopefully wanting my immediate answer.

As I wanted this matter to be talked privately, I immediately walked away from the training grounds making the two tag along with me.

Naisipan kong lumabas ng bayan dahil iyon lamang ang kaisa-isahang paraan na naiisip ko para maging ligtas.

I cannot risk any information I let out to be used against me. Lalo na at alam kong pinagiinitan ako ng Chancellor na yon. I'm sure he got his eyes on me.

And to be perceptive, the walls have ears.

Usually a common term but here in Azsare you need to be extra careful.

Azsarians are master detectives. They ought to know everything that involves a case. And a pursuit of a case is a case needed to be solved. Even tricksters from Nazeru can't compete with the wits of Azsarians.

Kahit gaano pa kami katusong mga Nazi sigurado akong mabubuko parin kami ng mga taga Azsare. Since we are not that competitive as they are.

We decided to discuss the matter in a lone tree not far away from the city. Ang lilim ng puno ay sumasalungat sa init na dala ng araw.

"So, alam na namin na si Maxima ang pumatay sa hari. We already ruled that out." panimula ni Iston sa usapan." The question is why? Isa pa, its obvious that the Chancellor is keeping a close eye on you."

He walked back and forth; thinking hard and patching up the clues together.

"Regarding your dissappearance that night when the king was killed, one thing is certain." he added. "Halata namang nagsisinungaling ka non. It was clear that you and Maxima met that night."

"And the question is why?" paguulit pa ni Garfiel sa tono ni Iston kanina.

"We just met that day. Its just a coincidence. Don't make a big deal about it." I clarified.

"Defensive much?"

"Really, the question is how did the Chancellor know that you had something to do with the death of the king?"

"Tch, alam na natin yon diba?" Garfiel spoke in a "matter of fact" tone "We've discussed it, sagabal si Aragorn sa mga plano niya, as he is a more befitting candidate to rule the city."

"Still, that doesn't seem to fit."

"Ahem." as soldier spoke before us having our utmost attention.

Napakatanga niya para gambalain kami habang naguusap. "Wala ka bang galang?!"

I hissed as the two leered at him making the former intimidated. Such intrusion, startling us with a fake cough.

"My apologies sir," he bowed. "Pero pinapatawag po kayo ni Chancellor."

Nagpalitan kaming tatlo ng tingin, sa pagkakataong ito malalaman na namin ang katotohanan.

Walang imik kaming sumunod sa kanya patungo sa palasyo kung saan kami namamalagi pansamantala. Dito rin ginagawa ang mga pagpupulong patungkol sa kalagayan ng Azsare mapa politika man o kung ano pa.

Iginiya niya kami sa isang silid kung saan kami huling nakipagusap sa Chancellor. Ang silid kung saan niya kami binastos.

Mabuti at maayos ang huwisyo ko nung mga panahong iyon, kung hindi malamang hindi na siya sinisikatan ng araw ngayon. Ngunit kung nais niya kaming bastusin muli mukhang hindi ko na pipigilan pa ang sarili ko na kitilin ang kaniyang walang kwentang buhay.

Umupo na kami sa harap ng malaking lamesa at inintay ang Chancellor dumating. Ang ginagawa niyang ito ay pambabastos na rin. Ang mga mataas na nilalang na kagaya namin ay hindi pinaghihintay ng isang mortal na tao. Kung pinatawag niya kami rito para inisin hindi na ako makikipagtalo sa kanya at malugod siyang papatayin.

Subukan lamang talaga niyang gumawa ng kahit anong kakaiba, buhay niya ang magiging kapalit.

Ilang minuto pa, biglang bumukas ang pintuan at ilinuwa ang kasuklam-suklam na presensiya ng Chancellor.

His very image disgust the hell out of my system, knowing a human like him exist in this world. The way he walks screams elegance much as a nobleman that he is. Other than that, his presence hides a very threatening force. With just even his sillhouete I can't bear to see.

Parang hindi ako makakatagal sa isang silid na kasama siya. Might as well fill the room with blood and we'll have a festive bloodbath on my behalf. Pero syempre, dugo lamang niya ang dadanak. I would not risk any drop of my elven blood with the hands of a lowly idiotic human.

He clapped twice to get our undivided attention onto him. He so much of an attention seeker, hindi na ako nagtataka kung bakit pinagiinitan niya ako ng dugo dahil umeksena ako nung nakaraan sa isang bagay na dapat sana siya ang lulutas.

Unlucky for him, I'm unforgiving. Wala akong pakielam sa kanya.

"Buti at napaunlakan ninyo ang aking alok." sabi niya bakas ang sarkasmo.

I just mentally rolled my eyes. "Anong kailangan mo?"

"Oh, nothing. Gusto ko lang kayong kausapin tungkol sa pagkamatay ng hari." his menacing gaze looked upon me. Talagang sigurado siyang may kinalaman ako don.

"I claim that we are purely innocent, Chancellor." pagsabat ni Iston sa gitna ng usapan. Pero alam ko naman hindi ganon kadali kausap ang Chancellor na ito.

"You two, I may agree." turo niya sa dalawa saka bumaling sa akin. "Your leader, not very much. His alibi is flawed, therefore not sufficient and needs further questioning."

So, he's been investigating me. I may not get out of this one easily. Kailangan ko kaagad makaisip ng paraan.

"So, I may have to interrogate him throughly."

"Please," I exclaimed, smirking. "Try me Chancellor."

I can freely see fury in his bare face. Akala ba niya babagsak ako nang hindi nagbibigay ng isang laban? Like hell, magkakapatayan muna kami bago mangyari yon.

"We're were you that night, prince?" he eagerly asked. Gusto talaga niya akong makitang bumagsak at matalo.

"Inside Traia's border." maikli kong sagot.

"Talaga?" naghahamon niyang tanong. "I asked almost everyone and none had seen you."

"I can't walk outside revealing my identity to everyone. I'm not a famewhore."

"That doesn't answer the question." he grunted, anger mostly evident in his tone.

"I used a cloak, idiot." I said. "Ako naman ang magtatanong. Why do you think it was me who killed the king? Do you have some kind of proof, Chancellor?"

His clenched fist says that I'm cornering him. Hindi niya ako madadala sa pananakot niya. The tables have turned and its in favor of me. He can intimidate me all he want but there is no exception to my ability, Charmspeak.

This is just merely a passive ability of Charmspeak. I can turn the tides of any arguments with just simple play of words. Charmspeak can get me into the state where my word is absolute, making my original power turn into pure command manipulation. Whereas my true power lies purely on my charisma.

Don't get me get me wrong, bago pa man pumasok ang Chancellor sa silid ay alam na niya kung paano ako huhulihin sa akto. It was certain that he has the upper hand, pinaghandaan na niya ang lahat bago pa man niya ako kausapin. The only thing he got wrong is letting his guard down

And by letting his guard down into a vulnerable state, just then he was the easiest to manipulate. By exactly throwing him off his own words he then felt contradicting emotions resulting to this behaviour and eventually throwing off his own game.

Simpleng pangiinis at pagiiba lamang ng usapan ang kinailangan ko para umakto siya ng ganito. How humans is so easy to read and manipulate.

I grinned at his current reaction.

"T-that was just merely speculation." he stuttered, containing his emotion. "Plus, someone said he saw you outside Traia with someone shady."

"Then, I must see an evidence that I left the premises of Traia with that certain someone."

"..I," he trailed off. "I will..get p-proof.."

"Goodluck with that Chancellor." I ended the conversation.

Tumayo na ako at binuksan ang pinto. Pero bago tuluyang lumabas may sinabi pa ako sa kanya. "Oh, and just remember, huwag kang sasabak sa gyera nang walang sandata, Chancellor." I smirked. "That would be just plain suicide."

Tuluyan na kaming lumabas ng palasyo at dumiretso na sa plaza kung saan kasalukuyang nagpapahinga ang ilang mga sundalo.

Tsk. How I hate people like that. Hanggang yabang lamang ang kayang ipagmalaki. He approached me with the mindset of cornering me for the death of the king, but he failed. Akala ba niya mabubuko niya ako gamit ang mga ganung katangang mga katanungan? Tsk, sinong niloloko niya?

Naisip niya bang matatalo niya ako gamit ang kaunting panakot lamang? And to think he would just use a speculation of some sort to extract the truth out of me. Sa tingin niya matatakot ako sa isang bagay na kahit siya ay hindi magawan ng pruweba?

A mere speculation even without proof. Tsk, what a joke.

He should have questioned me about the cloak more. Kung sana iyon ang ginawa niya he might just corner me and eventually caught me red handed.

But who am I kidding? Para namang ipapahamak ko ang sarili ko, tsk. He just tripped when I asked about him to reveal some kind of hard proof.

Napakatanga lamang niya at minaliit niya ako. To think that he would catch me without having any proof of my doing. Hindi niya alam na hindi ako ganon kadaling kalaban.

Tsk, naiirita ako sa kanya at mas lalo pa akong naiirita sa katangahan niya.

I don't like stupid humans like him.

The melodramatic ambiance brought by the light of dusk signalled the soldiers to end their training. A coincidence indeed, lalo na at may usapan kami ni Maxima ngayon.

I wonder what will she do to me this time. Maybe she'll kill someone again. Sana lang wag na uli akong madamay. Hindi pa rin ako nakaka recover sa ginawa niyang pagpatay sa hari hindi ko na alam kung anong mangyayari pa kapag nadagdagan na naman ng bangkay. Panigurado ako na naman ang pagiinitan ng Chancellor na iyon.

With the training done and over, we prepped ourselves, getting ready to rest. Kumain muna kami bago naligo at nagpalit ng kasuotan.

The moment we finished and reached our room, they immediately laid in bed and fell asleep.

Mukhang masyado silang napagod sa pageensayo sa mga sundalo ngayon, unlike these past days na kasama nila akong nagtuturo.

This is the perfect opportunity to sneak out and meet up with Maxima.

Its a little funny though, para akong teenager na tumatakas sa bahay para magtanan.

I immediately got out of the room, not wasting anymore time. The castle hallways are dimly lit by torches and slightly shadowed by the light of the moon. Ginamit ko ang mga aninong iyon para tumakas palabas ng palasyo.

There are not many guards present so I got out of town pretty quickly.

But just then when I reached the beach, I saw her.

Standing peacefully under the light of the moon and its light reflected upon the ocean.