7.3: Preparation

CHAPTER 7.3

Preparation

ACCORDING to Merlin, he visited Izquierdo kingdom to spy on what’s happening inside the enemy’s territory. When he got there, he confirmed the existence of Nethermoore, which was formerly known as Rutchill villag. There was also an ongoing decree approved by the king to strip off their vampire citizens of any rights. Also... when Merlin tried to sneak inside the palace of Izquierdo, he found out that they had been sending out assassins.

“I think they’re sent out between three to six months.” This is what Lucas can recall from the discussion. “During those six months, they’re assigned to locate Princess Selene. To be honest, it should take longer—given that there’s no way to pinpoint her location.”

However, the current king of Izquierdo kingdom insisted that needed to hear immediate report from the assassins he sent out. If they are unable to find the princess, it’s either they are executed or banished from Izquierdo kingdom. It varies on their contribution to the mission—if they found any reliable sources regarding Princess Selene to being able to find where she is.

But then, how would they be able to find the princess? Ito ang itinanong ni Lucas kay Merlin noong araw ng pulong nila. Bilang siya ang naatasang hanapin ito—na labag sa kalooban niya—gusto niyang malaman kung paano niya makukumpirmang ang prinsesa na nga ang kaharap niya?

“Oh. It’s through her blood, Prince Lucas,” was Merlin’s response, a ghost of a smile curls on his lips as the emotion dancing in his eyes became enigmatic, “the effects of the forbidden spell should reflect on her blood, as well. It should emit a faint smell that could knock out any living being.”

Lucas proceeded to mount his baggage with items that he deem necessary for his life as Princess Selene’s ‘savior’. Yikes, even the title makes him shiver—oh shit, tumatayo iyong mga balahibo niya! Bad trip. Kung hindi naman kasi binanggit ni Merlin na siya ang ‘tagapagligtas’ ng prinsesa, baka hindi rin tatatak sa isipan niya ang baduy na titulo.

Natigilan siya nang mapansing hindi na pala kasya ang mga inilalagay niya sa maleta kung kaya naman pilit niya iyong isinuksok doon. Mga damit at libro lang naman ang balak niyang dalhin, hindi pa rin nagkasya? Hangga’t maaari rin nagdala siya ng kopya ng mga dokumento tungkol kay Prinsesa Selene ngunit nakasalin sa linggwaheng siya lang, si Merlin, Duke Louwes, at ang ama niya ang pupwedeng makaintindi.

Sinadya niyang i-request ito kay Merlin nang sa ganoon e may mapagbabasehan siya habang hinahanap ang prinsesa ng Izquierdo. Siniguro rin nilang hindi mapapasawalang bisa ninuman ang mahikang inilagay sa mga dokumento, kahit ng ibang mahiko at si Merlin lamang ang may kakayahang makapag-alis ng seguridad ng mga papeles.

“This is so troublesome,” Lucas muttered under his breathe until he was reminded that he could only bring one knight to this expedition, “and a hassle. For fuck’s sake, if my cover story blows off, our kingdom won’t have anymore heir!”

But it’s not like he could be killed easily. He’s a vampire and his endurance is different than that of an ordinary human. Still, he’s raising a bar here—if he happens to meet an accident during the expedition just because of those shitty assassins who comes after Princess Selene’s head, the entire Vintress kingdom would be doomed.

In the end, he heaved a sigh. “Walang kwenta kung ganito ako mag-iisip. Baka mangyari pa.”

Habang nag-aayos si Lucas ng mga dadalhin, napukaw ang atensyon niya nang mayroong kumatok sa pinto ng kwarto niya. Isa, dalawa, tatlo—hanggang sa tumikhim na si Lucas para sagutin ang kung sinumang nag-aabang sa kanya sa labas.

“Pasok,” simpleng sabi niya bago umupo sa gilid ng kama at batiin ang kung sinumang bisita niya.

Hindi na siya nagulat nang makita si Jonas na nag-aalangan pumasok ng kwarto niya. This reaction’s very much understandable given that Lucas decided to drag this guy with him in order to accomplish the expedition. Ilang beses ba niyang babanggitin na sa lahat ng kabalyerong naatasan na bantayan siya, si Jonas ang namukod tangi?

Dahil anak ito ni Chief Knight Lyte, hindi maikakaila ang galing ni Jonas pagdating sa ‘combat’ na siyang hanap din ni Merlin. Bagamat mayroong maibubuga si Lucas, napaisip din siya habang nagpupulong sila—he had never put his skills into test while Jonas has experience, given that he’s older and he fought several anomalies in his stead. Bukod pa riyan, ito ang pinakanakasundo ni Lucas sa lahat ng nagbantay sa kanya.

Theo’s strong but he’s as stoic as Lucas, deadly silence would only offer itself to twirl between them if needed. Meanwhile, Jonas’ the complete opposite and in terms of communication, Lucas can depend with the knight too. It’s all a win situation for him, really.

Their only problem now is... the princess.

“Prinsipe Lucas, nagsisimula na ang pagpupulong ng committee tungkol sa ekspedisyon mo,” balita sa kanya ni Jonas noong oras na nasa harap na niya ito.

Tumango lamang siya at tinignan ang maletang makalat pa rin. “Matagal na matatapos ‘yon lalo na’t sigurado akong maraming ‘di aprubado sa ideya ni ama.”

“Sasabihin ba ng mahal na hari tungkol kay Prinsesa Selene ang misyon mo?”

“Ah. No, of course not. That’s not what I meant when I said that some of them wouldn’t approve of this expedition,” Lucas clarified as he gestured that Jonas got the wrong idea, “it’s just that I don’t have any competition and the throne’s pretty much mine—they won’t see the relevance of me, going out there and do stuff.”

“Kung iisipin, para ngang walang saysay dahil wala ring giyera ang nagaganap. Kung tutuusin, mukhang ‘di rin gagawa ng kilos ang mga Demelza,” pangangatwiran ni Jonas.

“Naisip ko ring baka walang balak ang mga Demelza kaso matapos kong matunghayan ang ganap sa Nethermoore at nang marinig ko ang decree na ipinasa ni Haring Morfran, nag-iba ang tingin ko sa kanila.”

And to think that they wouldn’t know about this decree if Merlin didn’t sneak inside Izquierdo palace? Lucas can’t help it but to doubt their capabilities to lead. They’re already leading Izquierdo kingdom with iron fists and there’s an existing discrimination against vampires—also, as much as Lucas doesn’t want to raise his race’s status, vampires are far superior than humans.

He doesn’t know. Ano nga ba ang totoong agenda ng mga Demelza sa ginagawa nila? Kasi sa totoo lang, naiisip na rin ni Lucas na tama ang ama base sa mga aksyon ng mga ito at sa paraan ng pamununo.

“I can’t imagine Vintress kingdom’s future if I’m to marry Princess Luan,” he muttered under his breathe which took Jonas aback, “and just to clarify, we’re not judging them by their crime of treachery Jonas, but by how they’re actually administering Izquierdo kingdom.”

Isa pa, parang mayroong naaalala si Lucas noong nasa kaharian siya ng Izquierdo—noong mga oras na bumalik siya mula sa pag-iimbestiga, parang mayroong itinatagong sama ng loob ang mga dumalo sa tanghalian kung saan siya inimbitahan ni Haring Morfran. Noong naroon siya, hindi niya pinansin ang mga ito at kalmado lamang na in-address lahat ng ‘concern’ nila pero ngayon niya napagtantong may mali.

Dagdagan pa na puro tao ang mga bisita ni Haring Morfran noon. Wala ni isang bampira. Ang akala niya, normal lang iyon pero nang malaman niya ang tungkol sa decree, roon lamang niya naintindihan ang lahat.

“If you think that searching for the princess is beneficial for us then I guess that’s valid, Prince Lucas,” Jonas soon responded which only made him let out an exasperated sigh.

In the end, he stared into nothingness. “It’s not my decision in the first place but this expedition should really be worthwhile.”

Matapos ilatag ni Lucas ang mga naiisip niya, namutawi ang nakabibinging katahimikan. Hindi nagtagal, napagtanto niyang baka hindi na rin magsasalita si Jonas kaya ibinalik niya ang tingin sa maleta. At ganoon din ang ginawa ng binata, pinagmasdan nito ang makalat niyang maleta bago napangiwi.

“Alam mo, Prinsipe? Alam kong ayaw mong umalis pero... gusto mo bang tumawag ako ng kasambahay?” suhestiyon nito.

Madrama siyang napahilamos ng mukha. “Maraming salamat.”

*

LUCAS expected that the expedition would be disagreed upon by all parties during the meeting. However, as soon as the nobles got out of the conference room, he was surprised to see their happy faces. Was he confused? Of course. To be honest, he wasn’t aware of what his father told the public so that the expedition would proceed smoothly. Nevertheless, he was amazed of the results.

After the meeting, King Alexander told Lucas that in order to support the cover up story, they would send several knights to accompany him until he and Jonas are free from the scrutiny of others. The knights specifically chosen to accompany Lucas was those whom his father trusted—most of them are veterans, there were even two generals included in his temporary party. None of them were also informed of the real agenda of this expedition but to avoid suspicion, it was soon told by the king that in order to learn, then he must embark in a journey with a smaller party.

“Handa na ba ang lahat ng dadalhin mo?” tanong sa kanya ni Haring Alexander, sinisigurong wala siyang nakalimutan na kahit anong importanteng item para sa ekspedisyon.

Umiling si Lucas. “Naayos ko na lahat, mahal na hari.”

“Mabuti naman kung ganoon.”

Bumuntong hininga ang hari at inilibot ang mga mata sa buong kapaligiran. Lahat ng atensyon e nakatuon sa kanila at sigurado siyang mayroong ibang nakikinig sa diskusyon nilang dalawa. They can’t help it but to be wary but the king seemed to be convinced of something. Sa kabila ng mga tengang nakikinig sa kanila, hindi noon napigil si Haring Alexander na tapikin ang balikat ni Lucas upang paalalahanan ito na hindi basta-basta ang misyon niya.

“Tatlong buwan,” maiksing sabi nito, ipinapaalala sa kanya kung gaano kasandali lamang ang ekspedisyon, “kung kaya mong paiksiin ang oras na ibinigay ko sa ‘yo at matuto sa mabilis na panahon, ikatutuwa ko iyon.”

Ang ibig nitong sabihin, kailangan niyang unahan ang isa sa mga assassin na ipinadala para hanapin ang nawawalang prinsesa. Nagbibilang lang din kasi sila ng oras lalo na at sa paglipas ng panahon, malaking pagkasira ang nangyayari sa loob ng Izquierdo at bago pa madamay ang Vintress, kailangan nilang pigilan ang kalamidad.

In short terms, he has to break his marriage off with Princess Luan and the shortest way to do that would be bringing the lost vampire princess back and throwing the Demelza family off from their thrones.

Ayaw ni Lucas ng dahas pero bilang prinsipe, mukhang hindi niya iyon maiiwasan.

Kalaunan, mahinang tumawa ang hari. “Umaasa ako ng magandang balita mula sa ‘yo, Prinsipe Lucas.”

“Opo,” simpleng sabi niya bago iniyuko ang ulo, “hindi ko po kayo bibiguin.”

Matapos ng maiksing pag-uusap, mangilan-ngilang maharlika pa ang lumapit kay Lucas upang paalalahanan siyang mag-ingat. Lahat daw ng matututunan niya sa labas ng kaharian, nawa’y madala niya pagbalik niya sa Vintress.

Ang hindi nila alam, wala namang ibang dadalhin pabalik si Lucas liban sa nawawalang prinsesa ng Izquierdo. Wala naman siyang matututunan sa ekspedisyong ito! Ang tanging benepisyo lamang din kay Lucas e ang posibleng combat na mangyayari sa oras na makita niya si Prinsesa Selene.

“Mag-iingat ka, mahal na prinsipe!” paalala sa kanya ng isa sa mga ito.

Sinang-ayunan ito ng isa pang maharlika. “Umaasa kaming magiging matagumpay ang ekspedisyon mo!”

“Nawa’y walang sumagabal sa ekspedisyon mo, mahal na prinsipe!”

Sana. Sana nga at maging madali ang paghahanap kay Prinsesa Selene. Huh. But knowing that she’s bounded by the Hymn of the Moon, Lucas believes that he’ll have to flip hell in and out before he could find her. Isa pa... mga assassin ang nakakadagdag ng problema.

Anyway, he’s got Jonas by his side.

“Prinsipe Lucas, handa na po ang lahat,” pag-iimporma sa kanya ng isa sa mga Heneral ng mga kabalyero.

Natigilan ang lahat sa anunsyo nito. Maging si Lucas at Haring Alexander ngunit mabilis niyang tinugon ang balita sa pamamagitan ng tipid na pagtango.

“Naiintindihan ko,” simpleng aniya bago muling hinarap ang mahal na hari at ang mga maharlika. Bahagya niyang iniyuko ang ulo bago siya nagpaalam sa mga ito, “aalis na po kami, Haring Alexander.”

Humimig ang hari. “Nawa’y bumalik kang ligtas, Prinsipe Lucas.”

Well, Lucas thinks that he’ll be alright for the mean time. After all, the first kingdom that they’ll visit to search for Princess Selene is Ellesmere Kingdom, known as the gift of Jamaerah—the virtue of charity.