Intruded Trails (Van Doren Series #1)

Chapter Forty-three

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Marahan ang mga lakad ko pababa sa pasilyo ng pinakamalalim na kulungan ng dalawang palasyo. Hawak-hawak ko sa isang kamay ang malaking paso patungo sa mga selda. This was my first time to come down here. Hindi ko inasahan ang masukal at madilim na daanan pala rito.

"Hindi ba kayo naglalagay ng mga ilaw sa paligid, Rigor?" Tanong ko sa kanya sa harapan. He's the one who escorted me to be down here. He's obliged to stay with the Devisee's side as commander of Ravenhelm's forces and as a friend.

"You rejected to have more lights, Devisee." He answered sternly.

"Ibig sabihin, walang ni isang apoy rito simula noong nakulong rito ang dalawa?"

"No..."

Natikop ko ang bibig ko. I bit my lip before sighing. I know what it feels like to be trapped in a dark place for long time, helpless and forsaken. Hindi ko naman gustong maranasan nila ito. Not in my kingdom.

"Bring every unused torch you can find down here. Kung hindi pa rin ito sapat para sa buong daan pababa rito ay ipatawag mo ang mga diwata..." I told him.

"Understood, Devisee."

Pinatong niya ang hawak niyang sandata na kasalukuyang umaapoy bilang liwanag sa lagusan ng isang seldang narating na namin. I quietly step inside. My footsteps overwhelming the silent echoes of small drops of water from as if someone was shiftlessly playing them.

Bahagya kong itinaas ang sulo ng apoy na hawak ko para mas maanig pa ng maayos ang mahabang rehas.

"Sinabi ko nang hindi ako tatanggap ng ano mang pagkain! Go away, you fucking outlandish knights!"

I stilled on the king's raging voice. How many days has it been since I saw him?

"Mind your tongue, once king." Rigor rigidly warned. "The Devisee is here."

The tension arises even more. The air shifted and I heard the king's heavy sigh. Naibaba ko ang hawak ko at ipinatong rin iyon sa isa sa mga lalagyan rito bago bumaling kay Rigor na matalim ang titig sa isang parte ng nakapalibot sa aming mga selda.

"It's okay, Rigor. I want to speak to him alone." Saad ko at tinanguan siya.

"Indis was looking for you. Puntahan mo muna siya."

His sharp eyes stayed for a while to someone behind the bars. Ilang segundo pa ay bumuntong hininga siya at binigyan ako ng yuko bago tumalikod papalabas.

I waited for his footsteps to fade and then took my torch once again. Nag-umpisa akong maglakad habang sinusundan ang patuloy na patak ng tubig. Once I found him on the farthest corner of the cells, I immediately place the torch near him.

Naanig ang pagkurap niya dahil sa ilaw at pagpikit. Nangibabaw ang konsensya sa dibdib ko nang masilayan siya ng maayos. I suddenly wanted to cry because I never thought of this before rotting him here. He was a king, and I didn't see that enough as a reason to still respect him.

"Sa pagkakaalam ko, hindi pumupunta ang mga reyna sa bihag nila. They make prisoners go to where they are sitting." He grunted while blinking because of the abrupt light. His unusual hair muffled down his face.

I can see he still wears the same clothes he has the day he knelt in front of my throne. Every part of it are almost crumbled. The remains of the fabrics of his cloak were stained. His barefoot had scars, maybe because of hours he stood on the sand. Hindi sanay ang isang nilalang na nanirahan sa loob ng palasyo sa buong buhay niya sa mga buhangin rito sa Le Erusauvian. Ngayon, sa ganitong uri ng kulungan.