Her Blade

HB 18

"Paano na 'yung mga gamit natin sa palasyo?" I asked as I rode a horse with Dion on the way back to the duchy. "They will be delivering our baggage soon. Mas maayos kung babalik na tayo sa duchy kumpara babalik sa palasyo para lang kunin 'yung bagahe," sagot nito sa'kin.

Maayos naman kaming nakaalis sa kakahuyan. Duke Ebony was taken away back to his duchy, and I didn't feel like sentencing him to prison because no one got hurt. But if the kidnappers didn't really show no mercy, something might've gone wrong.

"Ang bilis niyo naman atang nakapunta sa kakahuyan?"

I am still curious as to how quickly they found out. Maliban sa sinabihan si Dion ni Duke Ebony, hindi kapani-paniwalang makakapunta sila r'on nang ganong karami agad-agad. The kidnappers also abducted me smoothly in a public place without looking suspicious. I just wanted to know.

"An old vendor reported a suspicious man looking and secretly following a lady wearing Lollita blouse. I just guessed that it might be you because you're the only lady who always chooses to wear a blouse and not a dress, naging malinaw pa ang lahat nang kausapin ako ni Duke Ebony."

It must be the vendor where I bought Dion's bracelet. Kinapa ko 'yung bracelet sa loob ng aking bulsa at buti naman ay nandoon pa 'yon. Tumingin naman ako sa braso ni Dion at nagdadalawang-isip pa ako kung ibibigay ko ba 'tong bracelet o hindi.

"Umuna nang umuwi si Nyx. She just assured herself that you're perfectly fine before leaving."

"She was also in the forest? I didn't see her around except for the appearance of her mana." I removed my hand inside my pocket and figured that maybe I'll give him the bracelet soon pero hindi muna ngayon. "Yeah, she's at the entrance of every woods we've searched for you. Hindi niya rin kakayanin kung papasok pa siya kaya it's better like that," aniya't pinabilis ang takbo ng kabayo.

If Nyx did that, she must've been very tired from using up a huge amount of mana. No wonder I didn't get to see her even if we finally left the woods. I should pay her a visit after I attend Marquess Lerozo's birthday celebration.

And speaking of the Marquess, hindi ba't bukas ang celebration para do'n? Are we still attending after all this? Wala namang problema sa 'kin kung matutuloy o hindi.

"Dion, are you still going to the marquess' party with me?" I asked a safe question. Ayaw ko namang itanong kung attend pa rin kami ng party kasi magtutunog na ayaw ko pumunta, even though it's true. "Yes, nothing will change about that. Ayaw mo ba umattend? We can bail if you don't want to." I quickly shook my head. 

Hindi ko naman gusto na hindi siya umattend because of me. Nabanggit niya rin before na the Marquess gained his respect at ayaw kong hindi siya makakasama to celebrate the Marquess' another year of living. Minsan nga lang naman kasi 'yon sa isang taon. 

"What are the odds that you'll use the blade I gave you against Duke Ebony?" he chuckled.

I felt a few drops of water coming from above, which made me look up and saw the sky covered with ash clouds dripping raindrops. Agad naman akong napalahad ng palad para pakiramdaman ang ulan nang biglang ipinatong ni Dion ang kamay niya sa 'king ulo.