CHAPTER NINETEEN
"MATAGAL ko nang gustong makarating doon! Finally, I'm having a three day trip there!" Masayang bungad sa akin ni Phoenix nang ibalita ko sa kaniyang kasama siya sa convention.
As of what Phoenix explained to me, there's a rebellion going on around Ipena. And of course, the prince is a high profile individual and going out of Nevada is not as safe as what I thought it would be. So there's this maximum security thingy and a lot of royal guards would accompany us on our journey to Granja. At hindi lang 'yon. Hindi rin pwedeng matulog sa ibang lugar ang prinsipe nang walang kasamang katulong. There are actually six of us who would come with him.
But he won't be alone meeting those bad Royal Council members. He would deal with them with his cousin, Lord Warrin. Kaya naman naghahanda ang lahat sa Nevada. As in busy ang lahat. Bukod kasi sa malayo ang Granja ay iba rin ang klima roon.
Maaga pa lang, gising na ang lahat sa palasyo. I helped the prince prepare his things last night so I was the last one to wake up. Si Phoenix pa nga ang gumising sa akin. Matapos mag-agahan, dumiretso kami sa may drive kung saan nakaparada ang mga karwahe. Limang karwahe ang sasakyan namin. 'Yong unang karwahe ay naglalaman ng mga gamit namin. 'Yong pangalawa ay ang sasakyan ni Lord Warrin, 'yong pangatlo naman ang sasakyan ni Prince Blaze, at ang huling dalawa ay ang sasakyan naming mga katulong.
Naghahanda na rin ang mga nakasakay ng kabayo na mga sundalong sasama sa amin. There are bunch of soldiers around, talking about the voyage and their formations. This is one hell of a journey, I guess.
"You would not come with me as a maid. You'll join me as a guest. Bakit suot mo na naman 'yang uniform na 'yan?" Bungad ni Prince Blaze sa akin pagkalapit na pagkalapit niya. Napatungo ako at nagbigay galang sa kaniya.
"Your highness," I greeted.
"We don't have time for a change outfit now. You'll join me in the carriage. Let's go." Nauna na siyang maglakad sa akin at pinagbuksan pa ako ng pinto. Nauna akong pumasok sa kaniya at agad naman siyang sumunod sa akin at naupo sa tabi ko. The inside of the carriage is far more better than how it looks from outside. There's this soft seat and it's so comfortable. Everything is covered with soft gamosa fabric. The carriage is being pulled by three horses. The windows have red curtains on it and outside are the royal guards on their stallions.
Nagsimula nang tumakbo ang karwahe at napasinghap ako dahil akala ko magiging mabagal lang ang pagtakbo namin. Para lang din kaming nakasakay sa kotse. I am looking outside through the window and watching the white town. Everything I decide to lay my eyes on is covered with thick white snow. This is definitely Narnia, minus Aslan and the wicked witch. Wait, I thought I am the witch?
"Once we arrive in Granja, you would need to change that ugly clothes of yours." Napalingon ako kay Prince Blaze nang bigla siyang magsalita. Nahuli ko siyang nakatitig sa akin. He's wearing his dazzling white tailcoat and white trousers. He does love that all-white outfit of his.
"Akala ko balik na ako sa pagiging slave mo," I replied with confusion written all over my face. I don't know what he's planning to do, not even a clue.
"Well, I thought I don't need a useless maid like you anymore. Mula ngayon, pantay na tayo. And please, stop calling me 'your highness'. My name is Blaze." That made me squint at him. I could remember countless of times when he corrected Lady Flurry of calling him 'Prince Blaze'. Now he wants me to fully disregard the titles and just call him Blaze. What an enigmatic prince the Ipena have.
"So I'll change roles again," I concluded. Una, isa akong bihag. Tapos, naging alipin. Tapos ano naman kaya ngayon?
"Affirmative. You're now my colleague, a member of the Royal Council right under my office," he nonchalantly said. Okay. So, I am now his workmate, is that what he mean?
