CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
NAKAHANDUSAY sa nagyeyelong lawa ang anim na sundalo. All of them were stabbed to death but the murder weapon is nowhere to be found. Also, there are no signs of struggle so I'm guessing the attack happened by surprise.
"Nakita n'yo na ba ang sulat?" Tanong ni Blaze habang nakatayo sa tabi ko. Kalmado lang siya pero alam kong nalulungkot siya sa nangyari sa mga sundalo niya.
"Wala. Hindi namin mahanap. We even checked the perimeter but negative," Warrin replied. He's here with us today and helping with the investigation.
Nang malaman ang balita ay agad kaming nagtungo rito para imbestigahan ang nangyari. We could've immediately learned who did this heinous crime only if we have modern technologies that could help us make a lead. Modern forensic technologies can detect DNA, blood splatter, autopsy, gun powder, et cetera. But here, they don't have anything. How frustrating is that?
"That letter is a confidential one. We need to retrieve it as soon as possible," bulong ni Blaze sa pinsan niya. I noticed how anxious he is about the letter. It must be really important.
"We'll try to find it before dusk," sagot ni Warrin. Agad namang tumango ang katabi ko. Pagkaalis ni Warrin sa harap namin ay pinanood naming buhatin ng mga sundalo ang labi ng mga biktima. They started cleaning the crime scene. One of the royal guards, the one who told us the bad news at Blaze's office a while ago, stepped closer to us and bowed to pay respect to his highness.
"Your highness," he greeted. "This seems to be an attack by the rebels. They must have took the letter too."
Agad namang nagpantig ang tainga ko sa narinig. Bakit parang ang bilis naman nilang magbintang? Wala pa nga silang clue kung ano ba talagang nangyari eh. At bakit ang mga rebelde agad ang pinagbibintangan nila? Not that I'm protecting the rebels here but I know they are not capable of doing things like this.
"Okay. Please give me more updates," the prince simply replied. The guard excused himself and left.
Nang makalayo na ang guwardiya at wala nang malapit sa amin ay hinawakan ni Blaze ang kamay ko at hinila ako para umikot. Our back is now facing the crime scene. He stepped closer to me as if he will say something confidential.
"Everytime the rebels would attack, they would leave their insignia. It's a small triangular orange flag with an illustration of the sun. The crime scene doesn't have any sign of that insignia. I don't think this is your group's doing," bulong niya sa akin. See? We are thinking the same thing.
"That's what I'm thinking too. But we are also not sure if it's not one of their gimmicks. I would confirm it and ask our spies," sagot ko nang pabulong din sa kaniya. Mahirap na at baka may makarinig.
"You have spies?" Tanong niya sa akin.
"Meron. Pero hindi ko pwedeng sabihin sa'yo kung sino sila." Yes, cause I don't want them to get into a serious trouble.
"I understand. But please, if this is your group's doing, please tell them that I need that letter so badly," he whispered back. Agad naman akong tumango sa kaniya.
"I will," I replied. He smiled a little and patted my shoulder.
"Now, we should surrender back to the castle before gloaming. We can't risk another ambush today," he said loudly and then guided me back to the carriage.
