Sand Scented Jar (Gazellian Series #9)

Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Agreement

Kapwa kami nakahiga ng mga kababaihan sa iisang silid. Bagaman hiwa-hiwalay ang aming higaan, hindi naman iyon nalalayo sa isa't isa.

I could hear their breathing—some even mumbling in their sleep, gritting their teeth, or shifting their positions, creating noises from the bed covers—but I ignored it as I was lost in thought, unable to sleep. My eyes were fixed on the old ceiling of the room. It was supposed to be dark, but there was a dim glow from an old lantern hanging near the door. The slightly open window, with a glimpse of moonlight, revealed the dancing dust in the air and the music of the night: the chirping crickets, whispers of the wind, and the fluttering wings of ravens outside.

Hindi ko na alam kung gaano na ako katagal nakatulala sa kawalan habang malayo na ang nararating ng panaginip ng mga kababaihan sa paligid ko. Pilit ko man pinatutulog ang sarili ko ay hindi ko pa rin mapigilan mag-isip na tila may napakahaba pa akong oras para sa kinabukasan.

Mariin kong inihawakan ng dalawa kong kamay ang dulo ng kumot ko, huminga ako nang malalim at hinayaan ko ang sarili kong mahinang umawit dahilan kung bakit natigil sa minsang pagsasalita ang isang babae, ang may nagngingitngit na ngipin at ang iilan sa kanila na tila hindi mapakali sa posisyon nila sa kanilang higaan.

It was one of those nights that I wished my songs could soothe my thoughts and heart. Ngunit tulad nga ng sabi nina ama't ina, ang kapangyarihan ay laging may limitasyon.

Bumalik ang isip ko sa mga narinig kong salita sa paliguan.

As much as I wanted to exclude Rosh from this journey and let him focus on his missions with the other princes of the prophecy—not to mention his role as the general of Deltora, given his connections to these mentioned places—I felt like I didn't have much choice but to ask for his presence.

Though the thought crossed my mind way back before that just like the others, I might seek his help, but I didn't expect it to be this early. Lalo na't hindi naman bago sa aking kaalaman ang kinahaharap ngayon ng Deltora. As much as possible I didn't want to burden him. Lalo na't hindi naman kami ganoon kalapit ni Rosh, hindi tulad ng relasyon nila ni Lily o Zen.

I closed my eyes and tried to recall the situation in Deltora after I left Parsua.

After what happened to Finn and Kalla, even though there was no formal conversation between my siblings and me, I felt it. There was a time when we allowed our family to distance ourselves from Le'Vamueivos. I knew King Dastan, Lily, and even Zen, there was no way that they would blame the other Le'Vamuievos for what happened, but our families had mutual respect for each other.

Ang tagal din simula nang makarinig kami ng balita sa mga Le'Vamuievos. They distanced themselves. They gave us time... not to heal since all of us were aware that it couldn't be healed by time, but a considerable amount of space for all of us to breathe a little.

We all knew that we weren't allowed to stop... but we could pause but not for too long.

Naputol ang distansya sa pagitan ng aming mga pamilya nang biglang magpakita si Rosh sa Sartorias. For the first time, Prince Rosh Alistair Le'Vamueivos didn't look like himself in front of us.

Hindi lang ako, kundi lahat ng naroon sa silid na iyon ay may parehong ekspresyon nang makita si Rosh— it was as if we weren't looking at the same elegant prince of Nemetio Spiran. The glimmers around him, the usual haughty air, and the brightness that made anyone think of the word beauty the moment their eyes fell on him—were gone. Despite his usual clothing, it felt like no colors or stones were adorning him.

Inside the throne room, where all the royals were seated on their thrones, Rosh was kneeling on one of his knees on the red carpet, his head bowed, his hands balled, his shoulders shaking. He looked sincerely defeated, conflicted, ashamed... everything I never thought I'd see in the most confident, elegant, and beautiful prince of this lifetime.