Elemental Mage Book 3 (Tarieth)

Twenty: Truths

Tumambad sa kanilang lahat ang maganda at napakalaking silid. Carpeted flours, a huge four foster bed with gold covers. Huge windows, beautiful paintings and tapestries hanging on the wall. Tahimik na inilibot niya ang mga mata sa loob ng silid hanggang sa mapadako ang kanyang paningin sa life size portrait ng dalawang taong nasilayan niya sa unang pagkakataon kanina lang. It was the King and Queen.

Habang pinagmasdan ang painting ay naramdaman ni Tarieth na may tao sa kanyang likuran. Hindi man siya lumingon ay kilala niya kung sino ang dalawang iyon.

The room was filled with silence. Walang kahit sino man ang nangahas na magsalita o gustong basagin ang katahimikan.

After debating within herself, for the first time she let her heart win. "Why did you gave me away?" It was just the barest of whisper, pero dahil sobrang tahimik sa silid kaya narinig iyon ng lahat. Hearing the question Nienna's composure crumbled and broke in a sob.

"We did not." Matigas na sagot ni Camthaleon. "Never!" May galit sa boses na sabi nito. "You we're taken from us the moment you we're out of your mother's womb!"

"And you let them..." Hindi gusto ni Tarieth ang pag-aakusang lumabas sa bibig pero nanaig ang matagal na itinatagong hinanakit sa dibdib. "You let them." Akusa niya sa dalawa.

"No! Hindi totoo yan hija!" Sabat ni Nienna.

Hinarap niya ang mag-asawa saka nagsalita, "As far as the history goes, there was no war between elves, mortals and mages ten years ago. Not even a single drop of blood. Kaya wag mong sabihing ipinaglaban n'yo ako."

"Kung ganyan lang sana kadali anak. Kung ganyan lang sana kadali. Generation after generation had been waiting for a female to be born in Narmolanya bloodline, and finally you were born. It was the happiest moment of our lives. Not just because you are female. Ilang taon din kaming naghintay bago kami biniyayaan ng anak. And then finally we had you. Isang babae. I was holding you in my arms for the first time when they barge in. Five of the Empress guards. And they want to take you away from us. We were on the heat of discussion, kahit sina Firen at Prema ay hindi pumapayag nang bigla sumakit ang tiyan ng mama mo.  That was when Seregon was born. Hindi pa man naputol ang pusod ni Seregon ay kinuha ka na nila sa amin. And yes, I didn't go to war for you. But I swear I would have bring my kingdom to war with the elves. But you we're suddenly crying. You were born with tattoos all over your arms. And it was glowing. I can see that you were hurting. Sinabi sa amin ni Master Drakon, you have few hours to survive kung hindi ka dadalhin sa Elvedom where the they will bind your powers hanggang sa lumaki ka at kaya mo ng kontrolin ito. And that the only one can do it is the Empress. May pagpipilian ba ako? Of course meron. Ang maniwala sa sinasabi ni Master Drakon o ang hayaan kitang umiyak ng umiyak na parang nasasaktan and try to heal you.  But by looking at you, alam ko totoo ang sinasabi ni Master Drakon. Your markings are different. I am a MageHealer anak, kaya alam ko, nararamdaman ko ang unti-unting panghihina ng tibok ng iyong puso. And it terrified me. I don't want to lose you.  Walang kinalaman ang iyong ina sa naging desisyon ko. Kaya kung may tao man na dapat sisihin ay ako iyon. I'm sorry. Hindi kita nagawang ipaglaban. Hindi kita gustong ibigay sa kanila not because you are female, but because you are my daughter and my blood." Madamdaming pahayag ni Camthaleon.

"I'm sorry too kung hindi ka namin ikinuwento sa kapatid mo. It was so painful for us lalo na sa ina mo. Nienna lost the will to live after you were taken from us. If not for Seregon, baka hindi nakayanan ng iyong ina ang lahat. So kahit ang pag-usapan ka man lang ay hindi namin ginawa. But everyday anak, every year sa pagsapit ng kaarawan ni Seregon at kaarawan mo, we always went into the forest. Sa hangganan ng Lasang hoping kahit saglit, kahit konti makita ka namin. Kahit balita man lang that you survive ay tama na. But we were always greeted with silence. Sa loob ng sampung taon bigo kaming makatanggap ng balita mula sa Lasang. Until today.  Alam mo ba kung gaano kami kauhaw lalo na ang iyong ina na makarinig kahit konting balita sa iyo?  Kung gaano ka namin gustong makita?  Mayakap?"