Arik, the Traitor of Khron

Untitled Part 41

TARCILA had gone crazy. Hindi malaman ni Arik kung matatawa siya o maaasar. Ininom ng babae ang red wine na dala ng mommy nito. Hawak-hawak pa ang bote habang sumasayaw—that awful twerk dance and the awful twerk music was in full blast. And she had stripped down to her underthings.

"You want to give it all up, huh? Arik? Bet no female in Krohn can twerk it like Miley, like me—" She rubbed her twerking butt against his arm.

"Give it up, Tarcila. Busy ako." Abala si Arik sa Google. Patigilin na lang kaya niya? Nah. He liked her moving... twerking.

"No, you give it up. You can't just break into a facility like CERN, y'know?" Isinara ni Tarcila ang laptop at kumandong sa kanya. "Do you have wines in Krohn?" Idinuldol nito sa bibig niya ang bote ng red wine.

"Much better than this. We don't poison our crops." Pero uminom na rin siya.

"May animals ba sa Krohn?" Isinampay ni Tarcila ang mga braso nito sa kanyang balikat.

"All sorts of animals. Our creepy-crawlies are much bigger."

"Big cockroach?!" Namilog ang otherwise ay namumungay na nitong mga mata. Her face was flushed. Her skin was warm. She smelled of perfume. She was... delightful. He ran his hand against her side. He felt her skin reacting to his touch.

Hinagod ng babae ang buhok ni Arik. "Don't go, Arik. Stay with me." Yumuko ito para idikit ang noo sa kanyang noo.

Binuhat na lang niya ito para umiwas.

"Why?" maktol ni Tarcila pero hindi tumutol nang dalhin niya sa silid. "You love that. What does it mean?"

"Nothing." Ibinaba niya ito sa kama. Nagsimula siyang maghubad. Shoes first. He learned that the hard way. Trousers in this planet were bordering on ridiculous. Too tight. Kailangan ng pasensiya bago mahubad.

And when he was finally naked, Tarcila was snoring. Nakabuka pa ang bibig. He stared at her, remembering those Chadris. His reward for every battle well-fought. Pero siya ay bahagi rin ng pagsubok ng mga iyon. Those who succumbed to his fire remained a Chadra.

Si Arkaina lamang ang hindi nadarang sa kanya. The loveliest of them all. The one he most wanted to bed. He lost all hopes when she was named the new Oracle of Tarnassus. Hindi na niya puwedeng lapitan si Arkaina. To do so would be an act of sacrilege.

Except if you were the King. You could marry any woman you wanted.

And Arkaina made him a King through her prophecies. Alam na ni Arik na hindi totoo ang mga vision ni Arkaina. Sanhi lamang iyon ng mga gas na sumisingaw sa lupa. Arkaina wanted him to be the Ruler of Krohn, so she could be queen. It was her intention to get rid of him eventually.

He was a fool for surrendering to her.

He sighed. Kinumutan niya si Tarcila at umusal ng dasal kay Heraklus.

Spare her from the darkness of her being... her slumber may be that of the righteous...

He touched her cheek. "Sweet dreams, you woman of..." Hindi niya alam kung ano ang itatawag na titulo kay Tarcila. Bilang Hari ng Krohn, kasama sa tungkulin niya ang magbigay ng titulo sa kanyang mga pinapaboran, tao man o pag-aari ng mga iyon. Kadalasang ibinabase niya ang mga titulo sa katungkulan ng tao. Pero kung ordinaryo lamang, and he was known for granting titles to peasants, he just used whatever caught his fancy about the person.

And Arik was fascinated by Tarcila's underthings. Soft. Smooth. So unlike those found in Krohn. Yeah. Even his underthings were nice. Hindi siya nangangati dahil matalas ang tela. And he could easily slip in and out of those things easily. No need to draw strings.

Biglang tumagilid si Tarcila, her back to him.

Kaya nakita ni Arik kung ano ang magandang title para sa babae. Nasa pang-ibaba nitong saplot. May maliit na plastic. May nakasulat.

"Sweet dreams, you, Woman of Triumph."