Rhythm of the Vernal Equinox (Gauntlet Series 2)

Chapter 2. A Royal Encounter

It's hard not to be intimidated by the strength and agility of the royals. Sa mga itsura nito pakiramdam ko'y wala na akong ligtas kahit na gamitin ko lahat ng itinuro saakin ni Randall kung paano tumakas. 

I feel as if I'm being held prisoner in an impenetrable cage. The tremors in my body begin. Droplets of sweat begin to form on my temple. Nagsimula na ring bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Ang kalamnan ko'y tila unti-unting nalulusaw sa titig ng mga nasa paligid lalo na ang prinsipe.

When I feel a tremor in my lower lip, I know that the thief inside of me has been defeated. My body's coordination and agility have been thrown off because I'm trying to avoid this.

Napalunok ako. Hindi bumitiw ang titig ng prinsipe na tila pursigidong huliin ako sa madilim at masikip na eskinitang iyon.

At first sight, his eyes appear blue, yet they are flecked with gold and brown. When I see how little his pupils are, I realize his eyes are a seductive shade of gray.

"Thief," his teasing, soft and supple lips utter. Pagkatapos ako nitong tawaging magnanakaw ay tumiim ang bagang nito na parang pilit pinipigilan ang pagbulusok ng gigil mula sa kanyang matipunong dibdib.

Napansin ko ang pagtaas baba ng dibdib nito pati ang pagkuyom ng mga palad na halos ikubli ng suot nitong makapal na trench coat.

He looks so royal. So divine. So... handsome.

Bakit kanina ko pa pinupuri ang prinsipeng ito? Bakit tila sinasamba ng mata, utak at dibdib ko ang matipunong prinsipeng siyang huhuli saakin. This guy is about to end my pickpocketing days. He does. But here I am, standing like a petrified muse waiting to be finally held by his warm-looking hands.

Ang landi mo, Lind Vor! Ang landi mo! Mamamatay ka na, pero umiiral pa rin ang kalandian diyan sa katawan mo!

Tila nahimasmasan ako sa sermon ng utak ko. I should be plotting a flawless escape plan right now! Not plotting a sexy scene with this sexy prince. Urgh!

I raise an eyebrow and try to control the trembling of my mouth. Tumitig din ako sa mukha ng prinsipe. "You call me thief, I am. Through your grace, the royalty serves as the fleet admiral. The government is the primary larcenist. Ang pangunahing magnanakaw sa rehiyong ito."

Tila maagang napikon ang isang tauhan ng prinsipe. Ito ang babaeng may morenang balat at puting buhok. Naningkit ang mga mata nito saka mabilis na binunot ang punyal sa kanyang tagiliran. The metal slides on its sheath. "Speaking against the kingdom is a serious crime. You must be dead by now!"

Hinarang ng prinsipe ang kamay nito bago lumipad patungo sa dibdib ko ang patalim ng galit na galit na tauhan ng prinsipe. Napigilan man ng prinsipe ang pagbulusok ang armas ay naroon pa rin ang panggigigil sa mukha ng maitim na babae.

"Forgive her, Tyra. This girl is not fully aware of our whereabouts," anang prinsipe. Umismid ang labi nito saka ako tinitigan muli ng matalim.

I am melting, but this fight has to lead me somewhere, kaya pinigilan ko ang kung ano mang kalandian ang meron ako sa katawan. "I know who you are. The rulers. Your kind."

"What do you mean? Tell the truth," tila naintriga ang prinsipe. His jaw quite relaxed and so is the other three guards which is a good sign. Tanging si Tyra na galit sa magaganda lamang ang nanatiling matigas.

I swallow a lump in my throat. My right foot shifts towards the back. It created a crushing sound that alerted the squad.

Wrong move, Lind. These boots are really noisy!

Kibit balikat akong nagpatuloy. I have to continue my escape plan by telling the truth to those who the lies tangled by their wealth have blinded. "You rob people, your grace. Your family and your kind are thieves. We're not so different."

"Prince Salinas, this girl should b-"

"Let her talk," pinigilang muli ng prinsipe si Tyra. Then his gaze bounces back at me like he wants more from my lips. "Continue," he utters with a royal sound.

My grin is contagious. I have the upper hand. In the end, this conversation will lead to an exit.

"Even though your methods may be different from ours, we are all criminals who steal from our own people. We are divided by our motives. Because the government need wealth and power, you plunder the people by levying excessive taxes."

Napalunok ang prinsipe. Bahagyang namula ang mukha nito na tila nasampal sa katotohanang matagal na niyang alam ngunit bulag-bulagang tinatanggi dahil siya'y nasa kapangyarihan.

"And what is your reason for stealing?"

"It's not going to make up for my mistakes. I'm a thief. I have sinned. It's a crime, and I'm not going to dispute it.  'Yan lang ang dapat mong malaman, kamahalan. We steal from rich people is a reprisal to why you steal from us."

Mabilis na nagpalit ang reaksyon sa mukha ng prinsipe. From a curious state, his gaze suddenly becomes vexed. It's like he's about to blow a gasket. I notice he locks his teeth. His jaw tightens.

Habang pinagmamasdan ang mukha ng prinsipe'y naglalaro naman sa utak ko ang mga kaganapan sa Pudding Street.

Bakit ba ang tagal dumating ni Randall? He's supposed to be here now, throwing poison or teat gas to these bunch of royals!

My thoughts lead me to believe that Prince Salinas' people may have been the ones to capture Randall. Kaya siguro wala pa siya dito ngayon ay dahil nahuli na rin siya ng mga pakialamerong tauhan ng second region! These royals continue to be a problem for us in every way. I hope that each and every one of them burns in hell!

The prince raises an eyebrow and gazes at me like his hunting trophy. "Waiting for your rescue, miss? Kaya mo ba pinapahaba ang usapan because you're waiting for a black petite girl and a lean fair man who earlier pretends to be unconscious so that you can accomplish your modus?"

Halos mapigtas ang litid ko sa narinig. Nabigla ako at hindi makapa ang hangin sa paligid. Does he know what we're up to? He knows who we are and how we operate?

Hindi ako nakapagsalita sa tugon nito. I have to think quickly.

"We should just arrest him, your grace," suhestiyon ng lalaking kawal nito na may pulang buhok. The chains clang on his side as he moves to prepare for the arrest. His honey eyes lock on mine.

The prince clicks his tongue and looks at me in disgust, "People like you ruin the image of this region. Arrest her."

Napalunok ako at bahagyang napaatras.

I know, the royal squad watches my every move. My feet attempting to make a distance triggers the four. Halos sabay-sabay na nagsikilos ang mga tauhan ng prinsipe para dakpin ako.

Pero...

Bago tuluyang makalapit ang mga tauhan ni Prince Salinas ay sunud-sunod na bumagsak ang mga metal balls mula sa ere. The balls are the size of a golf ball that immediately breaks and explodes with massive smog as they reach the ground.

Pagkakataon ko iyon para tumakas pero hindi ko magawa dahil sa hindi inaasahang pagbagsak ng isang smog ball sa mukha ko. Mukha akong cokie dough na binudburan ng harina sa mukha. Nasinghot ko ang napakakapal na usok na halos maging dahilan para hindi ako makahinga at halos maduwal sa kinatatayuan. Pakiramdam ko'y pinuno ng buhangin ang baga ko at kusang dumoble ang bigat ng katawan ko.

Hindi ko na nalabanan ang pagkahilo. Kusang bumagsak ang katawan ko. Bago ko pa man maramdandaman ang paghampas ng balat ko sa maputik at malangis na semento'y isang malakas na bulto ng pwersa ang sumalo saakin. Kaagad kong naramdaman ang init ng katawan ng elf na sumagip saakin.

I have this gut feeling that it isn't Randall.

Mas lalong hindi ang Prinsipe Salinas ang sumalo saakin.

Whose arms are these that were so welcoming and well-built that they prevented me from falling and getting arrested? If it wasn't Randall and it wasn't the prince, who are they?

Who rescued this beautiful thief?  I ask myself as my might starts to fade in the gloomy street of Pudding.

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