Anciently Forbidden

Chapter 21: Strong and fine wine (1)

The prince cried, he grabbed the wine in Vince's hand and rushed outside. His two beautiful eyes were filled with pain and sorrow.

Vince was left frozen, with his hand holding the wine still suspended in the air, but he quickly followed the prince as he realized that something was wrong.

"If it isn't because we murdered someone, then what could it be?" Vince thought as he rushed outside following the prince, but outside, in the very faint moonlight, all he could see were the thick bushes. He couldn't find any traces of Prince Aiji's direction.

Vince was deeply worried, he was afraid something bad will happen to the prince in this strange place.

"Prince Aiji!" Vince called, but no one answered. He then decided to search uphill.

With dim moonlight, he managed to reach the hilltop. He then looked thoroughly in every corner but didn't see the prince. He stood on the top for few minutes, breathing out his worry, and then decided to go down. As he came closer to the foot, he saw a torch coming in his direction. Later, the flame illuminates elder Mino's face.

"Young man, what are you doing here, aren't you taking a rest yet?" The old man asked.

"Elder! I am looking for my friend, he went out just now but I cannot find him."

"Looking at your face, I can see you quarreled with him." The old man said.

"Mmm." Vince nodded. He cannot discuss private matters with the elder, so it's better to excuse himself and proceed on finding.

"Elder, may I excused myself. I will continue finding him around."

"Don't exhaust yourself. He'll come back if he will feel better. You don't have to worry, as long as he won't cross the river, he is safe around." The old man assured him. "Come follow me, have you tasted the wine Lontoc sent you?" The elder asked as he led Vince to a cleaner space under a massive tree and made a campfire.

"I didn't have the chance to. My friend brought it with him."

"Is that so? Here taste it. It's already a one-year-old wine so it's a bit strong." The elder chuckled.

"Thank you." Vince said as he tilted the bamboo container and saw a white, almost clear liquid. He took a gulp and tasted a strong wine. It tasted a bit similar to the fermented coconut wine he drank in the rural areas before.

"Hahaha... It's quite strong right?" The elder laughed at Vince's slightly distorted face.

"It is..." Vince replied, coughing.

"Do you know, it's good to be young, you can drink as much as you can and do whatever you like." The elder said.

Vince just nodded. He thought that the elder is a bit drunk now and wants to reminisce about his younger years. He just sat there listening.

"When I was as young as you, I like doing different things. I was the youngest prince so my father often tolerates me. The whole tribe knew I was a rebellious prince, but no one can stop me because I was strong and skillful." The elder proudly said.

"The elder still looks strong now." Vince commented. He wasn't flattering, this old man really looked strong and imposing.

"Hahaha... well I used to be way stronger. I was the strongest in my tribe. Most of the time, I defied my father's rules and orders, but I only received light punishment." The elder laughed.

Vince was fascinated by this imposing elder. For some reason, he felt that this old man is trustworthy. "Elder, what crime could be... a prince who runs away did? In your tribe for instance... Honestly, I injured my head and lost my memories."

Mino looked at him intently. "Hmm... What could it be? As a rebellious prince, I had broken almost all the rules except for treachery and forbidden relationships."

"Treachery and forbidden relationships? Vince repeated.

"Yes, treachery is the greatest crime, but I don't hear a prince who betrayed his tribe. Princes are united to defend their tribe against other neighboring tribes, so treachery is rare. Forbidden relationships are quite common. These two are the greatest crimes in every tribe." The elder narrated.

"Elder, what are those forbidden relationships?" Vince asked curiously, although he has already possible answers in his mind, he wants to hear it from the elder itself.

The elder took another gulp of the wine and answered. "The most common are those who covet their brother's wife or their sister's husband and those who desire their close relatives."

"... And what are those... not so common?" Vince probed further.

The old man took another gulp again. "Well, there are rare cases like a man..." The elder stopped his words and stretched his left forefinger seriously. "And, another man..." He added while stretching his right forefinger after putting down the bamboo container. He then joined his two forefingers. "Do you know what I mean?" The elder chuckled.

Vince face blushed as his mind slowly figured out the blurry truth between him and Prince Aiji. "I guess... I do..."

"Hehehe..." The elder laughed. "In this entire island and all the other places I have been, the people considered this as a bad omen. They will execute people who did this immediately."

"What if... a prince violates this?" Vince asked.

"Well, it depends on the tribe king. He can forgive the prince by conducting a cleansing ritual and marry him to a woman after. Then, the other person involved will be executed." The old man replied.

"Could it be..." Vince faintly uttered.

"Could it be, what?" The old man chuckled. His hearing seemed too sharp.

"I mean... How could it be that cruel?" Vince lied.

"Hahaha... I also think it's cruel too." The elder laughed. "Isn't this the reason why both of you are wandering?"

"Elder!"

The elder took another gulp.