✓ | REBIRTH OF THE REBEL [Book Two]

CHAPTER 16

"You told her about him?" litanya ko ng mapako muli ang aking tingin sa kanya.

"Your cousin," Wince paused again. This time, he is hesitant to say anything. He was overseeing the consequences of what his actions will face once he spilled the truth about my cousin. I'm eager to know, but I stopped him with my palm. "Thank you, Madame. As curiosity kills, it is our own choice to delve into it and die or prevent it from consuming us."

"Hindi ko gustong pangunahan ang desisyon ng pinsan ko, kahit minsan sa kakwela niya ay masarap din siyang patayin," sagot ko na lamang. Binalik ko ang tingin sa pigura ni Blessime na nakatingin na sa amin. "She is old enough to understand her own life. Mananatili lamang akong nakakatandang kapatid na susuportahan siya sa lahat ng gusto niyang gawin."

"Ang bait naman," saad niya. "Pero kailangan mo sasabihin sa Duke 'yang dinadala mo? Dapat nga mag-celebrate tayo eh, tapos kailangan na rin natin umuwi dahil masama sa buntis ang naglalakbay. Isali pa natin ang panahon, baka ano pa mangyari sa 'yo."

"I will tell him once we arrive in the Duchy. Gusto ko na rin magpahinga dahil ramdam kong——"

I couldn't finish my words when Wince immediately held both sides of my shoulder and turned me in another direction. The shock didn't register at all because after a single arrow hit the tree when Wince moved me away, a series of arrows flew like a drizzle of rain. Wince secured my safety as he avoided the arrows from hitting us. Nakita ko pa ang pagtakbo ni Blessime at ang malakas niyang mura bago tinapon ang hawak na sibat sa isang kalaban.

"Why do they keep on coming?!' asik ni Blessime ng makalapit siya. Wince uses his wide built to hide us from who is targeting me. Alam ko ako ang punterya ng pana na 'yon at kung hindi gumalaw ng mabilis si Wince, matatamaan ako. "Kaninong panig kaya ang mga bwisit na 'to?"

"Their clothes are maroon, probably from the Moore clan," Wince said as Blessime and I looked at each other for a second before we faced Wince's back.

"Excuse me, Moore Clan loves black," litanya ni Blessime. Agad na naman kaming gumalaw ng biglang may mga palaso na naman na umulan sa posisyon namin. It's a tactic we use to concentrate the enemy on one target and when they charge, we will scatter. Nagtago kami sa kanya-kanyang mga puno.

"Wala bang nakakapansin na inaatake na tayo dito?!" asik ni Blessime. Naging dahilan din 'yon para punteryahin ang puno na pinagtataguan niya. She mouthed a curse to avoid getting hit again.

I gesture at Wince and he immediately understood it. Umikot siya sa kabilang parte para puntahan kung saan man nagtatago ang kalaban. Habang kinakausap ko si Blessime sa plano. She immediately nodded and positioned herself.

"I am fucking here, dumb ass!" she screamed.

Agad umulan ng palaso sa posisyon niya at naging hudyat 'yon para tumakbo ako papunta sa kubo. Shit, ang layo pala namin sa kubo kaya walang nakakarinig! Pumasok akong humihingal at agad akong dinaluhan ni Erwan.

"Madame!" he said.

"Ah, fuck!" I groaned when I held my arm. It got grazed by one of the arrows at kamuntikan akong natumba. "Someone's attacking us! Secure the wounded, and——"

Bigla akong nahilo. Shit.

"Madame, are you okay?" nag-aalalang saad ni Erwan. Bakas sa mukha niya ang takot subalit naging dalawa na siya sa paningin ko.

Shit. Shit. Shit. No, don't. Oh, please. Tell me it's not what I think it is. Malakas ang kabog ng aking dibdibd at halos hindi ko na maramdaman ang aking sarili kung humihinga pa ba ako. I held Erwan's arms tightly as I borrow energy to speak. I'm gasping for air as I try opening my mouth.