The Tales of Tikum Kadlum

1 AMULET AND TALISMAN

2.1 BLACK DOG BARKING: In which the Black Dog steals something yet again- A monster is revealed- And everything ends with someone running and someone chasing

All were asleep in the small port town of Raguet, except one. The furtive figure walked with his axe beside him, warily turning his head as he listened in for the timawas that roamed the town for their hourly patrol. The stranger from afar had many names. And as usual, he used a different name to gain entry inside the town and to allay suspicion from the townsfolk. This time, it was Dalak, a name his employer (if he could call the asog that) gave him. But for those who really knew the stranger, he went by the name Tikum Kadlum and as always, he was up to no good.

"Gi-atay, where in the gods' name is he?" Tikum whispered. "Did that dimwit even know where we'll meet?" he added as he hunkered down near a pile of woven baskets a few feet from the edge of the town's dump. He pulled his grass cloak closer as the creeping mist around him grew thicker. They could've set their clandestine meeting outside the boundaries of Raguet and he wouldn't have to be sneaking around, but the asog did not want to rouse anymore suspicion. Or the shaman, Kalibutdan, simply did not want to be easily implicated when Tikum and his contact were ever caught. Smart-ass, the Black Dog whispered. The man he was about to meet was probably easily recognized by the townsfolk too. Starting his mission in the port town would be far safer. It would be a lesser risk to take since few would ever risk slitting someone's throat inside a heavily populated place– if things ever get that far. With many a brigands on a prowl outside of Raguet, the Black Dog agreed. It was better to be caught loitering by the patrolling timawas than be robbed and killed by roaming bandits. Of course, getting caught was not a part of the plan since he was on borrowed time.

Much like the other port towns in the island of Buglas, Raguet had its familiar ways. Fishermen and merchants who traded with varied foreigners from the far-east populated it and their numbers seemed to grow more as the abundant seas unfailingly provided for them. The tumao class themselves were growing too. It was evident in the houses near the town's hall. Back then, most of them were huts and only a handful of houses used the Boltavarian-inspired designs that the nobles favored. Now, it was all over the place. To a lesser degree, smithys and artisans who made jewelry from sea shells and the rare Raguetanon pearls seemed to enjoy the same growth in competitors and customers alike.

Tikum's previous visit here seemed like quite a long time ago with all the progress that the town's been showing. He sighed. It was a far less complicated period of his life too. A time when he was still under his sorcerous master's favor. A time when the manghihiwits grip on power was firm. But that was a long time ago and things simply changed, Tikum consoled himself. Even here in Raguet it was clear.

Night and day in the port town was also worlds apart. A few hours ago, when the sun was at its zenith, the whole place was alive and vibrant. Singing and chanting spilled over from one drinking place to the other, adding to the cacophony of the supplicants that prayed to the many minor temples that littered the town. Even the gods here had become plenty too. For when noontime came, devotees of other divinities from minor cults that did not originate in Vijayas cropped up like wild mushrooms to show their devotion and perhaps persuade the other townsfolk to join. But Tikum had expertly avoided them earlier, joining the throng towards the market place instead and enjoying a drink or two of arak to numb his anxieties.

It was the best place to gather information and sift through the juiciest rumors in and around of Raguet. But everything seemed paltry and repetitive since the locals only talked about a few things. One rumor was about a missing binukot, a princess of the noble class of the tumao. If Tikum was asked of his opinion on the matter, the binukot was probably taken by raiding tribes– an often occurrence in this parts. Or worse and more realistic, was that she eloped with a young fool who belonged to a lesser class. The second rumor was far less interesting, it was about some usurping noble who killed his own clan and with of all things... a Living blade. The last one, was about missing merchants who departed a few weeks ago. The details were scarce. The only curious thing about it was that they left all their belongings behind. So, it wasn't roadside brigands. Some drunkards said it might've been the work of an aswang or perhaps the rumored amomonggo from the deep jungle. All the same nonsense, thought Tikum. The same old hogwash that the common folk consumed and regurgitated to each other.