by AA Lee
She looked at each of the priestesses’ faces. They looked relieved, and some had sparkling eyes after hearing about the gold. “Priestess Mayumi, you will not be joining them. A two-faced person like you can’t join the experienced priestesses.”
Priestess Mayumi turned beet red. She lowered her face, trying to hide like Tala had when she was a slave. That irritated Tala even more.
“Did you know that the kind and sweet Priestess Mayumi here turned into a snake and told me to leave the Priestess Trials?”
The shrine filled with gasps of shock. The older priestesses remained stone-faced.
“I think she needs more training, so I’m going to put her where she should be—together with the new priestesses—so she will learn how to behave. I will have Diyosa take her place. I assure you that the girl knows what a true priestess should be.”
All faces turned to Diyosa. Diyosa did not acknowledge Tala’s compliment. She simply joined the group of tenured priestesses and kept her silence.
“The new priestesses will be in charge of designing the meeting hall.” When she stopped talking, an uncomfortable silence filled the shrine, like they were waiting for more words. “New priestesses, head to the meeting hall. I’ll be there after I go to the datu’s house to get gold.”
The tenured priestesses set out right after Tala gave them gold. She gave a short warning that those who planned to pocket gold would be severely punished. The new priestesses were busy cleaning the meeting hall when she arrived. Some pulled weeds outside the meeting hall, and some swept the floor furiously. Malaya stood in the corner of the meeting hall, sweeping unseen dirt.
“Hi, Malaya!”
The girl froze. “Hello, High Priestess.”
“You have a very important role in this preparation.”
“What do you mean?” Malaya raised her head to look Tala in the eyes. She turned to the side a little to avoid the torchlight.
“You see, I’m expecting hundreds of people tomorrow. So, I need you to extend the roof of the meeting hall. That means… you need to gather wood, bamboo, and vines and tie them together.”
“Sure, Tala. I’ll let the warriors know. They will make it fast.”
“I said that you have a very important role here. I didn’t say anything about warriors helping you.”
“But…”
“Go!”
Malaya flinched as Tala stepped closer. She relished the girl’s fear. The time when the girl had mocked her was so distant in her memory that it seemed like it had never happened, but she wanted the girl to suffer.
“You need more,” Tala said calmly after the girl returned with two bamboo stalks. “It wouldn’t be a pretty sight tomorrow if it rained and there was no roof.”
Malaya walked away, looking like she would run any minute just to be out of Tala’s sight. By sunset, Malaya looked like she was barely able to walk. The rest of the priestesses had finished their work except for Priestess Mayumi.
“Priestess Mayumi, you have a pretty useless talent, but it needs to be put to use tomorrow. Paint dresses that would look good on me. Have them ready by the morning. I want to look in tomorrow’s ceremony just like I did in the opening ceremony of the Priestess Trials.”
Priestess Mayumi rolled her eyes. Tala rewarded her with a slap.
Chapter 38
Kisig
The delicious aroma of food permeated the air long before the meeting hall came into view. The laughter of children grew louder as he came near. Some officials bowed as they walk to the meeting hall. Kisig had never seen such a big crowd. His proclamation nine years ago hadn’t been grand. The village had been poor and terror-stricken with the loss of his father. Some villagers had even missed the event.
Tonight was different. He saw some officials from the neighboring villages. Kisig knew they weren’t just there to celebrate. It was clear that they were after Tala’s ability to change iron into gold.
“Please welcome Kisig, the village datu!” a priestess said through a bull’s horn. Her voice carried all throughout the corners of the meeting hall and beyond.
He searched for her name in his memory but failed to recall it. The people parted to make way for him, and he smiled and looked left and right to greet the people.
Priestess Tala and the high priestess sat on chairs on each side of his seat. His eyes were glued to Tala, who wore a dress that flowed like a waterfall with the most subtle colors. It was mostly white and light pink, making her stand out from the crowd. She had a hair piece made of white flowers that made her look like a playful child. He bowed to the high priestess and offered Tala a smile. The girl smiled back, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
Kisig paid no attention to what the announcer was saying. His mind was preoccupied, and more than once, Tala caught him staring at her. Tala was given the chance to address the crowd formally after the high priestess passed the staff to her. At first, he was confused as to why the people were getting noisy, but when he focused his attention on what Tala was saying, he understood.
“I will accept all your requests to change iron into gold. It doesn’t matter who it is. So, why do you still need slaves? What’s better, slaves or gold?”
The villagers answered with shouts of protest. Kisig expected people to resist. They had been using slaves for an eternity. What surprised him was the girl’s proposal to abolish slavery. He thought that she would take advantage of other people and turn them into slaves as revenge for her sufferings when she was a slave.
Perhaps, she isn’t completely controlled by the torch.
“Silence!” Tala’s voice cut through the noise, immediately silencing the villagers.
The torch’s flame roared stronger. Kisig’s eyes closed on instinct. When he opened them again, the people had moved back.
“This matter is not up for discussion. I am telling you as the high priestess that this must be done. Perhaps, if I make some of you live as slaves for a day, you will change your mind.”
A man missing an arm moved forward, and Tala’s knuckles went white.
“I would like to apologize. Perhaps you thought we were not good to you, but know that you were luckier than most slaves. We’re willing to treat them better now.”
“How would I know?” Tala’s voice was full of venom. “And if you treated me better than other masters could have, isn’t that reason enough to free the slaves?”
“Who will prepare our food and clean our house?” Tala’s previous master asked with obvious effort to control his voice. Kisig thought that an official must have urged him to speak up because he knew Tala better than anyone.
“You are not incapable of doing that. Slavery is wrong. It is time to change our ways.”
“You are just a slave. You cannot tell us what to do.”
A big mistake, Kisig thought. Tala’s previous master had known the girl when she was a slave, but she had become a completely different person. Kisig was too late to stop him.
Tala put her torch forward ever so slightly. The flame jumped to the man, consuming him to ashes. People wailed, and others fell to the floor in shock. Kisig stood abruptly, rage boiling at the display of violence, but Tala didn’t give him a chance to speak.
“If you won’t agree to my proposal, then I’ll have to change our society using something only I can do. From now on, I will only turn iron into gold for slaves and women. Let’s see how long it takes for you to become their slaves.”
“No, High Priestess!” Lupit was on his knees in an instant. The rest of the officials followed suit. “We will come up with a plan. Give us time.”
“We have all the time. For today, enjoy the feast because this might be your last as royals, masters, and commoners.” With that, Tala walked down the stage.
Kisig followed the girl back to his house. Although the girl was clearly aware of his footsteps, she completely ignored him.
“I need to talk to you.” He grabbed a cushion pillow and sat on it when they arrived at his house. He pushed another one in front of him. Ta
la just looked at it with confusion. “Sit down, High Priestess.”
“I already said what I had to say in the meeting hall,” she said with indifference.
“But you can’t just go around killing anyone who opposes your views. At this rate, no one will be left in this village.”
“So?” The girl tilted her head and raised her brows.
“I mean, it’s not that I’m against what you’re trying to do. Believe me, I’m on your side. I want to rule this village alongside your power.”
The girl took a seat at last, still holding the torch with the flame that never went out. The flame was almost blinding as Tala held it tilted forward between them. “Any suggestions?”
Kisig cast his watery eyes down. “Well, to start, you should introduce the concept slowly.”
“How?” Tala didn’t make an effort to hide her irritation.
“You could have given slaves more rights first. Like, you could have told them you would change iron into gold for them.”
“You’re grasping at nothing, Datu. Your argument is weak, and if I did that, it would take millennia to be effective. What they need is a strong force to shock and force them out of their comfort zones.”
“So, are you really going to kill those who oppose you?”
“Not if the officials can convince them, and I’m sure they will, or they’ll be trampled once the slaves gain access to gold.”
“Fine. I’ll help the officials.” Kisig met Tala’s eyes amid the bright torch light. That time, he was sure the flame dimmed a little.
“You?”
“What’s the problem? I’m the village datu.”
Tala let out a hearty laugh. “It would be best if you just faded into the background, Datu. I mean, that’s what you always do? Isn’t it?”
Chapter 39
Tala
“High Priestess, the iron isn’t changing.” The slave tried to project a cheerful mood even though Tala was sure she was disappointed.
“That’s enough for today. The torch needs rest.”
The crowd emptied the datu’s house without hurry. Tala massaged her temple with her left hand. She had failed to change iron into gold several times that day. Fortunately, she had lied in the beginning that she got tired and needed rest. If she hadn’t, the people would have suspected that something was wrong when she failed to produce gold.
She looked at the village datu enjoying his cup of coffee beside her. He’d barely left the house since her proclamation. A few days had passed. She still regretted her words about letting him fade into the background, but she couldn’t bring herself to say sorry. Her conscience tugged at her, and his wounded look replayed in her mind again and again. She hated herself for it. She wanted to be strong. The thought of the torch losing power made her palms sweat.
But the thing that worried her most was her greatest secret. Once the village datu knew that she was the one behind his father’s death, he would surely push her away. He could not punish her because no one was more powerful than she was, but she could not force him to be close to her.
“I need a break,” she said.
Kisig handed her a cup of coffee.
“Not that kind of break.” She shook her head. “I need to walk alone.”
“Take this first. It’ll clear your head.”
I just need to get away from you, she wanted to say but she accepted the cup anyway. Despite her unwillingness to drink, the aroma calmed her down. She took a slow sip.
“The officials have come to an agreement.” Kisig put his empty cup on the table.
“What are we waiting for? We should free the slaves right away.”
“That’s not how it works.”
“How then?” Tala couldn’t understand his passiveness. Freeing the slaves would be something great. Something that would make the lives of the villagers better. But then, he had been born a wealthy man.
“We have to make a public announcement and put it in writing. The officials proposed a meeting tomorrow, and I accepted it.”
“How come I was never informed? I’m the one who wants this!”
“My apologies, High Priestess. I thought you would like it if I sped things up.”
“I guess you’re right. Anyway, I need to take a walk. I’m going to borrow Ganda in the meantime to translate for me.” Ganda had apparently studied the Españols’ language when she’d been in town.
Kisig rose to his feet, looking ready to go. “You’re going to visit the Español in prison? I was actually planning to see him too. I talked to him a few days ago, but I want to know more about their country and plans.”
Tala rolled her eyes. She wondered how such a simple movement could provide such great satisfaction. She didn’t have a good reason to stop him from coming.
Ganda followed them without a word. She wasn’t sure whether the girl was simply good at hiding her anger or if she didn’t care that her father had been imprisoned because of Tala.
Kisig led them through a wooden gate guarded by four warriors. The prison was surrounded by the barracks, so Tala assumed that was why they didn’t need many guards. Each cell was about ten feet long and only held one prisoner.
The Español lay down facing opposite them on a buri mat.
“Ha! How does this man have a comfortable place here in prison compared to me when I was a slave? He even has a soft pillow!”
“You specifically told the warriors to keep him alive.” Kisig leaned against the wooden prison cell like he was just there to relax.
The Español sat up as if waking from a nightmare. Tala’s assumption of his comfort changed when she saw his face. His lips were swollen, and his left eye was black and wouldn’t open. Red blisters peeked through his burnt clothes.
“Hello, stranger,” she greeted.
Ganda translated her words. The man just looked at her.
“How did you find our village?”
The man still didn’t answer.
Impatient, she opened his cell. “Answer me.” When the man didn’t speak, she reached out to grab his throat.
“Now, now, slow down.” Kisig held her arm and slowly put it down to her side. “You won’t get your answer if you kill him.”
“I’m not trying to kill him,” she hissed. “I’m only trying to scare him.”
But Kisig did not let go of her arm. “I talked to you before.” He faced the foreigner. “You told me you already had a plan to come up here even before the mayor met us.”
The Español nodded after Ganda translated his words.
Frustrated, Tala sighed. Why is the man talking to the datu and not to me?
“Relax.” Datu Kisig squeezed her arm. “I will ask him your questions.”
“Fine,” she grumbled.
“So why did you send the mayor instead of just attacking right away?”
The man looked at Ganda instead of them when he answered. “Because we wanted you to think we were weak. We wanted you to think that the townspeople were only interested in gold so you would lower your guard.”
Tala blinked after hearing Ganda’s translation. The foreigners were clever. They knew how to play Nayon, even though they hadn’t interacted prior to the attack. “Ask him the name of the powerful magician attacking from the south,” she said to Datu Kisig.
“He said he didn’t know. I asked him when we met last time. Daa’s datu didn’t give them names. He only assured them of their gifted villager.”
“Ask him about their next plan. They must have a backup plan now that the first attack failed.”
The datu shook his head. “He won’t tell. We tried. As you can see…”
“Well, then we don’t have a choice. I can make him talk. All I need to do is own him like I did the town mayor.”
“He will talk. Trust me. Just wait. For now, you need to rest because tomorrow is a big day.”
Chapter 40
Kisig
“Today is a historical day for all of us. After this meeting, our lives will change. Th
e officials whom we have given authority to in our village are here to announce their decision regarding the freedom of slaves and giving rights to our women. However, if any of you are against the decision, we will listen to you.”
The slaves at the back of the meeting hall and outside the door lifted their heads and cheered. Commoners clapped, and the nobles joined in, but it was clear they weren’t happy. Even with short notice, the crowd was bigger than at Tala’s proclamation as the new high priestess.
Tension hung in the air. He could see it in the eyes of the priestesses closest to the stage. The guards had strategically put the crowds in their proper places to avoid people getting hurt should a clash break out.
“High Priestess Tala was the one with the courage to initiate this. Please lend us your ears as she joins me.”
Tala was already standing when he looked back. She strode with confidence as she approached him. She stopped and turned her head. He could tell something was bothering her.
“Thank you, Datu.”
Tala’s hand was warm when he held it. She did not tremble or show any hint of agitation in front of a big crowd. He raised their joined hands in the air, much to the people’s delight. When he put their hands down, he did not let go.
“Um… Datu?” Tala whispered.
“I want the people to see us united in this.”
“I can sense great power behind the stage. The same one from—”
“Don’t make the people panic,” he whispered back. “Maybe it’s just the priestesses’ powers combined.”
She let out a sigh and addressed the crowd. Kisig could feel the flame from the torch dim. He turned a little, making sure everything was falling into place. A sudden bolt of force knocked the wind out of his lungs as the wall behind him crashed. He let go of Tala’s hand, tears welling in his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he managed to say as she looked back at him.
Her shocked face showed she did not comprehend what had just happened. Lights from below the stage connected with her body. She shook violently. Kisig could hear the screams, but they were too distant, muted by his agony. The priestesses and magicians said that they would try not to hurt him, but he felt as though he were dying.
