by AA Lee
“That explains why Priestess Mutya came fast to heal me when I encountered a lion. You lit that candle, didn’t you? When we went there a few days ago, it had gone out, and Kenda had to light it using other candles.”
Tala continued walking in silence. Kisig berated himself for mentioning Kenda’s name every minute. Tala seemed to become upset whenever he mentioned something Kenda had done that concerned magic.
The sun was right above their heads when they came outside. Tala just nudged the stone back to cover the entrance. Fortunately, the shrine and its surroundings were far from the villagers’ houses, and no one was around to ask questions.
“Strange. Kenda lit this before we left to free you,” he said as they entered the shrine.
“Maybe because she’s not in this world anymore.” Tala’s voice was cold.
Kisig quickened his steps and walked right next to her. He dreaded the thought of the torch taking over her mind again. “So what are we going to do to travel?”
“I’m going to wake it up.”
Tala put the torch on the ground and grabbed the candleholder. When she removed her hand, blood dripped from it, and the sharp, protruding point of the handle was now coated with blood. “We wish to travel.” Tala’s voice was so smooth that he thought for a moment that the torch had taken over her mind.
She put her bloody hands over the flame, letting the blood drip, and the flame erupted into a ball of fury. He frowned as the flame slowly shifted into a woman.
“You have paid the price, young lady.” The voice was silky smooth, like a woman’s when talking to her lover. “But you said we. He did not pay the price.” The fire woman was looking at him and swayed but held the shape of a woman. “No payment, no travel,” the fire woman continued.
“Prick yourself and give your blood,” Tala whispered.
Kisig looked around for something he could use to cut his palm, but no knife was lying around. The candlestick was now covered by the fire woman’s body, and just the thought of sticking out his palm made his heart beat faster.
“Go on. It wouldn’t hurt,” Tala urged.
Kisig moved forward ever so slowly. His feet were ready to move back if the fire started eating him. Surprisingly, the fire did not feel hot. He moved closer until his hand touched the candlestick. He pressed his forefingers against the same sharp, protruding spot Tala had used just enough to draw blood then withdrew. Then he let his blood drip.
“No hint of magic,” the fire woman spat. “Bland, tasteless, and horrible. He can’t travel.” The fire faced Tala as if Kisig wasn’t even worth its gaze. Its face twisted into a mixture of anger and disgust.
“I’m going to pay for him,” Tala blurted.
“Oh, darling. How kind of you. Name your price.”
“More blood.”
“No, darling. I had a taste of your blood already. And… don’t offer the prisoner’s blood in that staff. I know you already promised her to the torch.”
“How did it know that?” Kisig asked.
“I fed on your blood, so you have opened yourself,” the fire woman said in a silky voice, disgust still present. “Although your blood, boy, is the most disgusting I have tasted so far.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about this?” He turned to Tala.
“I-I didn’t know,” Tala stammered. “I only know High Priestess Mutya used this.”
“Don’t you worry, boy. I’m not going to tell anyone about your secret.”
“What do you want me to pay you with?” Kisig had done his fair share of negotiation in his time as the village datu, but it had all been with human beings.
“What can you offer”—the fire woman crossed her arms—“aside from your tasteless blood?”
“First, may I ask why you like blood?”
“I’m not going to answer that.” The fire woman looked like a mother telling her child that the subject of discussion was only for adults.
“Then I won’t be able to make reasonable offers.”
“Just don’t travel with me, boy. What can you offer that this powerful girl here could not?”
That’s it! The fire woman was after power. “Tell you what… You probably already know that Tala and Kenda are destined to be claimed by the torch. When that happens, you will be snuffed out into darkness. Again. If you let me travel, I will spread the word about your ability so that the gifted ones can use you, and in return, you can taste their magic.”
Kisig saved the best for last. “And we can possibly find someone who is powerful enough to light you before the torch claims both girls.”
The fire woman tilted her head, appearing to consider the offer, though Kisig knew she badly wanted it. “And what if you don’t follow through?”
“Then you eat me the next time I come here.”
“No, not a good offer. What if you simply avoid this place? And besides, I’m not going to get anything from your body because you don’t have a gift. I think we’ve already established that. What if I put a spell on you so that you will rot when you don’t do as you say?”
“That’s not a fair bargain.” Kisig sighed. “Come on, Tala. Let’s just walk to Daa.” Kisig turned his back. He walked slowly, waiting for the fire woman to call him, but all he could hear were Tala’s footsteps. He supposed that a day’s travel would not kill them, though that would take longer because Tala had to rest from time to time. They would be able to think more about how to free Kenda on the way, and he would have more time thinking of how to put his words together for Datu Goni.
Just when they were about to step out the door, the fire woman crackled, closely resembling the sound of a man clearing his throat. “Okay, you might not have a gift, but you are gifted when it comes to bargaining.”
“Just so you know, I refuse the spell.”
“Fine. You will be needing me again anyway.” The fire woman scowled. “Come closer.” When he and Tala were close enough, the fire woman spread her arms and enveloped them with fire. “Travel with me. Think about where you want to go,” it whispered, so warm that Kisig felt he was being lulled to sleep.
When he opened his eyes, he was outside Datu Goni’s house. Tala was lying beside him, still holding the torch.
Datu Goni ran from the living room. “What happened? Why are you on the ground?”
Kisig shook his head and looked up. The sun had barely moved since they left Nayon. That meant that the fire woman had carried them faster than Kenda and left without a trace.
“We used some magic to travel back here,” Kisig answered.
“But I did not see traces of water on the ground. Who’s this? And where’s Kenda?”
Kisig shook Tala awake. The girl quickly rose to her feet and almost dropped the torch. His courage and plan to tell Datu Goni suddenly disappeared as the datu’s small, worried face stared back. But he had no other choice. He needed the man’s help to free Kenda.
“Tala, I think it is time to rest for a while.”
The girl planted the torch a few meters away from the door, where people would not accidentally be harmed by its magic. As soon as her hand left the handle, her legs wobbled, but she reached the door before dropping to the ground.
“Dear spirits! What just happened?” Pilly came out of the house, a plate of rice in her hand. “Somebody call Sim! The girl must be sick!”
“No, she’s not sick. She just used too much of her gift.”
“Yes, I’m just tired,” Tala said in a barely audible voice.
“Then come on inside.” Pilly looked around and dropped the plate into the hands of Boboy, who came out of nowhere. Pilly put her arms around Tala’s waist as Kisig held her arm. “What a horrible dress. You need a new one. I think Kenda has clean shirts inside.”
“We don’t have any vacant rooms, so take her to the kids’ room!” Datu Goni shouted.
Magicians who were sitting on the floor eating lunch gave way as they passed by the living room.
“Are you sure she’ll be okay? I’ve never see
n someone as exhausted as her. She can’t even lift her head,” Pilly said as they helped Tala lie down on the mat.
“Kenda passed out after putting back The Great Fall.”
“Is that so? Where is she now?”
Kisig hung his head low. He couldn’t seem to get the words out.
Pilly held his shoulders, her face close to hers. “What happened to Kenda?” When Kisig didn’t answer, Pilly’s voice rose higher. “Don’t tell me something happened to the girl!”
“She’s in the torch.”
“What in the world are you talking about?” In an instant, Datu Goni was in front of him, snatching him away from Pilly. He grabbed Kisig’s shirt and pulled him close. In that moment, the calm, lanky man transformed into the powerful datu that he was.
Kisig swallowed hard.
“You said you were going to free the high priestess in that torch. Why is Kenda in the torch?”
Kisig’s plan for a calm explanation turned into a hurried confession. He started with how Tala had been imprisoned because she cursed the three villages. As he talked, Datu Goni’s and Pilly’s impatience grew.
“I… Kenda didn’t tell me that she was planning to sacrifice her life. I swear I didn’t know. She had me turn my back.” Silence. Kisig had expected a punch or curses, but both Datu Goni and Pilly just hung their heads as well.
“I will never let my niece be imprisoned for hundreds of years!” With quick steps, Datu Goni turned to leave the room.
“What are you going to do?” Pilly asked, suddenly finding her strength again.
“To get that damned torch!”
“Don’t!” Kisig ran after Datu Goni. He was too late. Datu Goni was thrown away from the torch as with a violent wave. He hit the ground with a thud, and the ground next to his head turned crimson.
“Oh, dear spirits! What happened?” Priestess Pasi ran toward Datu Goni.
Idja and other magicians surrounded him and held hands. They chanted in a language Kisig did not understand. And just as when they’d healed Kenda during the war between the villagers and the townspeople, Datu Goni recovered as though nothing had happened.
“There is an incredible power at play here,” Datu Goni said as he rose to his feet.
“Yes, please don’t go near the torch. Only Kenda and Tala could hold it. When Tala is holding it, it’s fine to be near it. The torch harms those it deems to be not powerful enough to hold it. We need to surround it with something to prevent anyone getting near.”
“But we need to free my niece. If the girl, Tala, can hold it, then we wait until she gets better.” Datu Goni went inside.
Kisig did not follow but stayed by the door and made sure no one got near the torch. The flame had become smaller, but kids might still have found it interesting enough to play with. When Datu Goni returned, he was holding a hammer and a few strings. In a few minutes, the magicians had gathered wood and bamboo. Kisig helped them determine a safe distance before building a fence around the torch.
Chapter 15
Tala
What Tala thought was going to be a meeting to come up with a plan turned into bickering and blaming. After sunset, Kisig was still answering the questions of Datu Goni and the magicians, while she pretended to sleep. Since she and Kisig had been present when Kenda got sucked into the torch, they got the blame even though Kisig had had no idea of Kenda’s plan.
Wanting to join the discussion, Tala forced herself to sit. Her hands were still shaky even after hours of lying down. Pilly had forced her to eat before leaving her alone in the room. The kids had peeked through the door from time to time, showing their faces and running away when Tala looked.
“Kenda was the only one who made the three villages work together, and you let her be imprisoned in place of a girl we don’t know. She didn’t even know how to free Kenda. If Tala’s supposed to be so powerful, she’s supposed to figure that out. Kenda figured out how to free her,” said the man called Idja. He was the head magician of Nayon and had been barraging Kisig with questions since the meeting started.
“If Tala hadn’t bargained with the torch, Kenda would have been dead!” Kisig answered in an equally raised voice. “Tala did what she could to prevent her from dying. Kenda freed Tala so she could fulfill her promise from four hundred years ago, which was to offer her life.”
The stone floor was cold against her bare feet when she stood. She desperately wanted to tell them that it was indeed her fault but they should focus on the solution. Listening to the magicians argue was so intolerable that she crept from the bedroom.
“Tala?” Kisig asked in a confused tone.
She nodded desperately, clearing hair from her face.
“I thought you were asleep.”
“Water.” Her voice sounded like a croak.
Fortunately, Pilly understood her and handed her a glass of water.
“I’m going to pay for my sins,” Tala said, her voice still weak but clear. “I’m going to undo the curse. I promise you that. I just need some time to think about how to free her before I do. I offered my blood and Kenda’s because that would make the torch more powerful.”
“That is insane!” Datu Goni stood, his lean body shaking. “You offered her to that evil thing?”
Tala shook her head, not knowing how to say it the right way. “I’m really sorry, Datu Goni, but that was just a trick. I tricked the torch into thinking that. The torch won’t be able to get her unless I undo the curse, which I won’t unless we find a solution.”
Datu Goni took a few deep breaths to calm himself. “Can you stand?”
Bewildered, Tala asked why.
“My niece is outside. Can you at least bring the torch inside?”
She wanted to tell him that Kenda wouldn’t care because she had no consciousness now, but she tried to get up even though her legs were still wobbly. Pilly held her hand to the door. For a moment, Tala’s heart longed for an aunt like her. She imagined how happy she would be to have a loving family like Kenda’s.
“Walk slowly. I can’t go farther. Kisig said the torch would push me away.”
Pilly was trying hard to sound like she didn’t care, but Tala could feel her warmth, the kind of warmth she wished she could have grown up with. The only people on her side were Priestess Mutya and Kisig, but both of them had hurt her in the most painful way. Kenda, on the other hand, had a family who loved her unconditionally. Tala wondered if that family would treat her like one of them when Kenda returned. Would they be happy that there was one more person who was gifted, or would they forever remember the curse?
“Are you okay?” Pilly asked.
“Yes.”
“Grab the torch and come on in, then. I have some spare clothes inside. You can’t keep walking in that uncomfortable dress.”
“So that means that our trip back home will be delayed,” Idja was saying in the living room.
“Until we find a solution, please help us. Don’t worry about food,” Datu Goni assured the magician.
“Helping you is not a problem. I’ll just have to send a message to Nayon and let them know. But since the high priestess is not here, what are we going to do when Romu’s evil soul returns?”
“I believe Tala can handle him. She could summon the high priestesses just like Kenda did—”
“That girl can barely stand!”
“She is more powerful when she’s holding the torch,” Kisig said.
“I still don’t think she can defeat Romu just like Kenda did. The villagers will be in deep trouble then. Just the thought of that evil soul coming back is giving me the chills.”
That’s it. She was tired of people comparing her to Kenda all the time. She wasn’t even the high priestess anymore and had no desire to be one. Yes, she was weak, but that was because of the torch. The villagers had never seen Kenda hold the torch, so they had no idea that even their beloved high priestess’s power could be drained.
She would prove to them that they were wrong. Summoning all her strengt
h, she quickened her steps and uprooted several bamboos surrounding the torch. The surge of energy made her shudder as she picked up the torch. Head held high, she deliberately walked back slowly.
The torch swallowed all the darkness in the corners of the house, and she could feel all eyes on her. The torch pulsed with excitement at the number of the gifted surrounding it.
“Give me iron.” Her voice was calm and clear for everyone to hear.
“Tala, put the torch down. You’re in no condition to use it now.” Kisig stood and approached her slowly.
However, a magician sitting just beside her held up an iron knife. His eyes were locked to the roaring flame as his hands seemed to move on their own. Tala made sure that all eyes were still on her before she tilted the torch forward and burned the knife with its flame.
The magicians leapt to their feet as the kitchen knife turned into gold. The magician laughed in delight. Holding the knife up for everyone to see, he broke into a random dance.
“Stop!” she shouted. She wanted them to see her real power, not to adore gold.
The magicians went back to their seats like children who had been scolded.
The magician holding the golden knife stayed on his feet. “You’re trying to trick us, aren’t you? This isn’t real gold.”
“Oh, but it is. Once it gets cold, you can hold the tip of the knife and test it for yourself. But not now. You see, fire makes a metal hot. Do you want me to display more power?”
“Tala, enough. Let go!” Kisig roared. He took a few deep breaths and spoke in a lower voice. “Remember what happened before. You should not let the torch control you. Calm down. High Priestess Mutya said you should keep your emotions in check when holding the torch.”
Tala wanted to argue, to tell Kisig that High Priestess Mutya didn’t know what she was doing and was only hoping Tala could handle everything, but Kisig’s pleading eyes made her feel guilty.
“Now, let’s put the torch in Datu Goni’s room, where no one will be hurt. You can stay there instead.” He held her hand and gripped it tightly.
