7.4 CANINE BLUES

  After spending most of the day trying to find Tikum in the lush forest of Mount Laon, Amburukay and the Ulayans grew tired. Their long search was uneventful too, except when the Ulayans encountered a very horny tambalolos swinging above the canopy- using its very long appendage to leap from one tree to the next like an eager spider-monkey. As it gracefully leapt, it mocked an agitated and old bungisngis. The lumbering one-eyed giant was laughing as it chased off the tambalolos, but it was clear for all to see that its laughter was hiding its unbound fury towards the creature pestering it. The immense bungisngis (which lacked its foe's speed) had to rearrange the assembly of trees in its way with a swipe of its mallet like fist. Trunks broke like sticks and a boulder or two crumbled like chalk as it gained momentum with every step. Then it laughed harder, eye red with anger as it stalked the simian-like creature up the canopy with dark purpose. The giant scooped rocks with its calloused hand and threw it, but it missed the mischievous tambaloslos. Agility easily overcame strength in this situation.

  Amburukay was slightly disappointed when the tambaloslos ran the other way, still tailed by the barreling bungisngis. She would've welcomed a short fight just to distract her from all the frustration she was bearing.

  When the sky darkened and night finally came, they decided to do what was sensible and continue the search the next day. Amburukay, weary after trying out a couple of tracer spells to find Tikum, looked for a clearing to settle for the night. She was glad to see that the timawas had already lit a cozy bonfire. Without asking for invitation, she found herself a place near the fire. There was just too much on her mind right that moment for her to bother. The smell of burning wood was soothing for her and the warmth that radiated from the flames wasn't too bad either. Amburukay rubbed the side of her head. She was still worried about Tikum. She didn't know why though. For all she knew, she still hated the man. After all he had done to her, it was not hard to. But she also knew Tikum had a useful talent. Finding Ukok with him and fighting Sri Kihod with the Black Dog gave her an ounce of assurance. A small measure of unpredictability on her favor against a far superior foe...

  She dismissed the idea, remembering the slights he made before they became unwilling allies. Did she really need his help? She knew the answer all too well. She was used to doing things all on her own now. If she can't find him tomorrow, then she'll have to do all this without anyone's help. Sacrifices will be made, but all of it would be worth it for Ukok.

  Amburukay drew her wak-wak robe closer to fend off the cold night breeze. But then, her mouth watered and a deep growl from her stomach followed. Amburukay craned her neck, smelling the tasty meat roasting on the fire. Its smell was almost intoxicating. She wet her lips as she glanced around her, only to find the captain approach the fire.

  "Were you on guard duties?" she said to Ulisong. "This region of Buglas is not safe." Well, not exactly true. The whole of Buglas itself was a dangerous place for those who did not know the lurking perils it held, but she knew she didn't need to elaborate. But the captain ignored the hex-slinger as he sat on a dead stump opposite her. Apparently, he was too busy sharpening his blade with a whetstone to offer her a shadow of hospitality.

  She sighed as she took something out from the small pack on the pouch hidden on her sash. Then, the Lady of the Darkest Night offered the betel nut chew to Ulisong. Surprisingly, the captain of the timawas refused her without a word. And a heavy silence settled between them.

  Amburukay cleared her throat. "Have you assigned a patrol for the night?"

  "And why would I do that?" Ulisong said, acid in his words.

  Amburukay held her tongue, they were both tired, and fatigue– mental or otherwise, almost always brought the darker side out of people. Emotions stung more when people are at their lowest, but she would not tolerate anymore insolence from a mere timawa again. She glared at him. "Know your place, captain." She made the warning sound like an outright threat. "You've seen the creatures here. They're not exactly the cuddly kind. And it was only a suggestion."

  Ulisong spat. "Do you know who I am? I come from a line of bagani warriors. I'm not your lackey. My grandfather fought the Butcher of Buglas during the second rebellion! He taught me to be one with the bow. I am... I was the sharpest archer in Ulay before I became the timawa's captain–"

  Amburukay snorted. "And where is your grandfather now? Perhaps, he should have been leading your timawas instead. He might have helped me when Tikum was snatched away from us. Or do you think your arrow could be helpful when that white mist comes back for us."

  Ulisong grumbled about wasting lives for nothing. He went on criticizing how dangerous leaving their families behind. And all for what? this fool-hardy nonsense? It was inexcusable for Ulisong.

  But Amburukay no longer cared, ignoring his diatribe. "So, I guess it's not just fear, there's something else that's keeping you from following what you're told? Speak out, captain."

  Irked by her comment, the Ulayan captain suddenly stood up, dropping his short blade. "What makes you think we should obey you? Why should we risk our lives to save your daughter?"

  Amburukay shook her head slowly. The man was indeed laudable. Laudably ignorant, that is. She sighed. Another tack had to be chosen. Kindness and some bribery wouldn't do good here.

  "You know about the realm gates?" Amburukay said, eyes reflecting the fire's red glow.

  The captain's face became serious. "Yes, portals to other worlds, right? All involve forbidden rituals to conjure. I don't see it concerning us–"

  "Forbidden...Yes. This'll be easier then."

  "My granny used to tell me stories about them," Ulisong said. "She was a mananambal in our tribe. I'm not exactly clueless. She said, they were once open for all Vijayas. Bridges to other realms and other worlds."

  "They are so much more than that but yes. They all lead to beautiful alien realms like Handuman. Or hellish ones like Sulad and Saragnayan's lightless Gadlum. And to other planes as well..."

  "But magic from them became vvol–" Ulisong paused, trying to remember the right word.

  "Volatile?" Amburukay offered.

  He nodded. "Yes, that's the word! And these doors. These gates were closed by the devatas... Now, they belong to a time long gone. All just folk tales told by elders to the common folk."

  Amburukay smiled. "Others don't even believe them anymore. Some say, they may even just be tall-tales invented by imaginative chanters."

  "But you're not like them. You think–"

  "Yes, captain." An amused look curtained the manghihiwit's face. "I'll make it straight and simple for you." Amburukay stowed the betel nut chew back to her pouch. "They still exist and they can still be opened. Our master, Sri Kihod, found a way. He only needs my daughter's soul and blood to open one of the gates."

  "What do you mean your daughter's-?"

  "She... is the key."

  "So, your master intends to open a realm gate?" Ulisong grimaced. "That doesn't sound that bad, at least for all of us. And so what... if those things were opened anyway?"

  Amburukay sighed. "The Bone Gates. The one that leads to the Dark realm of Saragnayan is not to be trifled with. And he means to–"

  "Gadlum? He wants to open it?Couldn't he choose a better one? And why the hell would he open it?"

  She nodded when fear crossed Ulisong's face. "From what I gather, Sri Kihod means to use the magic released by the gates to empower all who are endowed with magic."

  "Always about the buruhisans," Ulisong said the last word as though it was a disease. As though it was synonymous to being a leper.

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  Amburukay brushed it off and continued, "He's planning to reshape this world of yours by giving power to all those who could wield it." She paused. "Honestly though, I used to agree with him."

  "And?"

  Her eyes brightened, whether or not it was because of the fiery bonfire casting its red glow or something else, Ulisong could not tell. She turned away. "But now, I'm not so sure," she whispered. "Perhaps, it was a mistake from the start."

  "True or not, that still doesn't concern us." The captain of the timawas shook his head. "It's your problem, buruhisan. Your kind are the ones who complicate things. You're like most noble-blood who could not deal and master the power you hold on your very hands. Your magic destroys as much as it creates! And the rest suffer from it. Maybe Magung was right–"

  "A man like him would never be right. All this concerns you too!" She stabbed a finger in the air. Ulisong grumbled something but offered no reply.

  Amburukay shook her head. She smelled the juicy meat on the fire and hunger made her more irritated. So she took a piece, staking it with a sharpened stick. She didn't need to ask. "Like all gates, the one here on Mount Laon is trying to keep something that doesn't belong here. They were all closed for a good reason." She motioned towards the fire. Ulisong nodded when the flames roared up angrily with the manghihiwit's minor spell.

  Amburukay gestured with her hands and the fire's flames swayed, settling down instead to nibble at the dry wood placed around it. "If the Bone Gates are opened long enough... the nasty things from the other side will cross and spread terror in this realm. Creatures made of pure magic, all filled with malice... all hungry as the flames before you." The manghihiwit smiled at the timawa captain but he could not be sure as the shadows danced to veil her face.

  Amburukay sighed. "Simply said, everything here bites the mud if we give Sri Kihod a chance to open any gate."

  Ulisong looked more convinced as he took a piece of meat for himself. As he did so, Amburukay finished her food. She then stoked the fire to warm her hands, this time a simple stick sufficed to the hungry flames.

  "And he's not just planning on opening it too," she added. "I'm not sure yet but I think Sri Kihod wants to destroy it permanently. It is the most probable course for him."

  Ulisong wolfed the meat on the stick down, watching the manghihiwit's expression change at the corner of his eyes. The more he tried to hide his fear the more alarmed his face looked. Then, Amburukay continued, "All at our daughter's expense." She eyed him. "Now, that doesn't answer the why... Why should you help us?" She took a drink from a bamboo canteen and wiped her mouth with her black robe. "Because I and Tikum have a plan to stop him. If that's not enough reason then, because you have no choice. If you value your lives and the ones you left in Ulay then, fight with us." She offered the wine to him. For a moment the two paused, thinking of the gravity of their situation. Then, the captain took it and drank his own share of basi, shaking his head as the drink kicked in.

  "So, he plans to release shit on us?" he finally said after mulling it over.

  Amburukay nodded. Just the right parlance. Any subtler and he would've lost her. She noticed movement from the darkness, but was pleasantly surprised that it was the other Ulayans. Some of them had started to light small bonfires for themselves, forming a loose circle around her and their captain.

  "We've been traveling with you for a couple of days already," the captain continued. "You know, all that you said... that's all a beginning-of-the-day information, right? Things like that changes all of this."

  Amburuaky showed her open palms. "You didn't ask. And honestly, I should've trusted you to understand."

  "Sounds fair and a bit stupid. But it's normal... you do not trust us yet because we are strangers."

  "Perhaps, you are right." She nodded.

  He smiled. "On the latter or on the former?"

  "I was starting to like you, Ulisong–"

  Ulisong's eyes bulged, regretting his jest. "I was just–"

  Amburukay gave him a rare smile and Ulisong realized what she meant. And both of them laugh.

  "Do you see now why we need your help, Ulisong?" Amburukay continued. "We can't do all this alone. I know I can't. Well, not yet." She closed her fist. Not until she regained her full powers, Amburukay thought. The tikbalang's mane was a great help and she knew it could do more. But both had their limitations.

  The captain cleared his throat, cutting Amburukay's thought. "Why your daughter?" Ulisong said with genuine concern. "Why not any other youngling?"

  Amburukay didn't utter a word.

  Ulisong knew she was a brilliant buruhisan and most of them had ill-temperament. So, he erred in the side of caution this time around. Badgering a manghihiwit was ill-advised, he thought. She looked his way and stood up, walking to the far side of the bonfire and settling on the pile of dried leaves. Most of their men were already fast asleep. Their snores sounding like saws cutting a forest of narra trees.

  She cleared the ground of small twigs and rocks. "That's for another day. We need to rest for tomorrow." She looked him in the eye. "But know this, your task is noble– fit for a bagani. Some may even say it'll make any father feel proud."

  Ulisong picked his teeth clean with a stick and gave out a satisfying belch. He didn't bother with a bagani's promise. He wasn't that kind of fool, he settled for an apology instead. "I'm sorry for earlier. My men... are also my only friends. I don't want them put into unnecessary danger."

  "I understand."

  "But with our line of work, it can't be helped." Captain Ulisong bowed. "Don't worry about your safety. I already told my men to be on shifts tonight. No foolish creature would cross their blades. My trackers also reported vague spoors before the darkness came. We'll find mister Tikum and your daughter tomorrow as soon as we can make use of the light. We'll stop Sri Kihod together."

  Amburukay whispered a thank you as she lay on the ground to rest, but sleep was scarce for her that night. Many thoughts were racing on her head. She thought of the conversation with the captain. It wasn't her to tell and it wasn't the captain to know. And how should she tell him about her and Tikum's falling out?

  She wondered why it happened. At first, they were a happy couple. Inseparable. Unbreakable. And she did her best to make it stay that way. Though it was an unspoken fact, that love wasn't easy to find for the strongest of buruhisans (at least, not as easy as fear). What she had with Tikum was the closest thing she had to a family too. Yes, at first, Tikum wasn't the man he was looking for, but there was an ore of possibility within him that told her that he could do great things. Of course, she was not wrong. But she imagined those great things with her. Not away from her. And Tikum would deny it, but back then he was not fit to be a father. A man who often shirked his responsibility in favor of the next caper rarely did.

  And the Black Dog's missions continued to take him to different places more and more, while Amburukay being a manghihiwit stayed. She needed all her focus and attention to her studies of the arcane. Then the gods' blessed them with Ukok, but as young parents they were ill-fitting and unprepared. Tikum knew Amburukay tried her best to raise their child but her very proximity with Sri Kihod, led the damnable man to experiment on Ukok when she was still a babe.

  Amburukay seethed in hate and regret as she gritted her jaw. Kihod, must have known earlier on. He must have had an inkling that Ukok would be capable of channeling vast amounts of power. He must have realized that she had an untapped potential within her. And he was more than willing to exploit her. Naturally, this went against Ambu. For like any mother, she wanted the best for Ukok. She could've given Ukok a normal life, even though that would be difficult for a buruhisan. She could've given the closest thing to it.

  Yes, Ukok being one of the rarest kind made normalcy all the more difficult task than it should've been. But it could be done. Though Amburukay would prefer teaching Ukok a bit of magic so she could defend herself. After all, it's not as if good things come without pitfalls. The idea of studying her powers did came to Amburukay though... enticing her. Honestly, she had often wandered about it even after all that happened. Amburukay still wanted to understand Ukok's ability, but this time to protect her daughter. Looking back, this in itself was the problem– curiosity became her blinders. Her own desire to know more was the weakness that Kihod used. And then, all circumstances suddenly aligned to undo what she held dear and everything went south after that. She took a deep breath...That seemed ages ago. But the feeling was no less strikingly painful even now.

  She closed her eyes tight, remembering Ukok's father. All those time together- wasted.

  Things normally change, she convinced herself, it was the natural course of their relationship. It was unavoidable. But all things considered... there was a good thing in all that had occured. Scarce luck struck and Ukok was spared. Tikum was able to save her daughter from the clutches of Kihod. And the Black Dog would do less desirable things after...

  She sighed. He save their daughter but not his relationship with Amburukay. She did try to explain to him what had happened. She honestly thought that all their master was doing was merely studying a second generation burihisan. A simple ritual to know her powers. After all, it was a rare occurrence to have a child born from a pure-blood like Ambu. But Tikum was full of anger. A single-minded creature held together by emotions, he struck back at her and then their manipulative master.

  A thought hit her, and hate deep down her core rose. Sri Kihod's schemes was the cancer that spread between them. All those years with him... It was the very thing that aggravated an already crumbling relationship. But... She opened her eyes. All this wasn't Sri Kihod's doing. Well, not all. She couldn't blame it on him alone.

  Amburukay doubted if they could stop him again. Sri Kihod was just a mere man when Tikum threw him to rot in the Bone Gates. Amburukay was stronger then too. Without her weakening her master, Tikum wouldn't have had the chance to dispose of the Lord of Manghihiwits.

  Now, things were simply harder with Amburukay still taking tentative steps in regaining her power and with Sri Kihod being a step ahead of them and far more stronger than a mortal manghihiwit. She sighed. She feared for Ukok's life. She feared for Tikum's too, but she was determined to risk all for their daughter.

  Amburukay glanced up to gaze at the star-studied sky. She wasn't sure if Tikum was still alive. She paused, trying her best to hold herself together. She wanted to talk to Tikum about them. About their daughter. She secretly wanted his assurance. Maybe next time, she thought. Maybe after all of this was settled, she could talk to him about Ukok. Amburukay closed her eyes and prayed to the devatas for Ukok's safety. And for Tikum too.