The Land In Between

C H A P T E R 2 4

Amihan cannot hear Banawag calling his name, entirely focused on Ligid's unconscious body. 'Ligid, why aren't you awake?' He thinks, as if in a heavy, heavy daze. The boy is limp in his arms, still light like the last time he carried him. His senses become muffled and he wonders if this is what Adhika felt while she was alive.

Makisig hears more people drawing their bowstrings and asks Banawag, "Give me Likha." Banawag glares at him, "Don't you dare touch her." Makisig clicks his tongue, snapping. "I won't, that's not the point! We have to hide her!" If he was the actual High King, Banawag thinks, then that means he is probably the safest person for Likha. It still doesn't soothe the discomfort nor the suspicions he has for the man, especially when he was the one who boldly claimed to need to kill Likha because of the Soul Star.

He, however, trusts Hiwaga enough. So he gathers up Likha's cute face and whispers, "Likha, baby, listen to your Tatay, okay? I'm giving you to Hiwaga. Don't look, no matter what happens." Their little star whimpers and her grip tightens, but she nods shakingly and allows for the transfer. She plants her face on Hiwaga's shoulder, face hidden away from the world.

Another wave of arrows followed next, and they were all targeting Amihan's hunched over form, still carrying Ligid's wounded body. Banawag didn't even think, running forward and giving the harshest, most powerful strikes he has ever executed on his whip. Those arrows snapped before they could even come to a full berth close to his beloved.

He immediately dives beside Amihan, who still looked in shock. Banawag places a hand on his shoulder, "Amihan, get up! We have to move!" That seems to snap Amihan out, and his eyes were once more filled with sharp awareness. He looks down at Ligid, his breathing stuttering, slow but still a steady rise and fall. 'There is a chance. He will live. He must!' Amihan lifts them off and runs back to where everyone else is. Hiwaga had her hands full with Likha so Amihan turned to Makisig. "Save him." He pleads. "You were a medic once. Please save my..." He chokes on a sob and Makisig takes Ligid, with a look of compassion. "As you wish." White energy softly glowed from Makisig's palms and were slowly entering into Ligid's body. "He will live for now." Makisig assures. "As long as we find a way to get away from everyone else."

Banawag whispers to the couple, "Can't you use your powers?!" Hiwaga looks at Makisig, and immediately Makisig says "I allow it, wife. Just not the Divinity Sacred Arts." She nods, hand pressed at the back of Likha's head. "As you wish, Your Majesty. Boys, buy me sometime to power the teleportation sigil."

"Amihan, former Fourth House Lord!" Someone calls and Amihan feels like he cannot move. "Banawag," the same voice recites, "murderer of Third Princess Adhika! Both of you, surrender yourselves to the Alliance or your companions would suffer the same fate as accomplices to crime."

'Bayog Magat sure has a lot of nerve.' Amihan thinks as he sneaks a look at Banawag beside him, who was shaking in pure anger. Amihan grabs his hand in secret and as soon as Banawag's gaze landed on him, he whispered "Hold for as long as you can until we escape. And, if it means anything to you, I'm sorry." Banawag does not say anything, but eventually he nods. He squeezes Amihan's hand once more.

Amihan lets go and both men turn around, their hands prepared to grab their weapons at any time. In front of them was an army's worth of archers and even some Fourth House warriors Amihan once commanded. At their head were Bayog Magat, Ginoo Kabay, and... Amihan's face does not fall, but it is a close second. There, standing beside the other two, were Ate and Ditse. Every single Alliance Head was here.

Bayog Magat continues talking, a smooth tone that could easily turn the tides against them. He says, "Banawag of the First House, your crime is known to the world at large, but Lord Amihan's has yet to be acknowledged." Nevermind the fact that the 'world at large' they're referring to was simply the high and mighty society of gentry clans. Hardly a world and more of a separated land.