Curse of the Fallen Deity (Zarsothian Tales #1 | Volume 1 & 2)

Chapter 24: The King of Ambergail

"ARE we already in Ambergail?" I asked Carwell beside me. His eyes were busy looking around but he nodded.

"This is a part of Ambergail but the palace is in the south." He turned his gaze on me. "If you want to rest for the night, there's an inn nearby."

"No," I immediately responded. "We promised to go back before the sun rises."

Pinanliitan niya ako ng mata. "You promised."

He, then, continued to look around.

Napabuntong hininga na lang ako. Time is against us in this quest. Kailangan kong makuha agad ang amulet na tinutukoy ni Mallá para magising na sila.

Gaya ni Carwell, umupo ako sa isang inukit na bato sa may gilid at nagmasid sa paligid. We've been walking for hours already. I hate to admit but I wouldn't get this far without this arrogant guy's help. Mukhang alam na alam niya ang pasikot-sikot dito.

Especially the Great Bridge.

I thought it was really invisible, I couldn't even use my power. It turned out I was under an illusion the moment I stepped foot on the bridge, just like anyone else who dares to pass the border of Forthmore and Ambergail.

Was I too careless to not even feel it coming?

"Yes," biglaang sambit ng katabi ko.

I looked at him with perplexed eyes. "What?"

"If you're thinking about your actions earlier, yes, you were careless."

Nalukot ang mukha ko tinuran niya. Masyado bang halata sa mukha ko?

I shifted my gaze at our surroundings. We're in a small town, as Carwell said. I don't know what they call this place but it looks like a poor village or something. I could barely recognize a  shop from a house, which was lined up horizontally along the small road. Sa gitna naman nito ay may malaking fountain na hindi na gumagana at paikot na daan.

It looked abandoned despite the few people living here. Nakakapagtaka lang na mukha itong inabandona kahit ito ang bukana ng lugar nila. What kind of ruler would want his land to be this awful? At hindi simpleng lupain lang, bungad pa talaga.

"Don't be too quick to judge."

I shrugged. "I can't help it. There's too much to be judged."

Carwell hissed in annoyance. Inikot ko lang ang mata ko bilang sagot sa kanya.

He stood up and looked at me. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay pero hindi talaga siya nagpatalo. He moved forward and for a moment I thought he was gonna punch me, but I was taken aback when he reached out his hand.

"Let me carry that now. No objections," he said firmly, 'tsaka niya kusang kinuha ang backpack ko. Pinaubaya ko na lamang ito sa kanya. "And don't get into conclusions."

This guy.

Hindi ko na talaga alam kung may mas ikakapal pa ba ang mukha niya.

"I don't have the slightest intention to get into that kind of conclusion, so no worries," sagot ko saka siya nilagpasan pero huminto rin agad nang mapagtanto kong hindi ko pala alam ang daan.

"Silly," he sniggered then walked past me. At tahimik na akong sumunod sa kaniya.

"HOW far are we from the palace now?"

"It's a three-hour ride to the palace."

Napapikit ako sa inis. Tatlong oras na byahe pa ang kailangan para makararing sa timog. It's getting late. Hindi ko alam kung anong oras na pero alam kong palalim na ang gabi. The sky is now midnight blue with only a couple of stars and two crescent moons lighting up.