The Land In Between

C H A P T E R 3 2

Amihan didn't need to turn his head to hear the summoning of a pira sword as Hiwaga cooly says, "Give me one reason as to why I shouldn't skin you alive." Manisilat picks at her nails, as if Hiwaga noted the weather and not her plans to kill Manisilat on the spot. "I have a proposition."

"And what makes you think we'll accept?" Banawag bravely asks, his hand gently holding Amihan's. Manisilat looks at the tender displays and scoffs, "We all have one thing in common interest, don't we? Now," Manisilat moves out of her facade of calm, her entire being guarded and ready to strike "Where is my daughter?"

No one moves for a moment, but Amihan steadily removes Banawag's hand. His heart shoots a look full of confusion, but Amihan squeezes his wrist gently. 'Trust me.'

Banawag does.

Amihan steps forward, his arm out to protect those behind him. If there's one thing Amihan had learned throughout this whole journey, it's bargaining with entities.

Even with those that terrify him.

"You have a proposition, what is it?" He poses the question as an open gift; he will play along for their safety. Manisilat positively croons, "Good, good. What handsome little boy you are." Amihan could hear Banawag shudder with a chance of throwing up whatever he last ate. Amihan would like to remind him that he's the one at risk and of all people, it is he who should be disgusted.

'But I digress.'

Manisilat places a hand by her cheek, "I am willing to...spare you, and even get rid of Mangagauay for you, if you let me see my daughter." Amihan returns the statement with a question, "And if we refuse?" Manisilat shrugs gracefully, "Then I will kill you here at this moment and get to her myself." Amihan's hands reach for his arnis sticks, but a soft feeling wafts through his senses. He looks around discreetly, trying to wonder where it's coming from. Be...still...I...remain here...

It surely didn't feel like any miasma, but it did feel somewhat otherworldly. He brushes it off for later, but he does stop his move to grab his weapons. Amihan takes a deep breath in and exhales, "Give us time, I will summon you if I need to."

"And if I refuse your call?" Manisilat raises an eyebrow.

Amihan stares at her and for some reason, his energy rises without him knowing. It billows gracefully around him, white and pure like fog. It is unfamiliar, but it fills his senses like a cold embrace. Amihan's eyes were alight and yet his face betrayed no emotion. "Then it's your loss, my lady."

Banawag takes a step back at that, at the cool tone Amihan had spoken in, and Manisilat cackles. "Driving a hard deal, utoy. Very well. Ask the King's whore if you wish to properly summon me." Banawag almost shoots an appalled look at Manisilat's direction and before Hiwaga could even deign to swing her pira sword, Manisilat disappears with a hiss and a snap.

Amihan comes down from the high he didn't know he had, blinking carefully while looking at his hands. Banawag slowly turns his head to Hiwaga, "What...happened to him while he was in there?" Hiwaga looks back at Amihan and returns his gaze to Banawag. She looked perplexed.

"I...don't know."

***

Amihan sat still as Banawag stayed by his side, pensive. A stream of power emits from both Makisig and Hiwaga until they eventually stop and look at each other. Banawag was familiar enough to know that it wasn't anything too bad but it still baffled them to some extent. "There's nothing wrong on my end. You?" Hiwaga folds her arms as Makisig shakes his head, "No, not at all."

So for all intents and purposes, Banawag should be relieved but it still didn't sit right with him. His gut was telling him that Amihan was not himself somehow.