The Engkanto Quartet: Voyage to the East

The fourth man

The excitement — or perhaps it was anxiety — that was making him unable to sleep. As in the case of many firsts, his first trip to an unfamiliar world induced some apprehension. All that and the fact that it was not an ordinary journey in any way. The reason for leaving was made even more complex by the unusual circumstances of the island. So, right in the middle of the night, Rakly busied himself with preparation. He put all the things he needed in one place, in a knapsack made from abaca fiber. In it were a few pairs of extra clothing, a book of ancient verses given to him by his mother, and the amulets he had collected for years, including the ones Konradus gave him. They were amulets for healing and protection from curses, evil powers, and death. There was also an amulet to attract and seduce women, which was the one that Isuk asked from a stranger to Ragua one day. Instead, the stranger gave it to Rakly. In turn, it was the source of their jokes and humorous innuendos. 

Collecting the weapons that hung on the wall, he readied the swords that had been useless against the Tiktiks, but he believed they would come in handy against human enemies. He also tucked in his side the long knife that Tikloi gave him. It was said to be forged in the magical fires of Ta’al. That’s what he was told. Even though he was, in some way, superstitious, he would also cast some doubts on other people’s claims. He would believe it only once he’d seen how it worked. 

He might have found some humor in other people’s claims, but the collywobbles attacking him when things were unknown had so far been real. He could not rest his mind knowing the uncertainty of the outcomes of his decision. In a moment, he found himself down on his knees, uttering a prayer to the gods of the island: “In this moment of disquietude, I seek your guidance. I may not know my destination, but please give me the courage to take the first step and the strength to keep on taking more steps. Let me see the light and lead me the way.”

He called on the ancient god Tagbusan, who ruled over the fate of both gods and all the beings that live on earth. “My life belongs to you, and my destiny is in your hands. I rest my case, and I will run the race to let the world know the power of the light.”

Then he followed his utterance with a moment of silence, shutting the world down so that he could hear nothing but his thoughts, the message of the gods, and the melody that the stream played that night to calm his troubled soul. It was about time for him to come to terms with himself, vanishing his anxiety and replace it with will and determination. 

While he was in deep thoughts, an image of a man appeared in front of him, beckoning him to come nearer. It was like a gentle breeze of colors, a mirage that created a form of an old, bearded man. His hair was white and long, and his deep ancient eyes were blazing. He trembled before the strange picture of a man in his vision. And when he tried to draw near, the image disappeared in the ether. 

He rubbed his eyes. It was not a dream. He did not know who that man in white was, but he felt he had met him once before, only that he could not remember or point out the exact date and circumstance.

He was still in a dreamlike state when Velmer knocked on the door. “I know you’re already awake. It’s your first time going on a long journey. It must bring some excitement,” the dwarf said in jest. 

“I hope it’s the excitement that I feel. But it’s more of a struggle with fate. We don’t know what lies ahead.”

“Worry not of what’s ahead. Think about what you decide to do at the moment. The small decisions you make today and the next day will have consequences for your future. But we can only live in the present.”

Rakly nodded and bowed his head. 

“Everything’s ready,” declared Velmer. “The supplies we need, the ship, and the crew. That’s us—you, me, and Tikloi.”

They moved to the hall where Tikloi was waiting. He was sitting on the floor half-asleep, but his mind was wandering, and his senses were sharp. “Here’s an alternative plan, instead of heading straight to the northern parts of the Mainland. We will follow the direction of the wind toward the south for three days before we sail eastward. In this way, those who see the ship would think we’re fishing in the southern seas,” Velmer said.  

“It would be easier to reach the Isle of Safety undetected, and from there, we’ll sail freely in the open seas. Trust me. I can steer the ship to the Isle of Safety. But from there onwards, I will have to test my sailing skills. I know the waves are bigger and the current stronger,” Rakly opined.  

“If that’s the best route we can take, then the heavens help us. On the other hand, we’ll be hiding in plain sight. If we could get to the Isle of Safety and let the ship drift south, the wind would be favorable. Then we can reach the southeastern parts of the Mainland through a narrow strait that would have us pass by Kalanggaman Island,” said Velmer, who had been traveling back and forth in the area. 

“I’d choose that route if I could, although it’s risky,” Tikloi seconded.

“Two to one. I’ll go with your plan,” said Rakly.

“It’s time to go,” Velmer said. 

As they’re about to go, someone rushed in and banged the door open, carrying three heavy bags full of supplies. It was Isuk. “I won’t be left behind. I’m going with you. I promised not to leave by your side,” he said to Rakly. 

“But it’s not as easy as that. The journey is not for you to take lightly. There is real danger ahead,” Rakly replied. 

“Should we carry a heavy weight uphill, it would pull us back,” Tikloi said. 

“I’m not a weight to carry. I’ll prove myself useful. I can steer the ship. I can cook. I can do the little things, the dirty work you don’t want to do. And one more thing, I can also fight,” Isuk said in his defense, and then he unsheathed the short sword Konradus gifted him on his birthday.

“That weapon won’t do anything against the enemies,” the dwarf said. “But you’ll be of use, I think. So, I’ll have you on the team.”

Since Velmer preferred to have Isuk with them, Tikloi also agreed, which made Rakly give in, although not included in his original plan. He thought that Isuk would not stand a chance against the enemy’s evil creatures, and seeing his friend get killed would be the last thing that he had in mind. But then, he realized Tikloi, who was not an ordinary warrior, was on the team. They had a protector. Aside from his smarts in getting food on the table, Isuk’s value was his friendship and loyalty. He was a man of his word, as shown in the keeping of his promise of not leaving Rakly’s side. “You’re in, but don’t die on me.”

“Let’s not talk about dying. There’s so much life ahead,” Isuk said with excitement in his eyes.  

As they were about to leave, Bubuy had come to see them. “This is not the last time we see each other. I wait for your return,” he said as he pulled Rakly closer and hugged him. 

“Tell mother that I’ll see her soon. Please send my love.”

“I will. Your mother would be pleased to hear. We might see each other in the Mainland after my trip to the south. And one more thing, my friends in the woods of Batan, they’re waiting for me. If you happen to see them, please tell them I’ll be there in time. They’ll recognize you once you mention my name in reverse,” Bubuy said, and afterward, he clapped Rakly’s back. 

The company crawled silently to the ship, making sure that no one would notice them. It was no problem for the light-footed Tikloi and Rakly, but Isuk would attract attention since he was carrying heavy bags. So they helped him carry the extra load of supplies to the ship.  

It was still dark on the island when they left. They did not light the lamp. Instead, they paddled the calm waters of the docks to the deeper parts, moving the ship without attracting attention. Once they reached the open sea, a silver lining appeared on the horizon. But Rakly felt they’re heading into darkness, hoping to see the light at the end of the voyage when they drop their anchor in the Mainland.