THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS

A Friend’s Betrayal

 Chapter XII

Kundra was asked to go to the capital by their Markham Lamon. His task was to dig up the reason of Arayan’s escape from the palace. There must be something beneath its ground for Arayan to abscond like that. Something the kingdom is hiding from them. But with Lamon unable to come back, he no longer knows what to do. Maybe Lamon was right, maybe Shuixron is hiding something from them. And how would he know if he keep himself slacken under the safe walls of Azucena. Shuixron is a great kingdom, liberal in some ways, But there are just things they keep a tight rein on, especially on their prince, whose identity is spawned from baseless rumors. Lamon’s suspicions that the Ayah’s sudden escape has something to do with their tribe is possible, since none other is reasonable and would justify the behavior of the Ayah after she came back from the Castle. But why would they betray the people whom they need  most? That is the very question, and he knows nothing to feed his inquiry. “Lamon is not home yet!” the old shama  sat down next to him, to determine his confusions. He’s been sitting outside her shack for hours and yet couldn’t come up with any idea, which he thought his best advantage against Quamran. And now, he is nothing more than an oblivious subordinate of the man his Namasi fell in love with “you are worrying for a gathom. Have you forgotten who he is?” said Kundra showing confidence on his expression. Yet he knew to himself that he is worried for some reason and couldn’t get all these possibilities out of his mind “Shuixron has the last card—They never needed us, but they don’t want to draw that card yet” Kundra affirmed  

 “I know they are waiting for something”                                                                                             

“Why don’t you go and find it for yourself?”                                                                                               

 “If it is not the Shuixron, then perhaps someone from Kamuary or Qionar?”                                       

 “Lamon has his father’s look, I believe he could’ve be like him” from the old Shaman’s words, Kundra realized something that is beyond what he could think of, it couldn’t be possible. But those creatures have been going in and out from the boundaries of Shuixron ever since, and Lamon’s look, they could’ve mistaken him as Arman. Those creatures who knows how to weaken their enemy with their enchanting skill, it is what the old tales say, The Ascans who waited for so long for their savior, for their Gathom.

Kundra stood before the old Shaman and come into a conclusion “I think I know what to do” His final resolve is to finish what his Markham ordered him before he left. 

In spite of their Markham’s absence, their everyday life has gone back to normal. The usual peacefulness and laughter that for Kundra has become strange and specious, maybe because of Lamon’s disappearance. More reason for him to take his move and look for him, however, he is also reeling from the task Lamon gave him. All of these are getting out of his hand, and the old Shama is right, if he left no one else will watch over the tribe. He inclined himself to the old Shama’s Shack and wonder his thoughts to the people moving around, doing their deeds and glancing over him. worried that kundra might have been affected by Lamon’s failure to return right away . He stopped his gaze to Namasi who was left alone in the Ashalahay’s mud shelter, where they make their clothes.

She was about to do her chores when Kundra approached her with eagerness to resolve his years of yearning                                                      

 “Namasi” she was startled yet pretended to act casually to avoid him    

 “what are you doing here Kundra? You are not supposed to be here” said Namasi while keeping her distance from Kundra by jumping from one serape to another                                                     

 “what do you want?”                                                                                                                                

 Kundra was her friend, and in fact, the closest friend of Arayan and hers. but Kundra’s persistence over his affection towards her is already exhausting. She need not to explain to him her engagement to Quamran since it is already known to the entire tribe                                                  

“Namasi, know my feelings for you will never change”  

 “Stop it Kundra!—my feelings for you is nothing more but a friend”                                                                 

“I know—but If you could choose me, even Lamon can’t take me away from you” She turned back and head to the Markham’ pavilion, thinking that it would only be better if he leave and do what he ought to than waiting for everything to fall into him.  

Namasi however does appreciates how much Kundra loves her, but she can’t offer him the same feeling, given that her heart belongs to someone. Arayan, Kundra and her grew up together, of all people, they know each other very well. And it is already frustrating not to be able to help arayan, now she is hurting kundra. Arayan approves Kundra than Quamran, and she knows it’s only because Kundra is the closest friend of Arayan even before her.

She remembers Arayan teases her with Kundra and disregarding her feelings towards Quamran. She was in love with Quamran ever since they were young. She thought her feelings would change, since a young love is nothing more but an idle and foolish inclination. But it only grew bigger and stronger as time passes by. Arayan spends more time with Kundra as a child. They would go fishing and hunting and refuses to learn knitting along with other young Ashalahays. She figured, Arayan’s tomboyish personality is due to the absence of her mother, so she decided to be there for her.

And now that the tribe’s leader is away, Kundra is in charge to the tribe. He behave like any other leaders does, but inside he is hopelessly desperate for Namasi. On that evening, when the crescent moon rests on its highest view, to wash away his depression, outside the old shama’s shack, he sat down and drunk himself with the coconut wine he saw at the Markham’s quarters

 “are you sure you’ll be doing that?” the old shama  found him almost lying on the ground  “yeah! Leave me” his voice is hoarse with the alcohol he is drinking. The old Shama  left him, and step inside her shack. Kundra chortled, his face is red and his eyes are beginning to drop. What would Arayan say if she saw him like that, he never knew he is capable of drinking alcohol until now “She should blame Namasi for these” he whispered.

For a moment, he was trying to contemplate when he saw Namasi walking towards the gate. He knew Namasi loves to wander around the evening especially when the moon is out. She loves seeing the flowers on the forests gleaming with the moon’s brightness. He followed after her, and left the bottles of the wine he stole at the shack. He found her at the same place she goes every bright evening, to pick some gorgeous flowers to impress the altar of Guron

 “hello Nam” said Kundra while trying to keep his feet firm. He was only pushing himself from the trees to be able to walk towards her                                                                                                                

 “Kundra what are you do…Are you drunk?”                                                                                        

  “no—no, let’s watch—the moon together” it is not so hard to tell that Kundra is depress, since he never really like the taste of the alcohol. She is worried that Kundra is overly bearing himself into something

“Kundra—Kundra you should take a rest now”                                                                              

 “why? Because you don’t like me? Because he is better than me?” Kundra laugh feebly, there are tears coming out from his eyes. Namasi tried to console him, but he wouldn’t let her. Her face is near to him, when she gaze at it, he was looking at her with longing and desire 

“Kundra” Namasi spoke to him gently, trying to understand him with all her heart. But Kundra suddenly reach his lips to hers, and invade her forcefully. Namasi let go and slap him. She couldn’t believe Kundra can assault her like that, or maybe there are things that she doesn’t know about Kundra. 

Her eyes rallied upon seeing Kundra impaired from her deed. He couldn’t blame her though. Anyone would do the same if being assaulted like that, even if she was his nicest friend. Kundra’s eyes lit up “what is it that he have that I don’t have? Why can’t you just choose me, since I love you more…” his voice queried into a whisper. Namasi remained silent, she doesn’t know what to do to him. She couldn’t possibly abandon him and run back to the village, with him so helpless because of her. She tried to hold his hand and would helped him stand up, to get back to the village together. But Kundra captured her with his arms and embraced her tightly “Kundra?” Namasi tried to resist, but Kundra’s strength is impossible to counter. He imprisoned her with his grasp and began osculating the deeper side of her neck

 “Kundra please!” Namasi cried, but he wouldn’t let go of her. He kept invading her and drag her to lay down 

“Kundra… Kundra please” her voice is rebelling against his pervasion, but his grasps gets tighter every time she tries to break-out. Until her body itself gave up, and let Kundra’s hostility consume her. She closed her eyes and let go of her tears. She wondered what Quamran is doing, she can only hope he is well, and it is quite a relief that he will not be able to witness her in such a shameful situation.