Chapter 15
The Blood Compact
In Sulabun, Datu Banaak forced his son, Kalib, to train harder.
“If I did not see you, you could have been killed!” Datu Banaak screamed at his son. “You are weak, Kalib! You are weak!” he stressed furiously.
Kalib, ashamed of himself, flew away from the tribe, in blazing anger.
Datu Banaak prepared his army for they would visit the Fegratus. He had been planning to visit their tribe to mislead Datu Saak, that they were invaded by the Kravenas and that they needed his tribe’s help.
Beyond questions, Datu Saak believed the false information and agreed to Datu Banaak’s favor.
As respect and reward for Datu Banaak, Datu Saak prepared a small gathering. Plentiful drinks were served and attractive female Fegratus were splattered all over, to entertain the Sulabuns.
For the two tribes’ union, a blood compact was set between the two spearheads.
Datu Banaak took his bolo, had a small cut on his palm, and dropped his blood into a small goblet, and so did Datu Saak. As their blood mixed in it, they cheered and drank it up to the last drop, signifying a strong bond between their tribes against their enemies—the Kravenas. It was accompanied with flamboyant laughs from both groups.
The Fegratus and Sulabuns ultimately spent the rest of the night celebrating their union.
* * *
IN KRAVENA, Abanir was at his chamber, holding the piece of cloth that he got from the lake house.
His hakaro, Rabel, saw it and asked him where he got it.
At first, Abanir was doubtful to reveal the truth but he was eventually swayed.
“Remember the strange creature I told you?” Abanir asked Rabel. “I went back to the place where I saw it and found this.” Abanir poured out with qualms. “I did not intend to take it but I heard a strange sound. I was not able to leave it there and now I have it.”
Alarmed, Rabel could not believe that his raha went back to the place of humans. He was afraid that some of them could have seen him.
“Raha, when you were there... did someone see you?” Rabel inquired carefully.
“No one, Rabel!”
They kept talking when Sesa Sanaya suddenly overheard them and curiously listened in, to their conversation.
“Rabel, I am still amazed by that strange creature. It’s very pleasing to the eyes,” admitted Abanir, floating.
“What strange creature?” Sesa Sanaya, without any warning, intervened.
“Sanaya, have you been listening to our conversation?” Abanir was suddenly startled.
“Tell me, sayong! What was that creature?” Sesa Sanaya flooded more of her curiosity. “And what is that... that piece you are holding?” She referred to the bizarre fabric and inspected it thoroughly. “It’s strange!”
“This is nothing, sayang!” Abanir speedily answered, tense that Sesa Sanaya might tell it to their ilo.
“With all due respect, my Sesa, it’s late and I think you need to go to sleep now. Reyna Kaya might be looking for you,” Rabel interceded.
“Ilo will know of this,” Sesa Sanaya warned them, before leaving.
The two looked at each other and Abanir was worried that Datu Ilak would find it out.
At the back of Rabel’s mind, he knew that Datu Ilak might already know about it, but that he chose to remain silent.
Abanir hid the piece of cloth in his dulsabang and covered it with nests, with his thoughts on the strange creature.
Rabel ogled him for a bit.
“Tomorrow, Rabel, help me with my training!” Abanir requested but he did not hear any response. He then turned around to face his hakaro but to his surprise, Rabel was already snoring. “Oh, Rabel! You are such a very sleepy hakaro!”
Accordingly, Abanir went to his bed of nests and found himself unable to fall asleep. Through the bamboo-made windows, his smitten eyes were concentrated on the glittery sky, until it seemed to completely bare the innocent face of the strange creature.
