Tension and unease filled the air on the denuded hill as the whinnying of a warhorse echoed down the valley. It spoiled the smell of the freshly torn grass, and the bright sunny day itself seemed to darken as time went by.

  A small crowd of villagers from Mandawili had gathered at the foot of the hill, eager to lay eyes on one of their long-standing enemies. The memories of the Magalos, the destroyers, were still freshly etched on their minds. They were ravagers. They were killers. Nothing good came with the destroyers. The villagers scowled at the man. Spat at the ground were he walked. In a sense the saying was true, tattoos inked on skin faded. It was not as indelible as the dark memories birthed from cruelty. But not all felt hatred, the young ones were more at awe at the stranger but their curiosity and eagerness soon gave way to respect as Pulaco and his men made their way. Ancient and young alike, bowed their heads as the chief climbed the exposed hill. All the while, the visitor waited for him at the peak of the mound, his placid face betraying nothing about him.

  He just sat there on a black horse like a dignified hero. Around him, Pulaco's warrior serfs held their spears close in hand. They were wary of the dangers that a man like him brought. As though teasing them, the visitor adjusted the two curved sword on his back, their white strap in contrast to his thick red vest. The serfs all gave a nervous twitch, thinking that he was going to draw the twin blades at them.

  Like most Magalos, he wore a black tobao on his head as black as the unusual beast of burden on which he rode, white geometric and floral designs wound around it like venomous sea snakes ready to strike. While the pale ruby on the center of his head-wear maliciously glinted at the villagers below. A stark contrast stood between him and the villagers. It wasn't just his wardrobe that set the distinction, but how he carried himself, restrained and calculated like a leashed tiger. Dangerous when he needs to be. Dangerous when he wanted to be. And one needed to be like him to know what kind of man he was. But few could tell about the subtle difference except Pulaco.

  The chief looked at the man straight in the eye. A cold blooded-killer hiding in plain sight, he thought. A man ready to kill.

  "Greetings, Maas Ilidji!" the visitor said, his sharp ringed eyes fixed on Pulaco. "Or maybe its more proper to call you Dimantag... since after all, you're supposed to be the unbeatable one," the man added, giving emphasis on the final word.

  Pulaco strode and halted a couple of feet away from the warrior. "What do you want stranger? And who are you?" He hissed. The cloak on Pulaco's shoulder hid his injury from the visitor, but it was also too tight, lancing pain crossed over it and a shadow of a grimace passed over Pulaco's face.

  Lam and Mingming flanked his side as the Magalos drew closer

  "My name is Alahamid Ibn Surrac al Hassan, Lieutenant of the famed Magalos, Emissary of the great Sultan of Pu-Lilo, his Highness, Ul Zain Ali-Abbedin." The man gave Pulaco a curt bow, speaking with confidence and certainty. He smiled at the chief's subtle reaction. Then, he stared at the crowd below before letting his mount take another step. The people seemed to hold their breath and he relished their dread. "What do I want? Hmmm...a drink from the famed wells of Mandawili, perhaps?" he finally said.

  The stranger dusted his khaki trousers.

  "You want a drink? Why don't you try sea water for a change." Mingming spat in front of the sultan's warrior, a couple of inches shy from hitting the Magalos' feet. The people around the hill laughed, but Mingming didn't join their mirth.

  Lam smiled as he dragged his sword to his side. "Or maybe you want to spar? As I've often heard... Mandawili is also famous for its warriors. I'm not from here, but I've been inching for a fight. Care to try, stranger?"

  "Oh, you're killing me with your hospitality!" The Magalos laughed as he dismounted from his horse. He looked at Pulaco from head to toe and proceeded to tie his mount on a dead stump.

  Mingming raised his weapon and embedded the sharp end of his spear on the hard ground. "Killing? We haven't started with that yet. Mmm... maybe later, perhaps?" he said parroting the visitor's tone.

  "I didn't expect such wit from one of Pulaco's servants," the man replied.

  "He's not my servant. He's my brother," Pulaco said. "And I would like you to show some respect."

  "Ah, sorry about that Maas Ilidji." The Magalos turned to Mingming. "Apologies to you my friend."

  "It's all good, I don't really expect a rat like you to understand what respect means," Mingming said. "And I am surely not you're friend."

  The Magalos thin lips cracked to spill a vile smile as he walked closer to Pulaco's brother-in-law. "We must talk another time, ape. I have business to attend to," he whispered.

  The Magalos faced Pulaco and took something out of the white sash around his hip which made the edgy crowd shift in anticipation. Mingming took a step forward to defend his chief, but Pulaco shook his head.

  The Magalos extended his hand towards the datu and bowed. "For you, great chief of Mandawili."

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  Pulaco raised a brow and took the scroll off the man's ringed fingers. The Datu flinched a bit even though he used his other shoulder. He, then, began reading the scroll's contents. He paused for a while and made sure he had read it correctly.

  "Huh, this is some demands you have here," he said, taking his eyes away from the message.

  "I'd say it's a perfect compromise. A win-win for all of us." The Magalos lieutenant grinned, baring all his teeth.

  "For all of us?"

  "Ah, the kind sultan knows that nowadays... of all things, you dislike war. He thinks this will suit you well compared to the alternative."

  "So, he wants me to pay for peace, instead? He writes here that I should give him tribute for every year that we've enjoyed no untoward assault from him."

  "Ah, straight to the point. Yes, great and wise chief. Gold and silk for peace instead of blood and lives for war. A fair bargain, right?"

  "And what if I refuse?" Pulaco said.

  The emissary raised his head, eyes narrowed. The subtle change in the Magalos stance made the datu think. Are you faking it? Pulaco thought. Are you ready to fight your way through us or are you afraid?

  The Magalos sighed and dropped his shoulders. "Then, we'll do what we always do. And perhaps, your people could start anew. Again. Like the old days..."

  "Your benevolent leader has some guts sending a lone Magalos to demand these things."

  "And he would like to keep my guts intact as long as he can, too." The sultan's warrior smiled at his own wit. "I'm more useful to him intact."

  "A fine view we do not share." Pulaco wrapped the scroll. "I still have some prior business to attend to. I'll you give my answer after I'm done."

  "Then, we shall wait for your considerate reply." The Magalos untied the tether and mounted the warhorse. "The sultan and I will pray to the one true god that you'll take his wonderful offer. Two days from now I and the sultan's finest, the rest of the Magalos shall return here for your favorable answer. May your gods give you wisdom to do what has to be done, Dimantag."

  "You should also pray that we don't meet again," Mingming said, hands on his spear.

  The Magalos warrior only laughed as he spurred his mount to life and rode off the hill, dust following his trail.

  "This is why I've been keeping those Chi'ns from our waters. To avoid this. To avoid the Moor's envy," Pulaco said, disappointment in his tone. "Foreigners only bring two things, it's either the plague or the war."

  He motioned for one of his serf. The man approached wary of his leader's seething anger. Pulaco exhaled all the tension and spoke as clear as he could.

  "Go fetch Datu Sandawili and Datu Butod back here. Tell them we may have a possible crisis in our hands. Tell them to come to Mandawili with all they've got."

  The man nodded and went his way while Pulaco shook his head and strode back to the village.

  "Why?" Lam spoke after seeing Pulaco was out of earshot. He turned to Mingming. "Why?"

  "What do you mean why?"

  "I thought Pulaco had some grudges with those Magalos. You know, for killing his wife. For killing your sister. For killing Malaya's mother. But why did he let that insolent cur walk over him and run free? If I was Pulaco I'd order my men to hang and castrate that arrogant Magalos."

  "You know, I've been asking myself that question after we fought those Magalos years ago. We could've easily retaliated against them, but Pulaco did not. At first I thought it was folly. But the chief knew the cost. And that's why we didn't."

  "I still can't comprehend what he's trying to do. He can't do this forever. He simply can't maintain this peace."

  "Know what, it may sound foolish but I secretly hope to see the day when his patience burn out." Mingming took his spear off the ground and smiled. "Wanna know another reason why he let it pass?" He faced the headhunter from Ma-yi.

  "Color me interested."

  "For him, it wasn't the Moor or any body else that killed my sister." Mingming's face became serious. "It was simply war's toll. You could say, he has a grudge with war itself. That's why Pulaco will do everything to avoid it. He'll even sacrifice his pride for peace."

  Pulaco's brother-in-law sighed. And somehow its the right thing to do, he thought.

  "How about those stories that Malaya always told me? That his father was the greatest bagani datu who fought against the invaders and other raiding tribes. How about those stories you shared? A warrior who abhors war is almost unthinkable. It defeats the very notion of being a bagani."

  Mingming chuckled. "Don't worry, those tales are still true. There's still a warrior behind that pacifist. I saw its shadow when he fought that freak giant. When he fought for us. But you must understand Lam, that people change. Well, the smart ones do."

  "Is that the path your taking too?" Lam paused. "Change?"

  "Yes and no." Mingming smiled. "Yes, because in a sense... like him I just want to protect our people and to do that I have to change. We all have to change for those we love. They'll always come first."

  "And?"

  "And you should be on your way to your soon-to-be wife. The one you love. The one you should protect."

  Mingming smiled. He did not want to speak anymore about their chieftain. He was his blood brother but there were things about the man he still could comprehend. All he knew was that he'll never be like him. He'll never be like Pulaco. I'd never accomplish half of what he'd done in my life time, he told himself. I know my limits. Mingming smiled again. And that's not always a bad thing, he thought.

  "Huh, I still can't believe it," Lam said as he went down the hill, shaking his head. "Things shouldn't be like that. A warrior must be! Or he becomes nothing at all."

  Mingming's eyes followed the Magalos' trail as the emissary went through the forest. He probably crossed the narrow pass in between the cliffs in the southern shores and made his way here unmolested, Mingming thought. They couldn't just ferry him and his friends in and out the island that easy or they'll be spotted by either Zullah's warriors or ours. Bastards.

  Mingming was about to go down the hill when a question struck him. Where were the Magalos staying? Surely, it would not be good if they were easily spotted before they attack. And the scouts of Mandawili didn't even caught sight of any of them.

  The answer hit Mingming like a rock a moment later. "Shit," he whispered as he stared at the forest. "They've been watching us all this time?"

  He shook his head. And what was all that earlier? Was the offer a ploy to keep us busy before they attack us? Fuck. Their going to ambush us, Mingming realized.

  He turned around to tell someone but the only people in the hill were his trusted serfs, his twenty Daragangan warriors. He knew he needed to do something about it right that moment.

  Will all of you be enough? he asked himself. There was only one way to find out. He called the twins, Dumog and Sikaran out of the twenty and whispered his plan...