6.1 DOGGY DOG WOES: In which Tikum's plans go to its normal course- A fight and a beating happens- Something is lost and something is gained- And the pursuit for the most important thing continues

  "Is this your grand plan?" Amburukay shook her head as she sat at the corner while a score of warrior serfs armed with keen spears surrounded the town hall. Or what was left of it.

  But the mean-looking timawas were not of Ulay's, Amburukay realized. Well, at least they were not the ones the manghihiwit bested the night before. Unlike the Ulayans, their helmets and armors were covered with plating from hardened turtle shells, all decorated with baybayin markings. Green sashes wound around their hips embroidered with white crocodile designs. But the detail that stood the most for her, was their fine lacquered shields– all were held aloft at shoulder-height at the ready, bearing the symbol of the river-god.

  They were probably the neighboring allies of the Toad King, out to exploit his sudden absence, Amburukay guessed. She hissed a curse. Another complication, another pause. Another factor to slow them before they could save Ukok from Sri Kihod. Them. She still couldn't believe that after all she's gone through for the past weeks. No. For the past years. This... them, happened. She gave her former foe and newly-found ally, Tikum, a sharp glare.

  "I was not expecting my head on a pike today," she said. "But things seem to go that way. Any ideas why?" She glanced at the long-haired man sitting at the center of the ruined hall of Ulay.

  He no longer had his black putong on his head and letting his hair loose made him more mangy, in a way, almost like a feral dog. Fading bruises and fresh scrapes spotted his tattoed body and there was a weariness in the man's eyes. The manghihiwit caught him wincing as he massaged his tattooed shoulder, trying his best to ignore Ambu's goading. But she knew it was getting through him. She knew his mind was now working harder to prove her wrong.

  Amburukay yawned. "You really don't disappoint."

  "Hey, don't think like that." Tikum sighed. "Not yet." Suddenly the Black Dog smiled. "Did you do what I told you?"

  "You don't give me orders."

  "Argh. Just keep me posted if you regain your abilities back. We still need to find Ukok after this."

  "If I could track our daughter on my own I would've found you both sooner. All this wouldn't have happened." She made it sound like a threat.

  Tikum closed his eyes in exasperation, pausing for a few breaths to focus his mind. "So, you mean to say... you could only track Kihod? How? Through the channels winding from Gadlum? Is that it? Does he need to use black magic for that to happen?"

  Amburukay raised a brow. She still hated him for all he did, but watching him work through things using mere guesswork and intuition was laudable. What he lacked in magical power was vastly overcompensated by how fast his mind worked. And he wasn't wrong. Every time another manghihiwit pulled and channeled his or her powers from the dark realm a light is lit in the darkness. The more power is taken, the brighter the light. How Tikum almost figured that out, she will never know. His mind was his weapon, she thought. Twisted, it may be, it was useful. Useful in many devious ways.

  She yawned again. "Let me deal with it. Stop torturing yourself by thinking too much about the arcane. People may start calling you mad dog instead."

  Tikum sniggered. "Was that a joke?"

  "Oh, enough banter! You said, you'll get me an army. I don't see a single soldier willing to aid me right now? At least not these lot around us. Why is that?"

  "We're just buying time before I do my handiwork here."

  "Buying time? That's something we also don't have."

  Tikum sighed. "Just have faith, Ambu. Everything is already in motion. You know me... I always deliver."

  Amburukay ignored Tikum, fully sure that it was better to let him fail just to humble the man a bit. If things really turned south she could always do it her way. Now, she has to focus on finding a way to become stronger for Ukok. But first things first, she needed some rest. If she still wanted to regain her powers back from Gadlum her body had to be ready.

  Healing was the primary step to get her closer to her daughter. It would be essential, especially now that she discovered a new way to regain her lost magic prowess. The golden tikbalang's mane will do her good, she thought as she rested her eyes. It would be the keystone to her vengeance. After a breath, she was soon in slumber, still half aware of her surroundings.

  Milong the uripon sat beside Tikum, wiping the weariness off his face to no avail. "I'm really sorry. Jurah and I were caught off-guard. They followed us here and this–"

  Jurah the ati sat on the other side of Tikum and drew closer. "I told you... we should've stayed in the forest," she whispered. "I could've... urgh... If only I sustained my connection with the god-spirits a little bit longer. She stared at Tikum. "Ukok... I could've–" She sighed, lowering her head. "I did not mean to do this, Tikum."

  The former timawa nodded. "Can't do anything about it. It is what it is..."

  Jurah looked away. "I promise you this– I will do my best in aiding you. We will rescue Ukok."

  "What's done is done," Tikum replied. "And yes, we will rescue her. It's just a matter of time. By the way, are you doing well on your other task?"

  Jurah nodded towards the sleeping Karas and Tihol at the other side of the hall.

  "Yes," the ati said. "But the Raguetanons seem to look worse. And the amulet has exhausted its powers too. It'll need some time to gain what has been lost after it heals Lady Ambu." She paused as the sisters struggled in their sleep. "Their fever won't subside. Traces of a strong hex still linger on them. I'm sorry... this is not my specialty. But if I have the right herbs with me to make my salves and do my rituals I'm sure I could get them up in no time using spirit-healing instead."

  Tikum nodded. Jurah was an extraordinary puyang and was perfectly capable of curing ails of the spirit. But unfortunately she was a mediocre mananambal. He took a note of that. He'll have to have the sisters right on track. Mending them would be his next priority after his great reveal.

  Tikum gave a smug smile.

  He knew he could use their help later... They'll be plenty useful in going after his wicked master, Sri Kihod. But the path to saving Ukok had to be paved first with the right amount of preparation. He needed an army or the closest thing to it. He needed more eyes to find his daughter and Tikum knew were to find it all.

  Jurah cleared her throat as she studied the guards outside. "This does not bode well. Are they planning on imprisoning us here?"

  "Don't fret, puyang." Tikum smiled at Jurah. "We're all in this together. Just let me do the talking. And just watch and learn from the expert."

  Milong craned his head towards the open doors. A wall of warrior serfs, with their shields facing their direction obscured the view outside. "I think I know who these men belong to. Their colors are familiar."

  Tikum followed his line of sight. "Someone you know? Do I need to worry?"

  "I have served many masters in this region as an uripon. I think they belong to a prominent clan from the great river, west of Ulay. Or at least, that's what their colors tell me."

  "River people?"

  Milong nodded. "I heard stories about their leaders. Prideful but fair. Royalties on their own right but side-stepped from the chiefdom by Magung's craftiness."

  Mendang quietly joined them. She knelt down with her head bowed. "Some of them are relatives of the usurped chieftain of this town. The real one. The very datu betrayed by Magung the Merciless."

  "If that's the case–" Tikum turned towards Mendang. He noticed how morose her face was and decided a different tact. "Cheer up, little one. This'll be a great reunion."

  She nodded absent-mindedly.

  Tikum patted her head and thought of the gadlumanon that attacked her. If Tikum still felt its dark influence even after a day had past it wasn't hard to see why she was still struggling. She would need some time. Tikum paused, thinking of the right word to say. "Things will get better. You'll be alright, after this."

  Milong gave him a curious look. But before he could say a word the murmuring outside grew as the townspeople of Ulay crowded around their ruined town hall. Most of them shared their speculations about the horrors that happened the night before. And stories of aswangs, tiktiks, kafiris and vengeful burihisans spread like wild fire in an instant. But one thing was sure amidst the gossip– their datu was dead.

  The obeisance of the larao, or mourning of the people for their chieftain would be strictly followed when things were finally settled. Even a man like Magung should enjoy the privileged of having a solemn funeral merely because he was a datu. It was the people of Vijayas' way of showing respect to one's high and noble status. Even though Tikum knew that some were glad to be rid of Magung basing on the murmurings of the crowd. Yes, there would still be others who would think that the vile chief's untimely demise should be given justice. Like he was worth it. Tikum wasn't surprised by their conflicting reactions. People were often hasty in judgement. While some of them wouldn't even bat an eye against a tyrant. Blind and insecure. That's why they were easily lead on. That's why they were easily lied to. He knew they weren't fools, but they were not as wise as they thought they were too. He shook his head. Their curiosity often favored other less important things. Chief among them, are their own petty distractions, like slandering their neighbors or drinking arak before noon. While the most important things lay on the wayside like justice or truth. Well, in his experience, both account to nothing and often got people killed in the long run. Tikum snorted. No matter how you valued it, truth wasn't their priority most of the time, not with their constant squabbles for power. The very people who suffered because of the Toad King's whims, only wanted to be entertained in between their fight for survival. Completely understandable and completely exploitable as well.

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  Tikum smiled. People also wanted to be surprised and he had one great surprise for all of them to hear. But before he could unveil it to the Ulayans, voices subsided outside the town hall as a horse-driven cart halted not far from the curious crowd. The mounts neighed and snorted as its passengers disembarked, silencing the gawkers. The sudden quiet was broken as the wall of timawas opened up to let someone inside Ulay's town hall.

  "Well, hello there my strangers. I'm deeply honored that you came to this part of Buglas," the old woman dressed in the blue tunic of the noble class said in a tone unlike any other. "I am Dayang Noram."

  She was precise in her words, intoning every syllable of the dialect with the mastery of an expert chanter. Tikum already didn't like her. Fine gilded rings studded her finger and a silver bracelet as clear as a mirror covered her forearms, matching the numerous pearls on her necklace. Although old, her wrinkled face showed no signs of a hard life. Tikum would even wager the old crone was a binukot once, a princess of high regard in her younger years a long, long time ago. Her thin eyebrows arched as the rest of Ulay's elders went inside the town hall. All of them were dressed in different kinds of fine fabric, incorporating the blue silk of the tumao class. The elders were also covered with rare ornamentation of gold; from nose rings, bracelets, and piercings tipped with rubies. The cool scent of benzoin suddenly filled the hall as their servants and retainers fanned them, ready to answer their every whim.

  The old woman named Noram glanced at the elders and then to Tikum. "What do we have here?" She looked at him from head to foot as one would to an ant. "You must be their leader."

  Tikum stood straight and then bowed his head to the tumaos. He knew how the noble thought of themselves. Unlike the common folk, the tumaos' currency was flattery, and their disposition often times leaned towards vanity. In short, simple but utterly dangerous folks.

  Tikum cleared his throat. "I am Tikum Kadlum of Ananipay. I'm mostly known as the Black Dog in these parts." He smiled, the kind only a wily dog can. "And I am at your service–"

  "A pleasure knowing your company, mister Tikum," the old woman said, while the rest of the elders nodded.

  Tikum gave them a curt nod. "I am here for–"

  "Oh, do not burden yourself with explaining things." The old woman raised her hand and a pair of brawny warrior serfs converged on Tikum. She cleared her throat and the rest of her men rushed inside, threatening Tikum's companions with spears hardened by fire.

  "There must be a mistake." Tikum struggled. "We came here to–"

  Old Noram shook her head, shushing Tikum. "You came here and killed our dear datu. A truly unfortunate fate for one so great. His ways were not liked by all, but he had his uses." She glanced at the elders as they nodded in agreement and then to the crowd outside.

  Some Ulayans were still ignorant of their fate after their chief's death and couldn't believe it while others expected his misfortune a long time ago. A tide of gossips crammed themselves at the door to listen in but the wall of timawas pushed them back.

  Tikum, like a slippery eel, escaped his captors' grip and met Old Noram half way. "No. You misjudged me my mistress. I came here to return the rightful ruler of Ulay."

  This got everyone's short attention, eliciting an audible sigh of surprise from the crowd of common folk and pampered royalties, followed by a palpable silence.

  Tikum had an inkling about Ulay's rightful ruler before. He heard rumors two moons ago about a runaway heir to the chiefdom of Ulay but he dismissed it. Surely she would be found and the whole thing was not his problem. Days passed and he forgot about it, only to be reminded again after sniffing around Raguet for useful information from the port town's unsavory class. He thought the gossips had no basis. People loved to tell unbelievable stories for themselves. But this was Buglas, he reminded himself, this was no ordinary place. So, he took note of it.

  And when Kalibutdan wouldn't stop blabbering about the rumors, it became more and more useful to know the details. Then finally coincidence struck as Mendang came to the fore, making him believe the possibility of its truthfulness. When Tikum and Ukok met them in the ruined temple of the venomous Macupo. Tikum was sure that the uripon, Milong and Mendang was in no way, related. The slave was hardened by labor, face weather-beaten but the girl was unusually fair, too courtly to be an uripon too. Not that uripon aren't courtly at all. Unusual still, was that a child of her age knew too many songs to chant and her practiced hand in writing babayin was beyond phenomenal, rivaling most learned men in the arts. There was too much happy coincidences happening for her.

  And in Tikum's experience, coincidences weren't supposed to be happy. That was how Tikum realized that all were clues to her lineage. And so, their little lies left crumbs that lead slowly to the truth. A blind dog could smell it from leagues away. But Tikum's suspensions only gestated and other things came to distract him, which is an understatement to say the least.

  But now, all the pieces stacked up for Tikum. And recently, Mendang's fast progress during her lessons with Jurah bolstered the idea in his mind. It was quite obvious from then on.

  Tikum flourished his hands, making sure that his reveal was seen by the elders. "So, Ulayans... without further ado I present to you... Your one and only binukot, Orphan-princess Mendang the ruler of Ulay–"

  Old Noram rolled her eyes interrupting Tikum's grand reveal by raising a finger. "The daughter of a traitor. Off with their heads!" she declared.

  Tikum made a face. "What? Mendang's a traitor?" He stared at Milong who was visibly shocked by the Black Dog's revelation and Old Noram's sudden proclamation.

  "Oh, yes. Princess Ramendang or your lovely Mendang, the last daughter of Datu Arjah, the very datu replaced by our dearest Lord Magung. Arjah the warmonger! The chief who married a commoner. A traitor to his station! Putli should only be with a putli." The elders nodded. "The bloodline must be pure. Always."

  An outcry erupted from the crowd but they were too mixed in their own opinions and it was hard to parse where their opinions leaned towards.

  "I didn't see this happening–" Tikum turned to Mendang. "Say something... anything?" he pleaded.

  The Black Dog's plan was simple, reinstate Mendang as Ulay's ruler, recoup for awhile and then use her influence to fight Sri Kihod. It was so straight forward that it didn't seem like it would even fail. It was the easiest scheme his brilliant mind could ever conceive. And life always taught him to go with the simple and easy and he was going with this one confidently. The more complex things were... the more reason for them to fail. But everything shattered in an instant, leaving Tikum without any other plan to fall back to.

  Life, sure had its own thing going on and it was now trying to teach Tikum another lesson.

  "Gi-atay." Tikum pleaded for any help, but Milong offered no solution. The slave was more of a follower after all.

  Tikum turned to Mendang, who was at a loss for words too. She was caught off guard by his brash actions. And Noram's words, judging by the binukot's face, were partly true.

  Tikum sighed. "Speak up!" She remained quiet as an anito's carven statue, head bowed low. He lifted her chin. "Just tell me this, child... do you want that throne?"

  He looked her in the eye and knew her heart's answer amidst the long silence. "All this is gonna be okay–"

  "I guess I'm right... Again," Amburukay said, pretending to be asleep. The manghihiwit was not like the uripon or the binukot. She was not going to be silenced and she would never want to miss the opportunity of sticking it up Tikum. She opened her eyes like a wild beast newly awakened. "Looks like everything's turning to dog shit, Tikum."

  Old Noram shook her head. "So, the beheading then?"

  Tikum held a finger up towards Old Noram. "Wait. Wait. Who in the devatas' name are you to pass such a sentence against us?"

  "Are you deaf, cretin?" The comment took Tikum off-guard this time. Old Noram's nobility seemed to vanish in a blink of an eye as an imperious aura took over her personage.

  "I told you who I am." Old Noram reacted as though the very question was an affront to all her ancestry. "I am the new ruler of this town since you murdered our Datu Magung. And by virtue of being the last and oldest tumao here. My bloodline guarantees that." She spread her arms wide. "I am this town's regent by right. By custom."

  Tikum smiled, hearing the last word. "By right? By custom? I get you now."

  Old Noram smiled back and raised one thin brow in satisfaction. "Finally–"

  Tikum cut her off this time. "Oh, shut up and let me finish first you yammering crone." Old Noram's face reddened but Tikum wasn't finished yet. "You've been interrupting me and I do not appreciate it... commoner, noble or otherwise. So, where was I? Customs... Yes, customs. You know what customs say when two parties vie for ruler-ship in a tribe and no datu is there to decide?" He nodded slowly. "Yeah–"

  "Ah, a contest then! A challenge?" Old Noram crossed her arms. "Then I, Dayang Noram Garendang, oldest among my clan, challenge you to a trial by combat!"

  A deathly silence fell upon them like a boulder. At first, only the dead crickets' song could be heard, but even that was buried deep in the stillness. Standing outside, the famed gossip-mongers of Ulay were struck too as though everyone's forked silver tongue suddenly turned to lead. It was, to say the least, a most profound hush that everyone has had the honor to experience in their short lives in the harsh land of Vijayas. It could've lasted a little longer too, but Tikum's laughter shattered the quiet.

  He cupped his palm on to his mouth. "Are you sure about that? You're six times my age. Or perhaps even older–"

  "So, you shall be the champion in behalf of the binukot, Mendang?"

  Tikum smiled. "Me? Fight you? Well, I won't say no if you insist."

  "Oh, this contest of ours won't be against you and I." Old Noram clapped her hands, a sneer sawed on her lips. "My frail bones can't fight you. It would not be that competitive." She smiled a most devilish grin. "So, I choose my champion... my only daughter, Tugnawon, the great River Beast of Buglas!"

  Old Noram nodded and everyone's head turned to the direction of her hand. The floorboards of the town hall creaked and yawned as a woman twice as tall and twice as muscled as the Black Dog entered. She must've been seven feet in height or even taller as she bowed down to avoid the ornate arching lintels of the lone entryway just to get in.

  After grabbing one of the timawa's turtle helmet, the giantess balled her fingers and made a fist (just about the size of Tikum's head). The helmet's owner did not protest and he was better for it. Then, Tugnawon continued eyeing everyone, only halting on the Black Dog. Slowly, she gave out a toothy smile and with one swift fist she smashed the helmet to pieces.

  The helmet's owner gave a horrified look, the kind that clearly spelled, thank the devatas' that wasn't my head. And with a blank expression, Tugnawon stared at Tikum, face covered with red crocodile scale tattoos.

  And right then and there, Tikum realized he was in deeper trouble. Far deeper than he's ought to be. He tried to concoct another lie, another way to avoid his impending end but her former wife, Amburukay, had other things in mind.

  Amburukay yawned, her expression was partway between bored and impatient. "Nice plan. I really like this one, Tikum." She stood up and stretched her back. "Let's start this nonsense right now. We've got no time to spare, cur. Ukok needs us."

  Tikum slowly turned his head towards the manghihiwit, eyes narrowed in hatred and mind imagining her being burnt to a crisp by her own misguided magic. Some day, he thought. Accidents do happen. Some day. Amburukay only showed her teeth back. If it was a smile Tikum didn't like any of it.

  Old Noram clapped her hands to get Tikum's attention. "So, it is settled. Tikum of the Kadlum shall fight in behalf of Princess Ramendang against my very own daughter, Tugnawon for the ruler-ship of Ulay." She slowly turned around, chin raised up. "Does anyone disagree? Speak your words right now before it is too late."

  No one foolish enough answered– not against her and her capable guards. And grabbing the opportunity to have her way, Old Noram bowed at the elders and gestured with her hand, showing them the way. "To the pit, then."