‘No. They will pray for us and try to mend the Tree, but none of them will commit regicide.’
‘Oh yes, regicide! Nice to have a new crime on my blotter,’ Finlyr says, exasperated.
‘She’s going through those Temple Sisters fast, Hanan,’ Salvacion interrupts. ‘I’ve seen what it was like with you. This is different.’
‘The queen is weak, vulnerable,’ Hanan says. ‘She’s killing them fast, but then she will have nothing to sustain her. This is the best time to strike.’
‘This is akin to a death sentence – you realise that?’ Finlyr retorts, pacing the kitchen.
‘If you have a better future lined up for yourself, feel free to take it,’ Hanan cuts back.
I watch them arguing. What future had I imagined for us? I wanted to believe fulfilling the queen’s quest might curry favour, buy us time. But that would just be for Biba. I look at the Temple of Aistra, a ruin of its former glory. A pile of rocks and scared girls.
I had been prepared to be selfish as long as it wasn’t my child. But now I’ve seen the object of the queen’s desires. It’s a weapon. If what Hanan says is true, then becoming a fugitive forever is a drop in the ocean of horrors awaiting us. If I don’t try to stop the queen from harnessing this, I’m complicit in the destruction she will cause. If I don’t have a future, so be it. But I won’t condemn anyone else to that fate.
‘I won’t take Biba there. It’s too dangerous.’
The others turn and look at me. Biba recoils from my words and stands up. ‘I want to go.’
‘No, Biba. I’d be bringing you straight to the queen. She wants your gift.’ I turn to Salvacion. ‘Take her to the Spring Isle. It’s the safest option. Find Kopiro, Vullis, and Ryla at my farm.’
‘I’ll take her,’ Salvacion confirms.
‘What about you, kid?’ Finlyr turns to Isagani, who has been quietly observant since we arrived at Aistra.
‘What do you mean?’ Isagani returns.
‘Well, you wanted to get off Paranish and I ended up bringing you right back. If you want out, this is the time.’
‘Why do you keep trying to get rid of me?’ Isagani asks, trying and failing to hide their pain under levity.
‘I’m not,’ Finlyr protests. ‘I just want what’s best for you. You’re my responsibility.’
I’m not sure if it’s Isagani or Finlyr who begins to cry first. The two are hugging and slapping each other on the back.
‘What about Raina?’ Biba says, looking over at Hanan with her sling.
‘Raina stays with me,’ she insists.
I pause, examining Hanan’s face. ‘Would it be better if she stayed with the Temple Sisters?’
‘No,’ she snaps. ‘She has to stay with me.’
I catch Hanan’s expression, a caged bird frantically beating its wings.
‘You mean to use her as bait,’ I say, unable to hide the revulsion in my voice.
‘The princess is the queen’s weakness,’ Hanan says calmly. ‘We have to exploit it.’
‘What is your plan, Hanan?’ I ask, folding my arms.
‘Lure the queen. Kill the queen.’
‘As simple as that?’ Salvacion asks, laughing mirthlessly. ‘Even without me she’ll have the rest of the royal Seaguardians surrounding her. She’s weak, yes, but she’s paranoid now.’
‘We’ll have the three things she wants most desperately in the world,’ Hanan says, patting Raina. She stares out of the window at Adarna, who is lying on the ground, staring at Sinigang.
‘What if it doesn’t work?’ I ask her.
