The Princess Bride (Self-published)

11: Of Royalty

Nana Adalia was reading a book when she heard the library door open. She caught of the scent of the youngest Ricaforte and carefully put her book down.

Somehow, she was expecting the visit and it gave her a certain degree of glee that she was able to make the young man come to her to ask a favor in behalf of his wife.

Nararapat lang na ilagay ang isang ito sa kanyang tamang lugar. Nakalimutan n'ya yata na isa lang s'yang hamak na melez dahil tao at hindi Sehrli ang kanyang ina.

"Lumabas ka, Mikael," she calmly said.

Mikael stepped away from the shadows of the long shelves and into plain view.

Nana Adalia gave the young man a disparaging gaze. She had tried to convince the King years ago to send the prince away for his own good for she couldn't stand the sight of him – he was her constant reminder that a human was chosen over her to rule Adrasteia beside Alecto.

Pwe. Basura.

Mikael was born sickly and she had thought that the child would eventually die but he didn't.

"Mahina ang katawan ni Mikael, Alecto. Hindi tayo dinadapuan ng karamdaman pero ang anak mo ay may apeksyong kahit ang pinakamagagaling na manggamot ng kaharian ay hindi nabibigyang-lunas—"

"Ako ang magsasanay sa kanya, Adalia, dahil ako ang ama n'ya—"

"Pero, Alecto—"

"Kailangan ni Mikael ng tagapagsanggalang at ako ang magbibigay sa kanya n'un. Isa pa, hindi papayag si Yegana na mawalay sa piling namin ang aming anak—"

"Hindi naiintindihan ni Yegana ang kaugalian ng mga Sehrli dahil isa lamang s'yang tao—"

"Adalia!"

"Nagsasabi lang ako ng totoo, Alecto! Kahit magalit ka pa ay hindi n'un mababago ang katotohanang ang pamamaraan ni Yegana ay pamamaraan ng mga tao at hindi ng mga Sehrli. Isang pagpapalayaw ang kanyang ginagawa na imbes na makatulong sa bata ay baka lalo pa nitong ikapahamak—"

"Pwede ka nang umalis, Adalia. Tapos na ang usapang ito. H'wag na h'wag mong kukuwestiyunin ang pagpapalaki ni Yegana sa aming anak dahil kahit kailan ay hindi kita binibigyan ng karapatan."

"Pero, Alecto—"

"Umalis ka na!"

She did not exactly know what made the King follow her advise when he had been so adamant about keeping his youngest son in the palace. But she did not care, all that mattered to her was that the child was sent away.

It angered her though when Alecto managed to convince Mirkamal, his old friend and one of the Əfsanəvi Döyüşçü or legendary warriors, to take the child under his wing.

But, Nana Adalia had thought that Mikael was a weak half-human and no amount of training would make him as strong as his brother and father and it made her feel better.

"Anong kailangan mo?" she aloofly asked. "Ang asawa mo ang hinihintay ko at hindi ikaw. Nasaan ang babaeng 'yun?"

"Babaeng 'yun? May pangalan po s'ya."

"Mukha bang interesado ako sa pangalan ng asawa mo, Mikael?"

"Hindi ko na po nagugustuhan ang tabas ng dila n'yo."

Nana Adalia laughed out loud. "May gan'yan ka nang pagbabanta ngayon? Aber, bakit, ano ang magagawa mo kung ganito ako magsalita?"

Mikael did not reply.