Chapter 89
The coronation. Havila.
"I'm not ready for this."
Ja whispered into Lailah's ear. He wished he could whisper into her mind and heart and every other parts of her body that would make her take him seriously. She's just too playful and daring. Those should be cute and sweet qualities, but not at that moment. Not on a day, which was called his coronation day.
"Are you really sure about this?"
She asked to his dismay. He looked at her. He wanted to dismiss the urge to listen to her but he was moved instead. Was she really being considerate? Unusual as it seemed.
He stuttered,
"Yes. I'm not ready for it. Not today, maybe some other day. I appreciate your effort but I don't have the resources from their tests. Even though I'm yet to know what they are."
She smiled and replied, peace splattered on her face instead of concern or determination,
"Very well then, I'll just stand up and tell all of them to go home. How about that?"
He nodded his head, thinking she was teasing. Then she stood up from him and said as loudly as she could,
"Great citizens of Havila, seemed like your long time protest has a twist to it now. Your yet to be king says that he is willing --"
Ja began to pull her gown from the side. What was she doing? Was she really going to disperse the crowd and then they'd come after him later?
She paused and looked at him. He didn't know what reaction to make to make her stop the speech. He just only squeezed his face in whatever rhythm his instinct deemed fit.
She smiled at him and looked away. He was wishing that she already got the idea of what he intended to tell her. That he was just joking. She probably wanted him to learn the hard way and he had.
She continued,
"As you can all see, your yet to be king is quite excited about the event and is willing not to cast the tests aside. He would observe the tests even with higher degree than several other kings. That you may know that he is very capable to serve you all."
She quit talking. Ja looked up at her. She was just too much. He hadn't asked her to add the 'higher degree' shit. Why was she always tormenting him one way or the other. Whether in mirth or pain.
Ja caught the gaze of Jim from the other side of the corner. He knew what the fellow was meaning to say with the look. Asking whether or not he was sane with such dare to the citizens. He only shook his head.
"If that's so, let him fight eight leopards instead of usual three."
One of the chiefs stood up and proposed. That really met the favor of the citizens. They began to chant, both in doubt and Glee.
"Let the stranger be devoured and the Nymph bereaved."
One of the citizens called and several other laughed. Lailah sat down, shooting Ja a sly smile.
Ja sighed as he was called upon by the eldest of the chiefs,
"Now, let the stranger, the yet to be king of Havila sprung on his feet. Whether to be cut down or grow. Whether to earn the throne or die at an attempt."
The people echoed again, chanting. Twas hard to say what they were saying, but fueling the energy behind those voices was terror.
"Go, my love and see your queen fight for you."
Lailah turned to Ja and kissed him. As they kissed, he shuddered. A current ran through his spine. His head swelled and his eyes bulged.
Ja Lai stood up tall. His eyes ransacking the nook and crannies of the agora. It looked like a Colosseum. Like the Roman Colosseum where the gladiators fight. The arena.
The three corners of the agora was filled with the populace. Ja for once wondered if there were as many people as that in the land. Twas a wonder to him.
Beside him was his lover. The two of them were at the forefront. The very edge of that corner of the agora. Behind them were the chiefs and Tzu. Jim had offered to sit amongst some of the crowds who wouldn't bite him. Of course he did have his dark reasons.
The agora seemed like a circular building and there was an open spot in the middle. There was the place Ja would have to battle with the eight leopards which are already flexing their limbs, waiting for him.
He shook his head, looking at the hungry leopards below. He turned to Lailah and said in resignation,
"I don't think --"
Lailah pushed him off the ledge. There was a brief silence at that, the only noise permeating was Ja's scream. Tzu had stood up.
But everyone was set to peace when they saw Ja descended gracefully instead of fall fatally. He had descended as though he was marching down some invisible stairs built by the wandering winds.
The muffled gasped and silence melted under the awe of the new scene. Ja was standing before the eight leopards.
"Die! Die! Die!"
The people started calling. Ja looked up quickly, all he saw were faces smothered by hatred and rage. He sighed.
He turned and looked towards Lailah. He could see her mouthed something. But he heard what she had mouthed in his head. He looked back at her, and the voice came again,
"Just dance around."
That was the consistent voice he kept hearing.
"You must be joking."
He muttered. He shook his head. But he couldn't do that again when the leopards began to charge at him.
He stood there for a moment thinking of what to do. There was no clue. He had no faintest idea.
"Dance around."
Was the only thing he was left with. And then, he began to dance.
He noticed that the cry and chant of irritation of the citizens were crushed by his recent state and action. Even Jim stood up. He wouldn't be able do what he planned anymore.
Two of the leopards leapt on him. He held out two of his arms and grabbed them by the neck. He kept on dancing as he twirled and twirled the two. He flung them away. Both fell on their heads and wouldn't stand again.
He rolled over his head and landed in a stoop. He grabbed another two and wring off their necks. He wasn't sure where the guts came from nor the strength. But all he knew was that, he wasn't himself.
The four remaining leopards made a ring about him. The citizens watched in surprise.
He threw his left leg forward and followed it with the right. He did the move in reversal. Then he kept doing that as the four advanced at a time.
He went straight on his knees, and the four collided as they leaped over him, missing him. But he was quick to grab the limbs of two more and did justice.
The remaining two leopards began to ran away, but he ran after. Twas quite a wonder how quickly he was able to run as though he was the wind.
The two last leopard in his hands, he crashed their heads against each other and dropped them.
He went on his knees snapping back into reality. He could swear by every part of his body that he didn't know what just happened.
But when he looked up, he saw the citizens dispersing. Leaving the arena one after the other.
He shook his head and looked away from them. He didn't have business with them. He was doing all for Lailah, because she believed in him.
He looked towards where she was seated but she was no longer there.
He sprung to his feet. Where'd she go?
