Chapter 4

"Lawin?",it was Senapati. Apparently, he was listening.

"General Lawin?", he continued. "His entire family was killed. I didn't know he had a son with the same name."

I was alarmed with the way he quickly put the pieces together. Maybe I should have given them a different name. At least they still don't realize I'm not a male. He might sell me off to General Dula just to save his head.

But Yani tended to my wound. Surely he must have seen something when I was unconscious? But maybe he is hard of sight. He seems weak and fragile. It was dark in the cave too. I should thank the ancestors for my luck.

"No. You're mistaken", I continued my string of lies. "He has a daughter named Naya. He sent her to the market with her maid. I'm the son of his servant."

"Where is she?", Yani this time. "Is she still alive?"

"I have no idea. I'm the only one who survived the massacre", this time it was the truth.

A deep silence suddenly enveloped us. It was not the soothing kind you hear upon the stillness of the night. It wasn't like the one that befalls after a violent storm. Instead it was heavy. Suffocating, and slowly I was losing my breath. I hurriedly stood and rushed to the entrance of the cavern. I needed to breathe. I needed to get away.

I forced myself to run in total darkness and I was a good few meters away when I tripped on a rock. I heard Senapati calling after me. I struggled to get up but I couldn't. I've sprained my ankle. And now it's bursting in pain. Never mind my injured shoulder. I was hyperventilating when he towered over me and held his hand out. I grabbed it and tried to stand up. I failed. He then scooped me up in his arms while I protested. How clever! I couldn't breathe properly but I still had the strength to complain. He ignored me and walked outside, bringing me to sunlight.

Upon reaching the entrance, I should have felt better. But no! I could feel his bare chest against mine. His heart beating rapidly as if he just ran after a wild boar.

"Please put me down", I whispered. My breath started to normalize. Then I saw him staring at me intently. My heart picked up speed.

"What?", I nervously asked.

"You're turning red", he responded. A slight smirk forming on his face. So the guy knows how to smile after all. He must be used to having village girls swoon at his presence. But I felt annoyed.

"Because it's normal to lose your breath when you're panicking and later have the blood rush to your head once you can breathe normally", I reasoned.

That stupid smile was still on his face. I would love to smack his head right now just to get rid of that. I've never felt this way around boys before. I grew up surrounded by men of all ages. And this never happened to me. But maybe because the one standing before me is not just any man. He's the future rajah after all. The heir to the throne. That is if he decides to get it back.

Just then it dawned on me. I'll make sure he gets his throne back. My father died fighting for his father. I will die fighting with him. Lawin was Rajah Sumakwel's first general. I, Naya, will be Senapati's.

He must have seen the sudden change in my expression. My initial embarrassment has turned to determination.

"What are you thinking about?", he curiously inquired.

"I will die for you", I earnestly spoke.

He burst out coughing. He must have choked on his own saliva. I couldn't help but laugh. What a way to ruin the moment.

His face was still a picture of complete puzzlement so I couldn't stop myself from explaining.

"I'll help you become rajah".

This time he laughed. It was not a laugh of pleasure. Rather it was condescending and once again my disdain of him returned to the surface. Why did I even feel attracted to this arrogant devil? My treacherous heart! Wait, what? Did I just admit I was attracted to him? This is stupid. I can't be with this man. I'd rather die than fall for him!

I slowly limped back towards the cave. Not caring about my aching foot and grumbling shoulder. Why did I even pledge my life to him? He doesn't deserve it all! He doesn't deserve to be rajah!

"Wait!", he yelled.

I ignored him and tried to limp faster. It was when he caught my left arm. I turned to face him. He was looking down at me with sorrowful eyes. Had he always been this tall? He was a good foot taller than me. Way bigger too. I felt like a child beside him. But maybe because I was really still a child. I just turned thirteen last full moon after all. Despite the adulthood ceremony, I was still just a child. A daughter. An orphan. And right now, the one in front of me was the only one who cared if I still breathed.

I shook my arm off his grasp. I didn't like how his touch made me feel. It made me nervous and hopeful at the same time. It didn't help that he was looking me straight in the eyes. If he can stare me down, I can too. I've faced down with wild animals before and didn't feel intimidated. Surely he couldn't be as fierce as a wild boar. But why do I still feel this weird flutter in my stomach? Is it because I have become the prey and he the predator?