girl opened her mouth to translate, but her voice was drowned out by an ear-piercing screech from somewhere in the crowd. The onlookers parted, and Nathaniel looked up to see the coldly familiar face of Annyka’s sister, her cheeks bright red and her face twisted with rage. Everyone fell silent. Even Ta’al watched, his lips turned up in anticipation. She looked at Nathaniel with daggers in her eyes, and with an air of menace said, “Siya ang basulu sa Zara.”

Nathaniel only understood the final word, but that was enough.

There was a deathly silence. Annyka closed her eyes in defeat, and every face turned towards Nathaniel with a gaping mouth. Even the translator shrank back from him. Ta’al’s face took on a new fury. With his hand still outstretched, he curled his fingers slowly in...

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