8.2 BLUEBIRDS LANDING

  A very painful headache greeted Amburukay as Tikum passed through the threshold of the Bone Gates. She tried to blink it away and she would've died laughing if it had worked. But like most awful headaches, it was relentless and enduring and there was nothing to do about it. Unless potent and precise magic was used.

  Amburukay exhaled deeply, she felt the urgency to follow Tikum. He would not do well without her. He was competent but the stakes were just too great. She gestured with her hands the symbols of the arcane, concentrating on casting a spell to numb her aching body. But she overestimated herself and the downside of her earlier display of power caught up with the manghihiwit. In a blink of an eye, an invisible force flowed all through out her body, sending a wave of agony from the tip of her hair down the nails of her fingers. It felt like she was struck by a bolt of lightning burning every bit of her soul.

  Driven off-balance, Amburukay dropped to her knees– every sinew and tendon screamed for relief. This was real pain. And it was not limited to her flesh alone. Forced to use magic of the unreliable kind, she felt a part of her soul disintegrate. With it, years from her lifespan were abruptly snatched.

  Magic had a price and the cost was especially great if you use it haphazardly.

  She cursed herself for misjudging the power of the amulet and talisman. Using them to amplify the magic she tapped and shaped from Gadlum was a foolish risk. Now, she would have to adapt quickly if she was going to use it again. She had to for their plan to work.

  She tried to stand but the whole world tilted around her. She whispered a curse, as she struggled back up only realize that her feet were still unsteady and she hadn't yet recovered her full composure. This time, the Lady of the Darkness Night fell forward back to the ground. It felt excruciatingly slow for Ambu and she expected it to hurt. And it was surely going to hurt, way worse than her headache. She damned the gods, this was just what she needed right now.

  Good thing, Captain Ulisong caught her. Still groggy, she could only stare at the timawa as he mouthed something she couldn't hear. Amburukay gave out another curse. She has to do something with her situation. She had to change the odds against them. Captain Ulisong ignored her for a second, snapping his head at his men, barking out muffled words with a voice that seemed to come from underground.

  What was he saying? What were they doing? Amburukay couldn't figure why. And the more she strained her ears, the more her head hurt. She rubbed the side of her temple and notice something wet. And when she stared at her fingers, they were covered in blood. Shit.

  The other timawas circled them with their naked kampilan blades and jagged spears raised high. Ulisong was screaming orders at them again, pointing straight at the Bone Gates. All of them quickly moved in formation, but one of the younger timawa ignored Ulisong's command to stay close. Instead, he took the initiative and went charging with his kalasag and single-edge sword. He leaped and lashed at the creature closest to him, deflecting its fatal blows with his wooden lacquered shield. It seemed most vulnerable among the recovering monsters, he thought. He also knew he had the upper hand when it came to speed.

  The young timawa smiled. He felt glory close at hand as he descended towards the monster. It would surely die by his blade. He drew his sword and lashed a violent swing, but a pair of gadlumnon flanked the timawa mid-air, welcoming the poor man with their fangs. As they dropped in a heap, the man tried to free himself from their jaws. But between his screams for help and his pleas for mercy, the fiends kept on with their assault. More creatures joined in, tearing him to pieces right before his fellow Ulayan.

  Amburukay whispered a curse again as she let one of the agimat on her wrist work on her. Its healing properties did wonders, but it was taking its time– time she did not have. She concentrated on the other instead, the very one Tikum told her about that transmogrified a Raguetanon named, Salak. She was no stranger to shape-shifting. She had used a wak-wak robe before, too, but most her spells were minor and a lot more taxing physically.

  Not with the black tikbalang's mane though. It began to pulse as she focused her aura on it. Then, it began to heat up, sucking all the warmth in her hands.

  "Can you stand on your own?" Ulisong helped her up. "Hey, can you hear me?"

  "Yes... Yes." Amburukay nodded. "We need to stop them from leaving the Bone Gates. I need to cross the threshold to close the damned thing."

  "That wouldn't be that easy."

  "I didn't say it will." Amburukay stood up, trying her best to find and steady her footing. "And not without your help."

  "We'll fix it. I know my men can." Captain Ulisong signaled his bowmen to fire at the closest witch-dogs, making pincushions out of them. "So, how do we exactly do that?" he said as he dropped his blade down the neck of a preoccupied shadow beast who got too close. "We can't exactly corral them without fighting them off with our blades. They're too aggressive for that."

  "Give me time." Amburukay concentrated her breathing feeling the magic swell up again. "Just contain those things without dying and I'll do the rest. Again, don't get yourself killed... that's an order."

  "We'll do our best, Lady Amburukay." Ulisong nodded to his men as they advanced closer to the gates.

  With their kalasags held up, the dozen or so men, pushed the gadlumnon back as best they can. The creatures stepped away, drawing them in close. With morale high, they continued to fence the creatures in. But upon contact, it was clear that they and their wooden shields were no match against the ferocity of the shadow-fiends.

  Ulisong grumbled a venomous curse before pressing on and leading his men in containing the gadlumanons within the portal.

  The haunched creatures from Gadlum waited for the opportune time, studying their prey like hawks, choosing which of the fowls to swoop-in on and snatch with their talons. Seeing a suitable prey, an emaciated witch-dog left their huddle, charging at the men like a maddened water buffalo, snapping its slavering mouth at the closest timawa on the shield line. But it soon found itself littered with jagged spears all over as it stumbled to a stop. But it did not discourage the rest as they grew more agitated and vicious, ramming themselves at the kalasags, knocking men down. After a couple of feints, four of them got through, taking out three men and wounding another six in a span of seconds.

  Amburukay cursed. She had to make their sacrifices be of worth. She had to pay them in return for all of it. She gritted her teeth as the timawas screamed. Her decision was already set in stone. The manghihiwit shaped her aura and whispered an incantation using the old tongue. She did not know what spell the asog used to change his own nephew into a were-swine, but she had an idea on how to morph her limbs into webbed wings. She had done it before encountering the Raguetanon sisters.

  But like all form-altering spells, it was so costly and she paid the price. Another miscalculation she would not repeat.

  She won't fail, she convinced herself. This time, she had to be triumphant. After all, she had to follow Tikum and save their daughter, Ukok. All that before she runs out of time.

  With the outpouring power from the gates of Gadlum and with the chaotic magic within the tikbalang's mane, the manghihiwit proceeded with her ritual of change. When she spoke the last words of her incantation, wreathes of emerald smoke appeared and began to snake all over her body, enveloping her from head to foot. Shrouded in a thick cloud of magic, green lightning began to crackle around her.

  A short distance away, Captain Ulisong led his warrior serfs in a rush to break the foes down. All screamed their war cries, knowing all too well that they would soon be over-run by the hideous monsters from the womb of darkness. But before Ulisong could strike a blow on one of the creatures, his wooden shield shattered into a thousand pieces as a witch-dog whipped his spike-covered tail at him. It sent Ulisong a couple of feet up in the air. And he knew death awaited from below. Resigned to his fate, he closed his eyes tight, accepting the consequence of his action. This was it for Ulisong. But before his body thudded back to the solid ground, something snatched him from the air and gently placed him down to safety.

  When Ulisong opened his eyes, he saw a creature with four black great wings lift and throw a witch-dog into the Bone Gate's pillar with a sickening sound. It then turned its owl-like head to another gadlumanon, screeching as it dived down with its razor-like claws. One swoop and it shredded the shadow-fiend into pieces with her dagger-like feathers. Awestruck, the captain watched as their new ally fought with practiced ease. But as it climbed higher, three witch-dog leaped at its back, grounding it back. Other gadlumanons joined in their scramble, biting and scratching at the bird-like creature.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  So, Amburukay spun, using her wings and sharp feathers to fend off the creatures. "Move, dammit."

  Ulisong realized who it was and what it meant, so he grabbed his weapon stand with his men, watching Amburukay apply her ferocity against the gadlumanons. But as soon as she felled one, another would snap at her with its jagged teeth. Surrounded, the creature that was once the Lady of the Darkness Night opened its beak to release a stream of emerald fire, consuming the witch-dogs who dared to step close near her. The gout of flame enveloped the shadow-fiends, but there was no victory in sight. Her efforts seemed futile as the limbless, scorched and maimed gadlumanons reformed, quickly joining her never-ending battle.

  As the manghihiwit fought in desperation, a rift just above her gradually split apart, spilling white light below. As it grew larger becoming a door of sorts, some of the shadow-fiends halted, watching at it intently. Then, silhouettes of figures moved on the other side of the portal...

  Startled by the sudden appearance of a door in space just above the Bone Gates highest point, Amburukay braced herself. If it was another one of Sri Kihod's ploy she would be ready. She would surely lose, but she would be ready to fight back. To her surprise, a smug look from an armored Tihol, a dark glare from the babaylan, Karas, and a wide smile from a woman with a round face and a slightly broken nose popped out to greet the manghihiwit.

  ***

  The path Jurah and the others took shone like clear glass. Like water turned solid. She looked ahead but there was only sporadic blinding white light in front of them. It's been a couple of minutes and none from he group seemed to want to speak. Si-an Usong, who led them to the door between realms was awfully quiet. While the Raguetons kept to themselves as they marched on side by side, leaving the ati tailing behind them all, keeping her nerves together.

  "So, it is true that your dagger is a Living blade, mistress?" she said.

  Si-an Usong nodded.

  "Those are rare artifacts of magic," the ati said to Si-an Usong. "Uh... When Tikum told me about it I did not believe him at first."

  Lost in thought, it took Si-an Usong a few seconds to reply. "Oh, yes," she answered. "Only works with buruhisan blood. Really neat, too, learns new things all the time."

  "It is sentient?"

  Si-an Usong gave her an almost funny stare. "Yes, the only drawback is it talks a lot when its not busy slicing things. Annoying really. Gets boring really fast."

  "What is this place?" Jurah said, when curiosity finally got the better of her. She repeated her inquiry, this time a lot louder. "Where are we now, Mistress Usong?"

  Si-an turned her head at the shimmering wall at their side, and walked on. "This is the bridge between realms. The devatas call this The Path, to which all who can manage, use to cross different worlds. Different planes. Dimensions. Wise elders say that the gods gouged this out of existence and the first of the Tamawo clans cleaned it up. Maintained it. Made hub-worlds for people to rest in their journey. Lord Halmista told me about this portals a long time ago, but it's only been half a moon's cycle since I was able to use the dagger to actually open a path of my own."

  "I feel a strange aura about it. Do you not feel that? That... That sensation like–"

  "Like being flayed, but without the pain?"

  Jurah hugged herself. "More like being torn and reassembled piece by piece."

  "It is simply the Path and the blade has little to do with it. Nothing to worry about. You'll get used to it, but don't get too used to it that much. Mortals are not made to walk this roads. My master, Halmista, say the Tamawo are the result of men walking and getting lost here. It's his little jokes. But jokes none the less."

  "Are you trying to reassure me, mistress Usong? Or is this talk going anywhere else?"

  Si-an Usong smiled as she contemplated on changing the subject. But Jurah's face got the better of her. "You seem like a decent person and you look like you're smart as well. What I'm getting at, is simple enough. The devatas also use this connections to see and keep watch on all there is to see... And–"

  "You mean this whole place acts like a scrying glass?" The ati paused. "Looking for what? For who?"

  "For us and for things the gods fear."

  "That's not one bit creepy," Tihol said as she joined their side. "What do the gods fear?"

  "Things powerful enough to snuff them out." Si-an Usong nodded. "Other-worldly beings that don't conform to reality. Visitors from the void."

  Tihol whistled. "They sound shit-inducing. Nasty." The bagani adjusted the brace lamellar armor near her neck. "Makes the gods look puny."

  Karas shook her head. "I would not say such a thing, my sister. If they can see... Then, they might also hear. And we do not know who is watchin'. It is better to err on obedience than be blasphemous in their presence–"

  Si-an Usong paused, pointing her Living blade at a white blank space. "Looks like we're here."

  Tihol with spear and longbow in hand was the first to peer down as the opening dilated to reveal the other side. She was followed by her sister, Karas. The bagani, from Raguet whistled at the mayhem below them while the high winds whipped at her face. She secured her spear behind her using its abaca straps, giving Si-an Usong a place to watch the fight below.

  The gray-haired babaylan scowled as the other emissary joined her side. "I don't see why we should help them," she whispered as Jurah and Si-an Usong talked to each other.

  Karas eyed Tihol and looked away. There were bruises and scratches on her bare skin, but she seemed to have healed nicely, thanks to the ati. Tihol, on the other hand still had bandages on her neck and elbows. But none of it was that serious. She nodded to her sister as their eyes meet again, while nocking an arrow on her bow. "That Tikum stole from us. And his wife... Well..."

  "I don't like her," Karas said, eyeing the manghihiwit and the misshapen things she fought. "And I don't see anyone stopping me from settling a score."

  The Raguetanon adjusted her protective bracelet, a new one from their new cohorts. It was unadorned, made simply by tying a twine around a tapol na tawas, a hastily made anting-anting to break any chaos energy thrown her way. It would give them a bit of a chance, Jurah explained earlier and Karas knew the ati was right. She could feel it on her skin right now, numbing it every time she tried to manipulate the ambient magic around her. She ignored it. It will soon be useful.

  "Will you calm down for a breath?" Si-an Usong joined the two sisters, brandishing her Living blade. Magic crackled on the dagger's edge as she leveled it at the tip of the tobacco cigar on her mouth. She lit it, a satisfied look forming on her face.

  Karas then spoke, "Are you sure this'll work?" She raised her bracelet, eyeing the ati. All of them had one.

  Jurah nodded. "Hopefully."

  "What do you mean 'hopefully'?"

  Si-an Usong smiled. "We'll find out soon enough."

  "Tihol and I are not gonna put ourselves in unnecessary danger. You all know that, right?"

  Si-an Usong inspected her own bracelet. "Oh, this'll do its job." She walked pass by the Raguetanon sisters with a confident gait, a foot shorter than the two women. She proudly puffed a couple of smoke rings before pointing her blade towards the Bone Gate's direction.

  Karas almost let a curse to her patron devatas escape her lips. "This is madness. We are–"

  "We're not just here to help the dimwit Black Dog," Si-an Usong answered. "Or the manghihiwit you loathe. We're not here to make things worse either."

  Karas shook her head as her eyes glowed eerie blue, turning to her patron gods to strengthen her resolve. Her eyes narrowed down at Amburukay. "That manghihiwit down there did awful things to Tihol and I–"

  After spitting the cigar out, Si-an Usong placed a finger on her own lips. "Let me finish first, babaylan." She stepped on the cigar, putting out its embers. "See that realm gate there?"

  Karas glanced at Si-an Usong and then to the Bone Gates yawning in front of them. The babaylan tempered her anger against the insolent woman beside her. After all, the woman with the Living blade was Halmista's servant. And the god of magic was easy to displease. Not good for a buruhisan like her.

  She settled with another scowl instead, clenching her fist. "We have to close it. But how do we do that?"

  "I'll tell you if you behave."

  "I'm sick of being treated this way. Do not speak to me like I am not your equal. I am a babaylan!"

  Si-an Usong ignored Karas as she walked closer to the edge of the door in the sky, spinning her blade on her palm. Si-an Usong smiled at the task at hand. This was going to be hard. And if she's as lucky as she thinks she is, this might even spell her end. But she always liked to gamble. The odds on this one seemed like it was a good one. And it was time to settle her debt with the Black Dog. It was time to save the day too. She smiled again. "Rein you hatred babaylan. If not, people will say you are afraid."

  "Say that again–"

  "We're here to do better things, ladies. We're here for Vijayas, right?"

  "Yes, mistress Usong. We have to." Jurah answered as she joined the other three, a canvas bag slung across her back.

  "We're here to save humanity from those who threaten it." Si-an Usong nodded. "And were strong enough to do it."

  Karas shook her head, a stray smile on her lips. It was the kind that was oozing with distaste. "Are you really going to give us a speech? With all that waiting for us?" She nodded on the battle below, making the ati grimaced as she did a quick estimate of their chances for victory.

  "As I was saying... before I was interrupted..." Si-an Usong remarked. "We save the day and we do that by closing the Bone Gate's of Saragnayan... at all cost."

  Almost all of them nodded in agreement except the babaylan. She preferred to curse silently. The had no exact plan of action. And she did not trust the two of them. After all, she just met the two strangers. But between the pair, she despised the ati woman less. Jurah seemed, at best, a decent person. And the babaylan owed her her life. After all, the ati was the one who nursed her and Tihol back to health. But there was still a tingling anxiety over her.

  Karas crouched down, her long gray hair wafting with the wind. She scowled at the view below. "And after this, we settle grudges."

  Si-an Usong nodded more to herself. This was bound to be an exciting day for her. She glanced back at the group of women assembled around her and smiled. "Haste brings no success. But the hordes of Gadlum won't wait for us any longer." A wide grin blossomed on her gaunt face. Then, without forewarning, she leaped from their perched, falling down below the fray. The others followed suit a moment later, descending to the hungry gadlumanons below to aid the Black Dog and the Lady of the Darkest Night close the Bone Gates and save Vijayas.