PROLOGUE

DJEMNA PROVINCE, A LONG TIME AGO

"THE KING IS DYING. . ."

Jethro Amara's head shot up. Kasabay nito ang pag-awang ng kaniyang mga labi at ang pagdulas ng kahoy na kutsara mula ssa kaniyang kamay. It produced a small thud at the same time as the sudden thunder in his chest. He blinked at his mother, the Queen, her majesty who casually ate her meal as though she did not just relay some shocking news. For moments, the lamp lighting the dinner table grew dimmer as though a curtain was drawn around the second prince. Jethro snapped and composed himself, concealing the emotion on his face. Unti-unti niyang ibinalik ang tingin sa mesa, at gamit ang nanginginig na kamay, pinulot niya ang nabitawang kubyertos at pilit na sumubo ng pagkain.

"Ilang lingo nang nagdurusa ang mahal na Hari dahil sa trangkaso. He was never seen out of his chamber since then. That could only mean one thing, son. You must get your act together. Maaari siyang maglabas ng anunsiyo anumang araw mula ngayon. You must be his successor."

The food was bland on Jethro's tongue. He looked down as he chewed, concealing the shaking breaths he could not help but release. How could a wife talk about politics when her husband was dying? How could his mother talk about his ill father as though he was a mere stranger on his deathbed?

"You don't want that bastard to sit on the throne instead of you, do you?"

Jethro stopped chewing. Humigpit ang hawak niya sa kahoy na kutsara. He sniffed and remained still for a minute before heaving a sigh.

"You're the son of a Queen, Jethro. You are the only suited successor no matter what people say. I don't know what will happen to me if I see that son of a court lady sit on the King's throne."

Silence stretched over the dinner table, afterwards. Jethro never looked up, not even when the queen laid her utensils flat on the table and went to her chamber, leaving the second prince alone. Doon lamang bumagsak ang mga balikat niya. Kasabay nito ang pagtakas ng ilang butil ng luha mula sa kaniyang mga mata.

That was certainly one of the most memorable dinners among the few ones that Jethro had with his mother. Dinala niya ang mga salitang mula sa kaniyang inang Reyna hanggang sa kinabukasan at sa mga susunod pang araw. They were seedlings her majesty sowed in his heart, and he let them grow.

"Now, let us check your essays. . . Sinong nais na mauna, mga mahal na Prinsipe?" their philosophy teacher asked one day as they sat under the royal pavilion. Itinaas ng panganay na prinsipeng si Josue ang kaniyang kamay. Nang makita iyon, itinaas din ni Jethro ang kaniya.

"Yes, your brightness," the professor pointed at him with an open palm. Jethro smiled from ear to ear as he stood confidently, unfolding his rolled essay before him, then cleared his throat.

"Instead of giving a poor man fish to have for dinner, a wise King would rather teach him to fish in the sea. This ensures sustainability and independence on the man's part. Give him a fish and he would be full for tonight; but teach him how to fish and he and his family would not be hungry on the coming days."

The professor nodded with a smile on his face. Jethro smiled back and sat back on his pillow, satisfied on his answer as the other princes clapped their hands in awe save for Josue, the first Prince. Jethro ignored him.

"A concise answer," the Professor commented. "Tama si Prinsipe Jethro. A wise leader opts for long-term solutions. It ceases the reoccurrence of the same problems. At the same time, it makes his people wiser. May iba pa bang kasagutan?"

Nilingon ni Jethro si Josue. His smile quickly faded as the guy's hand shot back up in the air.

"Yes, Prince Josue."

The prince stood slowly and unfolded his essay. "Ang isang matalinong hari ay hindi lamang isang pinuno. Siya ay isang ama ng kaniyang mga nasasakupan. Sa panahong paslit pa lamang ang kaniyang anak, nararapat lamang na siya'y handang magbigay ng isda upang may maihapunan ang mahinang bata. Sa sandalling ang bata ay nasa wastong gulang, ssaka pa lamang niya ito tuturuang mangisda. Ngunit hindi roon natatapos ang lahat. Sa mga araw na ang huli sa dagat ay matumal, nararapat lamang na ang ama ay handang magbigay ng panglaman-tiyan hanggang sa ang laot ay nasa diwa nang muli upang tugunan ang pangangailangan ng mangingisda. Ang isang hari ay hindi lamang tumatapos ng mga suliranin sapagkat alam ng lahat na hindi kailanman matatapos ang mga ito. Bagkus, siya ay handang tumugon sa mga pagkakataong siya ay kailangan."

Silence. Nakaawang ang labi ng mas nakababatang mga prinsipe. They blinked as though the length of the answer petrified them on the spot. The professor clapped with a wide grin, shaking his head in approval. The other five princes followed. Jethro frowned. Kaagad na naglaho ang tuwa niya dahil sa pag-agaw ni Josue ng atensiyon ng lahat.

"Mahusay, Prinsipe Josue. Tama ka. Ang pangingisda ay hindi lamang nakadepende sa kakayanan ng mangingisda," the professor commented. "The sea could be cruel at times that even the best fishermen come home with nothing. At those times, a great King should be able to provide fishes for his people until the waters are kind enough, once again."

"Salamat po. . ." ani Josue at yumuko.

"Selemet pe. . ." Jethro uttered under his breath, mocking his older half-brother and rolled his eyes.

"We will conclude today's lessons with that. I will be collecting your essays before I allow everyone to leave." The professor did as he said. Isa-isa niyang kinolekta ang nakarolyong mga papel at isinilid ang mga iyon sa isang banga. Bago sila tuluyang umalis mula sa royal pavilion, nag-iwan ng takdang aralin ang guro. Pinababasa nito ang isang sanaysay at kagaya ng nakasanayan, susulat sila ng sarili nilang komposisyon. The younger princes groaned but the professor just chuckled on their complaints.

Jethro had always seen Josue as his rival since then. Josue was the son of a court lady the king had taken to his bed on his drunken state while Jethro was the son of a queen. The gap between them was so clear. A bastard had no place anywhere near a true prince. He must make sure everyone saw it.

***

"K-KORRIM?" JETHRO MELTED like a candle on its seat when the messenger who relayed the news to them left. "Why am I not assigned at Djemna? Anak ako ng Reyna! Ako dapat ang mamahala sa kabisera ng kaharian!"

"Calm down, Jethro. The King's illness is worsening. Hindi ka dapat magpakita ng kahit anong makasisira sa imahe mo. Accept his decision for now. Sigurado akong sinusubok lamang niya kayong magkakapatid para makapili siya ng tagapagmana. Do a great job and he would definitely name you as his successor," said the Queen as she sipped on her tea.

"Does this make sense to you, your majesty?" Singhal ni Jethro. "Ang bastardong 'yon ang mamamahala sa Djemna! Does father favor that servant-blooded man? Are you not mad? You should be!"

"Shh," hushed the Queen. "Huminto ka na bago pa ako marindi sa ingay mo. We could do nothing that would change the King's mind. Instead of blaming others for your misery, assess yourself. Perhaps a court lady's son is really better than you. Perhaps not even my blood could help you. It's a pity to have such a pathetic son."

Jethro blinked and bit his lip, his eyes falling down the floor.

"But you still have a chance. Prove yourself to the King. Be a great ruler at Korrim and make the King decide on your favor."

***

THE KING'S FUNERAL came a few years later. Even on his death, his majesty favored the bastard. The grudge in Jethro's chest grew deeper and hotter like a flame fueled by lamp oil. Josue was the one who held the King's ashes as they marched to the sea. He was the one in front of the line of people who wept for the late monarch. Jethro felt not grief but anger.

The flames in his heart grew a week after sending the late King to his final rest. The royals were called at the royal pavilion. Everyone bowed upon his arrival, but it was not because of him. The courtesy was for his mother, the Queen. Nag-angat lamang ng tingin ang mga ito nang makaupo na sila sa kanilang puwesto.

The old man who used to be Jethro's biased philosophy professor unfolded a rolled piece of white cloth with woods on each end. "These are his majesty's, may he rest in peace, words before crossing the white bridge," he began. "A Kingdom of various colors was what I envisioned Zorith to be. A land of diverse culture and people. I initially assigned territories to the princes with intentions of selecting an heir, but it was too hard to choose as everyone became such great men. That was when I was reminded of my colorful dream. And with that, I declare the provinces of Zorith as independent states. Prince Josue would be King of Djemna, Prince Jethro would be King of Korrim. . ." Jethro's fists clenched under the table. He looked down, gritting his teeth.

No one could disobey a King's decree, especially that it was read in front of everyone. Doing so would equate to treason which was way worse than the situation he was in. He exhaled.

"Prince-"

"May I use the loo, Sir?" he interrupted the old man from reading the King's decree. Kaagad na bumaling sa kaniya ang tingin ng lahat. He cared less. He needed to vent out somewhere.

"Y-yes you may, your brightness. . ."

Jethro quickly nodded and left the royal pavilion without looking at his mother. Hindi niya alam kung saan siya pupunta. He just let his feet step in whatever direction they wanted to go. Until someone yanked him by the arm.

He gasped as a carriage rushed on the path in front of him. He would have been hit had the person not saved him. Ngunit kaagad na naglaho ang pasasalamat nang lingunin niya kung sino ito.

"A-ayos ka lang ba?" Josue asked.

Jethro wiped Josue's hand off his arm like he was brushing off an insect. "Do not ever lay your hand on me. I don't want the blood of a court lady running in your veins to tarnish the Queen's blood in my body."

Josue's face darkened. "Paanong nagging posible para sa isang tao na maging ganiyan kasama? Sa tingin mo ba ginusto ng ina ko na abusuhin ng hari?!"

Jethro laughed in mockery. "E ano pa nga ba? Of course, a servant would want to rise in the societal ladder. It totally makes sense, doesn't it? It would only be an abuse if the King forced your mother. But I am sure that is not the case. Siguro, Nakita niya kung gaano kalasing ang mahal na Hari nang gabing 'yon. She saw it as an opportunity and seduced-" He was not able to finish when Josue's fist landed on his cheek.

Nagngingitngit na bulkan sag alit ang nakatatandang prinsipe. His shoulders went up and down as he breathed heavily. "Wala kang karapatang sabihin 'yan."

Jethro spat, his saliva red with blood, and snorted. "Why are you so triggered, Josue? Do you think the king wanted to have a son out of a servant? You are nothing but a disgrace to the royal family. Just because they favored you for some time, it does not mean they are proud of your existence."

"Kung gano'n, bakit hindi ikaw ang pinapaboran nila, Jethro? Kung tunay ngang napakadalisay ng dugong dumadaloy sa mga ugat mo, bakit wala sa 'yo ang atensiyon nila? Bakit hindi ikaw ang inatasan ng Hari para mamahala sa kabiserang bayan?"

Jethro could not answer, the smirk on his face fading at the same speed as his fists clenching.

"Wala kang karapatang manghusga ng ibang tao. Hangad mo ng respeto pero ni-katiting niyon ay hindi mo maibigay sa ina ko. Hindi na nakapagtataka na hindi ikaw ang pinaboran ng amang Hari. Saka ka na mang-apak ng iba kapag may ibang bagay ka nang maipagmamalaki bukod sas pagiging anak ng isang reyna."

Josue left.

Jethro remained standing on his spot, breathing violently. He cursed. He punched walls. He yelled. He wore his lungs out swearing not only to be equal with Josue but to exceed him, as well. He would conquer every land in Zorith. He would gain more power. And when that time came, he would stomp over Josue and crush the arrogant bastard into fine dust like the ashes of a deceased man.