Episode 141

Kabanata 141:
Ang Parusa
Monday, November 14, 2005

The epi opens with the scene of the four sanggres interrogating a kneeled Aquil. Amihan rapid-fires away the questions, and Aquil admits to all the charges, including freeing Asval. Ybrahim, blinded by rage, hits Aquil repeatedly until Lira stops him.

Amihan continues to lay on the guilt, saying that they were relying on his loyalty. Aquil argues that he IS loyal. He stayed with them, living like a pashnea when he could’ve allied himself with Hagorn’s ilk.

Aquil: Kahit mahirap, kahit hindi sagana. Hindi kita iiwan. Hinding-hindi kita iiwan, mahal na Reyna. (I will never leave you, my queen. No matter how difficult or low the situation gets).

Ybrahim continues to rant, saying that Aquil is no different from Asval. Aquil answers that he did things his own way. It breaks his heart (and probably his ego) to see the sanggres getting hurt and defeated time and again ever since they were driven from Lireo. He foolishly let Asval go for fear of losing their trust, something that he now realizes is pure folly. He regrets everything he did.

Amihan alerts at the mention of the word “lahat” (all of it). Aquil then proceeds to narrate how Asval called him for a secret meeting.

Flashback mode on:
Aquil enters a clearing in the wood, hollering Asval’s name. Asval orbs in, devoid of weapons or armor. Aquil suspects a trap, but Asval calms his fears and offers him a secret alliance in exchange for his help in taking back Sapiro through the kantaos.

To help in his mission, Asval gives Aquil temporary powers (I wonder why Aquil himself didn’t develop any all these years?). He waves his hand, and a chest containing every manner of weaponry and ninja armor appears (san galing yun? Parang capsule corp sa dragonball, just add water?).

Asval chooses a sword and the ninja outfit and tries to hand it over to Aquil, who refuses and picks an (apparently enchanted) arnis from the chest. Asval wonders, but Aquil retorts that he doesn’t need to hurt anyone to take the kantaos.

Still doubtful, Aquil asks for a guarantee. Asval says Aquil knows him, they are probably the two oldest beings in enca. He only has one goal, to restore Sapiro, and will go to any lengths--even betray his friend Hagorn--to achieve it.
Flashback mode off.

Ybrahim shouts that Asval’s words have no value. He rants at Aquil for not taking action without the knowledge or consent of the Queen (right, as if he too wasn’t a bringer of doom, re: Kabilan. That’s just testosterone [with a dash of adrenaline] if you ask me).

Aquil declares he never had any intention of hurting Ybrahim or Lira, simply to take the kantaos. He had intended to fool Asval and take the kantaos after Lireo was in their hands again.

Danaya, who had been quiet until now, suddenly flares up. The law must be followed; Aquil’s life must be taken. Lira starts to ask if Danaya can actually go through with the execution when the sanggre of earth cuts her off, saying that was what a traitor deserves.

Amihan agrees, saying the law must be enforced. A very disturbed Lira suddenly defends Aquil, asking if one mistake (done with the purest of intentions, I might add) is enough to erase all the good Aquil has done in the past.

Amihan concedes to the argument, but says that Aquil will forever be marked as a traitor.

Elsewhere in the forest, Gurna has just finished gathering that night’s supper when Pirena arrives. Gurna approaches the sanggre of fire, offering the fruit when Pirena’s building and seething emotions finally spill.

Why did Gurna raise her in deception and perceived betrayal? Why did she make Pirena believe that she was the only one who truly loved her? Why did she deprive Pirena of her family’s love? Gurna tries to deny it, but Pirena cuts her off, saying she’s no longer naive and immature to believe in anything she says.

Aquil profusely apologizes for his actions, and for disgracing himself in the Queen’s presence. Without looking at Aquil, Amihan calls Lira while Alena prods a fuming Ybrahim to leave, leaving Danaya and Aquil to talk. Danaya slaps Aquil. She turns her back on him and starts to leave. When Aquil calls out her name, Danaya looks back, a world of hurt reflected in her eyes.

Aquil approaches Danaya. Now it’s her turn to spill. Her whole life, she had trust in his loyalty, no word nor action that she didn’t respect and uphold, and now this? He’s just like Pirena, Asval and Hagorn. He’s not worthy of his forgiveness. He tries to appeal to her emotions, but she promptly shuts down. She doesn’t want to listen anymore.

Back to the other traitor, Pirena continues to chastise Gurna, when the treacherous dama finally breaks down. She wanted Pirena to become queen, something that half-breeds like them have never achieved (biased siya, half-breed din naman si Amihan a..)

Pirena immediately demands Gurna to explain what her statement meant. Gurna tries to avoid the topic by laying another round of guilt on Pirena, how she was fiercely loyal and treated the sanggre like a daughter. She wanted nothing more than for Pirena to reach the pinnacle of success.

Pirena hurtfully answers that in her own way, she too has been loyal to Gurna. She loved the dama like a mother, but never tried to own her. Pirena gave Gurna the freedom that the dama didn’t allow her.

Lira approaches Aquil and playfully asks him if he and Danaya had an LQ (something that I doubt if he understands). She reassures him that everything will turn out alright and Danaya will soon forgive him. Aquil says Danaya has a point, and vows to do everything to win back the sanggres’ trust. He thanks Lira for standing up for him, and then leaves to face Asval.

Pirena pulls out Imaw’s staff, and then throws a green bolt toward Gurna. It misses, hitting the boulder behind her. And just when Gurna declares that Pirena will never be able to hurt her, Pirena cuts in saying:

Pirena: Dahil may mas mabigat na parusa para sayo. (Because you deserve far worse).

Gurna begins to panic, and Pirena hits the stone one more time. A green vortex/ portal opens in the boulder, and Pirena suddenly pushes Gurna inside, fossilizing the dama ala-Han Solo in “The Empire Strikes Back.” The adrenaline goes down, and Pirena falls to the floor, wailing the loss of her false mentor.

Meanwhile, in the mortal realm, Anthony is spacing out near the dining room when Mira approaches, busy preparing his things for the next workday. She notices his restlessness and inquires. Anthony says he can’t get Mila off his mind. His friend (Bojo?) told him that he was madly in love with Mila, and now he’s wondering why he can’t even remember that he loved her. Mira tell him not to believe, saying that they are the ones who are in love.

In Sapiro, Danaya is standing outside the keep, angry and hurting when Lira comes. She tries to lighten the mood but just ends up ticking Danaya off. The ashti walks out on the young heiress. Suddenly Wantuk and Apek arrive with an Arilon, an Ajantao refugee. He narrates the attack on the Ajantao and pleads for help. An angry and upset Lira decides to look for her ashti Pirena.

Somewhere in the woods, Aquil comes looking for Asval. Balbas orbs in and asks for Ybrahim's kantao. Aquil declares that the deal is off, and demands Lira’s kantao back. Asval laughs in his face, and Aquil regrets ever have listening to the old Sapiryan.

The two go at it, but reach a stalemate. Aquil declares that Asval will never be able to defeat him as they are evenly matched in combat skills. Asval promptly throws an energy ball at Aquil, who falls down from the impact.