Mokabe and Amiya finally arrived on the clearing on top of the Budi mountain after a long travel through a dense forest. He led Amiya through a field of tall bushes until they reached the mouth of a cave.
"What made you come here?"
Mokabe was startled at the voice. He looked at his sister, who was standing at the entrance of the cave.
"And who allowed you to bring strangers to my territory?" Viis asked. She haven't seen her brother for eleven long years, and now he just suddenly appeared, and to make it worse, he brought someone with him. The gods from the kingdom has never reached the cave she was living. Only her family has access to pass through the forest, that is, only if she allowed it.
"You let us pass through," Mokabe answered and looked at his sister. It has been long years passed since he last saw Viis. She was just a young lady at that time. Now, she's already a full-grown lady who looks exactly like their mother.
He knew that her sister has been practicing sorcery since their mother died. Her ability was well known to the whole kingdom and that citizens were already calling her as the great seer. She was perceived across the entire realm as a dangerous seer, that's why no one attempted to enter Budi mountain because they believed that she cursed the mountain and will bring misfortune to whoever comes. But, her identity remained secret.
"Aren't you letting us inside?" he asked. He did not hide his fatigue.
"No, if you have something to say, you can tell me now." Viis stood still from her spot. She was looking at his brother's companion, which she can not see the face because of the veil.
"She's Amiya." He guided Amiya to his side and walked closer to Viis. Amiya took out her veil that covers her face and slightly made a bow to Viis.
Viis creased her brows and looked straight to Mokabe's eyes. Their eyes met and conversed on their own.
Amiya noticed how the sibling became quiet and their exchange of meaningful stare. The atmosphere was peaceful, and only the singing of the birds and humming of the gentle morning air was heard.
"You can't bring her here, Mokabe. Bring her back to the kingdom." Viis stated in a stern voice. Her face was serious. "Leave now." She turned her back at them and started walking to the cave.
"I can't." Mokabe went after his sister. He was flustered a little at the seriousness of Viis' face. "Can you please hear me out first?" he begged.
Amiya was startled at Viis reaction. She did not expect such a hostile response from her. She did not hear them talk about the situation, but Viis already decided to send them back to the kingdom. And also, it was the first time she saw Mokabe beg for a favor from someone.
Viis sternly looked at him. "Where is your smart brain Mokabe?" her voice is quiet, but she spoke with anger. "Have you lost it?"
"What are you talking about? Why are you getting mad at me?" Mokabe did not understand why she suddenly got angry at him. He had a thought that she already figured out his relationship with Amiya.
Viis walked out from the entrance of the cave and gesture Mokabe to follow her. He reluctantly looked at Amiya.
Amiya nodded. She understood that the siblings would have to talk about her without her hearing.
Mokabe followed Viis. They walked a few yards away from the entrance of the cave where they left Amiya.
"Why did you bring her here?" Amiya asked in a controlled voice. Inside her, she was boiling in anger. She already figured who Amiya is and what is her brother's intention in bringing her in the cave. Her brother was planning to hide his woman like their father.
Mokabe fell silent. He knew that Viis already figured out who Amiya is and his reason why he brought her to the cave.
"Bring her back and marry her. You can't hide her here."
Just as he thought, Viis already figured out. "She has our child."
"Then marry her. Is that difficult for you?" This time she did not hide her anger. 'How can this stupid and coward person follow the example of their father?' Viis thought.
"I wish I could marry her. We will both get punished if the citizens knew about our relationship." He stared at his angry sister. Their eyes were staring at each other, sending their emotions at each other.
"And what Mokabe? Let your child be born in secret and live in hiding? Isn't it enough that I am here hiding from your kind because our parents' relationship was not acceptable according to your common laws?" every word she spoke is laced with hate and sarcasm.
"And would you like that to happen to your child too? How cruel!"
"We do not have any choice Viis. We both wanted to keep the child. She agreed to stay hidden." He can't blame his sister for being angry. She had spent long years in this hidden cave and will probably spend her whole life here, in hiding.
"Stupidity!" she whispered. "You are just like your father." She turned her back at him. "You can leave now, bring her with you." she started walking back to the cave.
"Can you at least hear us first Viis, please." He followed her sister and stopped her on her tracks. He held both of her shoulders. "Viis, I understand why you are getting mad at me. I can not do anything about what already happened between our parents and you being stuck in this place. But, for me, this is the only solution for us to keep our child and give him a normal life someday. We have a plan. Just hear us out, please." He pleaded, hoping she will change her mind.
Viis' face was still serious. She was against his brother's decision. She felt pity for the woman. She sighed and stared at her brother's eyes. She saw her reflection from them. And did she saw her mother's image in those eyes too? Mokabe's eyes reflect sorrow and pain.
She turned her back once again and walked towards the woman standing near the entrance of the cave, waiting for them. She gestured her to follow her as she stepped inside the cave.
Amiya looked at Mokabe before following Viis. Mokabe nodded at her, indicating that she follows Viis inside. Mokabe held Amiya's hand as they follow Viis inside.
The inside of the cave was still the same when Mokabe last went there. Their mother's things were yet seen in the place. Her room, which Viis occupies, still has her old mirror and collection of vases neatly set on the corner of the room.
He sat Amiya to one of the chairs in the dining table and took his seat beside her. Viis took her place across him without saying a word.
"Why are you here?" Viis directly asked Amiya.
Amiya lifted her head upon hearing Mokabe's sister's voice.
Mokabe was about to answer Viis question, but Viis lifted her hand, her palm facing him, telling him to be quiet. Mokabe close his mouth instead. He did not dare to speak and anger his sister more.
"I- I came here...because...I mean, I am pregnant, and I need a safe place to stay." Amiya softly spoke. Her head slightly bowed, not daring to match Viis' stare.
"Why don't you stay at Mokabe's place? Isn't it more comfortable to stay there, being you are pregnant?"
Amiya knew that Mokabe's sister wanted her to reconsider her decision to hide and to provoke her brother. Maybe, because she was also a product of unacceptable union of their parents, and she somehow doesn't want that to happen to her brother's child?
"Well...I would love to, but the kingdom has its laws that need to be followed. Unfortunately, my relationship with your brother is not acceptable. So, I have to stay away so that I can give birth to a healthy baby." Amiya gathered her courage to speak those words. She had never been vocal of her thoughts even to Mokabe, but that moment, she felt that Mokabe's sister wants to hear her honest feelings about their situation.
"And are you okay with that?" Viis pitied Amiya at the moment. She could see her mother in her.
She witnessed how her mother was hurting every time her father visited them. Every time they said their goodbyes, her mother cries the moment her father was already gone.
Amiya nodded, "I'd instead choose to be separated from him temporarily than to lose him forever. At least, if I am here, he can still visit me."
"Then, what about your child? What are you planning to do with the child after giving birth? Are you going to let him live here?"
"The thing is..."
"Let her answer, Mokabe. I am not done talking to her yet." She interrupted Mokabe, who was about to speak. She wanted to know Amiya's thoughts. It is Amiya who is going to suffer in the future while her brother will continue to live his normal life.
Mokabe glared at his sister. Isn't she too dominating? Just because they are there to ask favor from her. It was the first time that someone dared to stop him and treated him like a commoner.
"She is the one who is going to suffer in the future, while you will go back to your kingdom and continue your normal life there." She did not hesitate to say her thoughts to her brother, who lowered his head when she heard her speak. She could read his thoughts, indeed.
What his sister said was true. He did not dare say anything more in his mind. His sister was perfect in reading his mind. They were twins for nothing.
Amiya lowered her head at the truthfulness of Viis' words. "I am alright." she softly spoken. "As for our child, we planned to bring the baby to the kingdom and be introduced as a normal child, once he was born."
"Oh, what an incredible plan!" Viis exclaimed with sarcasm. "You will let the baby grow without a mother? Are you going to tell the child that his mother died after giving birth to him too?" She couldn't hide her surging emotion at the ridiculous story this couple was about to create for their child.
"Have you forgotten Mokabe? You grew up believing that your mother died after giving birth to you while she was hiding in this isolated cave with your sister!" Viis directed her anger to her brother.
The two became quiet at her angry reaction. What she all said was true. Mokabe believed for thirteen years that her mother died and that he was the only child. Not until his mother was dying that he found out that his mother was alive all along.
Mokabe and Amiya could not say a word to Viis. They were both guilty of their decision about their child.
Viis let out a sigh. "I still hope you will change your mind. I can not just quickly agree with both of you. For now, I'll allow Amiya to stay here, and I am hoping not for long."
Mokabe let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you for letting me stay here." Amiya shyly looked at her.
"My name is Viis. I am sure my brother did not mention my name to you before." She gave her brother a side-eye, who smiled awkwardly at her.
"You need to come back and bring her to your kingdom. Your child has to be born there." Viis told Mokabe before he stepped out of the cave.
"This is not a mere suggestion, Mokabe. Consider this as a warning." Those were her parting words before he headed back to the kingdom, leaving Amiya with her.
Not for long, Amiya's stomach began to grow. Although Mokabe promised to visit Amiya every month, there were times that he could not attend to her because of his work at the palace.
Amiya was already in her ninth month of pregnancy. She was about to give birth.
Viis summoned their old messenger to let Mokabe know that Amiya was about to give birth. Viis checked on Amiya, and her body was weak. She worried that she does not have enough strength to deliver the baby.
"Make Mokabe come here as quickly as he can." She told the messenger.
"Viis, is Mokabe coming?" Amiya asked Viis. She was lying on the bed weakly while her stomach continues to contract. Her water bag was already broken, and the head of the baby was already showing. Viis does not have any choice but to deliver the baby by herself.
"He is coming. Now, gather your strength and make one big push." Viis assured Amiya.
Amiya's pale face was dripping with sweat. She's too weak from all the pain and pushing. It has been an hour that she was trying to deliver the baby with the help of Viis, but the baby is not coming out yet. She was losing her strength now. She needs to see Mokabe.