The smashing sounds of the surrounding bushes that were blown by the night breeze and the hundreds of crickets chirping in chaotic tones were amplified after Prince Aiji yelled those words. His innocent eyes turned red with tears forming around. A deep sorrow was within.
"Dari, us running away makes no sense now!"
Those words were repeated in Vince's dazed mind. After the initial shock, he strode towards Prince Aiji, but the prince grabbed the wine he was holding and rushed out.
Dozens of seconds have passed, but Vince's hand that was holding the wine was still suspended in the air. His IQ and EQ were good, but his brain wasn't properly working at that moment. When he realized that something was certainly wrong, he quickly followed Prince Aiji.
"If it isn't because we murdered someone, then what could it be?"
It was the thought in Vince's head while going out.
The guests' hut was surrounded by towering bushes. Under the faint moonlight, Vince looked around, but he couldn't find the prince. He was worried.
"Prince Aiji!"
Vince called many times, but no one answered. Later, he decided to search the nearby hill.
With the help of the dim moonlight, Vince reached the peak. He searched the entire hilltop but failed to find Prince Aiji. He was anxious.
Vince stood at the top for a while to calm his anxious mind. A few minutes later, he went down. Coming closer to the foot, a torch was coming in his direction. He was hoping it was Prince Aiji, but the flame illuminated an amiable yet imposing old face.
"Young man, what are you doing here, aren't you taking a rest yet?"
"Elder! I...am looking for my friend, he went out just now but I cannot find him."
"Looking at your face, I can see you quarreled with him."
Vince looked at elder Mino thoroughly, but those sharp old eyes weren't malicious.
"Yes."
It was a faint reply. Though Vince felt the old man was trustworthy, they just met a few hours ago, so he cannot talk about private matters to a stranger.
"Elder, may I excuse myself. I will continue searching around."
There was a faint smile on his old face. This elder is no doubt a good-looking man. When he smiled, his air turned soft.
"Don't exhaust yourself. He'll come back if he feels better. You don't have to worry, as long as he won't cross the river, he is safe around."
It was an assurance, but Vince was still worried.
"Put your heart at ease, okay? Come follow me, have you tasted the wine Lontoc sent you?"
The elder was persistent, so Vince followed. He was brought to a cleaner space under a tree. The elder put his torch in a pile of dry leaves and branches. A fire was blazing in just a few blinks.
"I didn't have the chance to. My friend brought it with him."
"Is that so? Here taste this. It's already a one-year-old wine so it's a bit strong."
"Thank you."
Vince who was anxious took a gulp then his face twitched.
"Hahaha... It's quite strong right?"
A peal of laughter broke out. Vince's face twitched, he coughed a few times. The wine tasted similar to the fermented coconut wine he drank in rural areas before, but a bit stronger.
"Yes elder, it's quite strong!"
After the laughter, there was a sigh.
"Do you know? It's good to be young, you can drink as much as you can and do whatever you like."
Vince nodded, but he can't actually relate. He was an achiever, so his younger years were spent on his studies. He rarely got drunk, and that was after he graduated.
The elder kept talking, so he sat quietly.
Having an attentive listener, elder Mino's face brightened.
"When I was as young as you, I liked doing different things. I was the youngest prince so my father often tolerates me. The whole tribe knew I was a rebellious prince, but no one could stop me because I was strong and skillful."
Most old people he met were eager to talk about their glorious past. Only a few people can tolerate this bragging, and Vince is one of them. For him, these frail old folks were once great men too, so their bagging isn't actually boasting, but telling of their wonderful youth.
"The elder still looks strong now."
It was not flattery. For Vince, Elder Mino was still strong and imposing.
"Hahaha... well I used to be way stronger! I was the strongest in my tribe. Most of the time, I defied my father's rules and orders, but I only received light punishment."
Vince was fascinated and kept praising. After around an hour of chat, his trust in the old man rose.
"Elder, what crime could be... a prince who runs away did? In your tribe for instance... Honestly, I injured my head and lost my memories."
Elder Mino stared at him for a good while. It was a deep and piercing look. Later, he took a big gulp at his wine.
"Hmm... What could it be? As a rebellious prince, I had broken almost all the rules except for treachery and forbidden relationships."
"Treachery and forbidden relationships...?"
"Yes, treachery is the greatest crime, but I don't hear about a prince who betrayed his tribe. Princes are united to defend their tribe against other neighboring tribes, so treachery is rare. Forbidden relationships are quite common. These two are the greatest crimes in every tribe."
Elder Mino calmly spoke, but Vince's heart turned violent.
"Elder... What are those... forbidden relationships?"
It was a faint question, but his curiosity was obvious. Vince was nervous.
The elder took another gulp.
"The most common are those who covet their brother's wife or their sister's husband and those who desire their close relatives."
"... And what are those... not so common?" Vince probed further.
The old man took another gulp, again!
"Well, there are rare cases like a man..." The elder stopped his words and stretched his left forefinger seriously.
"And, another man..." He added while stretching his right forefinger after putting down the bamboo container. He then joined his two foreigners together.
"Do you know what I mean?"
There was a faint smile on his old face.
Vince's face blushed. His heart was leaping on his chest as he slowly figured out the truth between him and Prince Aiji.
"I guess... I do..."
It was a faint reply that even Vince could barely hear his mouth uttered those words. He was struck by a startling truth!
"In this entire island and all the other places I have been, the people considered this as a bad omen. They will execute people who did this immediately."
Vince raised his head and stared straight into Elder Mino's eyes.
"Elder, what if... a prince violates this rule?"
"Well, it depends on the tribe king. He can forgive the prince by conducting a cleansing ritual and marrying him to a woman after. Then, the other person involved will be executed."
Vince's eyes got bigger. "Could it be..."
"Could it be, what?"
The old man smiled, his hearing was too sharp. Vince just mumbled those words, yet he heard it!
"I mean... How could it be that cruel?!" Vince lied.
"Hahaha... I also think it's cruel too."
The elder laughed, but later, his face turned solemn.
"It's indeed cruel, but Dari, isn't this the reason why both of you are wandering?"
"Elder!"