The morning after our final, third challenge from Dakila, Bagwis gave us a day to recuperate, with Migo's vacation longer than ours. So I use this time to talk to Isagani and I hope as hell that my assumptions are not wrong. I knock on the door of his room. Since Isagani helps the Rajah with the administrative tasks and he is not as tight-ass as Dakila, I believe I can persuade him to make some adjustments.

Isagani opens the door. He looks ready to leave and start his administrative work.

"What are you doing here?" he asks, his voice barely audible. Like Rajah Sinagtala, he looks around the area.

"No one's around," I say. "I need to talk to you privately."

He pulls me roughly inside and closes the door of his room. "And then?"

I smile. I can sense he does not like me, probably because he knows my relationship with Sinagtala. He doesn't understand where I came from and yet, here I am, worming my way into Sinagtala's bed and heart.

"Who's going to be sent as a tribute to Fuhua?" I ask directly. "Is it me?"

He glares at me and then pushes me on the door. I hit my back on it but I stare at the angry Isagani, the first time I've seen him that. "Who told you?! Is it Sinag?" I clench my teeth. Of course not, Sinagtala does not trust me. Still, I keep my mouth shut. "No? Laya, is it?" When I still did not reply, he massages his head and sits on the foot of his bed. "It doesn't matter who told you. Now, go take a seat."

I did. I take a chair from his desk and sit in front of him. It takes a few more minutes when finally he says, "It's Migo."

I purse my lips. Just as I thought.

"Migo is missing his arm. And as a hunter, no matter how good he is, he'd be useless in the island."

I nod. That is why I don't see anyone on the island with a missing arm or leg, especially when newcomers are required to undergo challenges. Even the hunters—they only have scars, but no missing body parts.

"Besides, he got the lowest score in the examination you took. He passed, but he's got the lowest score."

I nod. It might be because that day, he's nearing a mental breakdown. So it's not surprising that he couldn't focus on it.

"Did the Rajah agree to this?" I ask the most dreaded question.

"He is the one who suggested it."

Isagani watches my reaction, but I just look away from him. "He hates us two, right?" I ask.

"He did." After a while, Isagani adds, "Rather, he dislikes the other three, learned to like you and hates Migo because of his closeness to you."

I snort. That is why he is asking for his name. I wonder where he gets Migo's name? "You hate me, don't you?"

"I don't hate you but I don't like you either."

"If I ask you to make me the tribute instead, will you answer my questions truthfully? Will you be honest with me until I'm given as a tribute?"

Isagani studies me and then he says, "The Rajah will not like it."

"But you will?"

He nods.

"You think I'm a nuisance for being liked by the Rajah?"

"At least, you know that. The Rajah should not even take as much as a glance at you. For all we know, you are rebels from the Mainland. He did not even agree to let Bagwis force information out of you."

"Instead, he plans to use us as tributes for the next years to come," I say.

Isagani nods again. "Every three years. So, even if he does not like you, he needs you as tributes, so he asks that you get treated well as a Hirayan citizen."

"Then instead of Migo, make me the tribute for this year instead."

"As I told you, the Rajah will not allow it."

"Don't worry about it. He will be persuaded. So, will you agree?"

"Fine, let's start this being-an-honest deal. What are your questions?"

"Are the challenges really as hard as what Migo and I went through?"

"No," is Isagani's curt reply. "Like I told you, the Rajah hates the appearance of the five of you. Usually, the challenges are like the second challenge given to Aian and Renz by Laya's workgroup. The challenges are there mostly to prepare the people in living here."

"And the third challenge?"

"It's because of the Rajah. He starts to hate seeing you in death-defying challenges. But as you can see, Dakila overruled it and gave you a much more difficult task. He says he won't give his approval for you to become Hiraya citizens, if the Rajah does not allow you to take another task."

"If the Rajah did not grow fond of me, is it me he's planning to send first?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"He hates you the most for resembling and reminding him of his older sister, who he was never able to save because he's too late."

"Older sister?"

And Isagani says, "You've been on his Collections. His sister has a portrait there. She's the previous leader of this island and Bagwis's previous lover."

I remember. It is a picture of a beautiful woman with a strange-looking Scepter.

"Then, how were you able to tell that the Rajah no longer hates me?"

"He let you use a quill pen and paper. It's something that should not be used by a Hirayan."

"So, that's why Dakila gave us a harder third challenge. It's a punishment."

"Other than that, Dakila senses your relationship with the Rajah."

"And he also wants me to be sent as a tribute?"

"Yes. Sending you is the best way to protect the Rajah from himself."

I slump on the chair. Of course. Nayans are public property. If he gets jealous of Migo, what will happen if I go to the Mainland and is owned by the rich and powerful people there? Both Dakila and Isagani want the Rajah to forget about me.

"From now on, can I visit you every morning to talk about the Mainland? I'd like to know what kind of social hierarchy and trials await me there."

"As if I have a choice," Isagani grumbles. "I already promised you. I will be honest with you, as long as you make good of your promise too."

"Let's shake hands on it?" I ask. Isagani frowns and approaches him. "Here," I say and shake his hand. "I promise I will keep the end of the bargain."

Then, Isagani says, "I promise I will be honest with you until you are sent as a tribute."