Sometimes there are times when I’m yelling at my TV, and sometimes there are times when I’m reminded that I freaking love this drama. Hehe.
As accused, accuser, judge and witnesses leave the beach to appeal to the council of elders for a decision, Ahak appeals to Bagani, who looks stunned over his father’s announcement. She asks Bagani to defend Amaya. Bagani says, however, that the decision is not in his hands and he can no longer do anything to save her bai… his moon, he adds after a pause. Aww.
And so the council of elders convenes, headed by Bagani’s grandfather the old Rajah. It opens with a ceremonial drink of wine, after pouring out the first cup for the spirits. The accuser speaks first, and Lamitan lays out her grievance that the alabay had lifted her hand against her.
The rajah and his family do not attend the trial in front of the council and they remain in their house. The rajah muses on Amaya’s bravery in daring to speak up before him and make a demand. He doesn’t know if he should admire her [hangaan] or be irritated with her [kainisan]. He does say that he could not deny her claim, especially with the priestesses so firmly on her side. Haha, politics. It does go a long way in saying how much influence Hilway and the priestesses have with him, though. Lingayan says that he is right in not interfering.
Amaya gives her testimony, saying that Lamitan [she deliberately calls the other woman "my father's wife"] had hurt her and insulted her parents, so that she became angry [nagdilim ang paningin, literally "vision went dark"] and smacked her. She swears by the gods that what she says is true, and invokes gaba [divine retribution] should she be lying. Lamitan can’t help saying snidely that she is lying, and is reprimanded by the council not to talk while they are deliberating.
Banuk asks Bagani why he’s there– isn’t he interested in the outcome of the council’s deliberations? Bagani says that it’s not in his hands, nor is it his concern, so why should he be there? This makes his father happy, and the rajah remarks that he must no longer be in love with Amaya.
The council finally renders its decision: since Lamitan did not want to undergo the same trial that Amaya did, they dismiss the charges, and restore Amaya to her position as alabay. Whew.
Lamitan, fuming, goes to tell the rajah that the council decided in favor of the big bad Amaya. The rajah merely says that if this is the council’s decision, it shall be followed. Marikit asks incredulously whether Amaya is not going to be punished, because to her and her mother’s one-track minds, being noble means that they can maltreat everyone else lower than their station in life. Lingayan gets the satisfaction of PWNing her daughter-in-law and said hag’s mother, saying that they should not trouble the rajah anymore over this matter. He hasturnedthematter
