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"The Crown"

by Calypso

CHAPTER FOUR

Nearly a week passed before Yang-Wo was asked to serve the Prince again. In that time, he began to become more familiar with some of his fellow slaves, including Velnuro and Chessia.

Velnuro's homeland was called Hemel, and his castle had been perched on an impossibly high mountain, where he had been able to spread his wings and fly with his people. Velnuro had been crowned Emperor of Hemel at the age of fourteen after his father passed away unexpectedly. He was only now eighteen, and he'd become a slave of the harem a year previous, when Zanat-Ven had scaled the treacherous mountainside to invade his country without warning or cause. He spoke of his nation's defeat bitterly, as if he still felt guilty for losing a battle he'd never intended to have.

Chessia's home was much more familiar to Yang-Wo, as it neighbored his own. She came from Aardenia, or The Underground Labyrinth, a country whose dwellings were entirely underground and attached by innumerable tunnels. Aardenia and Beldai had been allies, and had often traded and built close royal ties. However, about six months prior, Beldai had lost all Spiritual connection with its neighboring state, which Yang-Wo's parents had said reeked of Ulcouri involvement. Chessia confirmed this, and she nearly broke down in the process; she was a Princess just as Yang-Wo was a Prince, but unlike his parents, hers hadn't survived.

Throughout the week, the cougar realized that his existence as a slave of the Prince's was far preferable to the prison in about as many ways as were possible. The slaves were well fed, comfortable, and spent much of their time simply lounging and doing whatever they chose. The entire grouping was assigned the task of maintaining all of Prince Xeneth's quarters, but there were so many of them that these chores seemed to hardly require any effort at all. The Prince's quarters consisted of his bedchamber and private study, a very limited space for around thirty slaves to clean.

During the day, the Prince might require a slave to fan him while he ate his meals, while another passed him various dishes to suit his palate. Or, he'd have one hold a book for him while he read, giving a nearly imperceptible nod each time the page needed turning. Some of them complained that it was surprising that the Prince did anything for himself. Yang-Wo thought to himself that though the Prince might be cold and arrogant, his use of the slaves kept them all out of prison.

All the while, Adam and Melanie remained by Yang-Wo's side whenever they could, instructing him how to do everything the Prince asked and required to the letter, each task invariably requiring a very particular execution. The sconces in his chambers were to be lit clockwise from the door, the Prince preferred the linens folded a paw's breadth up and tucked extremely tightly beneath his leaden, cumbersome mattress. These things Yang-Wo was to know always, and he committed himself to remembering each detail.

Finally, after what seemed hours of training and lounging and fretting about his parents and his country, he was asked to serve the Prince again. This time, however, Yang-Wo was called-again by Melnamourn-to wait on Xeneth while he dined with the Royal Family. The second the words left the snooty wolf's lips, Yang-Wo's heart plunged into his stomach, and he felt sick and anxious and depressed. He was to be made a slave in front of the entire Royal Family, after not having seen them since he was sentenced. It was the ultimate humiliation, worse than being a lowly prisoner, and every royal part of the cougar ached, his pride nearly eradicated.

Yang-Wo was thankful that Adam was serving with him today. The hulking horse led Yang-Wo behind the middle-aged wolf, who was instructing them on their behavior while in the Dining Hall.

"You are not to speak unless spoken to. You are to keep your eyes at the floor and at the food only, not at any person. You are to gracefully and graciously acquiesce to every request made of you, regardless if it should come from His Highness Xeneth or not. Do not fall, do not spill, do not act clumsily or stupidly, or you shall not enjoy the punishment, I assure you," said Melnamourn tersely, leading down staircases and through doors and along passageways, all ornately decorated, until finally, the trio came to a pair of massive wooden double doors that reminded Yang-Wo of the Prince's chambers, though there were not jewels encrusted in these. There were no guards on watch, which meant that there were no royals within.

"Her Majesty and the rest of the Royal Family should be down within a few minutes time. When they arrive, you are expected to bow deeply-and silently-and pull out the chairs for any of them who do not have someone to do so. Your priorities are the Prince and the Queen. You must stand very close to the Prince so he may speak at a low volume. If any of the Royals have to shout in order to obtain your attention, you will be punished severely. Their voices should be barely louder than a whisper. Now, enter, and do not disappoint me." And with that long, yet thorough statement, Melnamourn turned and made his exit down the corridor by which they had arrived.

Adam pushed open the doors to the Dining Hall and slipped in with Yang-Wo, whispering to the cougar quietly all the while.

"Be calm Yang-Wo, and be efficient. Simply concentrate on the task in front of you, do not think or feel." Adam smiled, and the cat couldn't help but return it.

The two noticed that there were only two other servants in the room, who of course were wearing much more clothing than they were. Adam shook his head quietly with a frown on his face, clearly unhappy with the situation. Yang-Wo was about to ask, but the doors were thrown open by two massive wolf guards, and the Royal Family entered in single file; the Queen led the way, followed by her husband, the Princess, and the Prince.

Yang-Wo bowed impossibly deeply, then followed Adam toward the foot of the table, where the horse pulled the Prince's chair out for him to sit. Thankfully, Yang-Wo took a quick glance around the room and noticed that the Princess was nearly at her chair with no one to attend to her; he stealthily sped down the side of the table and pulled it out for her, keeping his eyes down. She seated herself as any royal would-that is, slowly and gracefully-then turned her attention toward her stepmother.

"Let us thank the Spirits for our bounty this night," said the Queen. "We are grateful and fortunate."

"Blessed be the Spirits," replied the rest of the family.

Right on cue, the cooks came out laden with dishes of food, laying them out before the royal family with poise and dignity.

Yang-Wo had to admit to himself, he was performing flawlessly. He attended to the Princess's every wish without having been told to do so, and was receiving approving glances from Adam, a clear look of relief on his face. The royals conversed amongst themselves very little; it was clear that the family wasn't exactly close. When they did talk, however, Yang-Wo focused nearly every ounce of his energy on ignoring it; he didn't know if he could bear any talk of his beloved home and how it was currently under occupation.

When dessert arrived, the cougar was positive that he had already mastered serving dinner. However, the Princess, who had hitherto been giving the slave withering looks with each task he performed well, decided that she was fed up with Yang-Wo being so perfect.

"Slave," she said carelessly, "bring me more wine."

Yang-Wo did not verbally respond, but simply nodded and retrieved a decanter of wine, hurrying back to pour it for her. Right before he made it to Princess Glaysia's side, he stumbled, as if a rock had suddenly appeared in his path. Desperate not to spill upon the Princess, he caught himself and the decanter on the smallest cushion of air, almost floating back into an upright position.

He was just about to release a sigh of relief when a shout startled him.

"You dare use your powers!" the Queen bellowed, extending her palm at him ferociously. A gale with the force of a hurricane threw Yang-Wo against the wall, where his head and body hit with a sickening crack and thump. The stones of the wall transfigured to bind him by the wrists and ankles, and before he could blink, the water from the jugs on the table was swirling like a serpent in midair and flying toward him, solidifying into daggerlike shards of the hardest, sharpest ice.

"Mother, NO!" screamed Prince Xeneth. The shards stopped inches from the feline's flesh, still hovering threateningly. Yang-Wo felt his chest heaving in panic, his breath coming in gasps, his heart fluttering wildly, attempting to force itself out of his chest. His eyes flickered between the Queen and the Prince, and he knew by the look the Queen was giving her son that the Prince had sacrificed a great deal to save him.

"I am sorry, Mother, I spoke out of turn-"

"You will regret defying me, Xeneth. And your little plaything shall certainly rue using his meager talents." Compared to the beautiful, serene, inquisitive woman Yang-Wo had met just a week previously, this new and wrathful creature was horrifying. "Sennaven, call the guards and have them escort this slave to the West Tower. I shall send General Daliah up to have a word with Prince Yang-Wo about using his powers in my palace." The Queen's voice had returned to its normal mildly amused tone, but it sounded infinitely more deadly this way. With a wave of her austere paw, the water returned to the jugs from whence it came, and she sat once more, clearly ready to finish her dessert in peace.

Sennaven, one of the servants who had been present when Yang-Wo and Adam arrived, rushed off at once, and within seconds, the guards had come in to cart Yang-Wo off to the West Tower, manipulating the earth of the walls to bind Yang-Wo's paws behind his back. Adam chanced a mournful glance as the cougar exited, but Prince Xeneth did not look up at his slave, choosing instead to stare in silence at the half-eaten dessert in front of him.

The West Tower was a long walk, not to mention painful, with the guards jabbing at the slave Prince and laughing. Up and up and up flights of stairs, up and up and up. The cougar's muscles ached in protest as he ascended, but he dared not slow his pace, for fear of further retribution; he was already to be punished by General Daliah, and he would not allow these guards the same opportunity.

Finally, after what seemed hours, Yang-Wo was pushed through a coarse wooden door into a cold metal room, the window only a hole with bars. The floor seemed stained a coppery color, and as the cougar noticed the manacles on the walls, he thought he smelled the vaguely salty smell of blood.

Unfortunately, Yang-Wo had barely a second to shiver at the prospect of what went on in this room before General Daliah burst through the door, brandishing a large, leathery whip. Before the cougar had even acknowledged she was there, she let her whip fly with blazing speed and accuracy, slashing the cougar across the cheek with a loud crack. Yang-Wo fell to the ground in anguish, wailing as much in surprise as in pain. He really didn't have time to register this first wound, as he was repeatedly flogged in quick succession, each time howling in agony, the whip bruising and cutting him deeply.

Through the torrent of blows he was receiving, he could hear General Daliah shouting, "Don't you ever use your powers in this castle again, or you shall surely beg for death when I reach you!"

Then, it was over, and General Daliah turned and exited as suddenly as she had come, leaving the bruised and bleeding slave broken on the cold metal floor, sobbing throatily, every part of him blazing.

S_o this is punishment in Zanat-Ven_, Yang-Wo thought to himself. Swift and merciless.

After a few minutes, during which Yang-Wo simply cried and cried, the door swung open again, this time more slowly. "Get up, slave," commanded the arrogant Melnamourn, and Yang-Wo felt the look of disgust he received rather than saw it.

The slave Prince stood as quickly as he could, wincing in pain as he did so, trying to control his crying.

"I am to escort you back to His Highness Xeneth's harem, with the message that you would do better to fling yourself from the tallest tower than to use your powers again under this roof," he chastised harshly, then turned without another word and led the way back down the stairs, Yang-Wo struggling to keep pace.

When the cougar arrived back at the harem, Melnamourn said, "You are all to take heed of the lesson this slave has just had to learn! Get him cleaned up in case the Prince requires his service again tonight, though I don't know why His Highness would want such an impudent piece of feline trash." He slammed the doors behind him as he made his exit.

Yang-Wo was crying into Adam's arms before he had even really looked around the harem at the stunned faces that peered back at him. The hulking horse kissed over the cougar's face softly, shushing and comforting him, his large, powerful arms using a much more tender grip than usual.

"Come," said Adam in the feline's ear. "Let us get you to Lang. He will bathe you and tend to your wounds."

Hours later, Yang-Wo was relaxing with Adam, Velnuro, and Melanie, his long locks braided once more, his cuts cleaned, his fur fresh and shiny. They had asked about what had happened, but thankfully, Adam filled them in on most of the details, sparing Yang-Wo from reliving them. However, his punishment was his own experience to relate.

"It was Lady Daliah," Yang-Wo said, to the amazement of the others. "She strode in and started whipping me...and she left just as fast." He shuddered.

"I wonder why the Queen would pick someone of such high rank as the General to carry out a punishment on a slave?" Melanie questioned.

"That woman hates me," Yang-Wo replied acidly. "She's loathed me from the moment she first set eyes on me."

"Hmmm..." was Melanie's response.

"I am so sorry that I never warned you against using your powers, even in the tiny way you did," Adam said softly. "There have been others before you who've done what you did, only using the slightest gust to keep from falling, or moving some soup or wine to keep it from spilling. If the Queen shows her temper for anything, it is the use of Spirit magic by a slave."

"It is all right, Adam, it is not your fault," Yang-Wo responded honestly. He smiled at the equine, who gave a small smile back. "It is my fault for being careless, though I hardly think the punishment fit the crime," he added bitterly.

The doors to the harem swung open suddenly, and all the slaves turned, expecting Melnamourn to give them an order. They were surprised to see Prince Xeneth's formidable form standing in the doorway.

"Yang-Wo!" he called, staring down into the harem at the cougar. His eyes were unreadable, but if Yang-Wo were to have guessed, he would not have thought the Prince looked happy.

The cougar stood silently, moving much more slowly than he had hours previous, and walked forward, a slight limp to his step. He kept his eyes on the floor as he made his way toward Prince Xeneth, and his body shook in fear as he realized that he was probably about to receive more punishment from his master.

"Follow me," said the Prince, and he turned and stalked off. It was only then that Yang-Wo realized that his own limping was nothing by comparison to Prince Xeneth's.

Two slaves jumped up and closed the doors behind Yang-Wo, and the clunk they made was portentous to the feline, as if it signaled his own doom. He followed Xeneth in what was unmistakably the direction of the Prince's quarters, dreading what was in store for him when he got there, his eyes watering from the fear. His breathing felt tight and quick, and he knew he was sweating beneath his clean fur.

When they arrived, the guards bowed them through the doors, then shut the two men in together. Yang-Wo was fearful and aching; each limping step the Prince had taken just made him more worried that the wolf had been punished severely for speaking out of turn, and was about to inflict that punishment tenfold back on his slave.

"Yang-Wo...please assist me in disrobing," the Prince requested quietly.

The cougar rushed forward silently and hesitantly reached out his paws, unsure of how to unlatch, unbutton, or untie all of the Ulcouri garments worn by a royal of Zanat-Ven. Xeneth grasped the cougar's paws in his own, making his slave gasp, and guided the feline to the buttons at his throat.

Yang-Wo fumbled with each new clasp or button or tie, helping to remove each piece of Xeneth's clothing, but the Prince remained extremely patient, assisting the slave many times. All the while, the cougar's mind was working furiously, confused by the compassion and patience he was being shown after being the reason for the Prince's punishment.

As the feline peeled each piece of fabric from its owner, he had to use great care, and Xeneth was wincing from pain as he turned and stretched to allow his coat and shirt to be removed. Yang-Wo's eyes widened as he noticed that the Prince's handsome body was covered in swollen welts; he imagined the bruising beneath the dark fur must be severe.

When the cougar had finished with his master's upper body, he became flustered and uncomfortable and unsure. Xeneth's body was toned and taut, and each feature of it was confusingly attractive to Yang-Wo. As the cougar's paws reached for Xeneth's pants, they began to shake in earnest, a detail the Prince did not miss. Again, he grasped his slave's paws in his own, and again he guided them, pulling them toward the buttons along his waistline. With each button coming undone there was a little jump from the cougar, as if each unclasping carried the sound of a small explosion. Finally, Yang-Wo bent and pulled the pants down along the Prince's legs, averting his eyes to avoid giving any more than the briefest glance to Xeneth's private areas.

The Prince stepped out of his pants and seated himself on his massive bed, groaning in pain at the aches from his injured body. Yang-Wo folded up his master's clothes and placed them in the basket in the corner, sincerely hoping he did not make any mistakes, as he was still unsure whether or not he was to be punished.

"Yang-Wo, I would like it very much if you would rub my arms and legs and back and sing to me. Would you be so kind?" asked Prince Xeneth quietly and calmly.

Again, the cougar was taken aback. Why is he being so kind and sweet to me? All the other slaves have said he's callous and unfeeling, he thought to himself.

"Yes, Your Highness," he agreed solemnly. Yang-Wo could hear as Xeneth reclined onto his bed, and he slowly followed him onto it, perching near the edge with his legs folded beneath him, his eyes on Xeneth's right paw and arm, the closest parts of the Prince. With a few deep breaths, Yang-Wo began to sing a sweet melody about the change of the seasons and the advancement of life, and he tentatively reached out and began to rub his paws over the Prince's arm, closing his eyes and allowing his sense of touch to take over.

Really, the cougar closed his eyes because he had never felt so embarrassed and uncomfortable in all his life. He hadn't really learned much about healing and massage, and he wasn't sure what he was doing, but with his eyes closed, he found he could focus on the Prince's energy and Spirit, and home in on the areas that felt tender or enflamed.

The Prince winced with a twitch as Yang-Wo's fingers prodded a particularly sensitive welt, and Yang-Wo's eyes flew open, as did his mouth. "I am so sorry Your Highness, I did not mean to hurt you!" he exclaimed, pulling his own paws into his lap abruptly, his eyes on his knees. He was nearly in tears at the fear he felt, and his breath caught in his throat in thick lumps.

"It is fine, Yang-Wo, you did not hurt me. I am merely a little sore. Please continue."

The cougar was tempted to look his wolf master in the eyes to read his expression, but he squelched the thought, returning to his massaging and singing, his paws infused with a touch more confidence at the Prince's encouragement.

Yang-Wo sang two more songs as he moved to the Prince's legs, keeping his eyes closed for the most part, his mind only on doing the task in front of him. He did not want the distracting sight of the Prince's body to cause him further embarrassment, and possibly a few other, more physical reactions.

Finally, after a few moments silence, while Yang-Wo was pondering what to sing next, Prince Xeneth spoke.

"You must think I'm a terrible person..." he mumbled softly.

Yang-Wo stopped massaging the wolf, stunned into silence and stillness. A few moments passed, and Yang-Wo decided to speak, against his better judgment.

"To be honest, Your Highness, I really do not know you. I cannot offer an opinion on your character without knowing you first."

They sat again for a few moments in silence, as if each of their words required extensive thought by the other.

"Yang-Wo... I am so, so sorry for what has happened to your people," Xeneth said quietly, his voice cracking with emotion. "I do not blame you if you hate me. I would hate me, were I you."

The cougar felt tears welling in his eyes, and he felt baffled and shocked. Why was Prince Xeneth, the Crown Prince of the enemy, apologizing to him? Was this some kind of clever ploy or ruse in order to...to what? What could be gained by this?

"Please, look at me," Xeneth requested gently, reaching his paw out to rest it on Yang-Wo's.

It took Yang-Wo a couple of minutes to even comprehend what had been said to him. He very slowly tilted his head in the direction of the Prince and focused his eyes on his counterpart's, surprised to find the wolf's gaze dewy, as if he were fighting back tears. Again, Prince Xeneth's unusual eyes took Yang-Wo's breath away, and it was all he could do to keep from telling the wolf so.

Xeneth shifted and sat up, taking a similar crouch as Yang-Wo, facing the cougar on the massive bed. As he stared into the feline's eyes, he said vehemently, "I want you to know, Yang-Wo, that I would never give an order to invade yours or any other country. And when I am King, I shall do all in my power to restore the kingdoms my ancestors have conquered."

"That's why you have us all here, isn't it?" Yang-Wo replied, making the connection to the Prince's harem. "You're...trying to save us, aren't you?"

The Prince nodded. "Yes... But, I am afraid my efforts are in vain. I have kept you from the prisons, and yet you are still tormented by my stepsister and whipped by Daliah...subject to my mother's cruelty..." He sounded especially forlorn when speaking of his mother, and his eyes averted from Yang-Wo's for a moment.

"Yes, but... You saved me, Your Highness. You sacrificed yourself to save me. That... I cannot repay you for that kindness," the cougar replied, bowing his head low.

After a moment of silence, Yang-Wo was absolutely dumbfounded to feel Xeneth's body press against his, his strong wolf arms wrapping around the cougar, pulling him into a heartfelt and affectionate and sorrowful hug.

The cougar's whole body seized up; this was not the sensation of being hugged by someone like Adam or Melanie. Yang-Wo's heart began to race, and his breathing quickened. He stared at a purple tapestry on the far wall without really seeing it, his mind desperately trying to catch up to the turn of events, dumbfounded how he could now be enfolded in the Prince's warm, strong, comfortable embrace. The feline could feel each long breath his master drew, feel his beating heart, and was finding himself lost and overwhelmed.

After a few more moments, during which time his grip did not slacken in the slightest, Xeneth said to Yang-Wo, "I would do it again. Every life is sacred...my family pretends they honor this creed, but they do not...you've seen for yourself what they'd kill for. For preventing oneself from falling. For merely being a Prince of the supposed enemy nation," Xeneth said bitterly, clutching Yang-Wo even tighter.

This allusion to the Prince's stepsister did not pass Yang-Wo's notice, but he did not say anything. He was unsure of what to say, or even if it was appropriate for him to speak. The master and slave boundaries seemed to be falling away quickly between the two of them, but he didn't know which were still present.

Finally, as Xeneth released Yang-Wo, the cougar said, "Do the others know?" He gazed at Xeneth, the wolf's face somewhat stony now, close to its usual expression.

"No," he said simply. "You are the first I've admitted this to. I try to be as cold and indifferent as I can to my slaves, or even cruel occasionally..." he paused, a look of shame on his face, and Yang-Wo realized that the Prince regretted the harsh words he'd used as an answer to the cougar's first ever question. "If they suspected or knew that I was really trying to save as many of them as I could from prison or death, they'd run the risk of letting something slip. One gesture of kindness or affection on their part or mine would ruin the protection I've offered to everyone."

Xeneth stared with his beautifully mismatched eyes at his slave, and the wolf felt his heart jump frantically as he examined Yang-Wo's cool blue orbs. The cougar seemed afraid to the wolf, or unsure, or something that resembled confused.

"If you've revealed this to no one, why tell me?" Yang-Wo asked, realizing late that he and Xeneth were only inches apart.

The Prince took a while to respond. "There is something about you... Maybe it's that you're just like me, the Crown Prince of a warring state, bearing the weight of a war you did not create and did not ask for. Maybe it's that you're one of the leaders of what is supposed to be my country's greatest enemy. Maybe it is your humility, your genuine heart, or your beauty. But something about you entrances me...makes me feel protective," Xeneth explained. The wolf sighed softly, smiling just a little, and recognized just how relaxed he was in the cougar's presence.

Again, Yang-Wo was essentially shocked into silence. He really hadn't expected any of those answers, for he hadn't had a clue as to why he deserved to hear the Prince's secrets when everyone else did not. He was flushed in the face and ears, and he looked away from his master, feeling embarrassed and pleased, yet ultimately unsure.

"Your Highness..." Yang-Wo began, unsure of how he'd finish his sentence.

"Xeneth," the Prince corrected. "Call me by name when we are alone, Yang-Wo. My mother may use your title patronizingly, but I acknowledge that you are royalty, and I respect that you are my equal."

There was another slightly awkward silence, and Yang-Wo could see a change in the Prince that he didn't know how to respond to. The two of them were so close, and everything was starting to feel warm and tingly. The cougar could nearly feel something palpable between them, as if there were many walls that had separated them, and they were crashing down now, the rubble dusting their feet as they stared into each other's eyes.

"X-Xeneth," Yang-Wo stuttered shyly, flushing again, at which the wolf smiled, "How can you put so much faith in me? I worry that with this new knowledge, your fears that someone will slip and reveal your secret have the potential to become reality in me, and I do not know if I could bear betraying you like that, after all you've done for me tonight."

"Yang-Wo, you are strong and intelligent, and most of all, you have a pure heart. I know you can carry this burden, for you have acted with a grace and dignity that none of the others have. I trust you," Xeneth replied.

"Thank you," Yang-Wo said softly, looking away again. Xeneth made him feel nervous and shy, which was somewhat the opposite of his usual boisterous, carefree personality.

More silence.

"Shall I sing you another song while I rub your back?" Yang-Wo asked tentatively, smiling up at the handsome wolf.

"Thank you, my friend, that would be lovely," Xeneth replied happily.

Then something happened that Yang-Wo found completely surprising, but also very heartwarming. Xeneth gave a full, very joyful smile, and his tail thumped a couple times on his bed. These gestures were so small, yet they endeared the wolf to the cougar in a way he had never expected.

Xeneth lay down on his stomach, and Yang-Wo began to sing again, his fingers working his new friend's welts. The wolf sighed in contentment, feeling the heat from the young man crouched beside him, and he felt a bliss that he wasn't sure he understood, but that he trusted implicitly.

The two did not speak the rest of the evening, except to say goodbye.

"You had better get some sleep," Xeneth said finally. "I think it's time for you to return to the harem."

"Alright," was Yang-Wo's simple response. He couldn't help but feel comforted at the way Xeneth's voice requested, not demanded.

"I have enjoyed myself in your company much more than I have done otherwise in a very long time," the wolf intimated, smiling. "I hope that you will continue to grace me with your presence, and favor me with your friendship."

Yang-Wo smiled back, amused a bit by how the wolf could hope for his presence when he was enslaved to him. "I shall certainly come when you call," he replied a bit facetiously. And, to the cat's amazement, Xeneth chuckled.

"Yes, I suppose you will," he replied.

"Good night then, Xeneth," said Yang-Wo tenderly.

"Good night, Yang-Wo."