Dragon Star Dahanapura

Episode 16 of Astana Curika 3

"Nak mas still have how many mustika stones like this?", asked Karta as if he got a big catch. Indeed looking for top quality mustika is difficult, because it has to kill a demon that is at least a hundred years old.

Gentala then sold all the mustika he had, there were 7 pieces of top level mustika, 89 middle level and 83 low level. He got 70 pieces of gold from the top level mustika, because the quality is good, 89 pieces of gold mustika middle level and 45 pieces of gold from the lower level mustika. The total picis he won from this sale was 204 pieces of gold.

A very large number at that time, not to mention the Karta Teuragan gave keris mattress upih to Gentala for free. Karta then explained, that the kris was made by an Empu from the north coast named Empu Kandangdewa. He is the most famous kris maker in the Kingdom of Kahuripan.

"I want to repair this sword, and ask him to make a scabbard, like Uncle's warangka keris" Gentala said after listening to Karta's explanation.

"Den Mas, for sarong keris it was not made by Empu Kandangdewa, but it was a special order from Lodoyong", replied Karta. (Lodoyong is now known as Tulungagung)

Karta also explained that there was an empu who used to make the sword, named Empu Prahasta. In addition to making swords, Empu Prahasta is also an expert to make warangka. It is likely that this time has been replaced by his successor, because 20 years ago the King of Karta had met him and his age was over 100 years.

"One more Uncle, what was the name of the beautiful girl who had ordered the mustika", Gentala asked with a smile.

"If it forgets Den Mas, do not need to be pursued, find another woman" answered Karta as if to understand the turmoil of Gentala.

Then Karta explained that the woman was one of the most powerful elders in Padepokan Bukit Bintang. Her name is Kirana Mahadevi, she is the most beautiful girl in the Padhepokan, as well as the cruelest, when dealing with men.

"It seems that uncle knows a lot of things" Gentala said.

"Ha ha ha ... This merchant like me, must know a lot about the development of the martial world, otherwise how can I sell weapons and heirlooms" replied Karta proudly.

Karta recounts, he opened a branch in Lodoyong, so that many know the information there.

"Den Mas can go to Astana Curika in Lodoyong, if you want to find woodworkers there" said Karta.

Then Karta whispered something to Gentala, which made her face red. The new gentala realizes the truth that Wardhani told them.

After saying goodbye, Gentala immediately climbed on the back of the Bonggol and spurred him quickly to the inn. "What did the man say, boy?" asked Wardhani.

"His right, there is a group of people who have harassed the great Aryan family" replied Gentala.

Then he told me that Karta said he had to be careful when looking for woodworkers in Lodoyong, because in that region there were murders of some woodworkers. The murder victim had the same features, almost all of his body blackened and blistered.

"Father of Wisa" said Wardhani. He recognized the technique used to kill each victim. Wardhani then told, that it was one of the mainstay of Padepokan Bethari Durga in his day.

"Why the move is still there until now, it should disappear, along with the destruction of the shred" Wardhani said.

"Hey, is there no one who can fight that style?" asked Gentala.

"If only Begawan Palarasa were alive, he could find a way to fight that style easily" Wardhani replied.

According to Wardhani, Kamajaya was also once a student of Begawan Palarasa, so it is very possible that he could fight that style. And if that were true, he would definitely leave a clue about it.

*****

The Griya Pakuwon Inn...

Kirana Mahadevi's entourage was welcomed by the servant and given a special banquet. The innkeeper even intervened by himself to greet him. Not because of fixed subscriptions, but because Padepokan Bukit Bintang they came from.

Who is not familiar with the plots, even the Duke's class also respect the elders of the college.

"Please Den Ayu.., we have not entertained groups from Bukit Bintang" said Nyai Anjani, the owner of the inn who opened many branches in this kahuripan land.

"Hyai didn't bother to welcome us" Kirana replied.

Anjani invited Kirana and the group to sit down to wait for his favorite dish. Wedang ginger and snack food become mandatory menu that he ate when stopping at this inn.

Soon, the whole dish was spelled out, Anjani invited them to enjoy it. The five girls ate voraciously, without caring around.

Gentala's heart beat back very quickly, his eyes did not switch from looking at Kirana's face from afar. While the one in view did not look at Gentala at all, because he was enjoying the dish in front of him.

"Older, young man there, from earlier looked towards here" said Orange one of the girls at the table.

"Yes right mbak yu, isn't that the young man we met earlier at uncle Karta's place?" Sasmita followed after glancing at Gentala.

"Handsome is also his face, hihihi.", whispers of girls watching Gentala.

"Hush... be silent not you", Kirana said while still enjoying the warmth of ginger.

Hearing Kirana's elder scolding, the girls instantly fell silent and continued eating them. No one dared to refute Kirana's words, they understood very well what punishment would be accepted if denied.

Kirana glanced at Gentala, silently confirming the words of her students. Kirana occasionally looked at the young man, she felt a tremor in her heart.

But to cover it he immediately sipped ginger with both hands, his white face looked reddish on his cheeks.

Gentala was not much different, when he looked at Kirana, the world seemed to stop spinning. His heartbeat became increasingly irregular, but he did not take his eyes off. Don't look, not even blink.

"Be careful with women, the more beautiful the more dangerous" said Wardhani who had observed.

"It's okay Nyai, any danger I will pass for his sake" said Gentala.

Gentala's view was forced to be diverted, when Narsih came to bring ginger wedang and grilled yam in front of him. While enjoying the dish in front of him, he again glanced at Kirana.

Over time, Kirana was caught off guard by Gentala's behavior, although one side she felt happy when looked at. Just to take care of his wife and then suddenly, he threw the ginger wedang container that he held towards Gentala.

U.... !!!

The container made of bamboo, landed heavily on the temple of Gentala, so hard that it made the temple bleed.

Gentala could not avoid the throw, but he deliberately did not avoid it.

"Huh..take that, so if you have eyes that are guarded", shouted Kirana. He hoped Gentala was in pain from the throw. But what he expected was not in line with reality. Gentala even smiled sincerely, happiness seemed to fill the look of his face.

Oh... Dewi Kamaratih, the Goddess of Love

Look .... Right now my soul mate is sending a bamboo container as a gift

He also spoke to me...

"Hey boy..lunch like this don't be delirious, soon your heart will kill you, ha ha ha", said Wardhani while laughing at the insanity of Gentala.

Sure enough, before long Kirana who heard the rumble Gentala, immediately jumped and drew her sword. He planned to scare Gentala by thrusting a sword into Gentala's chest.

Kirana jumped in the air, the sword she wielded was directed to Gentala. Seeing that, Gentala did not dodge, he drained his internal energy into his left hand.

Again, not expecting Kirana does not match the reality, Gentala actually captured the sword with his left hand. After catching the sword, he deliberately pulled it.

Kirana who had not expected her sword to be captured, was startled and followed the pull. No doubt his face was now only less than half a inch away. He could even feel the breath of Gentala.

"Kirana Mahadevi is waiting for me in Bukit Bintang" whispered Gentala.

Hearing Gentala's words, it was as if Kirana regained her senses and drew her sword. Not until there, with a little jump, he kicked Gentala's chest hard.

"Dhuug... braakk ... !!!

The gentala was pushed back and hit the wall made of woven bamboo. The bamboo wall was crushed by Gentala's body, he fell and fainted. His left hand appeared to bleed from Kirana's sword incision.