Queen Without Crown

Chapter 54 The Encounter at the White Pagoda

In search of Queen Gita, the three men walked down the main street of Baiyun town. By pretending to be tourists they go in and out of shops and shops.

Several times they asked the people they met about the woman with the characteristics of Queen Gita, but no one knew. Until finally, they were advised to visit the White Pagoda near the Lan Se river.

Because reportedly, there is a destination for people to pray and look for money. Not infrequently many people make requests.

They walked some distance on the slightly damaged dirt road. Several times they passed through the simple houses of the locals made of wood and roofed straw.

After some time, they finally arrived at the edge of the river. There is a small pier, where the canoes are moored.

The owner of the boat approached them immediately. Offers cruise packages at attractive prices. Not wanting to waste any time, the three people immediately agreed.

One by one they started to ride the boat. Eldrige, who was carrying the baby, went up first. It was followed by King Satria. That was when a canoe hired by a young couple passed them.

King Satria accidentally stared at a woman wearing a woven hat who was riding the canoe. Although the woman's face was covered by her hat, she knew that she was also looking at him.

Somehow there was a strange feeling that suddenly got into him when he saw the woman getting away. There is a side of his heart that hopes to meet the woman again, at least to see her face.

"We will reach the White Pagoda before noon." The sampan owner said while heeding his paddle, creating ripples of waves in the clear greenish river water.

"Hopefully there's someone who recognizes the Gita." Prince Gaurav said as he looked towards the green hills across the river.

The king of Satria held a pendant on a necklace around his neck. His mind floated on the owner of the necklace.

From a distance began to see the building of a towering pagoda. The White Pagoda is built on a small island in the middle of a river. On the edge of the river there are several sampans waiting for passengers.

They then go down one by one and tell the owner of the canoe to wait until they are finished. They walked hand in hand past the souvenir merchants along the entrance.

Awe enveloped them as they watched the Pagoda built from shiny white marble stone. The height of the building is about 45 meters and looks very charming.

"We'd better split up and meet again here in an hour." Prince Gaurav's.

"alright. Eldrige please take care of my son, sit on the bench there! " King Satria pointed to the benches under the flowering Bungur trees.

Eldrige's face turned sour when he saw a group of mothers sitting there watching their children. Even some of them are breastfeeding without shame.

"I'll just ask the souvenir dealer! " Eldrige walked away.

"Aren't you tired of carrying my baby?" Shouted King Satria, but Eldrige pretended not to hear.

They ended up going in a different direction. King Satria climbed the steps and entered the Pagoda building. The man took off his footgear.

The bells hanging from the ceiling were clanging rippling with the wind. The monks were praying in front of the Buddha statue.

Suddenly King Satria saw a woman walking out through the side door. The woman's hair was wavy black, part of her hair was carried upwards.

"Wait on! " call her.

The woman did not hear and continued down the steps. The wide end of his clothes fluttered.

King Satria hurriedly put on his shoes and chased after him from behind. His heart was pounding imagining the possibility that the woman was his wife.

The woman continued to walk towards the river. Her graceful gestures made King Satria sure that she was the Queen of the Gita.

"Gita darling! " Call him with a shout.

The woman stopped after hearing his call. The woman was surprised that someone called her by the name of Gita. The name that had been all this time was just an illusion in his dream. Instantly the woman looked.

"Fen, you must be exhausted. We better go home now."

A handsome young man suddenly came up to the woman and put a woven hat on her head. The woman was shocked to see that the young man was already next to her.

Again he was disappointed because all he had heard just now was his imagination. Then he lowered his head, allowing himself to be guided up the canoe.

"How did it go?" Ask King Satria when they are gathered.

"There was a monk who saw a woman similar to Queen Gita. She said she had come with a young man to ask about the good day of their marriage." Prince Gaurav.

"What's? Is that not the woman I saw? " Said King Satria.

"You mean you saw that woman? " Task Prince Gaurav.

"I just saw it from behind. "

"Where are they? "

"They just got into a boat. "

"Let's go after it! "

The three of them immediately boarded the canoe and told the owner of the canoe to immediately pursue the canoe that the woman was riding.

*****

"Eldrige, do something! " The command of King Satria when the boat the woman was riding was further and almost invisible.

Eldrige immediately dipped his hand into the water and twirled his finger. Instantly the canoe they were riding drove quickly split the river flow.

The owner of the paddling canoe became surprised and astonished to see the canoe speeding. With a trembling body the man hugged his paddle while shouting hysterically.

Their sampan turns sharply avoiding the sampans that float along the river. Then it went back at full speed. It creates splashes and big waves in the river.

The people who saw were amazed and horrified to see the strange phenomenon. They pray that the Lord of the river will not be angry.

The speeding sampan finally managed to cut the distance with the sampan he was chasing. Eldrige pulled his hand again when they had reached the edge.

King Satria gave some silver pieces to the owner of the boat who was still in shock. The poor man was nauseous and vomiting. Meanwhile the baby in Eldrige's arms was laughing happily.

"Where did the two men who had come down from this canoe? " Task Prince Gaurav to the owner of the boat they were chasing.

"They had gone on horseback towards the capital. " Answer the man.

"Do you know them? "

"Why should I tell you? "

Prince Gaurav became angry and wanted to hit the man, but was soon prevented by King Satria. The king of Satria took out a few pieces of silver and showed them to the man.

"So that's Mr. Chen and his fiancee. They live in the residence of Lord Liu, a royal official."

The man immediately replied as he was tempted with a shiny object in the palm of King Satria.

"How does that woman look? "

"The woman is not from here. I think you're from the same race." The man pointed at Prince Gaurav.

The king of Satria then threw the silver pieces at the man, then immediately walked away followed by Eldrige and Prince Gaurav.

They regretted not having brought a horse. But the valuable information they have obtained has been a bit of a relief.

"We have to be careful and not rash. I'm afraid Queen Gita will be taken away before we find her." Eldrige spoke while patting Princess Juwita's butt.

"You're right Eldrige. We better get back to the inn and start making plans." King Satria spoke excitedly.

They all agreed.