The Musafir

The One Who Descended from the Sky

What did Mantingan just do? His mantle was stunned when he realized that he had broken one of the men's hands. Even though they were thieves, had not Mantingan promised Kenanga that he would not play rough?

Isn't that the same as breaking his promise? That promise he really made?

His wand fell to the ground and his hand trembled slightly. What does he have to do now? Apologize to the two who were about to steal the horse, or apologize to Kenanga?

But Mantingan realized, that it had all passed and could not possibly be repeated. Wasn't he also in half consciousness? And it was not impossible for Mantingan to be killed if he did not fight back. Suppose not to lose any lives, Mantingan will lose his horse and endanger the position of Rara and Arkawidya in Kanoman there.

His regret was slightly lessened from realizing that. But for now, Mantingan could not sleep. Robbery can come at any time, it never hurts to be on guard. Morning will come soon.

The mantle walked towards his horse. The horse's mouth had been tied so it could not grimace when he was carried by the two men who robbed it. After loosening his ties, the horse shook his head several times and anchored his neck to the body of the Mantingan.

The coat replied to him by rubbing the horse's neck and patting it a few times.

Sunlight reappeared in the cracks of the hills, Mantingan folded his tent and continued the journey to Sundapura.

As if to be reciprocated, the horse riding the Mantingan drove faster and showed little signs of fatigue along the way. But Mantingan had cared for several delman horses before in the village, so that he knew the signs of the horse's body starting to fatigue, he could stop the trip for a while to rest if the horse's body was tired.

***

Throughout the two days that passed Mantingan took a quite tiring journey. Passing through sometimes very steep streets, or streets filled with rocks, mosquito-filled nights. During that time also Mantingan passed some shaman who really as expected that they lack water, he said, unfortunately Mantingan could not help much other than giving some silver pieces to the children who were begging by the roadside.

Seeing the village children begging on the side of the road has reminded Mantingan of his past. He himself experienced the same thing, begging with other children on the side of the road, waiting for a kind merchant to throw bronze pieces. Usually the more days, the more children who beg it less. Not because they are lazy or already rich, but because they are hunted to death thirst and hunger.

Now he was in the Sundapura area, but he could not see the splendor of the capital Tarumanagara, because the road to Sundapura was closed and guarded by many soldiers. For those who do not have a Sundapura residence card is prohibited from entering, and in addition to food vendors are allowed to enter.

The mantan was talking to one of the soldiers who stopped his horse.

“Am I not allowed to enter even if only for half a day, Mr Warrior?”

“Can't, Son. I know that the Son is a good person and does not mean bad, but this is the absolute decision of King.”

Mantingan took a long breath. When the middle-aged soldier was just about to go take care of something else but Mantingan called him back.

“Do you know an old man named Birawa in Sundapura?”

The soldier scrunched his forehead. “What did the Child just say?”

“Do you know Birawa?”

“Anyone in Sundapura knows him,” whispered the soldier, “but Birawa's name is too grand to mention for bad, so let's not mention her by name for the purpose of humiliation!”

“No! Nah! I didn't mean to insult him, Mr.” Manten. “I just want to talk to him.”

“Do Children already have an appointment with him?”

Back The mantel shook. “No, Father. But the business I brought was so important and precarious, that I could not make an appointment with him.”

“Bapak Perky Warrior, I beg you to help me, this is an important business and concerns life-and-death.”

“Many affairs concerning life-and-death here, Son. But my day is only limited to delivering your message to my superiors, who do not know whether my superiors will convey to their superiors, and whether the superiors will convey to the King directly, or not, and I don't know if the King will approve and meet Mr. Birawa, and whether Mr. Birawa will handle your life-related problems. But if I may know, there is a business with Mr. Birawa.”

Mantingan thought for a moment before deciding to speak the truth, it might be that his business was much faster and easier. “People named Arkawidya are in danger.”

“Arkawidya?”

Nope. It was not the voice of the middle-aged warrior speaking in front of the Mantingan. It was a sound that was sourced from another place, and it was unknown in origin. But that voice had brought all the soldiers who were there to their knees.

The voice did not contain a force that could bring people to their knees, but because it was the soldiers who deliberately knelt down. Except for Mantingan who did not understand anything, he still stood confused.

Then the voice appeared again, this time coming from above. “Arkawidya in what danger, Nak?”

The mantan looked up. He saw a human body with a robe fluttering down slowly from above until it touched the ground lightly. It's a high-level swordsman!

“Arkawidya is in danger what, Son?” Repeated again.

Mantingan had seen the prowess of the old man descending from the sky was still amazed by what he had seen. But he hurriedly replied after yelling at that person.

“Sorry, Grandpa, but I can't say that except to Mr. Birawa directly.”

“I am what you mean, my Son, why Arkawidya?”

The mantingan was even more amazed, was this really the person named Birawa?

“Sorry once again, Grandpa, I feel Arkawidya does not want this conversation to be heard by others.”

“I have turned off the hearing senses of the people here until we finish talking, My son. Say.”

Then once again the mantang menjura. “Father, Arkawidya has been enslaved in a brothel and wants to be freed from there.”

The old man remained calm as his robe continued to flutter in the wind, while the soldiers remained on their knees and heard nothing.

“Where is he now, my son?”

“Father, he was at the Land Inn in Kanoman with my friend named Rara. For the time being he might be safe-just.”

The man was silent for a moment and smiled. “Thank you for telling me, Son. It was a call to duty for me, because Arkawidya is my biological grandson!”

____

note:

May I ask you to write honestly the opinions and impressions of the Enemy in the comment field? It will help this story even better. Thank ye.