The Musafir

Negotiations on the River

After a while wandering around, Mantingan found a red-coloured sword near the entrance to the Balian Valley. Among all the swords in the puppet dancer troupe, this pedati became the only one in red, and presumably it is deliberately colored like that so that all puppet dancers can easily find Kartika.

The mantle stood before the sword with the open sword still clasped tightly in his right hand. Inside the pedicel room, Kartika turned her head towards him.

“Mantingan, is there something you need?” The woman asked calmly.

“I would like to ask you and the entire group to cancel your intention to steal an heirloom weapon in Balian Valley.” The mantle says sharply.

Kartika seemed to nod her head a few times before stepping out from inside the blade. Just as her foot was stepping on the ground, Kartika again said, “I hope you are willing to talk about this peacefully. Come with me.”

The mantang nodded his head. It was peace negotiations that he hoped for, rather than swinging a sword that always led to bloodshed.

***

“How much have you known?”

On the banks of a small river full of rocks, whose water is always clear and flowing fast, with the sound of ripples and the singing of insects, Mantingan and Kartika held peace talks.

Mantingan knew that the intention of Kartika to take him to this river was to keep the mind cool during the negotiations. Of course, in a situation where peace is really presented in plain sight, both will think many times before making a decision that can trigger bloodshed. This also indicates that Kartika is very serious.

“It doesn't really matter.” Mantingan said as he stuck his sword on the ground. “I just want to ask you to cancel that bad intention.”

Kartika before him shook his head slowly. “We cannot cancel it ...”

“Then ...”

“But the heirloom we are looking for is not in Balian Valley.”

The mantle scrunched his forehead.

“The heirloom was brought by Tapa Balian as he went to Koying.” Kartika. “We won't steal it here.”

The mantang nodded his head. The disappearance of Tapa Balian in Balian Valley which was replaced by a thousand Koying soldiers, the feeling is indeed no other possibility than that Tapa Balian went to Koying. But why did the old man leave the Balian Valley in such a hurry that he did not leave any kind of message to Mantingan?

“Then, do you guys want to find Tapa Balian in Koying?” The mantel asked.

“Actually we want to do just that, but we are aware that you will not let Tapa Balian be in danger just like that.” Kartika threw a meaningful smile.

“You know it.” The coat shows a big smile.

“What kind of deal do you want?”

Mantingan did not know too much about what kind of deal Kartika wanted. But if it is still in the form of theft of heirloom weapons belonging to Tapa Balian, then Mantingan will not agree.

Not only is the weapon of inheritance to be stolen belongs to Tapa Balian, but also concerns the safety of the crowd. However, heirloom weapons have a very much higher ability than ordinary weapons. If it was powered in, a basic level heirloom weapon could cut through ordinary weapons as easily as cutting leaves, and a high level weapon could cut a low level heirloom weapon as easily as cutting a twig.

Each heirloom weapon is capable of obliterating many human lives at once in just a very short time. And sometimes, every heirloom weapon can never be destroyed at any time, with the ability that still survives. To stop him, there was no other way but to kill his owner.

Often heirloom weapons create chaos that is not playful. As a story that Mantingan got from Kiai Guru Kedai about an heirloom weapon that spread terribly among the public world:

“This is a very embarrassing story for the martial world both black and white, so it is then used as a saga to be a lesson for future warriors. To you my student, I as your teacher must tell you this story, for it is the duty of every teacher to his student.

“This story begins when an iron forger accidentally finds an incredible blend in his weapon. Although he knew that the fusion could make his weapon untouchable, which was equally likely to spread chaos, the iron forging did not care and still forged his weapon. Intentions, one will keep the weapon for himself, without ever being used and without ever being inherited.

“One time, however, came a famous free flow swordsman who bore the title as a Straight Swordsman. The title is not obtained from his sword, because his sword is a kelewang which is certainly not straight at all. But with his sword, he was considered to have done everything straight. He often quells rogues, helps drought villages, challenges both black and white warriors who are considered to have done damage, and there are many other things I cannot name all of them.

“The Straight Sword Swordsman can feel the aura of the powerful heirloom weapon stored in that forging. He then asked her and said he was willing to buy the heirloom at a high price.

“Why the forger became worried. He felt that his promise to keep the heirloom well should not be broken. But on the other hand, he felt that the Straight Swordsman would use that heirloom weapon to spread goodness. It was not unthinkable if one day the Straight Swordsman would spread chaos in the martial world and the lay world. After all, he was not from among the people, the offer of the Straight Swordsman was too tempting for him, a pity to refuse.

“At the end and for the first time, the forger showed the weapon of his forging heirloom to others. The Straight Swordsman instantly stunned. The heirloom was a pair of thin, double-edged swords, with a silver crest that could even still shine in the darkness. The pair of heirlooms felt very suitable for him.

“'These two swords are straight, beautiful, and very strong, you forge them with all your soul,' so he said, ‘ini is perfect for me.’

“The forger certainly became very proud to hear the heirloom of his creation praised by the most famous swordsman at that time. He then asked, ‘I hope I have forged this weapon as well as possible and hope that there are people who deserve to ask for it. Until now I have found you, O Swordsman of the Straight, who truly deserves to ask for it. But what is the word meminang without giving maha.’

“Straight Sword Swordsman certainly knows the meaning of the forging words. To him, he replied, ‘To have this pair of beautiful swords, I am willing to give up my entire treasure to you. Let's just say how much you need, o reliable forgers who really can't be matched by forgers in any country.’

“‘Truly I really feel very bad to ask you for money, O great swordsman mandraguna that can not be matched by any swordsman. But I don't think I'm wearing this sword that I take off to you, because it can tarnish your big name if the news gets widespread. Really I just don't want to smear your name.’

“‘Ya, I know exactly what you mean. Right now, you only need to say the amount of money you want, O Father of Iron Forging!’

“Then the iron forger answered with a hint of doubt in his mind, ‘I only want ten thousand pieces of gold, O very honorable Straight Swordsman! Do not let this sword look so cheap to be able to be with you.’

“Straight Sword Swordsman laughs happily, ‘I'll pay! You wait here and keep the sword well. Tomorrow, I will return with a pedati full of gold pieces!’”