The Musafir
Attending a Dance Event
By nightfall, Munding Caraka was completely back. The buffalo roared to see Mantingan running towards him. And that young man, he had even forgotten to use his swordsman ability to flashed, running with both feet.
He hugged the buffalo tightly while laughing widely. Not concerned with the piercing scent of Munding is not the reeds of the braids. The buffalo was certainly unable to hug back, but swiped his head and horns onto Mantingan's body in return for the warm embrace.
“Aih, Munding, you're making me anxious not to play.” Mantingan stroked the head of Munding Caraka who never became calm. “Thank you for worrying about me.”
Munding just nodded slowly. Presumably, this time the intelligent buffalo understood the words Mantingan. The buffalo then thrust out the plants it carried with its mouth. Mantian.
“This ...” Manten muttered with a look of eyes that hinted at disbelief. “Munding, this is a Carrion Aroma Flower that is a hundred years old. This flower is very valuable .. Where did you find it? And how are you resistant to the smell?”
“Ongng.” As he unfolded, Munding pointed to the south with his head.
The mantle nodded slowly in return. “Come, Munding, let me treat the wound on your back. You did something really amazing that night.”
***
The dance will take place soon. All the women in the dance troupe prepared a lot of things. Sound tools in the form of tambur, harp, canang and rattles. The pula with anklets that will make a distinctive sound accompanies each leg movement. Silk shawls are glistening even though the night can be said to have been pitch black—sit is covered mega-mega thick. As well as bindi, a small object to be affixed to the forehead; believed to add to the beauty of the dancers. Everything was very well prepared and meticulous, the dancers looked very experienced.
Mantingan actually wanted to spend time with Mundingan while examining what medicinal plants the buffalo had found, but Kartika asked him to attend a dance performance.
“Your face looks very heartbreaking.” Such is the word of the woman who despite her age but her beauty still survives it. “That face I know as a face lacking entertainment. I can't bear to see it. Whatever you say, you must be there. If I don't see your nose in the audience later, I'll drag you with my own two hands.”
Kartika does not and will never know how the sadness of a broken love still lingers in Mantingan's mind. His face was no longer affected. Looks moody and lost the light. It was all because the news of the wedding of the North River Angel still tickled him. Like no stop, the shadow of the North River Angel's face continued to flash through his mind.
“Maybe Kartika is right, I need a little entertainment.” Mantan muttered softly before leaving Munding Caraka who was asleep on the terrace of the Tapa Balian residence.
The mantle folds both hands behind his back. Walk in short steps. More like an observer. He was not at all excited to see women dressed in brief swaying in such a way as to stimulate male arousal. Aside from the art of his dance, Mantingan felt he would get nothing more.
The atmosphere around him was quite crowded. The bamboo torch pole was designed in several places, spreading a light of dimness that gave a sense of vulnerability to the warriors who always hated dimness. The Koying soldiers were milling about, they were wearing uniformly, with a barn around the waist, some were chatting to each other and some were only paying attention to the preparations of the dancers in the distance.
The presence of Mantingan in that place actually attracted quite a lot of attention from among the Koying warriors. Of course Mantingan who was wearing all-white clothes looked very striking. Koying soldiers in uniform with dark colors, maybe to blend with the forest that will always create darkness no matter day or night. The mantle was like a white moon in the middle of a black sky.
Some looked at him suspiciously. Some even followed him silently, hiding among the crowd. A thousand soldiers were in this place, it was not a difficult thing to tail someone without being discovered.
However, it is a pity, Mantingan has installed the Science of Hearing Dew Drops since then. Even without the need to turn his head, the movement can be known so easily.
Mantingan only put up vigilance without intending to take action against the warriors who followed him. Even if they attacked, the Mantingan would only dodge and dodge, without retaliating.
At this time, he did not carry a sword. Not to attract too much attention. It only had 30 poisonous needles and 10 poisonous daggers under its clothes. Magic throw is just a piece. He intended to watch a dance performance, a little release of the agility of a broken love, not to fight.
But however, as a warrior who lives in the martial world, where the fight can happen at any time without knowing the place or time, The mantan is still preparing to face an unexpected fight at all. His guard is still guarded. His hearing knowledge is still being circulated in all directions. And the poisoned needle and knife behind his shirt, ready to be thrown anywhere.
“Revelation, Mantingan.”
The voice of a woman he knew broke his thinking.
Soft smiling coat. “Kartika asked me to come and watch your dance.”
“I don't think guys like you will like our dance.” Chitra Anggini smiled back. “But maybe you'll start liking it later.”
Shrugged his shoulders, not knowing. “You'll dance too?”
The question is just for pleasantries. Didn't it have been so clear from her clothes that Chitra Anggini would dance?
“Actually I was reluctant, but Kartika's sister asked me to dance, because maybe this will be my last dance with friends.”
“You can cancel your intention tonight.” Mantingan began to mean it, he talked about the intention of Chitra Anggini to go to Koying with him.
The girl shook her head. “Actually, I am also not at all happy to travel with you. If possible, I prefer to go to Kutai Kertanegara across the north there, wandering alone, without burdening friends. But what is power, this has become my duty.”
“Your job?” Mantang folding forehead. Traveling with him is Chitra Anggini's job? Why and from whom was the task given?
“I can't explain it now.” The woman shrugged her shoulders. Blink one eye. Mantingan quickly knows what that means. Chitra Anggini won't talk about it now.
In the distance there, some wayang women waved at Chitra Anggini. They did not make a sound, not the slightest item, but Chitra Anggini knew the meaning of the wave of the hand.
“I have to go now,” he said later.
Mantang nodded his head while smiling. “I'll enjoy her dance.”
Chitra Anggini nodded back anyway. Turn around and walk a few steps away. However, stopped. He turned back towards Mantingan. Looking at a million meanings.
“Mantingan, we will start the long journey tomorrow. I guess from now on, we should be friends.”
The mantel raised its eyebrows in wonder. “Are we not friends?”
“But not with travel companions.” Back Chitra Anggini said. “I hope you understand what that means.”
___
note:
When this work is finished, I will probably take a little bit of a pause, or not even write here anymore. When that happens, the only thing that can keep us able to interact, and the readers can know the development of the news, is social media.
I'm active on IG and FB. Readers can follow one or both. There, I can tell you.
I hope that our relationship is not finished when this work is finished.
