
“Hak! YES ...!! Rights!” swinging the sword left and right.
Sweat drenched Mr. Dalmar's burly body. Although he had reached fifty years of age, there was no fatigue and pain in Mr. Dalmar. He shrewdly moved his body with a sword swinging against the cold morning that was not yet bright.
“You're great, Mr.” Said the old merchant while smiling in amazement at Mr. Dalmar.
Soon Mr. Dalmar stopped his sword practice when he found the old man who worked as a merchant of the Capital approaching him in the yard. He tried to control his bad breath.
“You've woken up.” Mr. Dalmar said kindly.
“A trader should be able to get up fast if he wants to succeed.” Said the old merchant proudly.
Mr. Dalmar grinned his row of white teeth towards the old man in front of him.
The sun had not yet appeared in the black sky. Every three o'clock in the morning Mr. Dalmar always practices the sword in the small yard of his house. As if it was his duty to do so. Mr. Dalmar is not a man hungry for power and money. He was even more poor than the other villagers. He had no more hopes for his position as the Village Chief of Alba. He only carries out his duties without expecting rewards and praise from his citizens. However, he is not a person who is easily invited to negotiate when it comes to the village of Alba and its citizens.
After wiping off the sweat on his body, Mr. Dalmar went into his house to make two cups of warm tea for him and the old man who was looking through his yard.
“Come, Mr.” Mr. Dalmar asked the old man to sit with him on a large piece of wood near his door.
The old man stepped closer to Mr. Dalmar, “Thank you.” Said the old man while receiving a glass of warm tea from Mr. Dalmar.
“This village looks very peaceful, it is very desirable for me to settle here.” I'm the old man.
“Perhaps because the population is few and remote.” Said Mr. Dalmar.
“Then, I also lived and grew up in a peaceful and quiet village like this. We help each other. Sharing and loving each other. Maybe because we live on the coast. I love my hometown so much. However, it was all destroyed when the pirates coming from the sea attacked our village. They slaughtered the villagers without pity. In an instant everything shattered without leaving any remains. In the end, the survivors had to leave the village and go to the Capital. After arriving at the Capital City, I was fixated to see human life there that was inversely proportional to our life on the coast. It was as if time was going very fast there. No one helps each other, they are busy with themselves. They don't even want to help a fallen parent. I realized that the world is not a peaceful place. The world is not a beautiful place. But the village made me come back to being myself. I feel peace again like in my hometown.” explained the old man with a sad face.
Mr Dalmar sips tea from his cup, “Is the Capital City that bad?” ask Mr. Dalmar.
“Hmm ..” sighed, “It is not a mistake if the people who live there behave badly. They just want to live. If they want to live long in such a big and hard place, they must be very selfish. That's how they survive in the capital. Not just the people, there were even more ruthless and sadistic predators there. Power and wealth are also life to the people of the Capital. If we have abundant money and power, a peaceful life we will be able to feel there. Otherwise, those predators will eat us alive. That's the small picture of the Emerald kingdom today.” Obviously the merchant.
“There is no peace before we die. In every part of the world, where humans live, such things will continue to grow and be embedded in humans. What can we do, because we are only human. Only two choices in life, subjugated or subdued.” The old man returned.
Acie who was standing behind the door was silenced by the words of the old merchant. Is that as bad as this kingdom? So thought Acie. He thought there were fun places out there. However, all collapsed when they heard the words of the Capital's sword. It was as if the world was filled with a terrifyingly cruel muster.
When the sun was bright in the sky, some of Basilio's men came to Mr. Dalmar's house with a cart of goods belonging to the old merchant. His movement was damaged when it was found in the hills of Albion yesterday. Now the cart has been repaired by the villagers.
“Oh! His car is done repaired,” exclaimed one of the old man's employees.
“Iya. Your stuff is in the village hall.” Basilio.
“Thank you very much, Mr.” Said the officer happily.
It was seen Mr. Dalmar coming out of his house to hear the commotion outside. “It turns out the wagon has been fixed.” Mr. Dalmar approached Basilio.
The old merchant walked up to his wagon while checking the condition of his wagon which had originally been heavily damaged by the incident a few days ago. He looked relieved to see that his car was fine.
“We excuse you, Sir. There are things we have to work on.” Basilio said to Mr. Dalmar.
“Alright,” says Mr. Dalmar.
Soon Basilio and some of his men moved from there. Acie, Caezar, and Ciero walked up to his father and the merchants in the grounds of their home. Acie saw a dead yellow object shaped like a wagon with his inner eyes.
“Wah .. Uncle cart is good now yes.” Said Acie while showing her rows of teeth.
“Iya nak ..”
After breakfast, Acie and Caezar go hunting in the forest. Ciero and Mr. Dalmar stayed at home to accompany the merchants. It was seen that their goods that were originally stored in the village hall had filled their carts back. They will leave Alba Village in a few hours. They will return to the Capital City to see the situation there. If circumstances permit they will re-settle in the Capital.
“Everything is in order?” ask the old man to his staff.
“Completed in five minutes again, Mr.” Sahut.
“Alright, later in the day we will leave this village.” Cut off the old man.
When the sun was at the top of the head, Acie and Caezar returned to Alba Village with their hunted. Ciero looks enthusiastic to see the mountain deer. He immediately took over the deer from Caezar to make a delicious lunch. As the last dish for the merchants of the Capital.
The merchants left Alba Village with pleasure and gratitude. The whole village sent them away with joy.
“Be careful Uncle ...!!!” acie shouted as she waved her hand at the merchants who had moved away.
Suddenly the sky became cloudy and the speck of rain fell heavily soaking the earth. All the villagers panicked and ran to their homes. Mr. Dalmar raised his face to the sky filled with rain.
“Rain in winter?” muttered Mr. Dalmar.
“Daddy ...! quickly enter ...,” exclaimed Ciero seeing his father still standing outside.
Hearing his son's call, Mr. Dalmar immediately stepped towards his home. For a moment there was an uneasy feeling in Mr. Dalmar's heart as if something bad was going to happen.
About twenty kilometers below the hills of Albion, seen dozens of horses ridden by people wearing armor complete with their swords are walking towards the hill. Heavy rains continued to rain down the northern hemisphere without pause. As if not paying attention to the rain that was pouring down on them, the men in iron clothes continued to ride their horses quickly. Their horse's roar broke the sound of rain falling to the earth.
In a large, luxurious room, it looks like people who have authority and power are sitting quietly there. They were talking about something very important. No one is picking.
“This country must be cleaned. Before the uprising, all the people who had bad intentions and did not benefit the kingdom must be destroyed.”
Said an old man sitting on a throne with a golden crown on his head.
“Your Majesty, I have sent twenty knights to the Snieheuvel region. There are rumors that there is a settlement occupied by royal fugitives. In addition to fugitives, there are also many people who oppose the government. This is very dangerous for the Emerald Kingdom. After I negotiated with the head of the security defense in the region, we decided to review that region.” Clearly a burly and large man who was the commander of the Emerald kingdom.
“Good, Your Highness.” Sahut the Commander with great courage.
A strong wind is now crashing into Alba Village. The rain kept falling hard.
“Any, why suddenly comes a rain storm like this?!” ciero looked up at the sky from behind his door.
“My feelings are not good Brother,” said Acie who sat by the fireplace.
“This is a common thing, for what is considered strange.” Mr. Dalmar calmly.
“If in the tropics, it can be considered normal Dad, but this is in the snow hills where summer only comes three days a year.” Ciero said with a confused face.
“Have ..., no need to worry. Close the door back.” Break up the father.
A moment later, someone knocked on Mr. Dalmar's door loudly. Suddenly everyone heard the knock.
“S-who is it ..?” ciero said slowly.
“Let me open.” Caezar said as he walked towards the door.
Caezar was so surprised to see Basilio and Sol panting on his doorstep.
“What's up?” caezar asked with a confused face.
“Master, we have to talk to Mr. Dalmar.” Basilio said with a very tense face.
“Then go in,” tell Caezar.
“Thank you, Mr.”
Basilio and Sol immediately enter the house of Lord Dalmar. It seems that Mr. Dalmar and Ciero were a little surprised by the situation of the two men who looked very shabby and drenched. While Acie could only silently feel the heat from the fire in front of him.
“What happened? why are you here in the middle of a storm like this.” Mr. Dalmar said in confusion.
“Master, something bad is going on...! ” I'm Basilio with a panicked face.
“Please yourself first.”
“Good ... Mr.” Take a deep breath and then exhale slowly.
“So sir, as we were patrolling the mountain area, some of my men saw dozens of horses driven by people in iron fights heading to the Albion hills. Their distance to our village is about ten kilometers. Sir, I think they are the royal guard of the Emerald. It could be recognized by the clothes and flags they carried. Sir, what should we do? If those guards get to this village, this village will be in danger.” Basilio was serious.
“My lord, I don't know what the bodyguards mean here, but the spies I sent to the Capital also got some bad news. They say that the palace is conducting inspections on areas in the country. This was done because rumors circulated that one of the traitors of the kingdom had escaped from palace custody a few weeks ago. They are suspected of hiding in one of the regions in this kingdom. My lord, this village is a remote village, many of the residents here are fugitives of the kingdom. If until they know it, this village will be destroyed, no one will survive.” Add Sol with an anxious face.
“You haven't told the villagers about this?” ask Mr. Dalmar.
“Not yet, Sir. Me and some of my new friends know this.” I'm Basilio.
Acie, Caezar, and Ciero were shocked by the bad news. Their faces looked extremely tense and anxious.
“Dad, what should we do now?” caezar asked worriedly.
“We have to tell the villagers about this.” Said Mr. Dalmar.
“But Mr. .. if we tell the villagers, they will definitely panic.” Basilio worriedly.
“I agree with Dad.” Acie Saying.
“If we don't tell the villagers about this, they will panic because suddenly the royal guards come here, but if we tell them before it happens, then, they could restrain their emotions in the face of those bodyguards. It would be better if the villagers could perform like ordinary residents in general. Not acting like a fugitive who fears punishment.” Acie Clear.
“That's right, we have to tell the villagers if we want to survive.” Added Caezar.
“Basilio, get your men here. We will tell the villagers about this.” Pinta Mr. Dalmar.
“Good, Mr.” Sahut Basilio and immediately out of the house of Mr. Dalmar.
Basilio's men had gathered in front of Mr. Dalmar's house. Immediately Mr. Dalmar told them what to do.
“Listen to me carefully! Right now the royal guards are heading this way. We have to tell the villagers about this. Tell the villagers that they should behave as usual when the bodyguards arrive at our village. They should be as calm as possible. No one should rebel against the guards. No one should carry any weapons when facing the guards. And tell the villagers that they'll get here tomorrow. So, they have to get ready. One more thing, just in case, tell the women, children, and parents to gather in the hunting forest at dawn. You guys understand ...!!!” obviously Mr. Dalmar.
“UNDERSTANDING ....!!!!!” sahut the mountain bandits in unison.
Immediately they carried out the orders of Lord Dalmar. The bandits went to the villagers' house on a stormy night. And some of the other men went with Sol to the mountain to monitor the movements of the royal guards.
Acie walked closer to her father who was standing on the doorstep.
“Daddy .. I feel bad things will happen,” Acie said softly.
“All will be fine, no need to worry Nak ..” said Mr. Dalmar while rubbing Acie's head slowly.
“Hopefully ...,” murmured Acie.
Seriate...
******