The Swordsman

CHAPTER XVI

The state of Patih Lembu Ireng has begun to improve, Ajisaka has treated it and channeled his internal energy. Putri Sekar Ayu immediately met Patih Lembu Ireng to negotiate what steps should be taken because Patih Lembu Ireng has rejoined the group.

“How are you doing Patih Lembu Ireng, are you still able to continue the journey?” ask Putri Sekar Ayu.

“Her condition has improved, princess. Servants are able to continue the journey to escort the princess,” replied Patih Lembu Ireng steadily.

“Mr princess, we should send some soldiers riding to the palace without stopping to report the attack of the rebel mob Bajing Alas. It is not taken lightly they openly dare to attack our entourage and endanger the life of the princess. They have also done mischief here and there that harms the people. King Nagendra must immediately take action to quell the rebel group Bajing Alas,” said Ajisaka.

Patih Lembu Ireng squinted his eyes, he was infuriated by Ajisaka's proposal to send soldiers to the royal palace to report the attack that occurred to the group of Princess Sekar Ayu.

“Alright, choose some tough soldiers to ride relentlessly to the palace to report the attack carried out by the Bajing Alas rebels,” said Putri Sekar Ayu.

“You better ride to the palace, because you are the toughest soldier,” said Patih Lembu Ireng.

He planned to keep Ajisaka away from Princess Sekar Ayu in order to easily kidnap and bring him before Paramarta.

“No... I do not agree Patih, Ajisaka has always managed to protect me. Let Ajisaka stay here,” said Putri Sekar Ayu.

“Alright I will stay here, should Putri Sekar Ayu write a letter to King Nagendra. The letter was tied to the foot of the dove, and the dove would fly to the royal palace. The letter in anticipation if the soldiers sent to the palace fail in the middle of the road,” said Ajisaka.

“But our entourage no one brought pigeons to deliver letters,” said Putri Sekar Ayu.

“Andu can call the dove to send a letter, the servant has already spoken to him.”

“Alright, I'll write a letter to father soon. Hopefully this letter will soon reach the royal palace,” Putri Sekar Ayu rushed out of the tent where Patih Lembu Ireng headed to his tent.

“Why Ajisaka always gets in my way, I should be able to get rid of him immediately,” Patih Lembu Ireng is very furious with Ajisaka's plan.

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~ Royal Palace of Dananjaya ~

Bayu who joined as a border guard soldier has returned to the palace. The situation in the fortress of Bedog village was still safe, there was no sign of the warriors from the Sky Kingdom attacking. He returned with a retinue of guard warrior leaders to report the situation around the fort to King Nagendra.

The three young men who had come together to become royal warriors were finally reunited. Bayu, Aryo and Jarwo were chatting under a banyan tree in the square (field).

“Finally we can regroup even if Ajisaka can not come, because he is still escorting Princess Sekar Ayu,” said Aryo.

“Ajisaka lucky to see Putri Sekar Ayu ayu up close, I have never seen her, I heard she is very beautiful,” said Bayu.

“She is indeed very beautiful, I have seen her when she went out of the palace to the temple of His Gayatri,”, said Jarwo.

“How are things at the border, have there been any signs of the Sky kingdom warriors starting to attack?” ask Aryo.

“The situation at the border is still safe, there has been no sign of the arrival of the Sky kingdom warriors. It's just that in Bedog village the situation is less safe, there are many robberies and theft of livestock. All the criminals who rob and steal are the members of Paramarta the leader of the Bajing Alas rebellion,” Bayu said.

“See the bird brought a letter,” shouted Aryo.

Jarwo immediately caught a pigeon that looked very tame. Jarwo opened the rope that tied the letter to the foot of the dove. Handed the letter to Bayu.

“Read, I can't read, who knows it matters,” Jarwo said.

Bayu immediately unrolled the letter. The letter was written to King Nagendra's father.

“This letter from Princess Sekar Ayu to King Nagendra. We must immediately face King Nagendra to deliver this letter,” Bayu said.

The three of them walked into the palace to face King Nagendra.

“Ampa, Paduka Raja, I want to deliver a letter written by Putri Sekar Ayu to Paduka,” said Bayu handed the letter to King Nagendra.

King Nagendra sighed and received the letter. From yesterday King Nagendra seemed to have a feeling his daughter was in danger.

“We were in the square when a pigeon came down and brought the letter,” Bayu said.

King Nagendra looked for a moment at Bayu, Aryo and Jarwo and began to unroll the letter.

“This is very strange to the King why Putri Sekar Ayu sent a letter through a pigeon. Is there an incident that happened to the group of Princess Sekar Ayu,” said Patih Samana.

“Yes, this is indeed very strange, may my daughter be fine,” said King Nagendra began reading the letter.

His face looked wrinkled and held in anger as he read the letter. He looked towards Patih Samana.

“Patih Samana.., Bajing Alas rebel group dare to attack the group of Putri Sekar Ayu. Patih Lembu Ireng is injured, Princess Sekar Ayu's entourage is now on its way back to the royal palace. Immediately send another group of soldiers to pick up Princess Sekar Ayu's entourage. I am worried about his safety especially Patih Lembu Ireng is injured,” said King Nagendra.

“Good, I will prepare another soldier to pick up Princess Sekar Ayu. What about the Bajing Alas rebel group, we must quickly move to crush its roots,” said Patih Samana.

“After Princess Sekar Ayu returned to the palace, send soldiers to eradicate the rebel horde. Arrest Paramarta, he must get the death penalty. I don't care if he's my half-sister, how dare he endanger the life of Princess Sekar Ayu,” said King Nagendra.

Patih Samana immediately moved to gather soldiers to pick up Princess Sekar Ayu. Bayu and Aryo are also selected in the group of soldiers who will pick up Princess Sekar Ayu.

“May Ajisaka be fine, I worry about his condition especially when I heard that Patih Lembu Ireng was injured when Patih Lembu Ireng his martial arts was high he had several times advanced the war and came home with victory,” said Aryo.

“I'm sure Ajisaka is fine, martial arts and his inner power is quite high let alone his brain is also intelligent,” said Bayu.

One hundred soldiers led directly by Patih Samana moved out of the palace. They were racing their horses at an endless high speed. The troops must immediately arrive to where the group of Princess Sekar Ayu is located. King Nagendra was worried that the Bajing Alas rebel group was attacking Princess Sekar Ayu's entourage again.

Bayu and Aryo feel excited because soon they will meet with Ajisaka their fellow students in the padepokan Ki Waskito.