The Woman Ruler of the Altan Clan

Chapter 6 In Your Hugs

Shanum's neck hurt, and his back felt strange. As he opened his eyes and glanced around, he knew the reason. He was currently on the sofa, just above the old-fashioned velvet sofa, which originally only functioned as a place for light conversation, but was definitely not for sleeping. "Where am I?" ask Shanum. Diva turned to him and smiled.

"You're finally awake too. I'm tired of waiting for you here. Farah and Ula are taking the drugs in the Medical Emergency Box in the car. The team picked up the phone outside. They were all here. But since you didn't notice, we started to worry. This is the house where the guard of this old town rests, "the Diva replied.

"How long have I been unconscious?" Shanum struggled to sit down. Diva helps hold it. "Well, it's been about an hour" replied the Diva. "Over again yes" ringis Shanum.

He felt his muscles moan in protest as he stretched, he tried to stand up, then bent his upper body, from right to left, turning his neck forward and backward. Then trying to step up, he headed towards the thick velvet curtain in front of the sofa, and flicked it over. Dust flew in the air, he covered his nose, while Diva was heard sneezing.

Such a bright light flooded the room, that its eyes were watery and poignant. His eyes squinted to adjust his vision. "For how many centuries the curtains have not been washed. Just shut Sha up, make itch your nose." Diva seemed to rub her nose which was faintly reddened by the itching. Shanum did not comment on Diva's words, but kept her hooks on both sides, to keep the curtain open.

"By the way, are you okay, Sha? What are you feeling?" ask Diva. Shanum turned his head, he saw the worried look of the Diva. He did not immediately reply, he looked back at the view of the meadow seen from the window.

Shanum tried to sort out what he needed to say and what he didn't. Because all the events he experienced were beyond reason. Finally he began to tell the incident at that time, his gaze still glazed looking out the window.

Then he closed his words by saying, "I'm going crazy like him. Maybe it was a dream I had. Or because my head is not strong enough to bear it, or.either, I am also confused..."

"Who's crazy?" farah asked, looking at them. Farah and Tim suddenly entered. Farah cut through their conversation and her gaze was now full of curiosity. Diva looked at Shanum, her eyes asking for permission, and after seeing Shanum shrug, she looked at Farah and said, "Shanum felt she was going crazy."

Farah squinted her eyes, her mind filled with a number of questions. But Shanum has his own set of questions, questions with no answers. "Diva can tell you," said Shanum, looking at the two before stepping away. Never did he want her to be as normal as she is today, that he could lean on them and cry on their shoulders like an ordinary girl.

But there was clearly a bigger problem behind this situation, which was invisible to the ordinary human eye. And although Shanum has not been able to prove it, if he wants an answer, he must go straight to the source.

Shanum approached Tim. "Em, I'm sorry. I've ruined our activities today. Can you, em...you accompany me somewhere?" ask Shanum. Tim was shocked by his request, but then he smiled.

"Okay, let's show it to me" replied Tim. The man asked nothing. It seemed that he did not dare to interfere any further, perhaps some kind of code of conduct at his job.

Shanum walked beside Tim, while looking at his surroundings, it seemed that he was starting to lose his way. He tried to be sure, but this place was confusing. Finally he gave up, then said, "Hm, Tim, do you know the location of a big tent around here. I seem to be confused by the direction." Tim nodded his head, then invited Shanum to follow him.

"Then asking a pervert on the road, the saying is absolutely true" Shanum murmured. He walked beside Tim, his instincts saying something was going to happen, he put both his hands in his pocket so Tim wouldn't see him shaking. Shanum forced himself to breathe as a normal person would, quietly-in and out, slowly and steadily, without gasping. Shanum was extremely nervous, but he had to face his fear once more, so that he would not continue to wonder.

"We've arrived, is this tent what you mean?" ask Tim. Tim's words disperse Shanum's daydream. He looked at the tent in front of him and looked around. "Yes, this is true, thank you Tim." Shanum smiled then walked to the side of the tent, he surrounded the tent, then stopped in front of the entrance. He still did not find any strangeness.

"This tent, named Ger, is a typical Mongolian tent, if you want to know," said Tim. Shanum glanced at Tim, his black eyes met Tim's brown eyes. "Does anyone come in and out of this tent from just that one door?" Shanum pointed at the golden-yellow door of the tent. Tim nodded his head, his eyes still staring at him calmly. "What else do you want to know about this tent?" ask Tim.

"I was just wondering how the guy I saw got into this tent suddenly disappeared inside. I couldn't possibly get it wrong, after a while, I followed him inside." Shanum asked grimacingly. Tim was stunned, then nodded his head, understanding beginning to show in his eyes.

"So you passed out because of that?" Tim asked with a smile. Shanum nodded his head, making it easier to answer the question, without further explanation.

"I told you about the history of this city. And, actually, Ula and I are descendants of the people who used to live here. They are our ancestors." Tim said as he rubbed the door of the tent. "Em.there's a story my grandmother once told me. This story continues to be retold for generations. Do you want to hear this story?" ask Tim. Shanum seemed interested.

"You, please tell me!" Their conversation was suddenly interrupted, in the distance was heard screaming.

"Hey, Sha-Tim, what are you doing? We're looking for you guys?!" shout Diva. They looked at the origin of the screaming voice. Shanum smiled broadly at his two best friends, and Tim smiled faintly. Ula followed the second step from behind, while carrying Shanum's camera. "Start playing secret yes with us, we were just left behind," Farah protested while shaking her waist. His face looked flushed holding in fury, his eyes looking disappointed.

Shanum felt guilty looking at the annoyed look on Farah's face. "I'm sorry, I brought Tim here because I was still curious. It was explained by the Diva, right" Shanum said while staring at Farah with a view asking for her understanding. Farah did not answer, she seemed to exhale. Shanum then took the camera from Ula's hand, and began to invite them all to continue to Itinenary next.

"You sure it's okay Sha, don't want to take the medicine first? Me and Ula were already taking painkillers in the car." Farah was already looking ordinary, offering medicine, while taking her steps. "No need, I'm fine. It was just a startled effect so it was," Shanum said with a smile. "Alright, then," said Farah while shrugging her shoulders. They then left the location of the old city.

"Oh yes Tim, you were going to tell me about the inherited story. Can you tell me now?" Shanum charges Tim with the story while they are in the car. The two Shanum friends looked at him questioningly. Shanum explained his conversation with Tim earlier to the two. The two of them then looked at Tim eagerly inquisitively.

Tim chuckled amusedly as he turned to the three girls on the middle bench and looked at their facial expressions. Their faces looked like children who were enthusiastic about getting candy.

The team then looked serious and began to say, "OK, I'll tell you about it, but we'll have to stop somewhere for lunch.

Lunch this time we do a picnic in the middle of the steppe meadow. You don't mind Ladies?" ask Tim. The three of them looked happy and excited. Diva clapped her hands, Farah gave her thumbs up, and Shanum looked smiling.

Ula stops the car under a shady tree. They got out of the car looking around. In front of them was a stretch of brownish-green grass. "Waw..beautiful," cried Diva. Farah and Diva looked enthusiastic, they immediately ran into that expanse of grass. Farah immediately threw herself on the grass.

"Farah-ooh, put on the pedestal first dong, new tambahan. That mat was already in Ula's possession. Your clothes are so dirty, huhh-jorok! Diva looks upset at the behavior of her friend. However, Farah remained unmoved at the protests of the Diva, she seemed to close her eyes while enjoying the atmosphere. Shanum smiled at their silly behavior. He helps Ula and Tim bring their picnic gear.

Then they roll out folding mats on a stretch of grass, and arrange the food that has been prepared by Tim and Ula before their departure. The three girls did not know if their lunch was done amid a vast expanse of endless grass, and under a beautiful blue sky.

"Waw, all the food looks delicious. What's this meal's name?" The Diva looked enthusiastic looking at the many foods before her. "It's called Beff Stroganoff, this one Candy, Shashlyk, then for dessert there's Ptichye Moloko . There is also a tea of this country. If you want mineral water, I'll get it in the car. We have a lot," said Tim.

Shanum took the Candy following the way Tim smeared it first with sour cream, as soon as Tim mentioned the name of the cream, and was shocked when chewing it. "The sour and savory taste exploded in his mouth, em.This sensation, it tastes like meat dumplings yes," said Shanum.

"Times, I'd like to try that too." Diva suddenly plucks one of the Candies from Shanum's plate. "Issh, get yourself a plate, ask for Ula." Shanum looks furious, seeing the food tasted Diva.

"Farah, woii.wake up, the food is delicious, I'll finish you," cried Diva. The super-fast voice of Diva made Farah jerk up. Shanum alone to cover both ears, his eardrum seemed to break hearing the sound of Diva's bells.

Farah woke up, her position was now sitting on the grass while frowning, and turned her head towards them. Diva looked with her innocent smile, while Shanum said the words without a sound, accompanied by his hand to move, showing the words to eat.

Farah moved towards them and sighed her buttocks sitting beside the Diva. They immediately shifted to give Farah a seat.

"That's delicious too, can you know how to make it, does anyone know ?" Diva asked Tim and Ula. "If for that matter it's better for Ula to explain, she understands more about the cooking world than I do." Tim seemed to be smiling shyly as he looked towards Ula.

"Beff Stroganoff is made from slices of beef cut into small pieces, coated with bread flour and fried quickly with onions and seasonings. Then mixed mushrooms and tomatoes, which are served with sour cream and tomato sauce. This cuisine can also be combined with rice, noodles or mashed potatoes. This time we serve it with rice."

Ula explains in detail how to cook the dish. "Wow, you guys eat rice too?" farah asked while chewing her food. "Yes, there are certain dishes that use rice" replied Ula.

Then everyone began to enjoy the picnic atmosphere.Without feeling their lunch was finished. As they were enjoying the euphoria of nature around him, Tim said, "Em. Let me start telling you. Are you guys ready? Let no one fall asleep."

Tim looked towards them all with a smile. "Furthermore, we promise to listen with our eyes wide open" Shanum replied with a smile.

"The Mongols at that time were famous as a nation of strong character and very fond of war. In medieval times its power stretched from Eastern Europe to Western Siberia. Several branches of the Mongol dynasty also stood in the conquered regions. One of the greatest dynasties was the Golden Horde. The city we visited was a replica of the capital of the dynasty." The team stopped for a moment.

The inhabitants of the city, in the grasslands of the Volga River and Siberia, originally came from grassland residents, who lived solely on livestock. Then they organized into families, clans and confederations, where clans became the basic unit in regulating society. Long story short that was talked about by our elders, at that time there were several clans given the magic by Tngri." Tim smiled seeing his third sparkling face.

"Tngri was a Mongol god at the time. The people from this clan had the power of the natural element itself, and had a very long age. Some say the people from this clan are also the shadow warriors of Genghis Khan himself. But it's all still a mystery. Genghis Khan's funeral has never been found. Like there's a power protecting him, so the world will never disturb him." Tim told a story while staring at the reaction of the three girls.

"So indirectly, you mean..." Shanum could not continue his words. "Yes, there are things that cannot be explained by logic in that city" Tim replied. "In other words, is there a mystical power in that city so?" ask Farah. Tim nodded his head. "It's appropriate when I was in town that my hair likes to suddenly bristle," chirped Diva.

"Well, no one's interested in you earlier Diva. That thing shadowed you there. Try it on the check first, it's a creature coming all the way here isn't it?" said Farah while displaying her nosy smile. "Times, can you also feel it Farah. Sure anyone's following me?" Diva looked to her right-left looking terrified, her face looking pale. He immediately inched closer to Farah, pulled his hand, and stuck his body very close to Farah.

"Don't stick around like that, you know nothing!" sewot Farah's. He tried to release the Diva's hand which tightly gripped his hand and wanted to drive the Diva away from his body. "Eatya so the people do not be nosy, finally hit the stone itself right," said Shanum while laughing amusedly.

Diva squinted her eyes. "You mean you're just scaring me Farah?! Ihh..basic, insolent! I'm really afraid to know. My heart would be torn off." Diva scolds Farah while banging Farah's body. "Yes-yes, sorry, just kidding, well-sick, fight.sudah dong Diva!" Farah tried to avoid the blow of Diva, she complained in pain, accompanied by the sound of laughter all.

"But Tim, the old lady called me Your Majesty, what does that mean?" shanum asked suddenly as he frowned. His index finger seemed to be tapping his lips. He seemed to think, Tim and Ula instantly stopped laughing. They looked at Shanum seriously. The Diva stopped hitting Farah, both of them gawking and staring at Shanum in confusion.

"Em, well, at first the old lady spoke a language I didn't understand. Then I explained to her, I don't understand her language. After that, the woman came to speak in English like me He said.em, if not wrong yes, Your arrival was ordained, Your Majesty. Always remember this message, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, love is eternity. Always listen to your heart, never look away.." Shanum said the old woman's entire speech eloquently. It was as if those words were already special imprinted in his memory.

Ula nudged Tim on the shoulder and there was a conversation between the two through the eyes. Shanum and his two friends noticed Tim and Ula's behavior. Silence ensued, they were still staring at each other in silence. Finally he couldn't bear to say to Tim and Ula.

"Hey, don't look at each other, I don't understand! Just tell me what's on your mind, I'll try to understand." Shanum said while sighing and shaking.

Ula suddenly stood before Shanum, her hands seemingly rubbing her chin and scanning the area as if afraid that anyone would hear their conversation.

"Shanum, girls.we'd better not continue this conversation here. Because the situation here is really-even us, me..." "Oh, for sure." Shanum nodded, refusing to let Ula finish her words. "So, tell me, is there another story that may be similar to the strangeness that often happens, right there?" ask Shanum.

Ula poked her lips, causing the two identical dimples to appear, but it did not distract Shanum; such things no longer had any effect. Not that it ever had an effect. "Listen," he said, trying to keep his voice low, under control, despite the look of his face leaking it all, vividly expressed his tension.

"We can't explain here, this place has a lot of ears which is certainly unsettling. I hope you understand Shanum, we're still in the territory of the ancient city." Ula explained, her eyes looked at Shanum with a 'preferably we're rushing away from here' look'.

"Ohh, to be honest, I don't like this tension at all, seriously Sha, if you can't see it, it's starting to sound crazy. And, the truth is, despite all that, despite all this." Farah patted Shanum's shoulder.

"I really want to help you, but.well, you seem to be outside of your usual behavior. We'd better clean up this whole mess and get back in the car." Farah tried to break the awkwardness felt between them.

Farah got up from her seat, and so did all of them. While cleaning up the leftovers, and helping Tim and Ula who had moved folding mats. Shanum just looked observing, his face still looking turbid.

Diva suddenly took a step closer, slowly, carefully, and said quietly, "Maybe we can have a quick coffee or something? Go somewhere quiet, where we can sit and talk? You seem to need a break. What say?" Shanum looked at Diva, seeing her soothing smile. He understood so much, Shanum had to admit it.

"certain." Shanum smiled, nodding in agreement. Diva exhaled her breath, she immediately pulled Shanum's hand towards the car.

Then they headed to the nearest coffee shop. Ula and Tim knew a comfortable place to go. The coffee shop was quite pretty, with a local classic building, looking cozy.

They took a sitting position near the window in the corner of the room. When everyone had sat down and ordered, Shanum suddenly recalled his camera. He rushes to get up and asks Ula for the car keys. The girl refused Ula's help to get the camera.

As he returned from picking up his camera, Shanum rushed into the coffee shop, wanting to immediately enjoy a warm cup of coffee to clear his mind. He was not aware from the inside there was someone who was also pulling the door. Shanum lost strongly, he fell forward when the door opened inward.

A second later Shanum felt a warm and fragrant masculine body envelop him. Shanum still felt dizzy from the sudden force of gravity pulling him forward. The man looked flabbergasted, "You..." An identification mark was seen on his face. Shanum's eyes widened, "This man..." Shanum knew his cheeks were red, and not out of embarrassment but rather because the way this man looked at him, affected his feelings.

The flow of electricity between them was felt in the air, this time more stinging, when the introduction had affected both. The man had no intention of immediately letting go of his embrace. And for a time that feels like forever, Shanum wants this to pass.