The queen mother’s accusation on King Abra wasn’t false, well, the swore was absolute true. Kingdom of Baskara used to be led by King Arkha –Leena’s husband. King Arkha had passed away some time ago because of his illness. Rengganis had been enganged to Abra –second prince of kingdom Bamantara- the wedding was accelerated at the elderly’s of kingdom Baskara suggestion, considering the king’s crown was vacant. It would be a great opportunity for the other kingdom to attack. In fact, there were big war on the border. Fortunately, commander Khandra, a gallant you man with the best war tactics, mobilizing his troops under his command to guard and fight the enemies.
“Old granny!” king Abra glower the queen mother as if had skinned her alive.”Your daughter was guilty. If you’re still defending her, I have no problem taking your life too.” He grunted, pointed his finger on front of his mother in-law’s face.
Queen mother burst into laughter. “Try me if you can!” Queen mother Leena challenged him. She grabbed a sword from one of the guard, waving it at the king. “Attack!” she shouted. The lady was clearly not young anymore, a former knight woman, using her sword to tear her sarong wrapped around her underside, to smooth her move. Her gentle gaze turned out tobe alert, kept her eye out, told her friend from foe.
The sound of swords filled the whole room. The guards were blind ttacking on one another, along with the soound of flesh and the screaming of death from all around the palace. The eerie atmosphere covered it. Being in the middle of her guard’s protection formation, Rengganis looked at her mother and husband anxiously. The blood smell caught by her nose made her nauseous and scared.
King Abra took few steps backwards avoiding the queen mother’s attack. “God damn it! I’ll kill you, Old granny!” he swore. No more politeness in his speech as son in-law, King Abra was blinded by anger.
The king was furious. Pitched battle happened in the palace’s hall. Some guards accompanied Queen Rengganis and made a formation to protect her. The lady with her beautiful fair skin looked anxiously to her mother and husband. The blood smell filled the air. Some guards fell on the floor with gaping wounds opened up across their body.
“Argh!” Queen Rengganis screamed when a man’s corpse fell beside her.
“Rengganis!” Queen mother screamed. She lost her focus, turning her head towards her daughter.
It’s the king’s chance. He moved his swords fast to the queen mother’s chest. Crash! King Abra laughed. “Die, you bitch!”
“Queen mother!!” Rengganis screamed seeing her mother wretched.
The lady and her daughter looked at each other. Queen mother Leena vomitted blood as the king took his swords off. Dissatisfied, King Abra drew his swords again to her staggering body. Queen mother fought back. She turned around, warded using her sword. The sound of sword rubbing was heard loudly. One swing, queen mother successfully threw the king’s sword away. With the remaining forces, she moved her sword once again to her son in-law’s chest.
“Argh!” the king roared. The queen mother’s attack hit his stomach, the blood rushed, the wound wouldn’t have gotten worse if the jewelry hadn’t covered the king Abra’s body.
The king took his fallen sword, watching the lady in front of him weak and helpless, with blood covering her.
“Your majesty, no!” Rengganis screamed watching her husband swung his sword once again.
King Abra couldn’t hear his wife screaming, anger covered him. The man cut the lady’s neck. Rengganis fell defensless, a terrible sight of her mother’s head parted from her body. Blood spattered. Unable to resist the pulses, her body shivered looking at her mother’s head rolling o the floor.
Abra smiled fleered full of victory. ‘Killing Leena means the throne is in my hand.’
Abra stepped arrogantly towards Rengganis who was sitting weakly on the floor, sticking the top of his sword to her neck. The king purposely scratched his wife’s fair skin with his sword. However, his shocked wife felt was too deep so she just got frozen like a body with no soul. She didn’t care her cheek’s bleeding. Annoyed at not being able to see the look of fear on her face, King Abra ground his teeth and slapped her face hard, making her passed out.
“Bitch!” he swore, letting off steam on his heart.
No one realized, outside the queen palace, a black shadow figure watched behind the bushes. She laughed quietly. “It’s really a nice view, isn’t it?” she said.
To be continued….
The cold palace, the farthest tower of kingdom Baskara, an abandoned building, many cobweb and rats roamed. Bad smell filled the air, making the soldiers can’t stand the smell. The cold palace of Baskara kingdom was kind a prison for guilty members of the court before getting punishment for their crime. They would be taken there waiting for the trial. Queen Rengganis laid on a wooden cot. The sunken eyes started to open slowly. She was shocked knowing where she was in a pathetic condition. Queen Rengganis bursted into tears, wailing. Loosing her beloved mother in front of her eyes with such a horrible thing. King Abra was wild, he cut her mother’s neck with no mercy. Queen Rengganis suddenly held her own neck. She felt faint, choking, even hard to breath. Blood spattered, looked clearly when King Abra pulled up and lifted her mother’s head up. “Hang this woman rebel’s head in the square!” the shout was heard before she passed out. Rengganis couldn’t think c
Rengganis body shook violently, cold sweat on her temple. She curled up in fear watching the axis knotting the wooden floor cracked. Rengganis shut her mouth, wining, but still tried to be conscious. All of the sudden, there was a flash, someone quickly moved, jumped off the opened floor. A tall, strong men, stood in front of the cot, looking without expression at Rengganis who’s still in shock. The man was on his armor. His body was full of blood spatter even in his hair down to his face. Rengganis could smell it, but she didn’t care as if his scary and horrible look wasn’t scary at all. Rengganis breathed sigh of relief. She smiled. Unconsciously, tear dropped on her dirty and dusty cheek. “Commander, Commander Khandra,” she called. They’re staring at each other, that stout man put his finger on his mouth, asking her to keep silent. “Queen Rengganis, are you okay?” that stout man whispered, his muscular arm tried to wipe Rengganis tears, but he held it. It
“No!” Rengganis screamed loudly. She opened her eyes. She found a faint and dark atmosphere in the reflection of torch. Berek took a deep look to her queen. Rengganis closed her eyes, neutralized her pounding heart. “Did you just have a bad dream?” Berek helped Rengganis to sit. The beautiful woman looked around. She just realized they were in a cave. She was on rocks at the moment. Her back hurts. Never in her life, Rengganis slept on place like this. She used to sleep on a soft and comfortable bed. She looked outside, dark. Ah, it’s night then, she thought. “Please, have a drink!” the middle-aged lady handed a bamboo glass for Rengganis. She drank it up. “I hear the queen screamed.” Khandra showed up from outside with forewood on his hand. “Ah, it’s alright. She just had a bad dream,” Berek explained. “What do you bring, Khandra?” she asked. The man put the firewood inside the cave, used a torch to lit fire. Middle-aged maid
Rengganis changed her clothe into something more simple. A strand of batik wrapped her body, and a black scarf covered her top body. All of her accessories were removed including the crown so that no one would suspicious when they accrossed villages. Everything was planned in such a way by Aunty Berek. Walking by the river, accrossed bushes, and suddenly the sun had already on top of their head. Rengganis gulped, repressed thirsty and hungry. They hadn’t eaten anything yet and staggered. Rengganis looked up in the clear sky, the birds flew happily, the trees blew by the wind. The lady drank from bamboo bottle. “Is it still far away, Aunty?” Aunty Berek shook her head. “No, My Dear. There were a path in front of us. We’re entering a village. We can stay a little, go to the market and dine,” Aunty Berek answered, “remember, we’re pretending as a family. You cannot blurted her out a queen.” “Yes, Aunty,” they answered unitedly. One of the young men took a rolled clothe, using
Aunty Berek pulled Rengganis to leave the village immedaitely. It’s not safe being too long in here. They went back to the forest and stopped in a cave. Rengganis turned her head, again she found a cave. The guards taking Rengganis whistled three times. Rengganis saw a flash of black shadow in front of her. She gulped when a man stood behind her. “Forgive me, My Queen. We’re just afraid there was an intruder,” said the stranger. Rengganis looked behind, seeing a handsome face and tall man kneeling and bowing. “What are you douing? Who are you?” Rengganis bend over. He looked up. “I’m Kayana, one of the chosen soldiers of the late King Arkha,” he said and smiled flirtatiously. “My Gosh, you’re beautiful,” he added. BUGH! “Irrevent!” Aunty Berek hit Kayana’s head. “Auch, it hurts, Aunty!” shouted Kayana. “Please, forgive me, My Queen,” he added. Rengganis straight her body and smiled. She stood and nodded. “It’s okay, Aunty. I need to rest,” she said. “Pleas
Rengganis’s body shook seeing a beautiful lady looked familiar. Had seen her in a horrible dream, a half-snake woman. Her heart throbs, her body trembled along with cold sweats streamed down her emple. Rengganis held on hard not to fall. She clenched her fist holding her scarf so hard. White fog billowed around the woman slowly faded away. Now, she stood facig her. Rengganis eyes got widen. “Lady Nagini,” she whispered. Rerngganis felt relieved not see her half-snake body. Her conscious slowly came and stood quietly. “How are you, Sweet Daughter.” Lady Nagini’s voice was flat. Her face looked at her expressionless. “Thank God you didn’t get lost,” she said. Her expression changed in a blink, she smiled friendly. Renggans didn’t answer. She looked around, remembering the holes in her dream where Lady Nagini came out of the water in a shape of half-snake. But now she found that Lady Nagini was just like a normal woman with fair skin and barefoot. Rengganis saw her exactly li
Few years ago, Lady Nagini was so ambitious to be immortal and ageless. It started from her meeting with a snake demon called Sawer Geni. The beauty of Lady Nagini was able to attract men, both human and demon, including Sawer Geni. He, accindetally, saw the tempting body of hers when she’s soaking in a lake, near Sidongkrang waterfall where she lived. The arrival of Sawer Geni, a big snake with blaze around his body didn’t make Lady Nagini afraid. Seeing demon and another abnormal things was usual for her since she became student of Master Jagat Trengginas. The woman was still took a leisurely bath, ignoring Sawer Geni who’s watching by the lake. This happened over and over until few days later, Lady Nagini was silent, jumped into the water, wagging her hand, covering her naked body with clumps of water coming up along with her hand dance. And in a second, the water came down and Lady Nagini was already on her clothe, a black kebaya and black batik bustier. Lady Nagini hung h
“I, Sawer Geni, will not die easily. I am immortal. Do you know?” the snake slowly faded, plume of smoke around him vanish. Sawer Geni turned into a man with smooth and fair body as cotton. Lady Nagini saw his arm hugging her stomach. “I can change body when this physic getting older, useless.” His warm brearth touched her cheek. “Let me off, You Bastard!” Lady Nagini moved her kris. His arm swung it easily. Pyash! The kris turned back into a shawl. The man laughed and moved around Lady Nagini. Now the girl can see the stout young and half snake man. “Be my follower, Lady Nagini. It’s been a while I’m watching you and yeah, you’re the perfect one I choose. I will give you the immune spell and immortality. You can live forever, rule the universe,” he said. “I am not sure you are better than my master, Master Jagat Trengginas,” Lady Nagini mocked. The man laughed and turned around. Lady Nagini watched closely the surjan, the siple clothe he wore. His long hair flew by the
Kayana jumped into the air. He landed on a tree trunk, probing the area around which was covered with bushes. A woman’s voice asking for help was heard. The young man’s eyes widened, saw several bandits pressing on a woman’s body. He then landed with his right leg extended forward kicking o of the men pushing against a woman’s body among three other men.Bugh! “Aww!” a screechig sream from the fierce-faced man who was kicked by Kayana heard. The four of them turned simultaneously to the direction of the rioter. “Pet devil! Who are you to disturb our fun?” shouted one fat body. “What did you do to that poor girl, heh?” Kayana sneered. He glanced at the girl who was almost naked. ‘Oh my God, her body was tempting,’whispered Kayana in a charmed heart. He took a deep breath to get rid of the dirty thoughts that alighted. ‘Stop your dirty thought, Kayana!” He cursed to himself. “Are you okay?” asked Kayana, staring into the girl who shivered in fear. “Scram,
Bang! Abra banged on he table making the water on the glass spilled. The food served spilled from its place. His head felt hot. The man could no longerhold back his emotions, roughly, he opened the contents of the table. Right now, he was in the Main Palace’s dining area in the king’s private room. Prang! Bruak! Utensils and cutlery fell to the floor. “Damn! Why are they making things difficult for me? I really want to kill them all, You Pesky Devil! Abra cursed ignoring the pinned ‘King’ status. Some of the maids looked looked at him trembling, afraid of becoming the target of Abra’s anger. The man rose from his seat glaring at the opened door. Master Kastara went inside with Khandra. He snorted as he shrugged. “Why did he come in?” asked Abra pointing at Khandra. “He is my man,” said Master Kastara “That man is a student of Master Jagat Trengginas, remember!” Abra snapped. ‘It’s bad! What if thy suspect me?’ asked Khandra to himself.
Aunty Berek and Rengganis follwed by Kayana entered a village. They walked to the market to buy some needs. Rengganis was excited seeing the crowd. It’s her first time visiting it. Many people sold their harvest. Rengganis saw some soldiers guarding the palace maid entered. If someone blocked their way, the soldiers would hit without hesitation using the tip of sheath. They were so arrogant, taking items sold. Their had no mercy. It made her sick watching those sycophant. Rengganis remembered when she was in the lighthouse, about the talk between the guards who put their full stomach dan happiness. There’s no loyalty. When she’s surrender Khandra was there, reaching out his hand. Rengganis’s trust to her maid arouse. Not every people greedy and disgusting. “Damn you! You wanna fight, huh?!” snapped a guard and everyone laughed including the shameless maids. ‘They’re so arrogant! I want to tear their mouth apart!’ Rengganis swore while watching their wild and sham
King Abra went into Concubine Madhavi’s room with anger on his face. His jaw harden. His right hand took his under long royal clothe. Concubine Madhavi’s waiting for him in excitement for becoming the next queen. But, her smile faded along with Abra entering the room. “My Lovely King!” she greeted. “What is happening?” she asked. “The elderly and the royal family are cornering us,” he said. Madhavi furrowed. “What do you mean, My Lovely King?” she approached him. Abra sighed in long and deep breath. All of his anger vanished when he saw Madhavi, like water vanished the flame, so did Madhavi’s presence in his side. “They make you difficult to be the queen,” he answered quietly. Madhavi’s shock. He touched her cheek and told her what had happened in the palace. Madhavi took deep and long sigh. She felt pain in her heart. ‘They’re so cruel, the elderly and Rengganis’s followers,’ she growled in her heart. Madhavi put fake smile and hide her true fe
Baskara kingdom, exactly at the main palace, a palace for king, his personal maids and royal holders who ran the kingdom’s duties. The termperatur’s raising, anger flowed from all over place, deviding the palace into two groups because of King Abra’s statement of making Concubine Madhavi to be the future queen. “Please, My King, this cannot be happened. Concubine Madhavi is nothing for Baskara Kingdom. You should reconsider of making her the future queen. You are not the legal heir of Baskara Kingdom. We cannot allowed her to be the queen. It against the law.” An old man wearing blangkon said. ‘I don’t think it’ll be this frustrating. I don’t really understand the rules of this kingdom. Moreover, Ki Chandra is one of King Arkha’s family. It will be dangerous if I make a stupid mistake.’ “King Abra, we really wish that you not do something in a rush. Please, behave like a warrior, My king.” A man wearing a brown and white strips shirts and trousers with the same colors
Khandra frowned. He and Kayana looked at each other in dark when familiar sound heard. Both of them stepped out just to be surprised and felt save at the same time. “Brother Damar.” Khandra greeted from his hideout. “I thought you were someone else.” Kayana felt relieved. Brother Damar laughed with his three friends. “Who else sneaked out into the wood in this middle of the night, huh? Let’s go back! My men saw Ki Kastara got out from the palace walking around the village. I’m sure he’ll go to the stall,” he said. “We must be hurry!” Khandra said. They fasten their move, ignoring the bushes in front of them and finally got into the stall at the exact time with Ki Kastara. Brother Damar gave a tray with a jar of arak and bowls from coconut shells. Khandra and Kayana went in while bringing it. Khandra’s men stood. Four of them moved quickly changed their clothes. They feft anxiety of getting caught. “Ki Kastara’s men snooped through the window four ti
When Abra had a long and hot night with Madhavi, it’s different for Rengganis, the legal heir of Baskara Kingdom. She looked simple in white clothe and trousers. Her hip’s tied with small black clothe. Without any accessory and fancy dress, Rengganis looked like a lady warrior. She had a new beginning in an unappropriate place. Rengganis stared at the flame Khandra made. Right now, she was surrounded by her knights enjoying the night full of stars. “I was having a banquet to welcome Concubine Madhavi. Eventhough I felt pain in my heart because she stole my husband’s love, I never had a thought to harm her. We were enjoying the meal, sipping tea in the cup. And I don’t know how she collapsed after drinking her tea made by my maid. Blood covered her lower body,” Rengganis said, remembering the tragic day that pulled her life upside down. “I believe it’s a conspiracy.” Aunty Berek snarled. She wiped her tears falling down to her cheek. Rengganis smilled wistfully. “Wa
The late King Arka had came into the cross land, visiting Kingdom Bamantara, to meet King Arutala and Queen Sekar Ayu. According to the folklore from generation to generation, the most peaceful kingdom where its king only married to one single lady is Kingdom Bamantara. It’s neutral and had no enemy because the kingdom was so success and supplied the people with sufficient natural resources. It’s why King Arkha wanted King Arkha’s son to marry his daughter, Rengganis. Beside to forge a bond between two kingdoms, King Arkha believed that Prince Abra, the second son of Bamantara Kingdom, would look after Rengganis well, making her the only wife and queen. “Hearing good reputation of Kingdom Bamantara, I have no doubt to give my only daughter to marry Prince Abra. Be loving partner, together forever until death do you apart.” It’s one of the advice from King Arkha to King Arutala. Unfortunately, the intention of late King Arkha versed to reality. Power made Abra lost his m
Khandra looked around, a familiar place, a place he used to go, a place where he burnt Lady Nagini’s corpse, his senior. He looked up, the shadow of fire flashed faintly into his mind. Blaze he prepared to burn Lady Nagini. He remembered clearly when he first saw her, an elegance and beautiful woman made him amazed. Khandra was so young when Master Jagat Trengginas took him into White Eagle Dojo, the most famous dojo in the country, a dojo made best students. However, it has many mysteries. The owner always covered their faces with mask. Only certain people could see them personally. And don’t forget that there was various tests to get into it. Master Jagar Trengginas took Khandra as his student when he saw Khandra’s skill. They left the dojo to Master Jagat’s hide out. Khandra remembered exactly a very beautiful lady waving a red shawl. Her movement was as graceful as dance. Her hand swayed perfectly. Just a moment later, he found out that it wasn’t a dance, it’s swin