This officer works fast. After picking up his klewang which had been let go because his arm was used to cover the beautiful virgin's mouth, he immediately dragged Sumanti's body towards his horse.
Sumanti was helpless in the hands of the burly man. The mere smell of sweat wafting from the officer's armpits pricked his nose, and almost made him faint.
Before getting on the horse, he first gagged the girl's mouth with a torn piece of long kebaya on the girl's chest. For a moment his eyes widened to see the appearance of a pair of breasts that puffed out densely. But he could not linger to be in that place. Swallowing quickly, he jumped first onto the horse's back, while his other arm was still holding the girl's wrist. The Klewang has already been put in the waist frame. Then immediately pulled the girl's body to be lifted onto the horse's back.
“Haha...done! I have to get out of here immediately! And, there's no need for me to return to the Duchy anymore. With this much gold money and a beautiful girl accompanying me, I can live happily...! I will not get this kind of money in my whole life. Only stupid people don't take advantage of this good opportunity…” said the officer in his heart.
As he stamped his foot on the horse's belly to quickly leave the place, suddenly he heard Warok Sobrah shouting loudly.
“Sumantiiii!?”
It turned out that Warok Sobrah heard the girl's scream. And saw the girl in the arms of one of the Royal officers. However, he had no chance of escaping from the siege of the two Imperial officers.
Seeing that Sumanti was already on horseback and ready to be rushed by the officer, this bearded man shouted loudly.
"Haha... let the girl be delivered to Gusti Kanjeng Adipati! You may catch up with him after your soul flies to the Netherworld!” said Gantar Mangu while intensifying his attacks. The male officer earlier glanced at his friend officer who was running away on horseback carrying the girl.
Because he was in a state of confusion when he saw Sumanti being rushed by the officer. Warok was caught off guard to avoid being stabbed by the officer's klewang behind him.
Crass...! Bret!
Warok Sobrah groaned in pain. He dropped his body and rolled to the ground.
This man felt pain in his back. And the front of his shirt was torn apart by the other officer's klewang slash.
He would still jump to his feet staggeringly. It looks like the back of the shirt is also torn wide. Blood flowed from a long gash that cut into the skin and sliced through the flesh on his back.
It was then that Warok gasped when he remembered something.
His arm felt under his torn shirt.
His face suddenly turned pale.
“Woe...! The gold money in the cloth bundle disappeared! It must have fallen..." Warok said to himself. But at that time it seemed that Warok Sobrah no longer cared about the gold coins. His thoughts were focused on Sumanti.
“I have to go after that officer! I won't let anyone touch her body!” hissed the bearded man.
Warok Sobrah had to make a quick decision, because on the other hand the royal officer wanted his life. Even with a loud shout, the two officers lunged again, swinging their klewang.
“Warok Sobrah! Surrender your soul!” Trang!
Whuuut!
The two slashes of the klewang roared in two opposite directions. The blow that slashed to the waist was dodged by throwing his body to the right side, while moving his keris to block the heavy stab that was aiming for his heart.
“Fuck! You guys really want my soul? Go forward, you Kingdom kunkuks!” shouted Warok Sobrah loudly. His chest seemed to undulate, a pair of eyes staring viciously at the two officers. Suddenly, Warok Sobrah attacked indiscriminately. His keris flashed making a whistling sound. The attack, which was accompanied by overwhelming anger, in fact made the two officers gasp in surprise. It seems that the old man is no longer concerned about his soul.
However, this actually shocked the two officers to death, because Warok Sobrah's furious attack was very dangerous to their lives. Now both of them are in great distress.
A scream of horror was heard when the bearded man's keris plunged into the heart of one of the two Royal officers.
Without mercy, the officer collapsed and collapsed, dying. Then died instantly.
Gantar Mangu gasped in surprise. His courage suddenly sank when he saw that his friend had died from being stabbed by the bearded man's dagger.
He jumped on his horse to escape. Just as he had mounted his horse to lift his feet, the Royal officer suddenly screamed hoarsely and fell prone on his horse.
It turned out that his back was penetrated by a klewang thrown by Warok Sobrah.
The horse continued to run with a long neigh. On the side of the hill the burden on his back was released. The officer's lifeless body rolled down the slope.
Warok Sobrah quickly jumped onto the back of the royal officer's horse. Then he turned quickly to catch up with the girl who was running away....
***
Duke Kuncoro's surprise was when he saw that the situation in the Duchy building was being tightly guarded by Royal officers.
He was seen standing at the altar of the Senopati Tohpati pavilion with his face looking dark as if he couldn't wait for the person he was waiting for to appear.
In the courtyard of the Duchy building, Tumenggung Mahesa was seen chatting with a girl in a red dress.
Adipati Kuncoro's face suddenly turned pale when he saw that the girl in the red dress was the girl he had stabbed just moments ago in front of an ancient building in the middle of a hidden forest. And... when he remembered the banana stem, his face suddenly turned bright red.
“Linggar Wati! Next time I won't let you leave the hermitage before you finish your studies...! Luckily the young warrior managed to save you. Don't just learn from Nyi Soko Murti, who is your own aunt, until you become naughty and difficult to guide!
Even though it's all for your own benefit and good. It's only natural that your aunt is strict. When you ran away from the hermitage without her knowledge, your aunt had met me in the King's City and reported to me...!
Hm, how is the condition of the young warrior's injuries?” Adipati Kuncoro heard Tumenggung Mahesa's voice speaking to the girl in red.
“I... I have bandaged the wound, father...! And previously I had put anti-venom powder on it. Luckily I brought it. It seems that the situation has improved, because the two needles containing the poison have been successfully pulled out. But...but..." The red-shirted girl named Linggar Wati didn't continue her words, because suddenly her face changed as if she was about to cry.
“Hm... but why, my child...? What happened?” asked Tumenggung Mahesa seeing the change in his daughter's face.
“I... I hate him, father...! He... he has hurt my heart!” answered Linggar Wati in a voice mixed with sobs. His eyes suddenly filled with tears.
“Hurting your heart? Hm, I don't understand... didn't he save you from that Kuncoro's low desires?”
Linggar Wati nodded. Then he said with a sullen face.
"I thanked him for his help, but he didn't say thank you when I bandaged his wound..."
“Hey...! Why are you worrying about such a small thing, my child...?” replied Tumenggung Mahesa with a smile, as he grabbed the shoulder of his daughter who was spoiled and naughty. "That's enough! Saying it or not doesn't matter. Are you willing to help him?"
"Of course, father...!" said Linggar Wati while looking down.
"Now! Helping people sincerely is a very commendable act. And a commendable act is not expecting anything in return, even if all you ask for is a thank you. I think even though that dashing young warrior didn't say it, in his heart he was very grateful to you...! Do you know, my child? Until now your father has not had time to thank him. He once helped me from the danger of death a few days ago. When my horse fell due to a landslide. My riding horse died crashing to the bottom of the abyss. Fortunately, when my body floated to the mouth of the cliff, my arms managed to catch the hanging roots growing on the side of the cliff. But I can not go up, while under death ready to wait. If that young warrior hadn't appeared to help me, I don't know what would have happened to me... Before I had time to say thank you, it turned out that the young warrior had run away!"
Of course her father's short narrative made this girl transfixed, and blushed. Tumenggung Mahesa patted his daughter's shoulder. Then ask again.
"Now! Do you really need a thank you?"
Linggar Wati shook her head with a smile.
And wiped his tears.
"You still hate him?" asked Tumenggung Mahesa again.
This girl shook her head, but immediately answered with a stutter.
"Actually... it's not actually saying thank you that I hate, father... But... but I hate it because he doesn't want to be friends with me!"
“Haha... I know that young warrior's temper, sweet boy! He knows you sneak out of the hermitage without your teacher knowing. How could he befriend a naughty girl like you?” said Tumenggung Mahesa.
“I'm sorry, father...! It is my fault...!" Finally Linggar Wati admitted his mistake. His face seemed to be getting lower. But his father praised him while stroking his hair affectionately.
“I'm glad to hear your honest confession. Hey! Once again we are indebted to the warrior. Almost disgrace befell you. Kuncoro's actions had exceeded the limit. He doesn't deserve to be a Duke. Right now we are waiting for his arrival to catch that perverted human! All his crimes have been exposed. Not only did he blackmail the population, but he also bribed Gusti Sultan's trusted people to betray him and misappropriated money from the Royal treasury. There has been chaos in the palace for several days, Patih Mangkudilaga is accused of embezzling Royal treasury money, and conspiring with Senopati Tohpati to overthrow the Sultan's power.
A letter was found in the Treasurer's room which was written in secret in the name of Patih Mangkudilaga. However, Patih Mangkudilaga did not admit it.
"Fortunately, the embezzlement of the Royal treasury was immediately discovered with the arrest of the deputy Royal Treasurer..." said Tumenggung Mahesa. "What does the deputy royal treasurer do, father?" asked Linggar Wati with a shocked face. He did not expect that the Duke's affair, whose inappropriate actions were reported to his father, would actually have a long tail. There had even been growing chaos at the Palace. After taking a deep breath, Tumenggung Mahesa answered.
“Hm.! He had stolen the Royal seal, and faked it! Not only that, he also forged the signatures of royal dignitaries. It was easy for him to imitate him, because he worked every day as a subordinate to the Royal Treasurer. All of this was on the orders of Duke Kuncoro.
And with the fake Royal signature and seal, Duke Kuncoro easily siphoned off the Royal treasury.
That sneaky bastard is truly crazy! No wonder his life is getting more luxurious.
In just one year, he has saved many young wives! He has even proposed to Ki Demang's daughter again to become his fourth wife...!”
"I heard that Ki Demang Sunggoro died in a robbery, and his wife was also killed by robbers! Really father?” cut Linggar Wati. "Correct! I guess that's normal. Because residents already feel pressured by the heavy taxes imposed on them. The masked robbers cannot be confused with real robbers.
Wherever there is a government, but that government exercises power arbitrarily, there will arise a rebellion! The actions of Ki Demang Sunggoro, who was Adipati Kuncoro's accomplice, deserved a proper response with his cruelty!
It remains only now to catch the ringleader of this great crime. That crazy Kuncoro has not only slandered the officials of the Kingdom, but also committed acts of violation of morals, acting arbitrarily with his power! What a commendable thing! It was he who wrote the slanderous letter against Patih Mangkudilaga as if he was conspiring with Senopati Tohpati!”
Tumenggung Mahesa told his daughter. Of course, this made Linggar Wati so angry that she was playing with a man who was not only crazy about money, but also crazy about women.
“That duke deserves death, father! But it's better to be tortured first, so that he dies slowly, and he feels pain when he's dying! Or preferably hanging the head below
feet up. Then put it in the cage”
“My, my, my....! That matter is the business of Gusti Sultan who has the right to give punishment!” interrupted Tumenggung Mahesa with a smile. The naughty girl's head was rubbed as she ordered.
"Come on, don't mess around sweet child.
You fill your cute mouth with food first. Go to the kitchen grilling satay to fill your stomach!”
The girl in red nodded happily, as she left to go to the barracks behind the Duchy building. But there was still time for this girl to turn around, chattering to her father.
“Grilling satay is my pleasure. But I'd be even happier if I skewered that crazy Duke's body!” After saying that the girl ran to the back of the building. Some of the soldiers who heard the girl's conversation and words smiled.
“Hey...! You naughty boy..." muttered Tumenggung while shaking his head looking at his daughter's back.
***
Adipati Kuncoro's chest felt like it was burning, besides being surprised to hear Tumenggung Mahesa's conversation. Tumenggung had just turned his body to face Senopati Tohpati. Suddenly the old man gasped in surprise when he heard a hissing sound behind him. That was a blow from a poisonous needle that fell from the thick leaves of a large tree that grew outside the fence of the walls of the Kedipatian building.
This Tumenggung flicked his sleeves backwards while throwing his body to the side. He couldn't help but groan in pain, because three needles were sticking into the base of his arm. Of course it shocked the soldiers in the courtyard of the building. Hearing her father's screams, Linggar Wati turned around. Instantly his face turned pale when he saw the old man rolled to the ground groaning in pain. No wonder he screamed as he hunted to where his father was lying.
"Aaaah..!?"
Senopati Tohpati, who was standing and sitting as if impatiently waiting for Duke Kuncoro to appear, was suddenly shocked when he heard the commotion. He jumped from the pavilion. His eyes were fixed on Tumenggung who was lying on the ground. Suddenly he saw the movement of a large tree branch next to the building's courtyard wall.
“Bastard! Do not run!!" snapped at this Royal Senopati man. His shout was followed by a flash of his body chasing him out of the gate of the Duchy building. The dozens of Kingdom soldiers and officers flinched. They immediately rushed out....
Adipati Kuncoro jumped quickly onto the horse's back after releasing the deadly needle towards Tumenggung Mahesa, then saddled his horse quickly.
"Chase...! Catch!" Get rowdy for a moment the situation in that place. Dozens of soldiers ran in pursuit. But immediately stopped, because what is the meaning of chasing a person who is running away on a horse that saddles its mount as if it were being chased by a devil? But at that time four Royal officers appeared at the gate, saddled their horses and quickly chased after the fleeing man. Senopati Tohpati entered the gate again. His face seemed to be bright red with anger. A soldier almost broke his body, because he didn't know that at that moment Senopati Tohpati stepped in.
"Ah..!? Ma.. sorry, Gusti..!” snapped the soldier with a pale face, as he quickly stepped aside to make way.
"Hmm, where are you going?" snapped Senopati Tohpati.
"Me..chasing pen..criminal, Gusti..!" he stammered.
"The criminals have arrived across the sea, are you just going to give chase?" asked Senopati while widening his eyes. Of course, the soldier was stumped and couldn't answer. His face looked pale as if he was bloodless. However, as small talk and to relieve his surprise, this soldier said.
“Have you arrived across the sea, Gusti? Wow... that's fast...???” Instantly the other soldiers burst into laughter and couldn't contain their amusement. However, Senopati Tohpati immediately shouted at him. Like the sound of crickets being stepped on, suddenly everything was silent.
"Hmm, here you are!" Senopati called the stupid soldier. "Ready, Gusti! We uphold Gusti Senopati's orders above our heads. Servant is ready to carry out his duties!" said the soldier with worship.
"Good..!" said Senopati Tohpati with a stiff smile. "I order you to go to the seashore right now to wash your sick shrew-like face!" After he finished speaking, Senopati's leg flew and kicked the soldier until he rolled over.
"Am.. my God..! My gosh..!” The soldier quickly got up and worshiped while grimacing from the pain in his back from being kicked.
“You are all idiots! Why didn't you know there were criminals smuggling?" he snapped while looking at all the soldiers gathered there. Simultaneously, everyone lowered their heads without daring to say a word. Senopati Tohpati was indeed furious because Adipati Kuncoro had slandered him. Of course the failure to catch the unknown criminal spilled on the soldiers. With a bright red face, he immediately stepped towards the crowd of several Duchy soldiers who were helping Tumenggung Mahesa.
Luckily Linggar Wati brought anti-poison powder. After the needle was successfully removed from the base of his father's arm he immediately put the powder. Then wrapped it with a bandage brought by a soldier. From the statement of the girl in the red Linggar Wati, Senopati Tohpati knew that the criminal who was smuggling in was Adipati Kuncoro, whose appearance he was waiting to arrest!
***
THE FOUR KINGDOM OFFICERS who were chasing the white horse riding Adipati Kuncoro were surprised when they succeeded in catching up with their quarry. It turned out that the rider of the white horse was an old old man with messy hair and a stiff, wrinkled face. The old old man looked at the four Royal officers who had locked him up in astonishment.
"Ah..? Who are you grandpa?” shouted one of the officers.
"Heheheh... what's the matter with you asking me?" asked back what was asked. Of course that made the officer angry.
“We chased a man on a white horse to catch him!” replied this officer with a half snapped.
"Who is that boy? And what's wrong with that?" asked the grandfather.
"He is the Duke of Kuncoro who has betrayed the Kingdom!" said one of his comrades. The grandfather seemed to nod his head. Suddenly the old man slipped his arm under his cloak.
"Is he the owner of this weapon?" he asked as he took out a short spear with a red tip. The four pairs of officers' eyes immediately looked at him. Of course, the four of them knew that the weapon belonged to Duke Kuncoro.
"Correct! That is indeed the weapon!” answered the four officers almost in unison. Suddenly the grandfather's arm moved and thrust the spear into the ground. The movement seems light. However, the four officers' eyes widened when they saw the weapon disappear into the ground until it was no longer visible.
“If it's a human you're looking for, I've tied him up behind that tree! Please bring it with you!” said the grandfather, pointing and then turning the horse, and slowly leaving that place.
"Hey..! Wait a minute..!?" shouted an officer holding back the strange old man's departure. Of course the officer did not just believe in the grandfather's words. However, three of his comrades officers had dissected their horses and headed towards the large tree that the old man was pointing at. Sure enough they found Duke Kuncoro bound by a leather rope. That's the horse's stirrup rope that has been used to bind. Seeing his three friends jump down from the horse's back near under the big tree, this officer immediately stocked the horse to see.
While the four Royal officers were busy carrying Duke Kuncoro who was in a state of being stuck and helpless, the strange old man had disappeared from that place...
However, when the four officers carried Duke Kuncoro's bound body onto the back of a horse, then the four officers saddled the horse and left the place, suddenly the strange old man appeared again and followed behind them.
It seemed that the strange grandfather was worried that the four officers would again release the humans he had captured. It turned out that the four officers were genuine officers, not Duke Kuncoro's henchmen. They brought the captives into the courtyard gate of the Duchy building.
About fifty spears from the gate, the grandfather turned his horse strangely through a small forest, then disappeared into the thick of the trees...
***
WAROK SOBRAH runs away from his horse like a man possessed...
His eyes were wild looking for traces where the mounted officer had taken away the girl named Sumanti. Meanwhile blood continued to flow from his wounds. Warok felt his back ache. The Royal officer's klewang incised wound interfered with his body movements to control the fast running horse.
At that time the day began to penetrate dusk... When the horse rode through the slippery rocky ground, the horse's leg slipped. The beast neighed loudly and raised its front legs. Mercilessly Warok Sobrah lost his body balance. He fell into the thicket. The horse continued to run while neighing incessantly, and disappeared into the wilderness... Warok Sobrah groaned in pain in his body. His clothes, which were already torn, had more and more tears here and there, because they were caught in sharp bush branches, and also scratched his skin. With great difficulty he got out of the thicket of thickets.
This old man looked around him. Suddenly his ears heard the sound of gurgling water. His heart sank. He swallowed hard. At that time his throat felt dry. Immediately he looked for where the gurgling sound had come from. After a while stepping through thistles and thorns, he finally found a river with clear water.