Meanwhile, the girl in recovery clothes, Doro Petak, had arrived at the side of the forest that she was going to pass. Suddenly his horse gave a long neigh as he raised his front legs. Of course this virgin was so surprised not to play. Before the beast collapsed on its face, it had jumped off the horse's back.
How surprised was Doro Petak to see his riding animal twitching to death. After a while, the beast gave up its life. Doro Petak's eyes widened when he saw the animal stuck in a branch of wood until it went through, and was bleeding.
"Hah! Who has killed my horse?” gasped the girl, gasping in surprise. Instantly his heart beat hard. His feelings warn him of a danger that threatens him. Sure enough. From the top of the branch and from behind the front and back bushes, several figures suddenly appeared.
Doro Petak receded backwards. His eyes rolled around him. Six rough-looking men, dressed in black, had locked him in from all directions.
"Who are you?" snapped this virgin in a loud voice. He secretly watched the faces of those people. It turned out that among them there was a man who was wearing a black veil covering his face. Except for the two eyes that stick out between the two holes.
"Quick catch him!" ordered the veiled man. Simultaneously the five people closed the siege. Two of them took out mine scrolls.
Seeing this, Doro Petak drew his sword. In his heart he thought. “Who exactly are they? And…. who is that veiled person?” But Doro Petak could not think for a long time, because the five people had already lunged. The sword in this girl's hand flashed to grab every figure that approached. It turns out that they are very agile. The jumping motion is so fast. Two flashed away, two advanced thrusts, like scattering the girl's attention.
The man in the veil also came forward to surround. Meanwhile, the two men who had caught the rope just darted here and there looking for an opportunity to throw their ropes.
Doro Petak, who was attacked for the first time by a group of robbers, really fought tooth and nail using all his swordsmanship in order to defend himself. His sword was slamming with loud clangs. But that far he fought, but not the slightest tip of his sword was able to scratch the skin of the opponent's body. Even though he's been sweating. They are quick to escape. And deliberately attacked with bare hands so as not to injure his body.
Gradually this girl became increasingly annoyed, because she felt that she was being played with. Suddenly he snapped loudly. His sword attack suddenly turned fierce. The flash of the sword formed a scroll of white light that crept forward. This girl used the Thousand Eagle Chasing Prey swordsmanship.
In an instant, this virgin's body seemed to be wrapped in silver light, so fast she was playing a sword.
This girl's change in movement somewhat surprised them. The flash of the sword light in the hot afternoon was enough to dazzle their eyes. Suddenly the virgin let out a loud scream once again. Suddenly his body flicked into the air. Along with the girl's body lethargic, this virgin's arm fluttered. And... struck three arrays of white light in all three directions.
"Watch out! Secret weapon!" shouted the veiled man.
But the warning came too late. One carrying a snaring rope overturned, and another from his besiegers was hit. Meanwhile, the veiled man managed to catch the girl's secret weapon that was rushing towards him. With hoarse screams, the two attackers fell down.
Glaring at the veiled man's eyes, he saw a small dagger between his fingers. It seemed that the veiled man was a little tired of seeing the girl's prowess in swordsmanship. He motioned to his three comrades.
"Let's go!" he shouted. Then precede flashed jump into the forest. Three of his friends quickly flashed to catch up. In a moment the herd of robbers had disappeared from the girl's eyes.
Doro Petak looked at the two men from the robbers who lay motionless. In his chest and neck stuck deadly daggers his secret weapon. This girl was secretly grateful in her heart, because the robbers did not continue to surround her. While inserting his sword into the frame, he immediately flashed away from that place.
While running fast through the footpath, this girl kept thinking in her mind. Who is the herd of muggers. Especially the black-veiled man whose face he didn't recognize.
“It's a good thing they escaped... Otherwise, I don't know. Can I face the others? Feels something strange? That move never occurred to me to take it out. But I have used it outside of my awareness…” said this girl to herself.
Meanwhile, the mouth of the village of KLARAS LOR was visible before our eyes.
Dara is slowing down her run. His breath seemed hunted. And his knees felt weak. This was the first time he had fought while he was studying at the Tambak Rejo residence.
His father's old house in the middle of a coffee plantation can be seen from afar. Doro Petak seemed impatient to arrive soon. For some reason, his heart was pounding strangely. "Is there going to be anything else?" his mind in mind. The pace hastened.
When he arrived at the door of his father's old house, he was momentarily stunned. His eyes stared at the door with the old house thrown open. But something is strange. One side of the door was slightly tilted.. His heart was choked. Quickly he jumped, half running up the stairs.
Now it's clear. The door of the old house was off one hinge. For a moment he stared. His eyes wandered around the terrace. Then turn the body, and direct the view around the coffee plantation. In case he could see his father there. But the place is quiet. No one's voice. So quiet and very eerie. Meanwhile the sun was slipping towards the hill.
He flinched when he heard the creaking sound of the door. When he turned around, he saw someone standing at the door.
"A woman? Who...?” his heart tugged.
“Come in... beautiful girl...! Why are you just standing outside?” The old woman said hello.
A smile appeared on his lips, then the figure disappeared, moving back into the house.
“Who is that old woman? Is a neighbor of the father who works in this house?” wondered the girl in her heart.
Slowly he stepped. Then widen the door. There was a creaking sound from the side of the door. Presumably the door of the house was getting old and rusty. Doro Petak's head stuck out to see the situation inside.
The old woman was seen sitting in an old rattan chair. On the table is a set of clothes and a sewing basket. Seeing Doro Petak enter, he silently put down the clothes he was sewing. The old woman's lips returned to a smile.
"Please sit down beautiful girl...!" said the old woman kindly. Doro Petak nodded while juggling. Her mouth had just opened to ask a question, but the old woman had already spoken. “You are WENING RANI, right? Ah, your swordsmanship is amazing, quite impressive...! You're quite brave, and resourceful. It seems that it was not in vain for you to study mastery from Ki Ageng Giring!”
Of course Doro Petak looked up in surprise.
he answered quickly. “I…” but before he could continue, the old lady had cut in.
"That's enough! You better rest first! Go take a shower backwards. Your body is full of sweat. You must be tired after a long journey. What's more, you just finished fighting, and you had to walk here. I have cooked delicious food. You have never tasted Hindustani cuisine!” said the old woman.
“Hindustan cuisine...?” snapped Doro Petak in his heart. Yes, fortunately only in the liver. Something strange has been implied in this girl's mind. Who is this woman who thinks she is WEN1NG RANI...? While nodding, and walking quickly into the back room, Doro Petak made up his mind.
“This is really weird! Where is father...? The woman thought I was Wening Rani. What is Wening Rani's relationship with him? And what does that have to do with my father...?” While walking, the girl's eyes glanced towards the bedroom door which was slightly open
“Nobody...! Strange! where is father...?” he snapped. With a slightly confused mind, Doro Petak also stepped towards the bathroom. "On the other hand, I didn't say who I really was. I will use the opportunity before Wening Rani appears to ask my father. At least he knows the situation of an old man who used to be a Tumenggung who owns this house…” thought the girl making a plan.
While undressing after closing the bathroom door, Doro Petak's mind kept thinking. One thing that was also quite strange, was that the old woman knew about her fight with the robbers. His heart began to suspect. He recalled the strange death of his mother three years ago.
He remembered that at that time his father was away on duty in another area. Only he and his mother were in the Ketumenggungan building in Kota Raja. Because her father would be on duty for a week, Doro Petak didn't go anywhere. Usually he often travels around King's City on horseback. He is very fond of horseback riding. But during that week he was forced to incubate at home accompanying his mother.
On the first night when his father left, Doro Petak slept in one bed beside his mother. Likewise on the second and third nights, because his mother asked to be accompanied. However, on the third night, Doro Petak felt unusually hot. Until his whole body was sweating.
He saw his mother sleeping soundly as if she didn't feel the air that was so hot.
He slowly got up from the bed. After watching his mother, he opened the window slightly to let the wind in. Then lay down his body again. But the heat still made him nervous. Finally he carefully came out of his mother's room. Doro Petak entered her room, and opened the window wide. The air from outside was enough to make him feel comfortable for a while.
His eyes felt drowsiness again, after inhaling the fresh night air.
Closed the window a little. Dan laid his body in the hope that he could sleep, and woke up a bit earlier. In an instant, he had been dreaming.
When he woke up, the sun was already shining through the window. This girl was surprised and jumped up. He felt he had fallen into a deep sleep. He rushed back to wash his face. Then the kitchen to light the stove. But for a moment he was stunned. Have you woken up the mother? Usually when he wakes up late, his mother has boiled water.
Suddenly he heard his mother's voice screaming. Of course it made him surprised, and jumped like flying towards his mother's room. What did he see. Her mother found her in a strange state. He pulled his hair while screaming. Her clothes are not messy. Doro Petak rushed closer. But he had been snapped by his mother.
The girl shrank back in astonishment and wide-eyed. It's not like her mother usually behaves like that. And never in his life had he been yelled at like that. His mother loves him very much.
Doro Petak became panicked and confused. Her mother screamed again and threw what was near her. This girl dared not come near. He could only cry with fear. After raging and screaming finally his mother was unconscious. Many people flocked to his building to see his mother's condition and help her.
The day before his father's arrival, his mother breathed her last. After several healers and shamans took turns trying to resuscitate his mother who had fainted for more than two days and two nights. Doro Petak cried incessantly.
And... since the strange death of his mother, his father has shown a change. It's like his memory isn't right. Sometimes when he is conscious he cries sobbing. But when he is in a relapse of his illness, he laughs. His behavior resembles that of an insane person.
Under these circumstances, Duke Bendoro Ningrat often came to visit his father. Many give advice, and comfort their hearts. Gradually his father's illness recovered. But a few days later, his father came before the Duke, and declared his resignation.
Since then his father invited him to move to the village of Klaras Lor, his father's birthplace and hometown. Not even a month after they moved in that quiet village, his father expressed his intention to bring him to a friend in another village. His father wanted him to study martial arts. Doro Petak could not refuse. Thus, to please his father, he also stayed at Tambak REJO's guest house, studying with Ki Ageng GIRING until now. It turned out that before the arrival of the guest house, Wening Rani had already studied with the old man. The difference is not that much. Because the girl was only about a month at the residence. Of course he knew Wening Rani, because the girl from Adipati Bendoro Ningrat was his playmate. They both love to ride horses.
The past memories suddenly disappeared. Doro Petak woke up from his reverie. “Ah, I have daydreamed too far. I have to quickly find out father's condition...!” Doro Petak did not want the past events to happen to his father. This girl quickly took off the last clothes. The water that poured over his body made him feel refreshed. But could not eliminate the tension that was mounting at that time. Doro Petak is like fire in a husk....
***
IN THE ROOM, DORO PETAK lay down on the bed. His heart was restless. He didn't know what to do. Thinking of her father's condition where he was unknown, this girl's eyes filled with tears. His heart began to wonder who this strange woman was.
Suddenly his ears heard the sound of hoofs, as if coming towards the old house. Doro Petak's heart constricted.
"Who's coming...?" he snapped. He quietly opened the window and
move it a little. His eyes widened when he saw a man riding a horse enter the yard. He knew exactly who this man was.
"Duke Bendoro Noble...?" Doro Petak's heart jolted. Suddenly a bad image crossed the girl's eyes. He quickly got up and on tiptoe locked the bedroom door. He deliberately let the window stretch. If circumstances don't permit, he can jump out of the window, and escape.
Doro Petak sat on the bed restlessly. Suddenly an image of the past flashed across his mind. When Duke Bendoro Ningrat visited his father who was in a state of mental illness after the death of his mother, he could not forget the look in the Duke's wild eyes towards him. It was as if his eyes were skinning her body. There is a bit of bad prejudice towards the Duke which is connected with the strange incident that happened to his mother, until her death took her mother's life. But he had kept it in his heart.
He was too young to think things too far. And that bad prejudice disappeared by itself. Moreover, from the statement of his father, his mother had often experienced this since she was pregnant with her first child, namely herself.
This girl was quietly listening to the conversation. A woman's voice greeted the Duke's arrival.
“Welcome, mister Duke...!”
But followed by sound. “Ssssss....! Is there a girl here?”
"It's not him..." answered the voice of the strange woman. His voice is a bit slow. A moment of silence. Then came the voice of the Duke's whispers. “So she...” The woman's voice grew a little louder, but then their voices trailed off.
Doro Petak listened for a while. There was no sound anymore. But after a while, there was the sound of a door creaking like the sound of a door being opened slowly, and closed... Then everything was quiet again, quiet and very tense for this girl's ears. He no longer knew what the Duke and the foreign woman were doing.
After thinking back and forth, finally Doro Petak decided to leave the house. After shoving his sword behind his back, he crept closer to the window. The windows opened wider. Luckily for this girl, the old window hinges didn't make any creaking noises. Carefully so as not to make a sound, and holding her breath, Doro Petak slithered down from the window. Then very carefully stepped through the path on the side of the house, towards the courtyard.
You can see the white horse of Duke Bendoro Ningrat in the courtyard. He stopped for a moment to keep an eye on things. The front door of the old house was slightly half open. Doro Petak stared for a moment. Then jump on the horse. The movement was light enough not to make a sound. Immediately his arms opened the drill rope tied to the pole. But just as quickly he had jumped quickly into the beast's back. The next second, Doro Petak was already dissecting the horse quickly out of the courtyard of the old house....
There was no sign of anyone moving out of the old house. But a moment after the image of the girl's body and the white horse disappeared behind the coffee trees, in the hollows of the hill, a strange woman's voice was heard from the direction of the room. The door to the room was still closed as before.
"Master Duke let him go ?"
Duke Bendoro Ningrat let out a soft laugh.
“Let him go...! My men are ready to take him captive again. And… we don't want our peace to be disturbed, do we?” answered the Duke's voice. The sound of a foreign woman laughing spoiled. Then silence returned to the old house.
***
That day the market in Kota Raja was busier than usual. People sell crockery to clothing and food, even children's toys. Buyers are confused looking for items to buy. No wonder the Kota Raja market was very crowded that day, because that day was a market day which was always busier once a week.
An ungainly man dressed in yellow coarse cloth, and black pangsi pants, was seen walking back and forth between the maze of buyers. I don't know what to buy. His eyes darted to every shop. Suddenly he crawled in front of a grocery store. The shop sells various household items made of bamboo.
The ungainly man's eyes were fixed on a cap made of bamboo lined with areca leaf fronds. It turned out that the capil hat was what he was looking for. Then he approached the shop, then his arm pointed at the object when the goods seller approached.
"This one, uncle?" asked the grocer. He is a man who is still quite young.
"Wow! lucky uncle. This item is the only one left. If it's late, maybe not to the section. This is the most powerful capil hat. Items sent from Tamblong village. Known for being strong and neatly woven!” said the grocer.
"Um, how much is it?" asked the stubby man, after observing and trying on his head.