SELAQ
Episode "Court to Baloq Darwire" (28)

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Artha Prana stood three spears from where Baloq Darwire lay. His gaze was cold with half of his face sinking behind the collar of the black robe.

“What news?,” said Nursiwan flatly responding to Artha Prana's remarks.

To be honest he did not like the young village chief. What a weight, Artha Prana gathered beside Baloq Darwire before opening a conversation and telling him what information he knew.

But Nursiwan felt, it was not the right time to talk about adab. Even from the position of both bearing the status of the village head.

Artha Prana closed her eyes. His left hand stretched out across his black robe. Then, the 25-year-old repeated the habit of stroking his chin with his index finger and thumb.

Then with a flat tone he said, “Good news, Jumindri has returned to human form,”

Baloq Darwire breathed a sigh of relief. So did Nursiwan who immediately smiled while looking at Baloq Darwire. The choice of Jumindri marked the end of the tempest and all the chaos in the village of Bunge.

They did not need to bother thinking about how to control the red monster.

“Then what's the bad news?” ask Nursiwan, impatient.

Arya Prana glanced towards Baloq Darwire. His eyes glinted at the schemer. But the Bunge Village Chief was unaware of the mysterious spotlight. Weak conditions make it difficult for Baloq Darwire to catch the intent behind the cold face of Artha Prana.

“About a thousand combat troops of Tunggak Village attacked the defense forces at the east gate. So also a thousand combat soldiers of Buaq Village stormed the North gate,”

Nursiwan and Kertaji looked at each other in shock. Baloq Darwire was staring blankly.

Baloq Selasih who rested beside him stroked Baloq Darwire's chest so that he could immediately control his feelings.

“Duh, Sang Hyang Jagad, what's this problem again?” nirih Nursiwan. “Speak something Kertaji, don't just be quiet. What happened, why did Panji and Sigar instead storm the gates of Bunge Village?”

Actually the question was directed Nursiwan on Artha Prana. But the head of Pusuk Village was not yet willing to sit down to make him dongkol not play.

Kertaji. “Did my face look like I know things? Even I am confused about what to say now,” said the head of Leaf Village.

Nursiwan looked back at Kertaji's face covered in black cloth. Only his right eye was visible. “Which one stands without adab, another one is not clear what his face looks like,” Nursiwan lamented inwardly.

His face was wrinkled sour. Then violently exhale. “Huh!”

“And one more,” said Artha Prana breaking the deadlock of their minds. “Choose and Sentane fall on the field of action,”

Baloq Darwire, Nursiwan, and Kertaji froze. Their bodies were like they were bewitched and turned into wooden statues.

The death of the Village Chief Krame was enough to make their heads dizzy. But Artha Prana also called the head of Lolo village, Rawilih also died in the dirt. What kind of curse is actually befalling Bunge Village?

“Is there any other bad news?” baloq Darwire said with trembling lips. His shabby mouth made the vibrations even more clearly visible.

His heart is beating fast. He wanted to get up, but a weak body put him in bed. 

Artha Prana did not answer. He lowered his head, buried half of his face behind the collar of the black robe. Then close your eyes slowly.

No one was aware, Artha Prana was hiding a faint smile.

“What's our next step?” ask Nursiwan to Kertaji.

“Otakku still can not think clearly,” replied Leaf Village Chief was flat. “What exactly are Panji and Sigar plans? why would Sigar help us fight the Selaqs if they wanted to invade Bunge Village? That's all, never mind I found the answer,”

"Something is troubling. Sigar in the last fight came to help us expel the Selaqs," Nursiwan pondered. Before continuing his words. "But after that Sigar left on the grounds Panji fainted and had to be helped. Is it possible after that he arranged an onslaught to the village of Bunge?

"Don't be wondering, something that has not been clearly proven," Kertaji warned Nursiwan.

The atmosphere in the village hall was silent again. They are busy with their own minds. Looking for strategies to stem the onslaught from the villages of Tungga and Buaq.

Until Artha Prana broke the silence again. “There are two people who have veto power at the Village Chiefs Association. Me and Darwire,”

They looked at Artha Prana who had not yet moved from where she was standing.

“What's your plan?” ask Nursiwan.

Nursiwan looked at Baloq Darwire. The head of Bunge Village seemed to have begun to control himself.

"First, the cooperation between Bunge village and Akah village has been beneficial for too long Tunggak village. Every year Panji gets a big deposit from you to keep the hallway safe. It is time for the deal to be vetoed. Second, I also need Darwire's support to veto all trade plans involving Tunggak village and Buaq Village. That way we can impoverish Tunggak Village and Buaq Village. Akj hopes you agree Darwire,” Artha Prana said sounding pushy.

“Good capsule. It is time, the two village heads were given a lesson,” gusar Nursiwan.Ia again asked for Kertaji approval. “How do you agree?”

Kertaji sighed. “If Artha Prana and Darwire as the owners of a one-vote veto, all villages must come along. Only I still doubt this is effective or not, because we face two villages at once. Is it possible that four villages can complicate the two villages side by side?”

“Geographically Tunggak Village and Buaq Village are indeed side by side. They could utilize the northeast side to get in touch, as it was only restricted to forests instead of other village areas. But our goal is not to isolate their movements. But it weakens its economy,” said Artha Prana.

“Have the fate of Bunge Village come into consideration?” ask Kertaji. “Veto move could make Panji and Sigar angry big. Darwire can be accused of being the ringleader of the problem. Bunge Village flanked by Buaq Village and Tunggak on the North and East sides,”

“Already,” replied Artha Prana lightly. He slipped a smile back behind the collar of his black robe. “I will deploy peacekeepers guarding Bunge village,"

Nursiwan manggut-mangut understand. Artha Prana's plan perfectly protected Bunge Village while punishing Raden Mas Panji and Raden Sigar.

“Now it's your turn,” Nursiwan said as he addressed Darwire.

Baloq Darwire, quiet for quite a while. Weighing the veto decision. The atmosphere of the Village Hall was silent again. Only the roar of their breath once upon a time sounded earthy.

The heart of Baloq Darwire is actually heavily punishing Raden Mas Panji and Raden Sigar. Not only would the two village heads be miserable, but the commoners would suffer too.

But the deployment of the Tunggak Village and Buaq Village combat forces is much more dangerous for Bunge village.

“Alright, I decided ..”

Not only, his words were complete, two shadowy figures were moving rapidly closer to the village hall.

“Aryadi, Kayunada,” shouts Baloq Darwire with a smile on his lips. Know who is coming.

“How are you doing?” Raden Aryadi, the college teacher of Bunge and Kayunada immediately took a place to rest.

“It has been better, thanks to them,” said Baloq Darwire as he glanced at Nursiwan and Kertaji.

“How is the condition of the village?” ask Baloq Darwire immediately.

“That's what I want to report. At the East and North gates the defense forces fought against the soldiers of Buaq Village and Tunggak Village,” Raden Aryadi said.

“Artha Prana just reported it. Now I am considering whether it is necessary to veto the economy of the two villages,” Baloq Darwire said.

Raden Aryadi, put the back of his right hand on the forehead of Baloq Darwire. Checking his body temperature. “Luka must be treated immediately,” he said, while paying attention to the entire body of Baloq Darwire.

“Saw has treated my internal injuries. It feels better. I think, this outer wound will heal soon,” replied Baloq Darwire. “Now I am more worried about the condition of the village than my own condition,”

“Just rest Darwire. The condition of the village is under control,” replied Raden Aryadi. He then said, “Panji and Sigar have withdrawn all troops from the East and North gates,"

Baloq Darwire, Kertaji, Nursiwan, and Baloq Selasih breathed a sigh of relief.

“The storm has passed,” said Baloq Darwire, grateful.  

Artha Prana's two hands clenched tightly. Vibrating withstood peerless anger under his cloak. But his face was good at hiding his anger. It was precisely that plain smile Artha Prana was seen.

“I think peacekeepers are not needed" he said with a smile.

“Thank you Artha Prana, Kertaji, Nursiwan, you guys are good friends. I am at a loss for words to express my infinite gratitude. We'll meet again at Rawilih's funeral,”

The three village chiefs resigned. Their departure was followed by an elite force waiting faithfully outside the village hall.

The sky of Bunge village slowly rolled. Black clouds marched, marking another moment of rain. Wash the blood that was scattered in the countryside due to the terrible war.

The cloud was also a blanket that stretched. Bringing Bunge Village a moment longer asleep in a delayed rest.

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