The Fire Dragon Sword
Offer a deal
After resting for a while and filling the stomach in an inn, Tantri and the others resumed their journey. They did not want to waste time to quickly reach Surupan cave.
The Eagle's face looked calmer this time because since at the inn, he no longer felt anyone watching them.
"Is it just my feeling? but if it's true why he just disappeared," said the Eagle in a bewildered heart.
"No need to think too much, since we got out of the forest nothing happened?" tantri whispers arrived.
The eagle just nodded slowly, although he was still sure there was someone watching but Tantri's speech was right, the most important thing is that nothing happened during the trip.
Tantri stopped her steps when she heard the sound of a waterfall in the distance, she then took a small scroll from inside the clothes and opened it.
"It looks like we're close, the teacher said that the cave is located between the green hill and the waterfall of death" said Tantri slowly.
After hearing Tantri's words, Winara moved towards one of the tallest trees and quickly climbed up. He looks around before pointing in one direction.
"There! I saw that waterfall!" shouted Winara quickly.
"Do you see any caves or crevices around the falls?" tantric Reply.
"I'm not sure but the hill you're referring to is next to that waterfall."
"I will help him, usually a woman's eyes are much sharper than theirs." Without waiting for Tantri's reply, Gendis darted up the tree and approached Winara.
He stared at the waterfall and the green hill alternately before pointing at a cave covered in trees.
"I saw the cave" cried Gendis quickly.
"I thought the cave was in this forest, something we should talk about for a moment" Tantri replied.
"I know everything you've planned, it seems like this scroll fell while we were at the inn," Gendis handed the small scroll to Winara before moving down.
"You?" Winara checked her clothes and found the scroll was no longer in place.
"Great, he knows our plan" Kirana's voice rang out in Winara's mind.
Winara was silent for a moment before putting the scroll back in her clothes, she tried to recall when Gendis took the scroll from her.
"What should we do? if the plan is known to many before its time, we..."
"Calm down, I was reckless until he could take this scroll but it looks like Gendis hasn't told anyone yet, we'll see what he's going through and if his movements are suspicious, I'll kill him myself" replied Winara as she jumped down.
After Gendis and Winara rejoined, Tantri began to explain his plan.
"Listen, Nyai Sumbi is a warrior who does not like the martial world, which is why he is alone in this forest and I am sure our arrival will not be welcomed. Avoid fighting as much as possible if not forced because our job is to persuade him to come to the forest of death. You all have to hold back when dealing with him especially you, Minak Jinggo," Gendis said slowly.
"Why should I? if he attacks do you want me to be quiet?" reply Minak Jinggo cynical.
"You heard stupid! our goal is to save His Majesty's life and perhaps only His contribution can do so. As people who want to ask for help, we have to be polite. If you can't do a little thing like this, you better wait here. Understood?" tantri held back the anger.
"Well well I understand." Minak Jinggo replied upset.
"Well if you guys understand, let's go" said Tantri slowly.
However just as they were about to step up, a considerable aura arrived filled the forest area and pressed down on their bodies all along with the appearance of a woman in the distance.
Minak Jinggo immediately pulled out his sword and prepared to attack but Tantri suddenly asked him to recline his heirloom.
"Wait, it looks like he's the one we're looking for" Tantri said softly as she continued to stare at the female swordsman.
"For a long time no one dared to enter this forest, I did not expect today some young warriors came to visit this old man," said the woman coldly.
"Sorry elder, are you Miss Sumbi?" ask Tantri politely.
"I don't know what your purpose is to come to this place but you better leave before I forcefully drive out" Sumbi replied quickly.
"Mrs Mentari ordered me to meet you, there is an important message I must convey" Tantri replied.
"Content?" Sumbi's face looks softened.
Tantri then introduces herself as a disciple of the Red Lotus group.
"I was assigned to.." Not yet finished Tantri speaking, Sumbi had already cut back her speech.
Tantri and the others looked at each other confusedly, they did not expect Sumbi to be so easy to accept their presence without asking anything. His attitude was much different than what he had heard all along.
"Do you want to stand there? hurry up before I change my mind!" snapped Bulbi.
"Ba. nyai, well" replied Tantri and the others simultaneously.
***
The atmosphere of the border gate to the capital in recent days has been tightened since news of Wardhana's disappearance spread in the martial world. The merchants who were usually given little discretion to enter the Capital were even checked at the border gate.
Sora's oxen, who were temporarily appointed to replace Wardhana, ordered to tighten guard at the entrance of the Capital in order to guard against unwanted things.
Malwageni had actually tried hard to reduce the news of Wardhana's disappearance but somehow it spread quickly in the martial world.
"In addition to the native citizens of the Capital and the teleik ciphers, check everything that will enter strictly. I don't want any intruders to take advantage of the news of Mr. Patih's disappearance and wreak havoc in the palace" Oxen Sora told several guard soldiers before leaving the capital's main gate.
"Okay sir" they answered simultaneously.
"So the news of the disappearance of one of Malwageni's higher-ups is true, is it possible that this is related to the rise of the Fire Devil?" ardhani said in a heart that watched from afar.
After observing the pattern of the guard at the main gate and finding a gap to infiltrate, Ardhani decided to return to the inn not far from the place to devise a plan to infiltrate at night.
Ardhani rushed into the inn to gather the other swordsmen but was shocked when he opened the door of the room and saw a warrior wearing a mask was already sitting inside his room.
Ardhani almost pulled out his sword and attacked if the masked swordsman did not mention Jaya Setra by name.
"Jay Setra... Do you know that name?" say the warrior slowly.
Ardhani immediately stopped his steps, he looked surprised because Jaya Setra was not an arbitrary name, other than his tribe no one would recognize the name.
"Who are you really?" asked Ardhani politely.
"I'll answer your question but can you recombine that sword? I came just to talk," replied the swordsman slowly.
"Well.. You've got me interested, who are you?" Ardhani sat down directly in front of the warrior.
"I want to offer you a deal" the swordsman replied calmly.
"Deal? do you think I'd just believe in a swordsman who even hid his face?"
"Is my face more important than the information you're looking for?" reply the swordsman slowly while opening the mask that covered his face.
Ardhani stared at the swordsman's face long enough and he felt that he did not recognize him.
"I really don't know you, sir, and you don't seem to belong to my group either, but how can you name Jaya Setra?" asked Ardhani confused.
The swordsman did not answer Ardhani's question and preferred to give him a small scroll.
"For the moment it doesn't matter who I am, there's something we have to stop before it's too late. The person who wrote the message wants to meet you, if you are interested I will wait for you in the forest located on the west side of the palace," said the swordsman slowly while putting his mask back on.
Ardhani's face changed instantly after reading the scroll, his hands shaking as if he had just realized something.
"This." he said, clenching his hands and squeezing the scroll to pieces.
"Do you think I'd believe in such a senseless thing?"
"The sea of your face changed as you read the text signifies that you know who wrote the message. If you doubt it or don't believe it, why not ask him directly?" reply the swordsman slowly.
Ardhani seemed to think for a moment before nodding slowly, he wanted to make sure of everything before reporting to the chairman.
"Is he currently in the palace? but how could you..." Ardhani stopped his speech as the swordsman gave a sign of silence.
"I can't tell you everything in this place because many are watching us. Come to the court silent tonight, he will explain everything to you." The warrior got up from his seat and stepped towards the window.
"Seeing you are so familiar with the circumstances within the palace, I can guess you are a part of them. Remember my message, if this is a trap we will destroy you without rest" Ardhani threatened.
"I will remember the message," the swordsman smiled before darting out.
"What is really going on, if he is not betraying why not look for us in Kontilola and explain everything" Ardhani said in his heart.