THE TEARS OF KUMARI KANDAM
CHAPTRE 3

“And I thought you were the first to find out.” Jihan ordered all her servants to come out.

“Beware.”

Jihan responded to Murat. “Do I need it? I'm sure even you can't find evidence that could lead to me. Then what's the point of being careful?”

Jihan continued to burst open, while smearing her hands alternately with milk. While Murat, still standing in the middle of the main door of the pool, looked at all the activities that Jihan did. Jihan swam here and there humming happily, feeling how great she could walk on the wind.

Murat just silently heard Jihan's endless arrogance, muttering pity Jihan in heart. The cheeked man waited for the right moment to convey the meaning of his arrival to Jihan, the queen with a myriad of great abilities who instantly became a fool if he was fooled by jealousy.

And the moment that awaited arrived. Jihan turned around, turning to Murat who had just stood there just without saying a word. Jihan was curious about the reason why many sassy advisers seemed to be indifferent, especially the reason men were so sedentary as to be reckless to visit in the heavy rain.

Jehan came out of the milk pool, then threw himself into the pool of water. “What do you want to say? If there's no hurry out and call my servant. You're boring.”

“Your hand is caught.”

Jihan was surprised, but calmed down. “You should add the word carcass in your sentence.”

“That's because they haven't become carcasses.”

Jihan turned to Murat. “What did you say?”

“The situation will turn to you if you don't have a backup plan.”

“Wait, Murat.”

Jihan rushed out of the pool, intending to chase after Murat who never once heeded her orders. Jihan finally managed to catch up to Murat's quick steps despite stumbling with her cover cloth several times. The man with the pitch-black eyeball looked at Jihan irritatedly, making Jihan no less upset.

“Tell me first how they got caught alive.”

“Just ask the person you think is crying in his room right now,” Murat told Jihan.

“Haala? But how did he get out? Didn't Bheim hold him for days in a room with tight guard?”

Murat sighed. “Then do you think he'll enjoy that guard and sleep well? You only have a little time to think until your accomplices come to their senses and make a confession.”

Jehan approached Murat, thrusting one of his hands into the chest of the field. “Help me as usual. Hm?”

Murat did not reply, only allowing Jihan to act as she pleased. One by one the buttons of Murat's clothes were successfully removed, revealing a body full of scars that somehow drove out Jihan's pity and invited something hot. But one sentence that Murat threw froze the heat in an instant.

“I'm tired of the rest of the women,” said Murat as he turned to turn his back on Jihan.

Jihan turned around. “Truly boring.”

“Swear not to disturb Haala if I rescue you again this time.”

Jihan nodded quickly. “I swear.”

“Tell me how it all started.”

Jihan complies, and tells the beginning of her dealings with Haala. Murat endlessly sighed hearing Jihan's story. Instead of pinning a stupid label, it would be more fitting if pinning the label is not sane on Jihan. Either where Jihan left her sanity to dare to threaten, injure, and even slander the descendants of Yusef Bahadir.

Jihan is known to be very jealous of everyone. The woman who is a gemstone enthusiast is still unable to accept if the affection of Braheim can not be owned in full. Jihan considers Braheim to love her very much simply because Braheim gave her the throne of the queen. But Bheim, who Murat knew, only gave his love to the people.

Jihan became the chosen woman of the many women in Kumari Kandam not only because of her beauty, but because of her intelligence which is not just nonsense, but he was able to prove it by the duties of the queen that he could carry according to the expectations of Braheim. Nothing more than that, but Jihan continues to misunderstand her thought of her love being together.

Murat walked out of Jihan's room. “Apologies to Haala after this problem is finished.”

“What? She's the one who should be apologizing to me.”

Murat stopped his steps. “After everything you did to her? Would I rather let you die on Yusef Bahadir's heirloom sword?”

"Sad. I will only apologize if I have succeeded in getting the lowly woman to leave Kumari Kandam" Jihan said in her heart.

...¤○●¤○●¤○●¤...

Haala's sword almost separated Murat's head from his body if Murat was late in fending off Haala's attack of goods by half a second. Haala also sheathed back her sword, after the person with the second highest position in the Kumari Kingdom of Kandam conveyed the intention of his arrival while bowing respectfully.

Although she felt very uncomfortable because this was the first time a man had seen her wearing a nightgown, Haala had no other choice. Murat had already stepped on the balcony of his room, and if not immediately invited him in, the royal spy who kept awake would definitely spread rumors.

Now the two are sitting facing each other. Murat did not make a sound, because he suddenly lost his focus. The woman in a white sleep dress who sat on her back against the moon suddenly made her heartbeat noisy instead of playing. How could it be, the beauty of the lord of the night sky could be defeated by the female figure in front of him.

“Advisor?”

Murat awoke from his daydream, and cleared his throat several times before finally starting to speak. “I'm coming for Her Majesty Queen.”

“Say, Advisor.”

Murat again cleared his throat, “This mess is the act of Her Majesty the Queen. He said he will not repeat it again, and will not spread anything about your sister.”

“Then you were sent to settle the mess that Her Majesty the Queen made, so?”

“True. So please leave this matter to me,” Murat replied.

“Yes. Therefore I offer this.” Murat took something out from inside his clothes.

A small, ancient map tear was plastered before Haala's eyes. Haala tried to read the map, but there was not a single place on the map she knew. The names of the places on the map were also written using the original Videsh* language which added to Haala's difficulty of multiplying.

*V*idesh*** is the language of the kumari kandam used by early ancestors. It is no longer used in the present because it is too complicated.

“I heard your sister is sick. One of the places on this map can take you to a person who can give you a magic potion of healers of all kinds of diseases,” Murat added.

“Is the person you mean a nomads tribe?”

Murat nodded in response to Haala. “Trust me, they are not just bedtime stories. They really are all around us. Which means your sister can be healed.”

Although still overshadowed by the feeling of disbelief, inexplicably Haala felt very happy to see the confident expression on Murat's face. During this time Haala was desperately looking for the existence of a wandering tribe. Haala is reluctant to ask anyone for help, even her family, because only the knee-high children believe the tribe is alive.

In the fairy tale children are told if the wandering tribe is led by a man with a black bandage who has a ugly face and a hypnotic gaze. It is said that the nomadic tribe is the ruler and heir of the real Kumari Kandam, because they were the first humans to set foot and build life in the land of Kumari Kandam.

If it is true that the wandering tribe is not just a fairy tale, it means that Haala's combat troops are not the strongest combat troops. It is said that the nomadic tribal fighting forces are not only immune to humans with all kinds of sharp weapons, but also supernatural creatures such as lions, apes, elephants, and giant snakes.

They are also said to be good at concocting drugs, and often give the drug to those who need it most. They do not have a permanent residence, because they always move to one place to another. All that they do for the sake of leveling aid to places that are not affordable justice King Kumari Kandam.

“They once saved the life of a loved one.”

“So they really have the ingredients?” ask Haala enthusiastically.

“Ya, and I know how to call them.”

“Tell me, Panajaran.” Haala is getting more enthusiastic.

“Only if you leave this matter to me. How?”

...¤○●¤○●¤○●¤...

Murat managed to prevent Kumari Kandam from the war that Shaasvat was fighting after negotiating with the perpetrators of the Nahas Concubine's murder. At first they did not heed anything Murat said and insisted that he would confess his actions in front of Braheim, but the offer from Murat succeeded in making the two men fearless of death quickly change their minds.

Murat promised to make their families do not lack anything as long as they are alive, raise their family caste, and give a position in the kingdom when their children have reached the age of ready to work. In addition, Murat will also ensure that Jihan, who is their master, receives the appropriate punishment for her actions.

They agreed, and the next day, after confessions, as Murat had commanded, they were beheaded. Conditions within the kingdom have still not returned to normal since the terrible incident that occurred in the harem. Even the harem was suddenly filled with silly stories such as the spirit of the Nahas Concubine who allegedly would dwell in the harem forever.

Then Jihan, moved from the queen's palace to the western palace* on the grounds of not being able to sleep well because of the harem residents who continue to make noise. Though Murat made Jihan now live in a small palace beside the stables as a form of punishment for his vile deeds. Jihan will continue to be there until Murat himself lets her out.

*I*western palace** palace which was the residence of the favorite concubine of the previous king. Now it is no longer used because since the reign of Braheim, there is no title of favorite concubine. The palace was then converted to a resting place for horsemen.

While Haala, began to busy doing night activities. As promised, Murat tells where the wandering tribe lives as well as how the ritual to summon the tribe is only considered a myth. But the temple commonly used for the ritual of summoning nomads is located in a very far place, and with a terrain that is not difficult.

“Where are you going?”

Spontaneous Haala undoes her intention of riding the horse, and bows respectfully at Braheim who suddenly appears out of nowhere. “Long live, and be bound always, sun Kumari Kandam.”

“Your answer?”

Haala was silent for a moment, thinking. “There are places I want to visit, Your Majesty.”

“This solvent?”

“True, Your Highness,” Reply Haala.

“If the place you want to visit can make me unwind, take me too.”

Haala kept quiet, thinking more and more. “Please go up, Your Highness.”

Bheim did not answer, only looking at Haala who suddenly sat down beside him, thrusting his feet as a support for his foot to ride on the horse. But it is unexpected that Bheim even acted that should not be. Braheim quickly carried Haala, sat Haala in the saddle, and took control of the white horse's harness.

“Please do not do such an action again at a later time, Your Majesty.”

Bheim smiled in response to Haala. “I just saved my pride as a man.”

“You are not just a man but a king.”

“I am a careful king,” sahut Braheim.

“Give your heart at the deserved.”

Brahim smiled again. “Who do you think deserves my heart the most?”

Haala was silent for quite a while. “Hamba,” murmured Haala finally.

Slowly the agile pace of the beautiful feathered horse slowed down, because the Receptacle Controller who was now in the middle was very surprised. Whether it was the breeze that made his hearing misunderstood, or the short answer the braided woman in front of him was earnest, Bheim only let his mouth speak in line with what came to his mind.

“Ah, so you think you're the most deserving. Then, should I give my heart away right now?"