Majapahit Kingdom, Century Fourteen

Chapter 24

As fast as lightning struck, Kyai Banaspati's kris slid toward the mouth and sank down the snake's throat. When Ratnawulan grabbed her kris back, blood gushed out of the snake's mouth. However, Ratnawulan quickly took the opportunity while the snake was shocked and supernaturally so that its coils loosened, to break free from the knot and jump away from there so that she was not hit by a torrent of blood from the snake's mouth. Now the snake, which had been badly injured, was writhing and its head could no longer attack it, only circling the blood from its mouth.

When they saw this, the companions from Jatikembar saw this, with joy and gallantry, came charging. All the weapons, spears, machetes, axes, crowbars, etc., fell like heavy rain on the snake's head so that soon the snake's head was crushed and the beast died.

The snake carcass was dragged away and the group headed towards their village, cheering and laughing happily. On arrival at Jatikembar hamlet, they carefully cut open the snake's stomach and took out the corpse of their friend which was swallowed by the snake. It turned out that the corpse was still intact, only injured by a snake bite. So the corpse was then buried with a simple ceremony.

Meanwhile, after receiving another explanation about the robbers who disturbed the residents of Jatikembar, Ratnawulan left the village to return to the top, because she was afraid that her mother would feel restless if she did not return that night.

The residents of Jatikembar, feeling very grateful, escorted the mighty virgin to the outside of the hamlet where they stood staring until the girl disappeared at a corner. They returned to the village, talking about virginity endlessly.

Inside the bamboo hut at the top of Mahameru, Dara Lasmi sits on a bamboo bed. Her hair had turned all white even though she was not really old. However, even though her head was already covered with grey hair, her face still looked beautiful and there are no wrinkles on her facial skin. Her lips still looked red and her pair of eyes even contained a calm, influential light. In front of her sat Ratnawulan, who told her mother about the robber's disturbance in the eastern foothills and also expressed his heart's intention to go down the mountain and eradicate the robbers.

Dara Lasmi frowned and said in an earnest voice.

"My daughter Wulan. If it is true, as told by the residents of Jatikembar, that they are former rebels who were beaten back by the Majapahit army, you absolutely must not disturb them, Wulan! "

Ratnawulan looked at her mother with astonished eyes. Indeed

"Why is that, mother?" This brief question contains a demand that the virgin was not aware of, a demand for Dara Lasmi to tell her everything about her history.

"My daughter," she said after taking a deep breath, "it seems the time has now come for you to find out who we really are and who his late father was and why we both came to live on top of this lonely peak."

So Dara Lasmi told her about all her experiences since her husband died in battle due to Kartiko's cheating. Ratnawulan listened with great interest. She was touched and also very angry when she heard how her father had died in such a disappointing manner and how her mother had fled in such miserable circumstances.

"So, Wulan. The Majapahit Kingdom was under the evil influence of Bagawan Mahapati, and as long as the king was still in power to influence the King, then rebellions would endlessly arise. Those who rebelled did not simply hate the king. We will not hate the descendants of Raden Wijaya or Sang Prabu Kertarejasa, but what we hate is the evil spirit. Know that Kartika, the great demon who is our enemy, is none other than Bhagawan Mahapati's beloved disciple. Therefore, I cannot justify it if you destroy the remnants of the rebels who have been beaten by the Majapahit army because you have to remember that they are actually a group with us.

Didn't your father also help Raden Nambi from Lumajang, who also rebelled against Majapahit? They, the remnants of the rebels, are our comrades in arms, Wulan! "

Since earlier Ratnawulan has been holding back her anger towards Kartiko, her father's great enemy. After her mother finished, she said.

"Mother, then allow your daughter to come down the mountain, go to Majapahit and kill the bastard Kartiko and his teacher, the fake priest Mahapati!"

Like it or not, the mother just smiled at her son's words. Wulan, you really are like a child. Do you think the job will be as easy as you pronounce it? Kartiko was a formidable commander, and Bagawan Mahapati was a powerful man, possessing witchcraft and all kinds of black magic. Apart from that, he has enormous influence and power in the Majapahit Kingdom so that if he raised his hand a signal, thousands of Majapahit soldiers would invade and arrest you before you could move. "

Ratnawulan was stunned by her mother's words. Indeed, she did not know at all about who her enemies really were and how great their position was. Now, hearing what his mother said, even though he was not afraid, he became confused too.

"After that, how good is it, mother? Should that father's grudge be left alone? "

"That's not what I mean, Wulan. This revenge must be repaid and a human with a cheating heart like Kartiko must be eliminated. However, we must find a good and safe way. "

"Then, mother. I had to go to the forest where the remnants of the rebels were nesting.

I wanted to seek information about the current state of Majapahit from them, and I also had to prove to myself whether they really became robbers as told by the residents of Jatikembar. Because, in my opinion, no matter how they are, and whoever they are, the job of robbing the village people is a very evil act and must be eradicated. I'm not willing to let the people of Mahameru be disturbed so that anyone will disturb them. "

Dara Lasmi could not refute the truth in her daughter's words, and she was secretly delighted because from this she got the impression that Ratnawulan had courage and loyalty. She also does not feel worried about her child's safety because she knows that her daughter already has high intelligence. She sighed and said in an apologetic voice.