The Thief

by Rama Nugraha

Pollo pointed at the parchment. “Don’t forget these seven codes, Datan,” he said sternly.

  Datan nodded docilely, accepting without any further comment.

  Pollo closed the Secret Closet, giving the key to Datan. He took something out of his left pocket. “This is the last one,” Pollo put small box made red ironwood on Datan’s palm. “This is your identifier as a Royan.”

  Datan sat down in the sofa, opening the box impatiently. On top of a red velvet cushion was a thin black bracelet.

  “A bracelet?”

  Pollo nodded. “The Black Wristlet.”

  Datan inspected the detail of the black wristlet. It was flexible and gripping tightly like a rubber—though it was not actually one. In the surface, a mantra was written in a foreign letter.

  “Sernez’in korlingda zolodul gunus,” Pollo uttered fluently. Reacting to the chant, the writing glowed red and hissed. “In the darkness, we breathe.”

  Datan widened his eyes, shivered as a gush of wind came into the room. He was awe-struck especially when seeing his name in the wristlet, and the symbol of Urtaya’s head drawn in golden ink appeared in the inside part of it.

  Pollo told him that the black wristlet could detect and could repress Aura Vibration emerging around Datan. Aura Vibration was sparks of energy that shows up when a magic trick is performed by a wizard or a witch. It can affect someone's physical body and mind. When the Aura Vibration was taken cared off, someone would be able to avoid a kind of magic which attach the mind—like Illusion Trap.

  “The black wristlet reminds you to stay alert in its own way,” Pollo said. “Other than that, your blood has been bonded magically with it. It made it impossible for someone else to wear it other than yourself.”

  “Is it from the blood sample Aunt Mury took a few days ago?”

  “Indeed.”

  “Alright then. What else can it do?”

  “It can be a key to access Royan Locker, our own bank account. That’s where we send your payment. It could also provide you access to every information source for the League all around the Surface. Our comrades will automatically recognize you. They will help you and provide you with anything necessary to accomplish the mission.”

  Datan was stunned, he felt tension set free from his muscles. His mind went awry. Though he was not smiling, an explosion of happiness soared up inside of him that it made him look even younger.

  Chapter 15

  Waiting Times

  Waiting.

  Datan had to wait still. He was waiting for his first mission without any comforting certainty. A week had even passed since Pollo’s briefing. Datan was impatient. He was excited and restless all the time. His thought was haunted by the images of how his first experience would be. Datan even opened the Secret Closet at least twice a day to stare at the night attire and to graze it pathetically.

  Datan wanted to try it so badly.

  But beyond the dull waiting time, another thing was bugging his head, Ana. Datan tried to think about what Pollo said day and night. Was it true that she was a traitor? Was Ruyuni even real? Was Pollo even refer to the same Ana that Datan met?

  Datan was agitated. He could not accept that he had been idolizing a traitor. He could imagine Aunt Fira’s pale face as she mocked him for wasting his childhood trying to find a criminal, who was a traitor amongst her own people. The humiliation doubled.

  Datan needed to find out about Ana on his own. Yes. He should not be hasty.

  The Royan Library was located behind the Reception Room, separated from the castle’s main building. The building looked like a giant red tube right in the middle of the slope of Yar Mountain. It was a three-story building with four levels of basements. Oval pored windows were scattered around the walls, as well as numerous painting and antique ornaments.

  The atmosphere was serene. The smell of turp orchid filled the air, making people’s day slightly better. Everything placed carefully. Every shelf was made of good quality stone. Tens of thousands of books were preserved, which was rearranged right away after someone had taken them out of their place. The reading spot is clean, well-ventilated, and well-lit.

  Datan had never seen a library like this in Tormera.

  The librarian told him that Kahisar Irirana cared for the books as if they were her children. She could spend hours reading in the library. Honestly, that information did not even surprise Datan.

  Father told him once that his 110-year-old grandmother, who was of Marra bloodline and was so ill because of asthma, loved books so much that she still managed to read three hours per day. She still did so even with her horrible eyesight that she needed special thick glasses every time she read.

  “You ever heard of the Ruyuni?” Datan asked the wide-eyed librarian. “A drunk man mentioned that once.”

  The librarian took his time before answering, “It feels like it had been ten years since we heard that name mentioned.”

  Datan was infuriated because deep down he hoped that Ruyuni was something Pollo made up. “Yeah?” he asked. “Can I access archive about them?”

  The other shook his head guiltily. “I’m sorry, Sir. I believe I cannot grant it,” he muttered. “Ruyuni is a group of traitor led by Ana Tasika. Their archive is classified, you’ll need Kahisar Irirana’s approval to access it.”

  He was told in such a stern manner that Datan knew instantly he could not convince him otherwise. Datan had to find another way. He must, indeed. But what should he do? Sneaking into the library and rummaged through thousands of archive? That idea was idiotic.

  He could ask Irirana, though it did not feel like a wise decision at times. He did not want anyone to know he was looking into the Ruyuni. His instinct told him to be alert.

  Datan tried not to think of Ana for the time being. He sent letters to Father, Aunt Fira, Uncle Joe, and Erry, telling them that he managed to be a Royan. He received replies very soon after.

  Father told him that Erry was still visiting their house often, talking to him about Datan. Father’s routine had not changed, he hunted. He complained that the house had become boring, and Datan had suspected this would happen. Because he was the talkative one in the house. Even so, Father still asked Datan to stay focused with the League. He congratulated him in few simple words—as expected—then asked if he had started doing missions.

  Uncle Joe’s reply was filled with compliments, Datan could feel his pride through the words. Uncle Joe even thought Datan had gone around the world doing his mission as a Royan. He also asked how many women he had been with along the way. Datan chuckled at that part. He would need time to answer that one.

  Erry congratulated him in a poetic way. She told him that she was touched. That she missed him. She asked, where was his mission? What would he steal? Did Datan finally found out about the Sleep in Unison event? And, how does he feel after becoming a real Royan? Datan answered each question in detail.

  Aunt Fira was not pleased with the news, she had not managed to let him go yet. The tone of her letter was harsh at the beginning, before she could not hold herself back and write how much she worried and how much she missed him. She said she prayed every day for his safety. Then finally she asked, when will you go back to Tormera?

  ◆◆◆

  Datan spent a lot of time in the Hall of the Royans while waiting for his first order. He usually went there after feeding Niko. He started to get to know his comrades there. There was Jareks Sina, a man with a rough facial feature, strong body and had a rather eccentric way of dressing up. He said he admired Datan for his recklessness before Irirana.

  “You had a duel with the Red Ludaj,” he said with gleaming eyes. “While protecting the Kahisar! That’s insane!”

  There was Akiko Bertoldo, which looked older than he actually was, whose voice was always almost a whisper. Toni Mura, the curly haired fella who always had a book in his hands and oval glasses in his face. Bonn Kalala, whose nose was short, and he told unfunny jokes. Kumi Damir, whose eye was bigger than the other, always talked s
arcastically. Ogit Bery whose ears were wide and always rushed into action, and there were more whose names had been forgotten by Datan.

  “I admired you, Datan,” Bonn said. “The way you introduce yourself back then.”

  “The most insolent ones are those who go against the Arkaiyan, Bonn,” Siley said. He then looked at Datan in disbelief. “Don’t you cherish your life?”

  “I stood for him,” Kumi interject, looking serious. “The next thing I knew there was a hole in my chest! I really thought I had died. The truth is that Datan had put every attendee in danger. I hate you Datan. Truly. But I cannot say I am not impressed.”

  “He deserves your support, Kumi,” Ogit added.

  “Isn’t that what I’m saying right now?”

  Datan brushed his hair to the back, flattered. He smiled and thanked them. He had to maintain a cool demeanor in receiving compliments.

  Datan spent his time doing various things. Reading, remembering Royan’s Operational Code, talking about the robbery with Toni, training combat with Jarekh, which turned out to have the stamina of a horse and speed of a wolf. Sometimes he also socialized with Angare people.

  He even tried Leih with Bonn and Akio, a sport played with two rackets and one fireball which had to be hit towards the opponent’s goal. The game was played at an incredible speed and Datan had been addicted to it.

  Other than that, whether he liked it or not, he had to follow the Intruding Program, a game played with ten other Royans, each of whom had to retrieve ten medals placed in several spots. Noting that they were not to see each other while doing so.

  The game was difficult. They held it in the Labyrinth Hall, the wall of which could be moved around to keep dangerous traps. It was right under the Hall of the Royans. There were rules for the scoring. A Royan had to obtain at least 11 success out of 15 chances if they wished to get a mission as a Royan.

  “What is wrong with you, pan? At this point, you’ve lost five times and ended up failed!” Sami Famash scolded him, he was the leader of Datan’s group. “Use your ears!”

  “I’m sorry, Sam, alright?” That was when Datan realized he was unable to function in a group. “Those knives flew at me and the walls moved on their own! They kept on changing!”

  ◆◆◆

  Iriana visited the Hall of the Royans several times to monitor Datan’s development. He was happy because they had not seen each other in a while. The Kahisar was busy taking care of the people of Angare. She had to deal with cases like two fishermen fight over debt, children who reported domestic violence, even the matter of pests in the farms.

  That woman might as well be the queen of a small country.

  Though there were more about her that shocked Datan to the core. She was a mother of three. She had three adopted children. Three.

  Datan screeched in silence when she introduced him to her children. Datan felt helpless. Irirana was no longer perfect in his eyes. Also, one of her children seemed to harbor a deep hatred toward him, though he looked happy that he was taken to the Hall of the Royans.

  One time, Irirana asked him about his score in the Intruding Program, which seemed to stay in the number 9. After training with his comrades, Irirana pulled out a conclusion that Datan tended to underestimate danger, like how he fought Ogit, who was a Royan Two.

  Datan scratched the side of the table. “I am trying to enjoy it, Lady,” he denied, looking away from her.

  The truth was, Datan grew bored at combat training as he had done it for ten years. He wanted to go out, to infiltrate people’s house. But the Intruding Program had gotten in his way!

  “This is not enjoyment,” Irirana stated. “Your posture is weak, your eyes are unfocused, and your defense is useless. What in the world are you thinking? Out there, your head will be decapitated in a second.”

  “Of course,” a small-nosed fella with cold eyes commented. He was Benji, Iriana’s adopted son number two, who followed her everywhere. He was eleven years old and was wearing a dark Nimta with a ruby stone in his chest. “He is an amateur, Mother.”

  Kanas nodded. “I agree,” he added.

  Lately, Datan had been struck by the desire to shut both of them with his shoe.

  Datan wondered why Kanas and Benji accompanied Irirana everywhere. They were truly meddlesome. Even when Datan and Irirana talked about other things that were not related to the League at all, they were there. Like that one time when Irirana told him how she wanted to taste Tomera’s twisty satay, as Datan proudly told her hometown about the food there.

  “Oh Lady, there are more than twisty satay,” Datan said enthusiastically. “Almost every food there is so delicious you’ll dream about them!”

  Irirana placed her hand in her cheek and jerked like she imagined eating them. “So delicious that I would dream about it… is that so?”

  “For Unum, he lied, Lady,” Kanas interjected. “Our Aunt Huti’s twisty satay is better.”

  “Mother, I am hungry,” Benji said. “Let’s go home.”

  Bonn told Datan to be patient about Kanas.

  That man always turned overprotective every time a man got close to Irirana. People had suspected that Kanas himself harbor romantic feelings for Iriana, though he never admitted it. He was very private about his love life. Datan then remembered Aunt Fira’s words, that people of Natuna were shy about intimacy.

  “You did nothing wrong,” Toni added, his eyes never left his book. “Though it is not wrong either for people to decapitate their love rival’s head with butcher’s knife.”

  Datan did not laugh at all.

  Time passed by fast in the Hall of the Royans. The situation was always so lively, filled with optimism and laughter. Especially when they told each other the thrilling experience when stealing something. For a moment, this distracted Datan’s mind form Ana and from his nonexistent mission. But as the day passed by, the lesser people were in the hall because they were assigned a mission.

  And Datan could not wait for his time to come.

  Chapter 16

  News from the Ailing One

  At the end of the cold and foggy month, the fact that Datan had yet to be assigned missions—even when he managed to obtain the score of 11 in Intruding Program—was discussed. It was then someone slammed the Hall of the Royans door open. The newcomer hastily entered the hall, frantic. Everyone look at the newly-arrived member wobbling towards Irirana.

  The short-haired lady looked frightened.

  Irirana stopped taking to Datan right away, standing up. “Siley?”

  “Lady, Tannu had returned from Urimenil,” Siley declared tensely. “He’s in critical condition.”

  ◆◆◆

  Tannu’s house had a small pond in the garden. The whole house smelt like clove. The walls were decorated with pictures of a blue-eyed woman wearing feathery red Kirki shawl and a little boy holding a miniature of the Black Wave ship. Datan assumed they were the family of this Tannu person. A crowd of visitor gathered on the second floor, inside a bedroom where Aunt Muri had to open all of the windows to make the place felt less stuffy.

  The moment Datan lied his eyes on Tannu Karlata, he was overwhelmed with pity. The man was lying on the bed, his entire body, which was nothing but skin and bones, was covered in scars. His skin was yellowish. White-spotted black liquid trickled from his nostrils. It was a small steady stream that someone had to wipe it over and over again.

  His face was hollowed, wrinkled, making his skull bulged out even more. His blue eyes were spotted in black dots, bulging in a sunken socket of skin. His curly hair was scattered all over the pillow. His wrist was connected to a small catheter which supplied him with some glowing blue liquid to the writhing body.

  His last breath was minutes away, Datan thought. Meanwhile, his nose caught an odd scent from the man’s body, something resembling sulfur. It was very disturbing.

  Datan was flabbergasted, wondering if the others noticed the foul odor as well.

  From the way some people covered their mout
h, holding back not to gag perhaps, it seemed so. Some others whispered in pity. Everyone realized the worst case scenario that might happen soon. Some people shed tears and chose to leave the room when they could no longer stomach what they were witnessing. Irirana, trembling, sat on a chair next to the bed. Her face was tense as she looked a little frightened.

  “Tannu, oh dear… what happened?” Irirana chocked as she held back her tears. She reached out to Tannu’s limp hand, which was nothing but a skin-covered bone.

  Irirana held it so dearly as tears began to fall, wetting her cheeks.

  Tannu opened his mouth, though at first no sound was heard. He breathed heavily then tried to find his voice again. “Please, Lady. Don’t touch me,” he almost begged, looking at Irirana as shine in his teary eyes got dimmer by the second. Desperation and shame flowed in his voice. “For Unum, I don’t want you to catch… this… in my body.”

  “That will not happen, Tannu,” Irirana said. “Who did this to you?”

  Tannu did not answer right away. He took heavy breaths like he was suffocating.

  “Aunt Muri,” Irirana sounded desperate. “What happened to him?”

  Aunt Muri placed her hands on her lap. She was sitting in another chair next to the bed. Next to her was a wooden table, and on it were bowls and bottles of potions smelling like spices. Two assistants from the Healing Room stood restlessly next to her.

  “I saw it, stars,” Tanu said all of sudden. His eyes gazed at the ceiling. “They twinkle.”

  Irirana’s mouth opened, her eyes never left the man. Someone was gasping behind her, startled. They all realized that Tannu’s mind was no longer in its place.

  “Someone needs to cracks open my head,” he added. “It itches so badly. Something is happening inside there, Lady. Someone’s cooking there.”

  Datan commented, “He’s lost his mind.”

  Siley elbowed Datan. Irirana looked at Aunt Muri, demanding an explanation.

  Aunt Muri nodded. “I think so too, Lady,” she murmured. That time, she was completely scentless. She looked extremely tired as showed by her baggy eyes. The skin in her face loosened. “Though I am afraid I cannot tell the cause. Aside from that…”