The Thief

by Rama Nugraha

  The four men were taken aback at the intense conversation of the two. For a moment, it was as if there were the two of them around the table. On the other side of the table, Kanas looked at Sal suspiciously, like he was about to snatch something of his.

  Pollo moved all of sudden. He stood up, bowing deeply at the King and Irirana. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty, Lady,” he uttered tensely and awkwardly, unlike his true self. “I think it’s time for me to go.”

  Irirana frowned. “What happened, Pollo?” she asked.

  “I need a piece of babag, Lady. I also forgot that I was sun-drying Yeklip for tonight’s dinner menu.”

  Irirana and the King allowed Pollo to leave. Silently, Sal followed the leaving man with his eyes as the other proceeded to the owl door. Datan thought that Sal must have had his own impression of Pollo. Sal turned his neck, looking back at the King who was now cradling Zu in his hands, whiffing its scent, brushing it lightly with his large finger. The chain of the necklace made the slightest noise as it moved here and there like a heavy iron.

  “After some consideration,” Sal said carefully. “I don’t think you should bring Zu back to Kalidas, Your Majesty.”

  King Lucas winced, his head snapped as he glared at Sal. “What do you mean?” he jabbed.

  “It could endanger us all.”

  King Lucas growled. “You’re not supposed to talk like that, Sal,” he glowered. “This stone shall be my fairest possession! I have fallen in love with it from the first time I saw it. Don’t you remember, Sal? People say ‘Find your beloved and let them kill you.’ Beautiful, truly beautiful.”

  Datan almost barked a laugh at his words, thinking that the King had lost his mind. Were he not the ruler of Sarayan, he would have made a retort. Sal did not say anything back, he just starred the king with a tightened lip. Perhaps it was a way the wizard could denounce the King, it was unsettling, to say the least. The King looked furious, his face reddened.

  King Lucas finally exploded. “For Unum! I hate you both,” he rebuked. He glared at Irirana and Sal like he was choking them mentally. “I hate those who have read the Scripture of Essa! I hate you, Sal!”

  Irirana crooked her eyebrow, “How so, Your Majesty?” she asked.

  “Because you people can see the unseen. You cannot be deceived.”

  Irirana pursed her lips slightly, one she would show Petan when he got angry because Benji asked for his toys. “You can also read it if you wish to, Your Majesty,” she offered seriously. “You’ll see things people tend to overlook in this world.”

  The King paled, he looked horrified. “Me? No! Never, Lady!” he bellowed. “I am a King! I’m busy. For me what you do are nothing but a waste of time. Walking one thousand months in the Canyon of Solitude to read an old book of nonsense?! You have too much free time! You’re insane!”

  “Magic is not nonsense, Your Majesty.”

  “I agree. But I won’t waste a thousand months to study it.”

  Datan was lost in his thought. He did not move even a little in his seat. He was confused at everything the King and Irirana said about the Scripture of Essa.

  Father told him once that the Scripture of Essa contained the knowledge foundation of the Unseen. But if to reach it, one needed to walk in the Canyon of Solitude for one thousand months? Who could do that? What kind of place was the Canyon of Solitude even? What exactly was written in the Scripture of Essa and why Father, Irirana and Sal worked so hard to read it?

  Did that also mean that Irirana was an elderly? Datan tried to shrug away the ridiculous thought, trying to focus on the conversation in the table.

  Sal chuckled calmly. “That’s enough, Kahisar. His majesty doesn’t see it the way we do,” he uttered. “That experience, that journey, it is not easily comprehended.”

  King Lucas’ face got redder by the second. He scoffed, holding back irritation in his chest. Yet, he did not deny them, confirming the words of his attendance. His nostrils expanded to inhale the cool air of the mountain, then exhaling slowly. King Lucas did it several times while closing his eyes. “This is humiliating. I shouldn’t have said such a thing to you,” he relented. He looked at Sal and Irirana, “I am sorry Sal, Kahisar.”

  Sal smiled, while Irirana nodded. “Apology accepted, Your Majesty,” she said with a smile.

  “Thank you, you two!” King Lucas exclaimed happily. “Ah, right. I almost forget. It’s time to hear the story from Datan about the chaos and the manslaughter in Fardas.”

  “That’s right, Your Majesty,” Sal agreed, turning his gaze towards Datan. Looking at him sharply, like was trying to read his mind. “We haven’t even thanked him for the Zu.”

  “That’s right, Sal. I just hope that he was not the one murdering my Ubaga.”

  Chapter 25

  Letter from a Friend

  Datan whimpered. His left feet that had been tapping the ground slowed down.

  King Lucas and Sal looked at him with burning curiosity. Their intensity made it hard to breathe. King Lucas was clearly thirsty of Datan’s explanation, he wanted to know his every step in the Thar’s house. It was like he was demanded to share every movement, every planned, every word he uttered in Fardas.

  Irirana looked a little concern.

  Datan’s index finger stopped scratching the edge of the chair. Only then did he feel the tip of his finger ached. He started. “Well—“

  The owl door was barged open.

  They turned around to its direction when a man in light-colored robe ran towards them with heaving breath. Sal looked alerted in an instant, gripping his oak staff even tighter, like he was predicting misfortune followed the arrival of this man.

  The man with thick eyebrows kneeled the moment he reached the table.

  “Stand up, Tarlak,” Irirana said. “What happened?”

  Tarlak did as he was told, staring at the Kahisar worriedly. “We have an intruder in Angare, Kahisar.”

  Datan was startled. Yet, Irirana just crooked an eyebrow, glaring slightly. “Interesting!” she exclaimed. “You’ve seen the intruder?”

  Tarlak wiped his sweating eyelids with two fingers. He got nervous under Irirana’s sharp gaze. Datan could understand that perfectly. Sometimes, Irirana’s gaze brimmed with immense intensity to intimidate her interlocutor.

  “No, not yet, Kahisar. I came here as soon as I heard that the Fog Wall had been breached.”

  “No one had been brave enough to come here without permission.”

  “Sonso said it was an Anag, Sir Kanas.”

  “Where is that creature now?” Irirana deadpanned. “Not anywhere around my children, right?”

  “No. He was laying down on top of house number 10, Lady,” Tarlak looked at the owner of the house in the table. “Sir Datan’s house.”

  Datan widened his eyes, he felt his head was on fire when everyone simultaneously looked at him suspiciously.

  He swallowed hard, as though his throat was full of pebbles. “Please calm down,” he tried, standing up worriedly. “Let me see this creature myself. Come, Tarlak.”

  ◆◆◆

  Along the way, as he walked in the corridor made of red bricks that lead them outside the castle, Datan could hear his own heart thumped faster than his hurried steps. Next to him Tarlak slightly ran, trying to keep up with him. Datan’s mind was filled with question. Why did an Anag appear in his house? Who was that? What did he want?

  “The Yardara Guards had him surrounded,” Tarlak said.

  “They reliable?” Datan remembered Ferid and what he capable of doing. “Is there anyone in the Hall of the Royans?”

  “Sir Pollo trained the guards themselves. I believe they are reliable, and no, there is no one at the moment, Sir. The last remaining Royan, Miss Siley, departed for a mission to Urimenil earlier this morning.”

  “Can the guards do magic?”

  “They can handle Anag. I could too if I must.”

  “With a whip?” Datan glanced at the whip stashed in Tarlak’s belt. There was a c
ircular pattern in the whip, resembling scales. It looked smooth yet sharp.

  Tarlak nodded surely. “This is no ordinary whip, Sir!” he declared. “This is Fire Whip. The handle was made of Ludaj’s tail dunked in Felfe Potion and the scale was made of Blue Steel!”

  “You killed Ludaj for a whip?”

  “No, Sir,” Tarlak denied. “We made it out of a dead one we found in the forest. As you know, Ludaj’s carcass was valuable if found no more than three days after death.”

  They passed through the great hall through a giant door and they were finally outside. The guards straightened their posture at his and Tarlak’s arrival. No one said anything.

  Datan saw the sky turned cloudy grey. Mountain breeze flew the fallen leaves and flower petals. Going into the main street, they encountered more people and got even more nervous. Even from afar they could already see people surrounding Datan’s house.

  “Uncle Datan!” Petan called from across the street. “Uncle Datan!”

  Datan turned around. “Petan?” he shrieked. “Get away from here! Hurry!”

  “But—“

  “Go back to your mother! Where’s Filia?”

  “She’s in class.”

  “Then go get her!”

  “I want to see what happen!”

  Datan waved a no with his hand. “Get out of here,” he repeated.

  Petan pursed his lips. “Fine!” he turned around and ran.

  Datan sighed. He almost got a heart attack, while Tarlak looked irritated, grumbling how Pompo the Language Tutor knew he was not supposed to let the children out of the classroom.

  “Maybe he left for a bathroom break, Tarlak.”

  “That’s unacceptable, Sir.”

  Entering Wilson Street number 1, passing through Mae Style store, near the house, his black wristlet caught vibration of aura. Mantras in its surface glowed in red, warning him. People started to bombard him with questions, asking where the Anag came from. Verik the tailor was there as well, looking around while holding a roll of black silk. Datan raised his hands, shaking head, claiming that he did not know who the intruder was.

  The crowd made a way for him to pass through. He found three large Yardara Guards in his lawn, they were all silver-haired males wearing white attire. They gave him a simple nod when they saw him, signaling their readiness to help. In their grip was a spear made of Blue Steel, pointing upwards. Someone even had a Mud Egg ready in his left hand.

  Datan entered his lawn reluctantly.

  The Ape stretched his body gleefully at the sight of him. “Datan!” he called.

  The Ape jumped to the ground, landing without a sound in front of Datan and Tarlak, his yellow round eyes glanced at the Fire Whip in Tarlak’s grip, ready to be swung at him. He pretended to shrug. For a moment, he looked at the Yardara Guards then mumbled something under his breath. Sighing, then looked at Datan, grinning.

  “Four hunters have me surrounded me now, a poor one who just want to meet Datan Woudward,” he babbled. “I must be idiotic to follow Missus’ order.”

  Datan frowned, in his mind, he questioned a lot of things.

  “For three days I was washed away in the water to wait for your arrival,” he added. “I was like a jellyfish. Now, have you remembered me?”

  Datan froze, staring at the Ape in horror, finding it hard to breathe as a realization came approaching him. Datan hoped the form was not real. He leaned forward, opening his eyes wider than ever, glaring at the grinning Ape who blatantly was mocking him with his smile. He scanned his short form who puffed his hairy chest arrogantly. His hair was neat and shiny as though someone just brushed an oil in there. Datan could also smell the scent of camphor.

  Datan needed a minute to actually believe his eyes.

  “Remember?” he crooked an eyebrow cockily.

  “What are you doing here?” Datan’s voice was muffled. “That woman… you Missus. Nymeria killed everyone and blamed everything on me!”

  The Ape shrugged. “I told you not to enter the mansion but you did not listen,” he stated. “That was nothing. Here,” he gave a letter from a hairy leather satchel tied to his thigh. “From Missus, for you.”

  Datan knew that a real ape would not keep a leather bag. Datan snatched the letter. “What’s this?”

  “That’s an invitation, just read it.”

  Datan tore the orange envelop with black stripes decorated with a painting of a cracked laughing mask. His hunch told him that this letter only meant something bad.

  Dear Datan Woudward,

  My handsome, kind new friend. Hereby, I invited you to Wanageeska Island to fetch your beloved father. I am with him at the moment, we’re probably fishing the moment you read this letter. He’s such a fun fellow and he had an interesting secret. Do you know?

  Mattan Woudward is a legend!

  I give you two moons to get here. Oh, and bring Zu with you, alright? I miss it.

  Love,

  Your new friend,

  Nymeria Farlama

  Silence fell upon him. His world lost its sound. The air suffocated him.

  His mouth was opened, though no words came out. The vision he had of Nymeria talking to Father flashed in his head, loud and clear. His breath got heavier. He glared at the Ape viciously.

  “She kidnapped my father?” he hissed.

  The Ape displayed a line of pointy teeth, he nodded. “I guess you could say that. Missus kidnapped your father,” he confirmed. “After Fardas, we went to Tormera right away.”

  Every second felt like a freezing minute.

  Datan moved in a flash. He grabbed the thin neck of the Ape, dragging him to the porch and slammed it to the wall of his house. Tarlak and the other three guards were stunned with what Datan did. One of the guards lifted his spear, another one got ready to throw the Mud Egg.

  “Sir Datan!”

  Tarlak took out his Fire Whip, letting its whip fell to the ground like a snake’s tongue licking the soul. With a strong move, it was slipped off to the air, leaving a sound like a whimper in the air, making the hair of all witnessing stood. The Fire Whip changed color like a chameleon. Its entire surface turned black and the scales multiplied, ready to slice everything in his way.

  “Stay back, Tarlak!” Datan warned, yelling. He could feel the Yardara Guards tensed behind him. “Let me take care of this stupid creature!”

  Tarlak gulped, his small mouth grumbled in disapproval at Datan’s recklessness. Though the other guards could not bring himself to protest. The people watching started to get restless, curious or frightened.

  Datan panted. “Why?” he bellowed furiously. Datan choked and slammed the Ape to the hard surface like a broken toy. “WHY DID SHE DO THAT?”

  The Ape grinned. “You can’t hurt me, Datan,” he said. “You know that, right?”

  Datan winced when his entire right arm started hurting. It felt like he was slashed by thousands of invisible blades. His stomach spasmed at the sight of his white shirt being torn by the wind, showing flaking skin, torn and sliced.

  His throat was dry and hot. His heart was about to explode. Was that illusion, or was the black wristlet stopped functioning? Normally Datan would have backed down, terrified. Not now. Datan felt no fear, only rage. He threw the Ape the most vicious glare he could muster, strengthen his choke, still trying to find the creature’s true neck for what was inside his grip felt oddly soft. He cursed the Ape in silence.

  The Ape was laughing mockingly.

  “He might not be able to hurt you,” a new voice broke through the Ape’s ugly laugh, it sounded cold and dangerous. “But I can.”

  Everyone was startled, turning around to the owner of the voice, they hurriedly made way to the utterer. Tarlak and the other three guards shifted uncomfortably in their place as they felt danger seeping into their bones. The Ape looked at her and his eyes were bugging out. He could smell the scent of vanilla which was nothing but foul odor for him.

  Irirana walked through the small fence, standing tall with he
r bow lifted and the arrow—which the head was made of gold, ready to be unleashed. She was ready to have her arrow impale the Ape’s skull.

  The Ape’s slimy hair turned damp as the Black Bow entered his line of sight. That item was mesmerizing, captivating, yet dangerous. Its limb was engraved with an unrecognizable pattern of gold and tiny seal of Urtaya at the edge. The fake ape trembled in fear, his joints clattered. In his eyes and ears, that bow released a red smoke and made a hissing noise like a hungry snake.

  “It doesn’t matter how great you are,” Irirana pulled the fletching farther back, making the creature even more agitated. “Who are you? Answer his question!”

  The Ape spat at Irirana. Instead of answering, he thrashed around like a child throwing tantrum, trying to free himself from Datan’s grip. Black smoke came out of his pore through his damp hair. It smelt like burning pebbles. Gradually, he changed form.

  The black wristlet froze.

  Datan was taken aback. The Ape’s neck expanded, and he could no longer hold it.

  He jumped back right before Irirana’s arrow flying in front of his face, piercing through the shoulder of the Ludaj who was in the middle of a transformation. The creature howled in pain.

  But it was not enough. The Anag managed to shifted form, getting bigger by the second. With his snout he growled, cursing. His body easily broke the roof of the terrace.

  Irirana clacked her tongue. She shooted two more arrows targeted to the Ludaj’s knees. The arrowhead penetrated the flesh and melted his joints who were now as thick as a pillar. The Ludaj screeched as he found himself unable to stand. He wobbled then he collapsed onto the ground. The arrows were like a poison extinguishing the Black Fire inside of his body, disabling him to heal himself.

  “I would’ve never thought,” the Ludaj said desperately through gritted teeth. His face was drenched in sweat as he panted heavily. “There’s an El Essa and Kalantaka in a place like this. It’s not a good day for me. You must be the Kahisar.”

  Irirana did not retort back. Her bronze eyes were on fire, staring straightly at the creature. She was calculating her move to capture the Anag for an interrogation. As though he was reading Irirana’s thought, the Anag barked a sinful laugh.