KNIGHTS OF MANAH VALLEY
The Dragon Back Path

The three of them approached Patih Ragas and brought him to the fireplace. In front of the fireplace, the Manah Valley examined the wounds of Patih Ragas which he said contained no poison, and was only given energy recovery potions, so that his condition would improve immediately.

“Thank you Valley!” patih Ragas.

“Patih should rest in the back wagon!” sahut Valley of Manah is claimed by Patih Ragas.

However, not with Wulan, the girl sat near the Valley of Manah who was scraping the embers of the fireplace. Beside the young man, there was Wanapati who was laying down his body.

“Why even follow me!” exclaiming the Manah Valley realized Wulan was sitting beside him.

“I'm not sleepy!” sahut Wulan while approaching his seat with the Valley of Manah. “I'm cold!”

The valley of Manah rose from its seat and was about to take the spare robe that was at the back of the horse-drawn carriage. However, Wulan stopped his actions by grabbing the right hand of the Manah Valley.

“Where are you going?” asked Wulan who was still holding the right hand of the Manah Valley.

“Emm, I want to take a spare cape for you, Mr Princess!” sahut Valley Manah looked at Wulan's face. “Are you not cold?”

Wulan was just stunned looking at the innocent face of Manah Valley then smiled to herself and said inwardly, ‘dumb you Valley, I just want to be hugged by you, not a spare cloak’.

“Emm, why is the Princess smiling?” the Manah Valley of Astonishment. “Your face is blushing!”

“Ohh, nothing!”

The night is getting late, making the air even colder. The four of them fell asleep covered in thin fog of the Mahendra Mountains.

Wulan in the horse-drawn carriage, Patih Ragas in the cart behind the carriage, and Wanapati and Manah Valley in front of the fireplace.

***

In the morning, the four of them continued their journey. It still passes through a dirt road and is a little rocky with an increasingly steep slope. Patih Ragas was still focused on controlling his two horses, Wulan in the carriage eavesdropping on the Manah Valley and Wanapati talks on the back wagon.

It seemed like the two young men were talking about women. Ahh, for now the Manah Valley will also not understand about such a thing, the young man is only still focused on stopping Ki Badra's movements.

When the sun was as high as one spear, they met a fork. There is a signboard that says if to the right towards Mahendra Peak, and if straight will go to the royal capital. Of course, take the straight path to go to the Indra Pura Kingdom.

“Coach, where are we?” said the Valley of Manah opened his eyes.

“In the meantime we pass the Dragon Back Line!” sahut Patih Ragas explained. “Place where robbers are free to act!”

There is a board with the inscription ‘The Naga’ Backpath, which is attached to the teak tree right before entering the area. Under the signboard are many decorated with animal bones and there are also human skulls.

The Dragon Back Track can only be traversed by one horse carriage, every hundred steps, there is a flat patch of land that is useful for intersections between directions.

This path goes into the territory of the Kingdom of Indra Pura and is still within the foothills area of the Mahendra Mountains, which is on the south side. On this path there was little life, but the royal side was unwilling to deal with the people in this place.

“I did not expect, there is a place like this in Indra Pura!” exclaim Manah Valley standing in the cart behind the horse carriage.

“In this place there is no law, black and white flow into one, and also!” Patih Ragas' speech stopped, then turned to look towards the Manah Valley. “People in this place are hard to set up!”

The two horses pulling the carriage neighed for a moment before entering the path. Somehow the horse neighed, which must have been a very scary path.

Patih Ragas decided to stop at a restaurant, as their horse might just need to rest. The restaurant was not very large, but very crowded with visitors.

“No good stuff in this place!” patih Ragas exclaimed shortly after getting off the horse carriage.

Patih Ragas entered the restaurant followed by Wulan, Manah Valley and Wanapati. The sturdy coach chooses the most corner table and looks cleaner than the other table.

“It looks like there's a royal guest next door coming to this place!” exclaimed an old man behind the seat of the Manah Valley troupe, dressed shabby with gray hair. “Practice ragas!”

Patih Ragas simply threw a smile at the unknown old man.

“As people talk, quiet!” the old man continued again, then got out of his seat and went out of the restaurant. “Be careful in Big Games, coach!”

Patih Ragas followed the old man out of the restaurant, followed by the Manah Valley behind him, but after coming out of the restaurant, the old man had disappeared.

“Who is he, patih?” said Manah Valley frowning.

“Once, I don't know him either!” patih Ragas Sahut.

They re-entered the restaurant to enjoy lunch.

This afternoon nothing happened in the restaurant, only a few black warriors who stopped to just rest. Although coming with the group, but the black warrior did not dare to troublemaker, because also not a few white warriors who also stopped at that place.

***

It was late in the afternoon, after the horse-drawn carriage had walked through the Dragon Back Line, Patih Ragas decided to rest and look for lodging. Unlike an inn in the center of the duchy, lodging around this line only provides a few rooms.

Patih Ragas booked two rooms, one for himself with Manah Valley and Wanapati. Then one room next door, for Wulan.

By nightfall, the Manah Valley came out of the inn to just take a walk and look for fresh air. The lamps and torches of houses in the center of the duchy appear flickering when viewed from the inn's courtyard. Because the inn is still on the plateau.

“Hei Valley!” exclaiming Wulan patted the shoulders of the Manah Valley from behind. “Only. Can I accompany you?”

Without waiting for an answer from the Manah Valley, Wulan would also accompany the young man.

“Mr princess!” sahut Valley of Manah turned his head towards the girl. “You haven't slept?”

“Not sleepy yet, anyways I want to be alone with you!” wulan replied smiling.

They sat in a hut that provided lodging to its visitors for a place to relax. There was a lantern hanging right in the middle of the pole on the hut as lighting.

Wulan brought her closer to the Valley of Manah. The girl told me what happened when the two of them were in the forest while searching for the Great Sejagat Palace headquarters. The girl's face flushed slightly from holding back the embarrassment of wanting to kiss the Manah Valley back then.

However, the Manah Valley only smiled as it ruffled Wulan's hair and said, “awas ya Putri. Good thing, emm, there is a commotion in the meadow, otherwise—?”

Manah Valley remembered, they helped the Three Flower Brothers with Sekar and Araka when they spent the night in the forest-side meadow. The young man did not continue his words and made Wulan even more curious about the Manah Valley.

“Hey, you broke my hair!” sahut Wulan spoiled. “If not, why Valley?” wulan was still curious.

“If not, um, surely the Princess has kissed me not!” The Manah Valley smiled looking at Wulan.

“Already, forget. Better Mr. Princess rest, it's already too late for a girl!” the Pinta Valley Manah is directly asserted by Wulan.