KNIGHTS OF MANAH VALLEY
Frontiers

“Overnight, someone wants to snatch the heirloom sword belonging to Patih Ragas!” The Valley of Manah explained to Wulan while pointing towards Rambak Selah's subordinates who had been tied together on the terrace pole of the inn.

“Patih Ragas was hit by one attack from one of the leaders of Lowo Abang!” continue the young man.

Suddenly, the words of the Manah Valley made Wulan shocked. The girl sat down and swept her eyes towards Rambak Selah's subordinate who had been incapacitated, and noticed the wound on Patih Ragas' body.

“I'll be out for a while!” said the Valley of Manah rising from its seat. “Please keep Patih Ragas!”

Manah Valley intends to wake Wanapati and find breakfast outside the inn. Not to forget the young man was on guard if it was likely that Rambak Selah would return with reinforcements.

However, it was only a possibility, the wound that the Manah Valley gave to Rambak Selah, could not heal in a few months. Judging from the former fight, there could have been a broken bone from Rambak Selah's body.

One attack that landed on the stomach of high-ranking Lowo Abang was also unlikely to heal only treated with ordinary herbs. Rambak Selah also needs high-quality stealth heirlooms, or body forging extracts, to recover his broken bones.

“Better we continue the journey!” patih Ragas exclaimed up from his seat after finishing his morning breakfast.

Back Patih Ragas became a horse coachman. Although occasionally holding his left chest, but the sturdy coach still tried to control his horse carriage slowly.

The four of them continued their journey. It still passes through dirt roads and is a little rocky with roads starting to decline increasingly steep. Patih Ragas still remained focused on controlling his horse carriage, while Wulan in the horse carriage, Manah Valley and also Wanapati in the rear wagon.

When the sun was as high as one spear, they met the fork, there was a signboard that read if it went left towards the south coast. And if it's straight will be heading towards the royal capital. Of course, take the straight path to head for the kingdom.

After traveling three days from the Mahendra Mountains, they finally reached the gate of Indra Pura Kingdom. They were greeted with a high and long concrete wall that stretched from north to south. Unlike the Kingdom of Sokapura which is only made of wooden walls.

Indeed, in terms of wealth, Indra Pura Kingdom number one of the other three kingdoms. However, in terms of prosperity, the Kingdom of Sokapura is the most superior, because it does not take taxes from their people.

“From the three kingdoms, Indra Pura is indeed the richest!” chirp Patih Ragas and open the curtain of the horse carriage. “However, our kingdom is the most prosperous! Isn't that Mr Princess?”

Entering the border gate, they were inspected by several soldiers. They were detained by the soldier, because the four of them would be picked up by one of the emissaries from the kingdom.

The capital of Indra Pura Kingdom was on the easternmost side of the kingdom. So, after coming out of the Kingdom of Sokapura, the Manah Valley group immediately entered the center of the Kingdom of Indra Pura, with the Mahendra Mountains as the boundary of the region.

While waiting for an invitation from the government, the four of them entered the restaurant closest to the royal gate.

“I'm getting bored!” exclaim Manah Valley scratched its chin, as it was about to enter the tavern. “I want to take a walk for a while!”

“Where are you going! Hey, Valley!” geram Wanapati was about to overtake Manah Valley, but was prevented by Patih Ragas.

“Leave it, Wanapati!” patih Ragas says he has Wanapati arrested. “We just wait in this place!”

The Manah Valley walks around the border of a crowded area of residents doing their activities. Passing through the hallway of the houses of the residents on the terrace there are many bamboo mats that are being dried.

Yes, some residents in the border of this region work as sellers of woven bamboo used as the walls of the house.

On one corner of the bamboo woven craftsman house, The Valley of Manah saw a mother who was about forty years old being mobbed by four burly men and a woman who seemed to be a rich merchant.

“Stop!” exclaim the Valley of Manah when one blow almost hit the faces of the long-haired mothers.

“Who are you!” furious at one of the men who almost hit the mother. “Do not interfere in our affairs!”

“Badness!” One of the men threw a punch towards the Manah Valley.

The young man easily clasped the right fist of the burly man. The Manah Valley landed a single blow on the man's stomach, which made him fall down. Three other men attacked the Manah Valley simultaneously.

However, the Manah Valley easily paralyzed the three burly men. Until everything fell sprawled, but not to cause severe injuries, just to teach a lesson.

“Ampun swordsman, forgive us!” pinta is a rich sword lady who looks like the boss of the four burly men.

“Emm, actually, why did you guys attack this aunt?” say Manah Valley with a waist.

“This mom—!”

The merchant woman told him that the mothers they were chasing had been in debt and were about to run away when they were charged. Instead of paying, the mother went back into debt with more.

“How much should this aunt pay?” asked the Manah Valley after hearing the story of the rich merchant woman.

“Hundred pieces gold coin, swordsman!” say the merchant woman with a tone of fear.

“Take it!” The Valley of Manah handed over a bag of gold coins that might amount to over a hundred gold coins. “And no more, bother this aunt!”

The five men hurriedly left the long-haired mothers and the Manah Valley after getting what they wanted.

“Aibi! I'll take aunt home!” gentle word from Manah Valley to the long-haired mother.

“Before, I said many thanks, young man!” the long-haired mother.

A house with multiple leaky roofs and bamboo woven walls full of holes, is not worth to be called a house. Manah Valley so remembered the hut where she lived which was not even better than the house owned by the long-haired mother.

“I'm sorry, no seat to sit!” said the long-haired mother lowered her head.

After a while, a few small children came out of the inner chamber. There were probably seven children with thin bodies and puffed-up bellies. His hands and feet were wrapped in skin, without any flesh.

“Auntie, did you bring food?” said a big boy with a crumpled face full of dust.

“Auntie, I'm hungry!” The little girl approached the long-haired mother by holding onto her bushy belly.

“Auntie, why didn't aunt bring food?” Said another boy whose condition was not much different from other children.

“I'm sorry aunty!” The long-haired mother cried hugging the three little children who approached her.

“Please wait a minute!” The Valley of Manah stroked the hair of a little boy and came out of the reot house. “Kakak will be back soon!”

The valley of Manah went out with a tight chest, his mind was confused and disheveled. How does a kingdom of this size have such a heartbreaking dark side?

Many wealthy officials were in the kingdom, but they did not care about the fate of fringe people like those children.