KNIGHTS OF MANAH VALLEY
Pine Hill (1)

“How about we go through Lapan Aji Village,” Wanapati said breaking the silence.

“Why not pass the road we passed when leaving a few days ago,” said Jayadipa a little protest.

“It was too time consuming,” back Wanapati berkilah.

“I think only Wanapati, as long as we return home safely,” said Valley Manah mediate two friends.

In the end, they took the left track, in order to quickly get to college.

Soon, the four of them had come out from the center of the duchy and started to enter the Lapan Aji Village area. To the east of the village is directly adjacent to the village of Kedhung Wuni— the place where the Manah Valley lives.

The village of Lapan Aji is surrounded by hills, at the northern end of the border there are waterfalls that can be seen from every side of the village.

The waterfall is known as Curug Kedhung Kayang, because the waterfall is more jutting into Kedhung Kayang Village, which is why it is named so.

The village of Lapan Aji itself is famous as a producer of vegetables. Each harvest, residents are required to set aside their crops to be sold out of the village, of course at a more promising price.

“Good yes, that waterfall,” Wanapati said breaking the silence.

“Arounded by trees, set in rice fields. It's so soothing,” added Jayadipa.

Manah Valley and Ni Luh smiled at the waterfall that was clearly visible from the main road of the village. Interspersed by the villagers who came home from the rice fields and wanted to return to his house to rest because the day had gone by.

“Let's uncle,” Manah Valley told the middle-aged man passing in front of him. They were only reciprocated with a smile and a nod of the middle-aged man's head.

“That's it!” wanapati surprised his three friends.

“Don't tell me if you want to have lunch at the store,” said Jayadipa pointed to the diner not far in front of them.

“Of course I'll order my favorite food. Come on, it's noon. We also have to travel a long way to college,” whine Wanapati like a child.

Wanapati walked forward into the diner, followed by Jayadipa behind her, while Manah Valley and Ni Luh walked side by side at the very back.

“Ahh, you guys are. Always alone in the back, what the hell are you talking about?” ompat Wanapati to two friends who were only replied with a smile from the lips of Manah Valley. As for Ni Luh, her red face hinted in embarrassment due to Wanapati's taunts.

“You don't know Wanapati. The world belongs to both of them!” added Jayadipa while sitting on the bench where to eat.

There are four seats on each table. The diner was a spacious place, with a fence of woven bamboo in front of which, on the right and on the left were small huts as a resting place. The four of them sat in the shop.

“Uncle, does uncle's shop provide chicken meat?” asked Wanapati to the shopkeeper.

“We've always had young people. Want to add more?” said the waiter man.

“Uncle, please plus saute kale uncle!” sahut Valley of Manah from his seat.

Not long after, their order arrived. It seemed Wanapati was very hungry, the young man took the rice first before the servant uncle put it on the table.

Manah Valley only looked at his friend with widened eyes, the young man seemed to be in disbelief if Wanapati had a huge appetite.

Jayadipa shook his head, while Ni Luh only smiled occasionally instead turning his eyes to the man of his heart.

There was a man shouting from outside, not far from the tavern where the Manah Valley and its friends were enjoying lunch. The man was wearing clothes like a village official, he was about thirty-five years old.

Soon the Valley of Manah came out of the tavern to ascertain what was going on.

“Wait a minute, I'll check out!” exclaimed the Manah Valley shortly after gulping down his drink.

The three friends just nodded their heads as they devoured the food without looking towards the Manah Valley leaving the dining table.

A man was chasing a masked woman holding a little girl.

“Please save my daughter Andini!” the man said to the Valley of Manah standing in front of the diner.

Without a second thought, the Manah Valley chased after the masked woman. The young man jumped from one tree branch and moved to another, following the masked woman holding the crying little girl.

“Ni Luh, please take care of all this food. Jayadipa and I want to follow Valley!” wanapati said while giving some gold coins to Ni Luh.

“Be careful, I'll catch up with you!” sahut Ni Luh while taking the Wanapati gift.

When he reached the end of the village, the masked woman stopped and stood on a stretch of grass close to the rice fields. The masked woman lowered a girl known as Andini from a sling and pointed a sword at Andini's neck.

The Manah Valley was stunned for a moment and stopped not far from where the masked woman was standing. The young man tried to speak carefully, lest the masked woman act any further.

In the arms of the masked woman, Andini could only cry not knowing what was happening to her.

Not long after, the man who claimed to be the father of Andini was able to catch up with the Manah Valley, followed by Wanapati and Jayadipa behind him.

"Give me my daughter!” exclaimed Andini's father really hopes his daughter returns. "Whatever you ask for ransom, I'll give you!”

"I don't want any ransom from you Ki Demang, I just want you!” replied the masked woman.

"Who exactly is this Nyai? And why did Nyai bring Andini?” manah Valley interrupted the conversation.

"You don't need to know who I am, this has nothing to do with you. What is clear is that I am the ruler of Pine Hill!” the masked woman bullied the Manah Valley. “Beyond you young man don't interfere in my affairs!”

Bukit Pinus is a hill that is the boundary between Lapan Aji Village and Kedhung Kayang Village. Bukit Pinus is also where Curug Kedhung Kayang is located.

The Manah Valley tried to calm the masked woman down, slowly the young man walked over. However, not yet had the Manah Valley to walk closer, the masked woman drew her sword closer to Andini's neck, making Andini's cry even more.

“Don't be young, don't come any closer!” pinta Andini's father to the Valley of Manah and immediately acknowledged by the young man.

“Don't hurt Andini, I beg you, don't hurt my daughter!”

There was a sound of crying from behind the Manah Valley, which was none other than the mother of Andini who came with two middle-aged men, maybe the courtiers of this one family. Seen behind them Ni Luh followed the Manah Valley which had run away from the tavern where they had lunch.

Oddity ensued, the afternoon that should be scorching in the village of Lapan Aji, suddenly turned into a fog. And strangely again, the fog only fell around them, while in the village, the weather remained as hot as usual because it was entering the dry season.

“While! Why get off the fog in this place!” lirih Manah Valley looked around.