KNIGHTS OF MANAH VALLEY
Pine Hill (2)

All those who were in the rice field area could not see the presence of masked women, it was because it was blocked by a thick fog. However, in contrast to the Manah Valley, the young man was able to see the masked woman and Andini clearly.

“Meet me at Pine Hill, tomorrow right sun overhead!” shouted the masked woman followed by the loss of fog that had previously descended around the area of the edge of the rice field. “I'm waiting for you guys at Pinus Twins!”

“Andini, don't take it away Andini!” exclaim mother Andini crying.

The fog disappeared, the masked woman and Andini also disappeared. Andini's mother's cries became increasingly in her husband's arms. The two men of the family court also looked confused and did not know what to do.

“Uncle, emm, let us help uncle to save Andini!” exclaim Manah Valley interrupted by the cries of Andini's mother.

“Whose are you?” ask Andini's father to be confused.

“I Valley of Manah and all three of them are my friends!” answer the Valley of Manah while pointing to Wanapati, Jayadipa and Ni Luh who stood behind two male courtiers of the Andini family.

“Alright, we better talk about this matter at home!” sahut Andini's father.

***

In the evening, the Manah Valley group is welcome to stay at the Andini residence for a while. Hope they can help save Andini from the masked woman tomorrow.

“Include, I'm Ki Demang Cabak Awu. Village Leader Lapan Aji and this is my wife, Dyah Sekar Ayu!” said Andini's father introduced himself to the Manah Valley troupe.

It turns out that he is the Head of Lapan Aji Village. Ki Demang invited the Manah Valley group to enjoy dinner.

“Im sorry we Ki Demang. We even trouble Ki Demang!” wanapati said on the sidelines of dinner.

“It's okay young man. By the way, you guys are about to travel, or come home from traveling?” ask Ki Demang.

“We have just participated in a match between warriors in the royal capital and on our way back to Kedhung Wuni Village. More precisely in the Sacred Soul College!” wanapati replied explaining.

“I heard the talk from my village residents, if not wrong the champion of the match was from Kedhung Wuni Village. Is that one of you?” asked Ki Demang curiously.

“True Ki Demang. That champion is Manah Valley!” wanapati replied while pointing at the Manah Valley which was calmly enjoying the dishes.

“Woi, Valley! You asked Ki Demang!” jayadipa to the Valley of Manah.

“Emm, sorry Ki Demang. Anu, I am very hungry, so really enjoy this meal,” replied the Manah Valley with a mouthful of food.

Everyone laughed at the silly behavior of the Manah Valley which was wrong. But not with the mother Andini—Dyah. The woman was still crying and mourning her daughter, who was being carried by a masked woman.

“Already Dyah, tomorrow we will pick up Andini to Bukit Pinus. She must be fine!” ki Demang said to his wife.

“True aunty, tomorrow Andini we definitely take home,” said Wanapati assured Dyah.

The night was getting late, the conversation continued. After dinner, Ki Demang with his two courtiers invited his guest to just talk in the front hall of the residence Ki Demang.

The hall was rather spacious as it was used for meetings with citizens. Ki Demang told me about Lapan Aji Village. The village is famous as a producer of vegetables. Each harvest, residents are required to set aside their crops to be sold out of the village at a more promising price.

All crops are for residents only, so there is no additional income from selling vegetables out of the village.

It all started when Ki Demang was betrothed to a girl. The girl is the daughter of the village head from the next village, Kedhung Kayang Village. The village was led by Ki Bondan, he was an authoritative person and very concerned about the residents of his village.

Ki Bondan has two daughters. The older brother named Dyah Sekar Ayu, who is now the wife of Ki Demang and his sister named Dian Lasmini.

Since then, the higher-ups of Lapan Aji Village betrothed their descendants to the descendants of the higher-ups of Kedhung Kayang Village and were bound by the agreement of both sides of the village.

The agreement is that Kedhung Kayang Village is willing to buy crops from Lapan Aji Village at a high price, provided that the descendants of the higher-ups of Lapan Aji Village are willing to be betrothed to the descendants of the higher-ups of Kedhung Kayang Village.

The village of Lapan Aji agreed to the agreement. All for the welfare of its citizens, and the agreement was also the beginning of the system to set aside the harvest began to be applied.

Dyah has a kind nature, friendly and caring fellow. Always help people in distress. Unlike Dian who seems indifferent, does not care about the surrounding and looks fierce when meeting people who are first met. His haughty nature keeps away the youths in the village.

“So Lapan Aji Village always sells its crops to Kedhung Kayang Village huh Ki Demang?” asked Wanapati frowning her forehead.

“Yes that's how Wanapati is, it's all for the welfare of the citizens!” replied Ki Demang.

The night is getting late, until the sound of crickets is heard. Ki Demang immediately advised his guests to rest, so that the next morning the body is fit again and ready to go to Mount Pine.

***

In the morning, Ki Demang had prepared in the front yard of the house with his wife and two courtiers. The Manah Valley and the entourage followed after a while. They were about to go to Mount Pine, where Andini was taken by masked women.

Riding on a horse carriage, Ki Demang and Nyai Dyah walked in front. Followed by the Valley of Manah and the troupe on foot behind him.

They moved north, because Bukit Pinus as a barrier with Kedhung Kayang Village is located on the north side of the village.

The Manah Valley, which was impatiently walking behind the horse-drawn carriage, wanted to leave the Ki Demang carriage immediately because the day was getting longer if it was too long to walk.

After asking for permission and asking for directions to Ki Demang, Manah Valley with his entourage left Ki Demang to walk first.

They jumped from one tree branch, to another while observing whether they had entered the Pine Hill, or not. A moment after arriving at a pine tree, the Valley of Manah that moved the front one decided to pause for a moment.

The young man looked ahead and found all the trees were dominated by pine trees with uphill roads. A sign that they have entered the Pine Hill.

“I'm sure we've entered Pine Hill!” exclaiming the Manah Valley with a breath of breath.

“I think so too,” Wanapati said.

“We must hurry to find twin pine trees as masked women say,” said Jayadipa.

“But we must go to the top of this hill first,” kilah Ni Luh gives instructions.

Without saying another word, they continued their movement towards the top of Pine Hill by lightening their bodies, moving to the branch of the pine tree to the branch of the pine tree in front of him.