KNIGHTS OF MANAH VALLEY
Pine Hill (5)

“But, um how can you beat that masked woman?” ask Manah Valley curious.

“Ohh it's a secret wek,” replied Nawang stick out his tongue.

“Hoi! Watch out for you!” sulkan Valley Manah while laughing a little.

“Hahaha, usually you are the one who pranks, now you are being bullied by Nawang, oh Valley!” sela Wanapati with her loud laughter.

Ni Luh was only speechless seeing the proximity of Manah Valley and Nawang. His face flushed red while squeezing the tip of his own clothes.

***

The day went on, Manah Valley with the group had reached the residence of Ki Demang with a masked woman kneeling in the middle of the courtyard of Ki Demang's house.

Together with his wife—Dyah and his daughter—Andini, Ki Demang was also accompanied by two courtiers and several village officials.

“Thank you for Valley. Thanks to Valley boy and friends all, Andini was saved,” said Ki Demang smiled.

The masked woman still did not want to open her mask as ordered by Ki Demang. After her bond was removed by the Manah Valley, she slowly removed her own mask.

A beautiful woman was behind the red mask. But Ki Demang and his wife were shocked as if in disbelief, the perpetrator of the ruckus was Dian Lasmini, the younger brother of Dyah Sekar Ayu, who had left his home a few years ago.

PLAQUE PLAQUE PLAQUE

Dyah slapped Dian three times on the cheek, alternating right and left with her right hand. Dian only resignedly accepted the slap of the sister while crying.

“You're sorry Dian!” said Dyah while shedding her tears.

“I'm sorry brother!” sahut Dian was also crying.

“After a long time you've been gone. You even embarrass the family,” continued Dyah.

“What!” shouted everyone who was in that place.

Dian only knelt down crying holding the hand of her brother who was standing before her. Repeatedly Dian said an apology to Dyah, but Dyah was still fixated in her cries.

“What makes you do this Dian?” tanya Dyah was still in her sobs.

“I'm sorry kak—!”

Dian said that in the past when Ki Demang's matchmaking began with his brother, he secretly liked Ki Demang. Bluntly Dian expressed her feelings, that she loved Ki Demang very much and was willing to be made a second wife.

When Dian expressed his feelings, Ki Bondan accidentally heard their conversation. His name is Mbok Darmi, he is the cook at Ki Bondan's residence.

Not wanting to hurt his future wife and not wanting to renege on the agreement, Ki Demang rejected Dian's feelings subtly.

But the rejection from Ki Demang made Dian hurt. The woman felt heartbroken, why should her brother who was betrothed to a man as good as Ki Demang rather than him. Their beauty can both be said to be the same.

Dian met Ki Demang for the second time. The second meeting occurred when Ki Demang visited Ki Bondan's residence, to deliver the harvest of his villagers. Dian deliberately pulled Ki Demang's hand towards the kitchen.

The woman expressed her feelings for the second time. And again Ki Demang rejected it subtly. Mbok Darmi accidentally heard the conversation of the two of them, but only hid from behind the kitchen door.

Suddenly, Dian's words made Ki Demang surprised. But Ki Demang did not care about it and would still marry Dyah Sekar Ayu.

Disappointed because his love was rejected by the man's dream and jealousy to the brother, made Dian hurt and felt no one else cared about him anymore. Dian decided to leave the house. No one knows when and where Dian went.

His departure left the whole family shocked. But Dian left a written message in his room, that he left the house with a reason to wander and asked the father not to look for him.

Secretly Dian went to the Pine Hill and asked the elders of the forest guard on the hill.

With the intention of wanting to find knowledge by shortcut, Dian finally went to Mount Pine. Without thinking long, Dian who was hurt and took revenge on Ki Demang, wanted to demand revenge someday.

Dian trained with the intention to retaliate at Ki Demang, in his heart there was only hatred. Evidently with Ajian Halimun Wening, Dian mastered it easily and unfortunately, the accepted style is contrary to the teachings of goodness.

“Is what Dian said true kakang?” ask Dyah to her husband—Ki Demang.

“Yes, everything Dian said was true. I rejected it for our good, my people and good relations with Kedhung Kayang Village,” Ki Demang replied.

“Then why did you kidnap Andini?” snapped Dyah at Dian.

“I'm sorry kak—!”

Dian continued his story, he tried to avenge his heartache on Ki Demang by kidnapping Ki Demang's daughter, Pramitha Andini, so that Ki Demang would accept Dian. Dian deliberately wears a mask so that his identity is not known by anyone.

A mask that covers the mouth upwards, with two holes in the eyes and one hole that slightly covers the nose. The mask was tied back together with a not-so-long hairband. A red mask representing his feelings, angry and hateful.

That afternoon Dian began to scout Ki Demang's residence, understanding the situation and waiting for the right moment to take Andini away. Sleeking through the fence of the house without anyone seeing his arrival. After learning about the state of Ki Demang's house, Dian decided to step down and continue with her plan the next morning.

And when Dian was about to return to Pine Hill, Kenanga, Kanthil and Cempaka followed up to the Twin Pine Peak and fought with Dian. But the three women lost and became subordinates of Dian.

“Reacted to be true, Kenanga. Though I had doubted it, the possibility of the three of you lying,” Wanapati said to former subordinates Dian—Kenanga, Kanthil and Cempaka who were only replied by the smiles of the three of them.

“Alright, I will forgive you and tomorrow I will take you home to the village,” Dyah told Dian.

“Thank you sister, I promise I will not do evil again,” said Dian wiped her tears.

The two of them hugged like older brothers did not meet. Accompanied with smiles from everyone present at Ki Demang's residence. No longer lingering, Ki Demang invited them all to receive an afternoon banquet that had been prepared by Mbok Darmi in the front meeting hall.

“Wah, eat again. This is the show I've been waiting for, hahaha!” yelled Manah Valley excited.

“You are, if about eating number one,” umpat Wanapati.

“Yes is okay anyway, Ki Demang has allowed it. Wek!” said the Valley of Manah sticking out its tongue.

“Awas you ya kacung kampret,” sumpul Wanapati while mengetak head of Manah Valley and run towards the dining hall.

“Aduh!“ yelled Manah Valley holding his head and then ran after Wanapati.

“Hey, already you are like a child,”, said Ni Luh mediate the small commotion.