by Rama Nugraha
At home, Datan stared at nothingness for a long time, accompanied by a glass of water. He tried to calm down, shutting himself in the darkness as his Ingran blood reacted badly at a light. It was frustrating. The burning passion was put off in an instant. Datan stared at the outside through his window. The moment the pendulum clock dinged, indicating that it was midnight. Meanwhile, Niko swam restlessly in the darkness.
He was not sleepy. He wants to smoke some tobacco, tasting the League’s Pipe for the very first time. It was until a knock was heard from the door, breaking his daydream.
Datan turned on the lights before greeting the visitor.
Kanas appeared from behind the door, walking into the living room. “For Unum, you haven’t slept as I’ve predicted,” he said. “Someone told me you walked out of Kahisar’s room looking upset. What did she say, pan?”
“What do you think?” Datan snapped. “Why would you hide the document about Joris?”
Kanas chuckled. “For a surprise, pan?” he smirked
Datan clicked his tongue in annoyance. He impersonated Irirana, batting his eyelashes and pretending to hold a glass. “Datan! Stop flirting your way out. I do this because I am worried about you. This is the matter of life and death!” he squeaked, imitating Irirana. “Just so you know, Kanas, she turned into a monster. Even Kiar bit the table at the sight.”
Kanas coughed his laugh, holding back.
“Don’t laugh.”
“I won’t. Does she tie her hair back?”
Datan scratch his furrowed eyebrow. “No, why? What’s with her hair?”
“Nothing,” Kanas waved his hand, brushing side the matter. “It’s that she didn’t. So, are you going to back down, pan? I can offer you another mission.”
“No. Joris is nothing but an old wizard, Kanas!” Datan bellowed. “I want that mission. The Lady was being weird. I haven’t even tried it and she condemned me to failure.”
Datan caught a glimpse of jealousy in Kanas’ eyes. He did not care, though.
“Everything happened because Unum allows it, Datan.”
“No, this is because you hid the documents about Joris. It’s not because of Unum.”
“I understand. What I mean is that there is another way. It feels like Unum wanted you to do this mission. He shall show you the way. You can do this thievery in secret. I can loan you Seekar if you want to prove us you can actually do this.”
Datan stilled, looking at him inquisitively. “You kidding?”
“I am not. But you must finish the mission fast. You don’t have enough time in Fardas. You must depart this morning if you are going to go through with this. If the Lady found out, she would put you on hold. She knows everyone’s movement on this island.”
Datan nodded. “One week utmost,” he said. “I promise.”
“It’s also possible that you will be punished by isolation, especially if you fail.”
Datan laughed coldly, stepped closer to Kanas. “I will not fail,” he declared. “And about the isolation, oh, I’ve learned to enjoy it. A moment of solitude with myself is good to strengthen my soul. So, it should not be a problem.”
Kanas stared back like he was trying to affirm Datan’s determination. “Alright,” he nodded. “I will deliver the news of your departure to Edgar and Pobos. You have everything ready, pan?”
“Yes. Will I be given my own ship? It seems fun to have one.”
Datan did not sleep that night. He decided to follow Kanas to the dock in the base of the mountain, taking along most of his equipment from the closet. He resembled an inmate escaping a prison. He was impatient and refused to dwell Irirana. There was no way he would wait any longer. He had been waiting for long enough.
Datan wanted to keep moving forward.
They went down by elevator behind the castle, passing through several guards, walking across the fishermen’s village before reaching the dock. To the guard in the dock, Kanas whispered one or two sentences, the other man nodded right away and allowed them to proceed to the dock number eleven.
The night wind gushed, swaying Datan’s wavy dark hair. The surface of the ocean looked tranquil as the wave washed over the shore. Afar, dots of blinking blue light floats, signaling the presence of the fishing vessels belonging to the League. Constellations of stars hung in the sky, surrounding the pale crescent moon.
Datan saw there were less than ten Black Wave Fleet which were ready to be operated. They were next to the floating houses, the light of which was still on.
They stopped in one of the houses next to where Seekar was anchored.
Edgar opened the door. He was wearing long-sleeved purple pajamas in which the fabric had printing of baby octopus squirting ink. The man was brushing his teeth using Shi, a smooth ivory wood smelling like mint.
He was obviously taken aback before letting them in and calling Pobos to join the conversation in the living room. They congratulated Datan for successfully joining the League.
“I never doubt that you will, Sir Datan,” Pobos gushed as he raised a glass of clear water, his palm was under it. It was a type of salute done typically by people of Bavarat as a sign of respect.
Datan did similar gesture while thanking the other.
After eating two pieces of Edgar’s blood orange, Kanas started talking as he chewed slowly. He finally told them why he and Datan were there.
“We haven’t gotten any mission, Ed,” Kanas said. “Datan needs to finish this mission as fast as possible.”
Edgar nodded. “I understand, Sir,” he said obediently.
“One more thing, Datan,” Kanas turned to Datan. “You must be extra cautious. There was the possibility that you’ll find Sami in Fardas. There’s a serial killer on the loose there and Sami was taking care of it. Just focus on your duty don’t meddle with his. Also, don’t mail the Zu, bring it back here by your own hands.”
Datan remembered Bill’s mails. “I knew,” he said.
After two hours of inspection and collecting supplies, Seekar finally sailed. Datan’s heart thumped wildly, and this time it was not because of seasick. He was so thrilled with wild passion in every bit of his being.
◆◆◆
Datan spent most of his time in his cabin studying his mission. Kanas had provided him with everything he needed, including a small sack of Royan Rall, each of which was worth ten Kurrs. He studied the document about Thar Ubaga Jahral as well as prominent figures around him, the Zu stone, and the data of fellow Royans in Fardas.
Datan wrote a detailed plan, he imagined every single step and the consequences that might follow. He scratched a lot of them, trying to find a better comrade to ask for help, trying to look into the architecture of Thar Ubaga’s house as well as the guards, trying to memorize Fardas’ map (he found a location of the Black Tongue, which was the League’s refugee). Also, he tried to find out routes he could use to escape. Datan contemplated long enough about this plan before memorizing them.
They arrived in Laha on the eleventh day. Niri welcomed Datan like a lover who lost her significant other in a runaway.
“Oh! Oh! My handsome Datan!” she squealed, stretching her arms.
Pobos glared at her. “Sir Datan, Niri.”
Niri blushed, apologizing for her behavior by bowing down.
Datan chuckled. “You know I’ve been wondering,” he said. “Why do you call us with honorifics?”
Edgar told him that it was a tradition ever since Ralpatine Royan’s time, it was said to be the least they could do for the League. Datan said it was not necessary and allowed them to call him by name.
“You made it!” Niri gushed. She reached for Datan’s hand with gleaming eyes as they walked to the post. “I am glad. Are you coming to visit me?”
Datan smiled his dimple smile, feeling like he had to draw a line. “Sure, my sweet little Niri,” he said. “But I also have a mission to accomplished, my first one.”
Datan felt like he had just entered a different world. It felt like a world of Errys, an
d it was rather fun. Datan was surrounded by comrades who respect and support him. That was something he rarely got back home. It reached the point that he felt ashamed to ask for too much from them.
The next morning, in his room, Datan finally put on his night attire and the black wristlet for the first time. The night attire shrunk magically to adjust to his body size. Juul wrapped around his skin nicely. This getup surely made him look mysterious yet elegant. His wrist, where the black wristlet latched on felt warm.
The sword and dagger were stashed in his waist, the throwing knives were also hidden in his chest, invisible from the outside, as well as a set of robbing keys. Anti-Halo along with the Cercila syringe was inside of his pocket. Somehow the night attire managed to hide everything he carried, so thankfully Datan did not seem puffy.
Datan put Malika in the middle finger of his right hand. For a second, that ring gleam oddly.
Datan was flushed as he looked at himself in the mirror. He was in bliss to the point that even if Pobos slapped him out of nowhere, he would still grin idiotically. If only Father and Erry could see him now.
Everyone eyes were on him the moment he stepped into the gathering room.
“What do you think?” he asked.
Edgar clicked his tongue in amazement, saying that Datan looked better in the attire than Kanas. As he complimented him, he was taken aback seeing Malika in his fingers. He looked suspicious though he did not say anything about it.
Niri was astonished. Her eyes were widened, blazing. “For Unum! You look so great, Sir Datan!” she squealed. She put both of her hand in front of her chest, her body trembled in excitement. “I am melting right now.”
Datan laughed at the young girl. “Stop exaggerating, Niri.”
“I mean it!”
Niri told him that Datan looked like Prince Valstak. Datan knew who that was. He was a male character from the Tale of Three Knight, a prince who rebelled against his own father, King Vanulus, a merciless king of Bahal. Valstak was depicted as a man of few words, really bad with feelings, yet, deep down he was kind and caring.
Everyone loved him. At the end of the story, Valstak killed his own father, admitted his deed in public, and let himself be sentenced to prison for twenty years. He decided not to be a monarch after he was set free, even when the entire kingdom rooted for him.
“What do you want for breakfast?” Niri asked while fixing the red Kirki shawl on her head.
“Oh, I would like to have some Naqi If you have some, and pupur mushroom soup?” Datan requested, remembering her father. “Is that too much?”
“Nonsense! It only took like five minutes to cook that soup. That’s what we eat every single day back in Sarayan. Those are a great choice, Sir Datan.”
“Actually, there’s another thing. I want to know what happened in Fardas lately, just events you find important.”
The door was opened and Pobos looked inside. “Your horse is ready, Sir Datan,” he reported. As his eyes laid on Datan, he was stunned. “Wow, you really are a Royan.”
“Thanks, Pobos.”
Niri prepared the breakfast menu in a blink of an eye, while Pobos took out a jug of Naqi from the wooden counter downstairs. But then Pobos was distracted by an old album where he collected his stamps for the past half a decade. Datan knew that Pobos took that item, which was a present from Edgar, everywhere he went.
Meanwhile, Niri chose to read him some news from Lusa Fardas Journal when Datan and Edgar had breakfast. The news covered an odd plague, the end of the mysterious murdering spree, and the Unumas who would perform the Full Moon Ceremony in Suba Tower.
“It seems like this plague only attacks children,” Niri concluded sadly. She sipped her Naqi before continuing. “Children experience blindness in the morning,” she frowned before lifting her head. “Even so, you should still be alarmed, Sir Datan.”
“I understand,” Datan said. “Don’t you want to visit your hometown?”
Niri’s gaze dimmed. She looked tense, clearly, she remembered something painful. “I am not sure they will have me back,” she hissed coldly. Her left hand squeezed the newspaper. “Fardas… threw me away.”
Datan looked at the girl closely, wondering what could have happened.
“What’s concerning is the serial killer,” Pobos continued the discussion, trying to diffuse the tension. “It seems like Mister Sami had taken care of it. He’s pretty fast.”
“If only I could come along,” Edgar chewed lazily. “I wanted to hear Unumas’ beautiful recitation in Fardas during the Full Moon Ceremony. People said it will shake you to the core.”
“You cannot go anywhere, Ed,” Pobos reminded him. He found one stamp with the drawing of Sasando among animal stamps and move it to his musical instrument stamps collection. “You said so yourself that we need to check Seekar’s condition.”
Edgar sighed. “Alright,” he slurred. “Just saying it would be nice you know.”
Pobos groaned. “Ah, I want to eat nails,” he said lightly, closing the album and leaned his back into the sofa.
◆◆◆
Datan arrived in Fardas at midnight. It was the weekend of the first week since he departs from Laha. He rode his horse fast.
Gushing wind made the grass swished in an empty road. The silence fell upon that area. Datan visited the guard’s post next to the gate. Guma was there, fast asleep. He jolted the moment Datan appeared. Datan laughed. Guma grunted, holding his baton steady in his hand. Datan knew him through Kanas back when the deputy leader visited him for the very first time in the Blue Ocean Motel.
That night was beautiful, even if half of the moon was covered by cloud and thick fog covered the top of the building in the side of the hills.
Guma was still disoriented, but then his eyes popped out as he saw the black wristlet exposed in Datan’s wrist. He then bowed. “Congratulation on your success, Sir Datan,” he exclaimed.
“Well, well, you do remember me!”
Guma smiled politely as if he is Datan employee.
“Don’t need to be so tense,” Datan smiled back. “Oh, by the way, do you know if Sami was still here.”
“He is sir.”
“How about the killer?”
Guma looked around, checking if there was anyone eavesdropping. He narrowed his eyes as he lowered his voice, “Gone,” he whispered. “Sir Sami said that the killer was a woman.”
“A woman?”
Guma nodded. “Indeed, Sir,” he said. “I have seen her crossing the central park. She was like a ghost! Her gaze was cold and gleaming like a silver ball! Then the giant snake squirmed behind her! I ran the moment she saw me.”
Datan’s heart beat erratically. Though he maintains a calm demeanor for his honor.
He asked Guma to watch over his horse, reminding the guard not to forget feeding him. Datan also told him his plan to infiltrate Thar Ubaga’s house and asked him to be more cautious at a full moon. Datan told him to stay alert in case he needed help in his mission. Guma stated that he understood and commented that in that particular night Fardas was usually quiet. Most of the people stayed at home, respecting the conduct of the Unumas who was praying and praising Unum in the Suba Tower. Which was why he said that Datan did not need to worry about the people. Guma also suggested that Datan spend the night in the Black Tongue, where the present Royan were staying.
Datan nodded. “Are you sick, Guma?” he asked.
“Ah, no, sir.”
“Your nose is bleeding,” Datan narrowed his eyes, frowning. “The blood is black.” Guma wiped his nose with a handkerchief, saying that he did not know what had gotten him. Datan asked him about the bizarre plague striking the city, and Guma confirmed it, though he said it only happened to children.
“They haven’t found the cause,” Guma said. “That’s why our Sher of Health, Mister Suloni, reported this matter to Kalidas right away to ask for an inspection.”
Datan was taken aback, he touched his chin, thinking of Tannu. “Regardless, take care
of yourself, Guma.”
◆◆◆
The Black Tongue was located on the Eastern area of Fardas. A slum Datan had never visited. Guma said that normal people would not want to pass by that place, let alone entering it, because that place was a shelter of the troublemakers. Datan indeed received a glare from those walking passed by him. Datan was unshaken, his steps remain steady and his eyes looked straight to his front. He knows what he was doing.
Datan took a turn in the second alley which was filled with muddy puddles everywhere. He stopped the moment he felt sorry all of sudden. He squatted in front of five homeless children who was curling in the street, trying to protect themselves from the cold. Their eyes were closed as though they were holding back an excruciating pain in their chest. Their boney body smelt foul. One of them groaned in pained as their saliva trickled. It was yellow and bubbly.
Datan caught something. He reached for a bald kid, slightly pulling down the collar of his torn-apart shirt. Datan was shocked to see rashes and claw marks around his neck. What happened to them?
Suddenly, there was a rough movement next to him. “Hey! What do you want?!” one of the children was woken up, slapping Datan’s hand away. “Don’t touch my friend.”
Datan turned around. He glared at the boy, shutting him up. The kid now looked like he had just seen a crocodile ready to devour him. Another kid, a girl, opened her big swollen eyes.
Datan thought how they were only a little older than Benji.
“I cannot breathe,” the sick one said.
“Hang on,” Datan stood up for a moment, he took his money pouch from his pocket. He gave them some Rall Royan. “Go see a Healer, ask for medicine, and buy some food.”
The girl’s eyes widened. Her dirty small hand took the coins. Those coins worth two hundred Kurrs. Datan knew they needed them more. Medication fee was quite steep in Fardas.
“But we cannot walk,” another said. “And my head hurts.”
“Me too,” yet another said while scratching his neck vigorously. “My throat is on fire.”