5. Lady Nagini

“No!” Rengganis screamed loudly. She opened her eyes. She found a faint and dark atmosphere in the reflection of torch. Berek took a deep look to her queen. Rengganis closed her eyes, neutralized her pounding heart.

“Did you just have a bad dream?” Berek helped Rengganis to sit.

The beautiful woman looked around. She just realized they were in a cave. She was on rocks at the moment. Her back hurts. Never in her life, Rengganis slept on place like this. She used to sleep on a soft and comfortable bed. She looked outside, dark. Ah, it’s night then, she thought.

“Please, have a drink!” the middle-aged lady handed a bamboo glass for Rengganis. She drank it up.

“I hear the queen screamed.” Khandra showed up from outside with forewood on his hand.

“Ah, it’s alright. She just had a bad dream,” Berek explained. “What do you bring, Khandra?” she asked.

The man put the firewood inside the cave, used a torch to lit fire. Middle-aged maid, Berek, walked closer to Khandra, opened a bandle of banana leaves Khandra put on the rocks

“Sweet princess, let’s eat roasted bird,” Berek said thoughtfully.

Rengganis smiled. She saw Khandra’s back. He’s changed his clothes, wearing a white shirt. On his underside, there was a batik knee-length skirt, wrapping and knotting on his hip.

“I’m sorry, My Dear. For now, you must have hard live and eat anything we have,” Maid Berek said. She knew Rengganis never ate common meal.

“Don’t you think I should be grateful? I’m still alive until now,” Rengganis said. It’s touching for those loyal two.

“I will gather the guards to seize the kingdom from King Abra, My Queen.” Khandra stood up and turned around.

In the faint light if bonfire, Rengganis could see the stout, clean face. It was the first time she took a deep look to Khandra. He used to stand behind her, kept her safe. Ah, it was a long time ago. Her parents’ memories flashed over her eyes, making her eyes wet. She erased it immediately.

“Thank you, Commander Khandra, Maid Berek,” she said. Rengganis rubbed her empty stomach. “I’m hungry.” She got off the rock, approaching them.

“We just have burnt casava. I will look for fruits...” Khandra moved to walk.

“Khandra.” Rengganis cut his words, reaching his arm. Khandra’s blood raced, he gulped, staring at her warmly. “I will eat anything you have.” Rengganis smiled making his heart pounded.

Rengganis unclasped her hand and sit among the rocks. Khandra looked down, watching the casava in the bonfire.

“It’s okay. I can wait until it’s ready.” Rengganis said before Khandra did.

Rengganis stared at the blaze, reminding her for the scaly one on her dream.

*KarRa*

Rengganis clearly remembered when a beautiful half-snake lady ran after her. Rengganis, with great effort, tried to get to the land. She ran non stop, rise and fall. The sound of gamelan suddenly heard from out of no where. Rengganis looked around.

Her body paralyzed unexpectedly. She stood still powerless. The half-snake lady came closer. Her body was sweating, her heart skipped a beat as if it would jumped out of its place. Rengganis witnesed the fearsome figure with her body shaking. Suddenly her tongue couldn’t move. She couldn’t say a word. Her throat choked. It’s hard for her to gulp. The shrill sound of laughter made her ears hurt. She grimaced. Her chest heaved and out. She breathed heavily. Her tears fell down. Obviously she was frightened.

“Don’t be afraid, Beautiful. I just want to know you.” The snake lady said.

The sound of gamelan suddenly stopped as her body shrinking. Her wavy tail was disappeared as it changed into black cloth that suitable with her kebaya. A red scarf was on her shoulder, it was dangled beautifully on her smooth arm. Rengganis choked. A spirit appeared before her. She fell down and sit powerless on a pile of twigs and dried leaves. No matter how beautiful she was, she’s still a supernatural spirit.

The half-snake lady smiled, so beautiful. Rengganis would never see the different between her and other woman if she didn’t remember what she saw earlier. “Who are you?” Renggans asked with her heavy breath. Her chest tightened.

“I’m Lady Nagini,” she said.

‘Lady Nagini?’ Rengganis winced then asked, “How do you know me?”

“It’s easy for me to see what has happened,” she answered friendly. “You came to the place I rule. It’s quiet some time I see someone came. Don’t you think I should greetm y guest? To me, you aro so pathetic. A conspiracy of a concubine to get rid of you, and an idiot man who took everything you have. You should be the queen, Rengganis,” she mocked while helping Rengganis to stand. “I feel sorry for your beautiful face if you die in their hand.” The half-snake lady rubbed Rengganis’s cheek in confusing.

Then, Rengganis laughed, pressed her huge fear that covered her. She didn’t want to look afraid in front of that spiritual creature. “I was really stupid. How can I be a queen when I am not capable of taking care of myself.”

“I can help you. If your beauty can’t control him,then let the spell can,” Lady Nagini laughed, moving her tip of scarf she wore.

“I doubt it,” Rengganis answered.

“You can let go off fate if you want to die in their hands, waoting for a hanging or decapitation law?” Lady Nagini mocked. It was the last words she heard before she woke up.

Remembering her mother died in horrible way made Rengganis imagine how King Abra would torture her with no mercy. He was able to kill his mother in-law. What made him not be able to kill her? It’s really an awful thing to imagine.

*KarRa*

Berek took roasted casava off the fireplace, split it, and put it on banana leave. Khandra was still busy rotating bird on bamboo above the fire to roast it.

“My Dear, please eat,” Berek said. She furrowed her eyebrow because Rengganis didn’t answer. She nudged Rengganis’s knee with her pointing finger making the young lady waking from her reverie. “Stop daydreaming, My Dear.” Berek tried to advise.

“Okay,” Rengganis looked pensive.

“I’m going back to the border so King Abra wouldn’t be suspicious. I also have gathered the remain guards to the secret army post. My Queen, you should follow Berek and two guarding knights to the location,” said Khandra.

“I wish you two don’t call me queen anymore. I no longer have that title. I—"

“To us, you are the right future queen to lead Kingdom Baskara.” Berek cut Rengganis words.

“I’m not sure. I’m weak. I—"

“My queen, there are guards and also merceneries spread by the former King Arkha accross the land to guard several regions we conquered. They have trained well and trusted. They wait for your command and we’re ready to serve.” Khandra speak with conviction.

“How?” Rengganis tried to stand so she wouldn’t fail her royalist.

“Give me your arm accessories as a proof. All the accessories you wear are named. That would be enough.” Khandra explained.

“There’s no need to take what she wears, Khandra. I have kept all of the stuff with her name on it.” Berek walked into a big rock where Rengganis slept.

The pump middle-aged woman reached a wooden box with sun engraving, the symbol of Baskara Kingdom. She handed it to Rengganis. The queen understood what her maid intention was. She opened and took some accessories, like rings and earrings.

“Is it enough?” Rengganis asked.

“Yes,” Khandra answered, took it from Rengganis’s hand and put it into a dark clothe. “As you wish, My Future Queen of Kingdom Baskara.” Khandra put both of his hand in front of his chest, taking a bow, and leave.

“Khandra,” Rengganis called him, making him turned aside where Rengganis was.

Rengganis stood. “Be careful,” she said, rubbing his cheek. Her gaze was full of hope. Khandra nodded firmly.

To be continued….

@lovely_karra