18 Meet the Red
Munra forced himself to smile in front of his adopted son, he reached out his hand, rubbing his child's head.
"Listen, my dear," Munra said to his wife, "that would also be the case if those soldiers from the Maghabea and Angholi Kingdoms were able to penetrate and traverse the Forbidden Forest."
Marni looks much calmer. After all, her husband's words made more sense to her.
Yes, at least, Marni heard that the dense forest across the big river in one place in the forest on the east side was very haunted. There have been enough lives of the residents of Vashara who have become victims in the forest, even they have lost their lives when they just set foot in the big shallow river. The supernatural creatures in there are terrible.
It wasn't something stupid if commoners like them, the Sudras forced themselves across the great river to reach the Forbidden Forest area. It is said that in the thick and dark forest there are various types of plants that are very expensive, as well as animals that have never been seen before by the Sudra people, nor by the people of the seven kingdoms.
It was things that were so tempting that forced commoners like them to enter the Forbidden Forest, their aim being nothing but the sake of changing their fate.
Even though so far all about the rare plants and animals is just a word of mouth, which sounds like wishful thinking, a fairy tale, considering how haunted the Forbidden Forest is, people are more likely to distance themselves from the area.
Yes, Marni can now be calmer. Her husband's words were true, the woman thought.
Munra smiled again, took another deep breath.
"So, you don't need to worry and fear excessively like that, O my wife. Even if they fought in the war, it happened deep in the thick forest on the east side. So calm down. Let's continue eating this food before it gets cold."
"You're right, my husband," Marni sighed with more relief. "Yea, you're right."
And then, they begin to eat their meal even though the atmosphere was no longer as cheerful as before.
***
Two hundred soldiers of the Maghabea Kingdom led by a war commander finally managed to meet and join two hundred soldiers from the Angholi Kingdom who were also led by their war commander.
When they met, the sky was already dark, and it was even darker in the forest on the eastern side of the Vashara region. However, of course, they did not come unprepared.
"Light your torches!" Two war commanders both gave orders to their respective troops.
The soldiers carrying torches lit their torches. The area in the middle of the forest now looks brighter.
The difference between the soldiers of the two kingdoms lies only in the color of the clothes they wear. If soldiers from the Maghabea Kingdom wear clothes that are dominated by blue, then the soldiers of the Angholi Kingdom wear clothes that are more dominated by red.
Otherwise, they look the same. Carry swords, spears, even arrows. And both sides ride horses. There was not a single white horse there. Because the white horse is a sacred horse for them, it can only be ridden by Brahmanas, kings and queens, and the main royal family.
The war commander of the Angholi Kingdom kicked his horse gently, the horse stepped closer to the Maghabea war commander.
"Thank you," said the Angholi war commander to the Maghabean war commander and his soldiers. "You have finally arrived at this eastern forest. I, Leyman. Third-level commander for the Angholi warriors."
"Yes. We have exerted maximum speed to reach our meeting place," said the war commander of the Maghabea. "According to the agreement," he said, pointing to the troops behind him. "I brought two hundred soldiers with me. My name is Jumara. Third-level commander for the Maghabean warriors."
"Now," Leyman said in a lower tone than before. "Jumara, do you want your soldiers to get rest first, or should we head straight for the Last River, and rest there before we decide to cross the river to enter the Forbidden Forest? What do you think?"
"No," said Jumara. "I guess my army isn't that weak to have to rest. We're headed straight for the Last River, Leyman. Please, you lead the way!"
"All right," Leyman smirked subtly. "Angholi soldiers, you are at the front. Jumara and I in the middle, and the last row," Leyman glanced behind him. "You Maghabean soldiers."
The soldiers of the two kingdoms immediately lined up to make the formation that was conveyed by Leyman. After everyone was in their respective positions, Leyman ordered them to start moving.
"Move!"
They moved further and further towards the east, through the dense jungle. However, because the forest was the same as the other forests in the seven regions, perhaps that was what made the soldiers of the two kingdoms less anxious.
After all, which bandits dared to fight against those four hundred soldiers? Which robber would dare to confront them?
None!
Thus, the steps of their horses were not disturbed at all.
"Pay your attention!" said Leyman who was on the right side of the Jumara. "Even though this forest looks quiet, stay alert!"
Jumara smirked at Leyman's orders to the soldiers. Either you mean to scare my troops, or you're trying to appear dignified in front of my troops, he thought.
"You don't have to do that," Jumara said to Leyman. "You know that this eastern forest is just like any other forest. What are you afraid of? The bandits? Robbers?"
Leyman snorted but didn't respond to Jumara's words.
"They will only end up being corpses if they dare try to disturb us."
"Whatever you will to say, Jumara, I don't care," said Leyman. "This forest is in our territory. So, I hope you'll just do what I say."
"Yeah, right!" Jumara laughed softly and nodded.
"Hey," said a Maghabean soldier to his companion beside him, of course, in a low voice. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
TO BE CONTINUED ...
