"What do you mean?" said the companion asked back.
"The commander of the Angholi army seems to be deliberately bragging in front of our commander."
"Be quiet. That's not important. After all, you're only getting us in trouble if he hears that."
They continued with their horses, along the forest floor and continued eastward.
At one time, the Maghabean army was surprised by the appearance of a deer. The deer ran fast towards them.
The Maghabean troops were even more surprised because a leopard appeared from the same direction, the leopard chasing the deer.
The jump was so accurate that the leopard was able to pounce on the deer.
The Maghabean troops on the right side tried to stay away and some tried to chase away the leopard that had caught its prey by scaring it with spears and torches.
The horses of the soldiers became restless, they neighed in fear of the appearance of the leopard.
"Stop it!" Jumara ordered the actions of his men. "And control your horses!"
Leyman did not waste the opportunity in front of Jumara and his troops. Then, he grabbed a bow and an arrow from one of the Angholi soldiers. Then, Leyman aimed at the leopard that was gripping the deer's neck with its jaw.
However, the wish of the commander of the Angholi army was blocked by Jumara. Jumara crossed his arms to block Leyman's aim.
"Hey," Leyman said. "Get your hands off from my sight, Jumara!"
Jumara glared at Leyman, then, his gaze fell on the bushes on the right side. From the direction that the deer and the leopard appeared earlier.
"Can't you see?" Jumara asked Leyman with a smirk that was mocking the Angholi commander.
From the same direction, two leopard cubs appeared. And yes, it looks like the big leopard is a mother who is looking for food for her two cubs.
Despite being annoyed, Leyman lowered his bow and threw the bow and the arrow back at the soldier from earlier.
"That leopard is only looking for food for her cubs," Jumara smiled. "What kind of human who so heartless to kill a mother who tries to feed her young?"
"Can you not make fun of me, Jumara?" Leyman snorted loudly. "How am I supposed to know that the leopard was a female with cubs?"
"Never mind."
Jumara chuckled as he shook his head. You just want to show off in front of my men, Leyman. What are you? An entertainer?
"That's enough," said Leyman. "What are you all looking at, huh?!"
Leyman shouted at his men to vent his frustration because it was clear that he had lost in assessing targets before taking an action compared to Jumara.
"Keep going!" Leyman ordered his men.
The Angholi troops who were at the front were simultaneously moving their horses along the forest floor.
Jumara moved his head to order his men who were in the rear row to follow the steps of the Angholi troops.
"I told you," whispered a Maghabean soldier earlier to his companion beside him. "That Angholi commander is just showing off. But it is very clear that our commander is the best."
"O Gods in Swargaloka," said the companion in a whisper as well. "Can you just shut up?"
"What? I'm just saying."
"Seriously?" his companion snorted. "I saw you look very pale when that leopard appeared."
"Damn you! Why are you even mocking me?"
"I told you didn't I? Just shut up before we get into trouble."
Meanwhile, the female leopard watched the soldiers marching out of the area. Two leopard cubs approach their mother. And it looks like the deer itself has died in the bite of the predator's fangs.
***
"So what's all this about, Marni?" Munra asked his wife.
Aryan was fast asleep on a bamboo divan without a cloth or soft mattress. Not at all. Even so, the seven-year-old boy looked so peaceful in his sleep.
Marni and Munra sat close to each other, slightly away from the divan where Aryan was sleeping.
"You can suddenly provide rice for our dinner, how did that happen? Whereas I remember for sure that I didn't give you enough coins to buy a handful of rice last day."
"I know," Marni tried to bring a smile to her face.
"And you also said there was other good news," Munra said as he gently stroked his wife's head. "What kind of good news do you have, O my wife?"
"Good news about someone who will be willing to help us find Aryan a teacher."
Munra tilted his head while staring at his wife. It was quite clear that Munra didn't believe it. It was seen from the look on his face.
"I know you won't believe it, my husband."
"Well, you're right," said Munra. "It's hard to believe that anyone would want to help us, that anyone would want to be a teacher for a Candala."
"But, the merchant has promised me, my dear."
"The merchant?" Munra repeated. "You mean, that Juragan where I used to sell my grass?"
"Of course he is," replied Marni. "Who else could be?"
"Oh my poor wife," Munra took a deep breath, shaking his head. "Men like Juragan are can not be trusted, Marni. He's just playing with you, playing with us, the Sudras."
"But I don't think that will happen, my husband."
"Why are you so sure?" asked Munra. "What have you promised in return to that Juragan?"
For a moment Marni was silent, taking a deep breath to dispel the nervousness that had hit her a little because of her husband's question.
But, Marni had predicted this would happen beforehand. So, she seemed to be calmer to answer the questions from her husband.
"I didn't promise anything to that Juragan, my dear."
"And why would he suddenly want to help us?"
Marni brought another sweet smile to her husband so he wouldn't be suspicious of her. To make her husband not realize what she had sacrificed to get the Juragan's promise, as well as a handful of rice that she had eaten with her husband and her boy earlier.
TO BE CONTINUED ...