THE DARANGEN: abduction of princess Lawanen (cont’d)
Episode 8
(Translated by Dr. Nosca Khalid)
Mabaning thanked his new gypsy
friends and entered the forest. He searched for settlements where he may pick
up some important clues. He roamed the villages spying for their secrets but
all was in vain until he came upon a mountain.
Exhausted after days of wandering,
he stopped at the foot of the mountain. He walked to a tree looming ghostly in
the night, lowered himself on the ground and leaned his back against the tree.
Feeling completely relaxed; soon he was soundly asleep oblivious to the
breaking dawn and the rising sun.
The charming Anonen Pangadapen
stood by a tree. Her thoughts were preoccupied by the piteous state of the
prince of Gadongan.
“What if I disguise myself,” the
fairy princess thought, “as princess Lawanen to divert his mind? I will keep
his thoughts away from the tragic loss of his fiancée. If he perseveres in his
passionate desire for the princess beyond compare then I shall reveal to him
the truth that princess Lawanen is being held at Sagorongan a Ragat. I will
divulge everything that happened to the love of his life.”
The fairy princess glided across
the hills to where the prince of Gadongan was resting. Standing there for
sometimes, she watched the sleeping prince. She bent and touched the prince on
the shoulder.
“Mabaning Ndaw Rogong,” the fairy
princess whispered. “Wake up and refresh yourself with betel nuts from the
hills of Sendigan. I know you are tired, sad and grieving.”
Startled, Mabaning stirred awake confused
by the gentle voice whose likeness to the lost princess rekindled his grief. He
pulled the scarf tacked at his side and wiped off the beads of perspiration
over his face. He eyed the strange lady with scrutiny unable to tell whether
she is the lost princess or not. The likeness is almost perfect except the
color of the hair.
“The hair of princess Lawanen,” he
thought, “is a sparkling brunette while this beautiful princess if you may is a
blonde like the petals of a white flower that curls up with the thunders.”
“My dear princess,” uttered the
confused prince. “Who are you and what are you doing in these mountains?”
“I am your kin, the princess Anonen
Pangadapen of Sendigan Mountains. I know how you deeply mourn the loss of
princess Lawanen but I didn’t expect to find you in such a miserable
condition.” The fairy looked piteously at the prince. “Lawanen is in Sagorongan
a Ragat abducted by the spirits of King Dimasangkay,” reiterated by the
princess. “I beg you not to pursue her. Remember, even if you are an invincible
crock or be as hard as granite rock, you will not be able to confront the
territorial guards of the empire of Kadaraan. You will be a great loss to the
offspring of Gebonen. It will be best if you turn back and return to Bembaran.
Organize an army of the allied kingdoms big and strong enough to invade the
land of Doronan.”
“My princess Anonen,” answered
Mabaning. “It is impossible to turn back now. How can I tell the people of
Bembaran that I found out where Lawanen is being held and I have returned to
Bembran without even seeing her? No I prefer to find the princess Lawanen and
talk to her. I will have no regret even if I perish in the attempt. I am
entrusting to you my well being from this moment on. You must inform the others
in Bembaran of what you just told me so they can come immediately to our
rescue. I must leave now and find Sagorongan a Ragat. I must not fail.”
“Prince Mabaning,” addressed the
fairy princess. “If that is your wish then be it but take my advice. Disguise
yourself as a Madem so the sentries will not recognize you. Pretend to be the
messenger of the king of Kilaten but if you are recognized by the territorial
guards, use the magic sword.”
A sword suddenly materialized in
the hands of the fairy. “It will spite your enemies and blind their vision. If
you find yourself in real danger; raise the sword up and spin around until the
tussle fibers at the hilt spread and radiates with light. It will instantly render
you invisible.
Prince Mabaning reached for the sword offering a prayer to the ‘Dragon god’ in the sky.
He wound the belt around his waist
and fixed the scabbard on his left, the sword dangling on his side. Spinning
around, the tussle fibers at the hilt sprung scattering light rays like a twinkling
star droplets. He bade farewell to the fairy princess and left in a hurry.
To be cont’d…
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