Amretasari inspected the old Senopati from head to toe. He really is immortal, Amretasari thought in amazement.
She learned that Narendra had taken some arrows in The Battle of Indrapura. Yet he was able to stand gallantly, in front of the council members; to recall the fate of the latest war.
Once it was reported that Samudra Raksa made its premature arrival on the port of Palembang, the Maharatu, Heng Piseth, and Po Nagar rushed to the port—with Sokei-An and the Maharaja nowhere to be seen. In the port office, the three Kumaramatya heard firsthand the information from the only surviving Senopati.
The moment Narendra arrived on his description of the “heads projectile”, Po Nagar fainted and had to be taken back to her chamber. Meanwhile, Heng Piseth turned a shade paler, understandably anxious to find out whether the same fate befell Khmer.
After the Senopati finished his story, Amretasari commanded one of her men to find the Maharaja—she planned to hold a council meeting as soon as possible. Then, to the other man, she commanded to arrange Anathapindika’s funeral and to deliver the news of her death to her family.
The Maharatu then turned to the old Senopati. “Without you in the attack, I really doubt if there is any survivor at all.”
“I only acted what I think was right,” said Senopati Narendra humbly.
Amretasari was silent for a moment and then she said: “Tell me, Senopati—what did we do wrong? Was our battle plan not good enough?”
With a grim face, Senopati Narendra replied: “Our battle plan was good. But it was no use if the enemy already knew it.”
The Maharatu stared. “You think there is a spy in the palace?”
“I cannot be certain about that, Maharatu. I think we misjudged the enemy—we always thought they are ruthless, yet we never thought that they can also be cunning.”
Heng Piseth who was being in a pensive mood interrupted: “And we are a fool, Senopati. A total fool, indeed.”