It was amidst the rainy season of the year that peculiar ship docked at the port of Palembang. Words spread from mouth to mouth of the common folk of Srivijaya; every one of them might have different versions of the story but either versions will contain one outlandish word: Mongol. Regardless of the fact that half of the common folk might likely didn’t have the faintest idea what and where the Mongol Empire was, they all knew that the Mongol ship at the port was not a sign of good news.
Under the cold hand of Kublai Khan, Mongol Empire had become, at that time, the greatest kingdom in the world. Numerous kingdoms had been the victims of the Mongol conquest. Now is Srivijaya’s turn, thought the common folk of Palembang.
It was also what was on the mind of Amretasari during her walk from her chamber towards the balairung. Without escorted by anyone, the former princess of Singhasari quietly strolled the palace corridor
On that faithful day, the Mongol envoys who came by the ship paid a visit to the palace of Palembang. The Maharaja had summoned all of his Kumaramatya—the counselors—to accompany him in welcoming them.
Among the counselors, Amretasari was the most special since she was both the Kumaramatya and the Maharatu of Srivijaya; which made her deemed as the most powerful woman in the kingdom. Yet she never felt that way.
Midway down the walk, she came across Po Nagar, the Kumaramatya from Champa. Garbed in her land’s traditional milk-colored dress that matched the color of her hair, the old lady walked slowly while being helped by one of her many handmaids. She might be old, but her wits were still as sharp as a knife.
The old woman said bluntly: “Now what? A kingdom in the far north trying to mess with us? Last month, it was your foolish brother. Now this! Can everyone just live their life and be in peace?”
She just could not stop to bring up the topic about my brother, thought Amretasari. She replied: “My lady, I pray that messing with us was not their intent coming here. Maybe they came to bring us gifts.”
“Nonsense. If it is a small kingdom we have not conquered yet, I can understand if they suck up to us and shower us with tributes. But this Mongol Empire was certainly bigger than us—I heard their territory now includes the Kingdom of Hungary! Rest assured that those envoys were up to no good.”
She was right. Amretasari fell silence for a moment or two.
“Of this empire—” Po Nagar continued—“I’ve also heard rumors. Mostly from my handmaids. They said those people are a bunch of madmen! Fancy tortures as if it was a hobby. I’ve heard they like to crush men with elephants—or to put men in the cage of tigers. Is that true, Amretasari? I know you read a lot.”
The Maharatu gave a sly smile. “Well, I don’t know about the torture by elephants or tigers. But I do know they liked to instill fear on their enemy. Torture was their tried and true method to do that—” she paused—”oh yeah, I just remembered this story… where the Mongols raised a pyramid of severed heads of their foes as a symbol of victory.”
“Oh! How horrible!” The Chams lady winced.