In the palace of Kediri, the capital city of Kedatuan Singhasari, an old man was wrestling with death. Half-conscious, he slouched alone in one of the palace’s bedchambers. The old man was beyond sixty years of age and was stabbed by a poison-smeared keris. However, the death was now on the losing side.
Narendra was a Senopati of Srivijaya. He had battled Srivijayan wars since the reign of the grandfather of Maharaja Sumatrabhumi; making him one of the most experienced soldiers in Srivijayan army. His swordsmanship was deemed as the finest in the whole kingdom—even when he reached old age and there were a lot of younger Senopati around. Narendra’s best achievement was the triumph over Chaiya about forty years ago, in which gave way for Srivijaya to control Malayadvipa.
Tricky business, this poison is, he thought grimly, in and out of consciousness, I’d rather have my wrist or thigh split open, I’ll heal faster.
He had had bad dreams—of wars he had fought, and men he had slain—so he decided not to fall asleep again. He also refused to take any potions from the healers and maintained to mingle with his fever.
When he heard a rat-a-tat on his door, he shouted to let the man came in. It was Amar, his most trusted hulubalang.
“How are you?” Amar asked worriedly.
“Almost there,” the Senopati said with a weak smile.
“Poison. A weapon of the coward! I’ve talked with the healers; it was the poison of Rakrian Kuti you are suffering right now—he is a renowned shaman in Bhumi Java. Mere mortals will die instantly because of a drop of his poison. But not you! Nothing seemed to be able to kill you!” Amar spoke passionately.
“Credits should be directed to the healers. Without them, I’d be dead weeks ago.” The Senopati then changed topics: “How is the situation outside?”
“Not good. We just finished assessing the condition of our host. A hundred was dead, another hundred was in critical condition—but they are getting better. The Datu of Kediri and all of his officers were all killed” said the hulubalang slowly.
“Of Raden Wijaya and his followers?”