Narendra knew even before entering the balairung that he will meet the priest. He knew that this day will eventually come.
Therefore, he did not feel shocked either when Sokei-An announced Maharaja’s mandate to strip Narendra off his Senopati title.
“You have served this kingdom like no one else could, Senopati Narendra, now it is time for you to rest”, said the priest. “We have arranged you a place in Muaro Jambi for your retirement days. Let the coming battle be fought by future generation of Senopati. They are still green, they need experience. May the Gods lead them to triumph.”
They surely are still green, thought Narendra, they are rakshin whose only accomplishment is to persecute their own people.
Instead he said, “My wise Kumaramatya, if it is what the Maharaja wanted, then I must obey.”
“Good,” replied Sokei-An with a satisfied smile, “I need you to handover your host and Samudra Raksa to Arvind, starting tomorrow,” he gestured to a man who stand beside him. Arvind was not a stranger to Narendra. He was the rakshin leader who carried out the siege and killing of the Permalim.
“All right, then,” he replied. Narendra had been a somber man he never let his feeling captured in his voice. The Senopati did not care what kind of man took over his duty as a Senopati. But to think his great sambau and his men—several of them who survived the Battle of Indrapura together with him—became under control of such man as Arvind, Narendra could not help to feel disheartened. After all, it was Maharaja’s order; Narendra could disregard any religious law but the law of a soldier he never failed to uphold.
Sokei-An then looked deep at Narendra’s eyes. “You have any other thing to said?”
Narendra did not expect of him to say that. He then fought his urge to blurt thousands of questions and remarks to the priest.
What kind of sorcery you use to bewitch the Maharaja?