Arvind emerged from the dimness of the forest. The rakshin circled Narendra and his hulubalang—giving no way out.
“You planned to carry those infidels with my sambau, didn’t you?” asked Arvind the rakshin leader. “I don’t want my sambau filled with the stench of them!”
Narendra snapped at him. “You nearly killed the Maharatu and the Rajaputra, what were you thinking?”
“It should be me asking you. What are you doing here, Narendra? Does a career as a traitor suited you more nowadays?”
There is no way I get out of this alive, thought Narendra as he examined the situation. The rakshin was three times as many.
“I am here to protect the Maharatu, Rajaputra, and her people. I won’t let you do them any harm,” replied the Senopati.
Arvind chuckled. “Protect, huh? It is you who put their life in danger.”
Narendra stared at the rakshin leader with confusion.
“What? You don’t even have any idea that your men ratted on you? I don’t expect someone like you could be so stupid.”
I should have known it, thought Narendra bitterly.
“As a boy, I admired you, Senopati Narendra. Now look at you, you are against your own kingdom—against the Maharaja Sumatrabhumi himself. I am so sorry, but I have to kill you.”
“Do your best then, Arvind.”
Narendra knew the inevitable battle had begun as he heard the clank of the swords behind him. Three rakshin went after him; he parried each blow and eventually managed to kill all the three of them. The other rakshin seemed to be reluctant to attack Narendra since they knew his swordsmanship was among the best in Srivijaya. Meanwhile, Arvind only watched without drawing any weapon.