Many of the young men there tried to convince Dezo not to accept the challenge, as they knew how cunning Adipati Gopal was. But Dezo calmly answered.
"Very well, I accept your lord's challenge!" Everyone there was shocked; they hadn't expected the warrior to accept Adipati Gopal's challenge so easily. Meanwhile, the Duke's envoy immediately jumped onto his horse and rode away with a dismissive smile.
"Why did you accept the challenge, sir?" exclaimed one of the village youths standing next to Dezo. Dezo simply smiled. Then, from among the crowd, a middle-aged man, none other than Karim, appeared and approached the warrior.
"Dezo, Adipati is cunning and very dangerous. Why did you accept the challenge?" Karim asked, filled with worry.
"Uncle... in the martial arts jungle, it's forbidden for a warrior to refuse a challenge. Even my grandfather once said we shouldn't seek out enemies, but if an enemy comes, it's also forbidden for us to avoid them." Dezo said, smiling.
"But son…" Karim hadn't finished speaking yet.
"It's okay, uncle, don't worry. I'm prepared for everything. What I need to know now is what the Duke's messenger mentioned earlier means." Dezo interrupted, stroking Karim's shoulder.
"That field, a stretch of dry land overgrown with small grasses and reeds, was once a rice paddy belonging to the Pagaruyung Kingdom. Several years ago, it was no longer cultivated and instead became a venue for horse races held by the palace on the annual celebrations held by the Pagaruyung Kingdom. The field is not far from the Duke's residence," Karim said.
"I see. Okay, this afternoon, who can take me to the field?" he asked, as the village youths all pointed.
"We'll all accompany the warrior to the field!" Dozens of young men shouted enthusiastically.
"I'll come too, Dezo," Karim said.
"Yes, us too!" everyone exclaimed.
Dezo smiled at the enthusiasm of all the villagers, but he didn't want to invite all the villagers to join him that afternoon in the open field. He couldn't possibly let the children, women, and girls join the group.
"Children, women, and girls, I beg you not to come with me. It would be dangerous if you went there. Oh, and who among you has a horse and is able to go to the Pagaruyung Kingdom?" Dezo said. Since some of the villagers worked as traders, they naturally had horses to carry their goods to the markets. About 20 people raised their hands, but Dezo only asked and selected seven.
"Seven of you, go to the Pagaruyung kingdom right now! Report all about the suffering of the people here since Duke Gopal ruled and ruled this area, even if something happens to me, at least the top officials of the kingdom will come to solve the problems in this area and the kingdom will definitely punish the Duke severely who has acted inappropriately towards you all this time." Dezo said.
"Yes sir warrior, we will do and convey what the master warrior said." Said one of the seven young men Dezo chose to go to the Pagaruyung kingdom.
"Oh yes, how far is the Pagaruyung royal palace from here?" Dezo asked.
"The royal palace is located on a stone cage, it takes half a day's journey to ride there, sir warrior." Said one of the seven young men.
"Okay, then let's go now." The seven young men excused themselves to Dezo, then immediately returned home, grabbed their horses, and headed to the kingdom.
*****
That afternoon, the sun was scorching hot, as the weather was clear and the sky was blue, with almost no clouds visible. Under a shady banyan tree next to a villager's house, a handsome young man, wearing a white sleeveless shirt and white trousers, slung over his back, and a tiger-headed sword slung over his shoulder, sat on a piece of wood that had been made to serve as a seat. There were several pieces of wood surrounding the large banyan tree, not just one.
The young man, who was none other than Dezo, stared at the vast expanse of rice fields before him, seemingly lost in thought. Who knows what the warrior was daydreaming about, but he was certainly startled when a beautiful girl approached him carrying a cup of hot tea and several pieces of sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves. It looked oily, as it was cooked using a length of bamboo heated over a fire. The food was done when bubbles, like oil from the sticky rice inside, could be seen oozing from the tip of the bamboo. The locals called it Lamang.
"Hey... Seruni!" Dezo said with a smile.
"Yes, sir, I'm sorry if I'm bothering you. I just wanted to bring you this food and a cup of hot tea. Please drink your tea and enjoy!" Seruni replied with a sweet smile.
"Thank you, Seruni. Oh, by the way, don't call me sir, just call me Dezo." But how could a girl with such strong manners and customs like her call someone by their first name, especially if they were older than her?
"Then I'll just call you Brother, okay?" Dezo nodded with a smile.
"May I sit here with you, Brother?" the girl continued, fighting back her shyness, as a stronger feeling overcame her own.
"Oh, of course. I'd be delighted if Seruni would sit here with me." Then, with a flushed face, Seruni sat down beside the warrior.
"Brother, if I may, please cancel Adipati's challenge this afternoon. My family and I are very grateful for Uda's help yesterday afternoon in saving me. If Uda hadn't been there, I don't know what would have happened to me. I don't want anything to happen to you, Brother," Seruni said with tears in her eyes, her feelings a mixture of anxiety, shame, and even a tinge of love lurking deep within her.