"Please drink your tea, sir, warrior!" The girl said with a smile. Her smile was so sweet that for a moment, Dezo was stunned without realizing it.
"Please drink your tea, sir, warrior!" Karim repeated his daughter's words, which surprised Dezo slightly.
"Yes, uncle, thank you," Dezo replied with a smile, while the girl stood up and stepped back into the house.
"That was my daughter, Seruni. She's the one you, sir, helped with five of the Duke's envoys." Dezo simply smiled.
"Yes, uncle, but please don't call me sir, just call me Dezo." Karim simply nodded with a smile.
"It seems you're not from around here. May I ask where you're from, and what brought you here?" Karim asked.
"I come from the peak of Mount Pasaman. Since childhood, I was raised by my teacher on that mountain peak. "Just yesterday morning, I was released to descend the mountain. I was aiming to find my parents' graves on the island of Java, specifically in the land of Pasundan. I happened to be passing through this area," Dezo said, taking a sip of the warm tea in front of him.
"Mount Pasaman? It doesn't seem too far from here. It's still in the Minang region, so Dezo is also of Minang descent," Karim said.
"That's right, Uncle. My father is of Minang descent, while my mother is originally from Pasundan. My father probably migrated there and then married my mother. My teacher didn't know much about my parents; he was entrusted with them by an uncle named Bayu, the one who saved my life as a baby. I was raised by my teacher's grandfather and trained to become a warrior. It was also his grandfather who gave me the name Dezo Wilis and the title "Tiger Warrior." Dezo's lengthy speech amazed Karim and all the villagers present.
"What I'm worried about now is that Adipati and his men will definitely attack us. It's best if you continue your journey, Dezo," Karim said with a heavy sigh.
"No, uncle. In fact, I decided to stay here because I knew that would happen. Even if they don't come here, I'll be the one to settle accounts with them. People like them can't be allowed to oppress the people here for so long..." Dezo hadn't finished speaking.
"We'll also join in the defense and go to Adipati's residence with the warriors, right, friends?" one of the village youths interrupted.
The more than 40 village youths present enthusiastically agreed. Dezo gave them a thumbs up with a smile.
"I'm glad to see you all so united. You should have united long ago. If necessary, gather all the youths from the neighboring villages to fight back so that Adipati and his men can't act as they please in this area." Hearing the warrior's words, everyone there nodded.
"It's getting late, Dezo. Maghrib will soon arrive. You should take a bath first. There's a well behind the house where our family usually bathes. Let me take you there," Karim said. Dezo didn't answer, feeling a little awkward. Suddenly, a village youth called out to his right, pointing somewhere.
"How about we bathe in that pool in the river over there, my lord warrior? The water is clear and cool." Dezo turned in the direction the youth was pointing.
"Yes, my lord warrior. Let's bathe and swim together," the youths behind him added. Dezo nodded in agreement, as the river he pointed to wasn't too far away, across the rice fields in front of Karim's house. Dezo and the other youths happily headed towards the river to bathe and swim together.
After returning from the prayer room for Maghrib prayers, Dezo and several other village youths immediately headed to Karim's house. To Dezo's surprise, he found a large crowd of people gathered, from children to teenagers to the elderly. To the left of the house, women and girls were busy cooking on stone stoves.
Meanwhile, to the right, several tents, roofed with tarpaulins made from neatly woven sacks, were lined with planks. The house was lit by torches, much like a common village party at the time.
"Why is Uncle Karim suddenly throwing a party? Has Uncle Karim changed his mind about agreeing to the Duke's proposal to his daughter?" Dezo muttered in surprise, scratching his neck. Before he could get over his shock and astonishment, a middle-aged man approached him.
"Dezo, please. Would you like to sit on the veranda or in the tent?" asked the middle-aged man, who was none other than Karim.
"Are you having a party, uncle?" Dezo asked back. Karim smiled and then shook his head.
"No, Dezo. The villagers came here in droves before sunset. As you can see, some were cooking, and some were setting up tents for people to sit together," Karim replied.
"Yes, uncle, but this is like a typical village wedding, isn't that right?" Dezo asked, still unsure.
"What you said is true, but this isn't a wedding, but rather a public gathering of the villagers to prepare for this so that we can all gather here tonight. Didn't you say this afternoon that we must unite and work together to fight Adipati Gopal and his men? So, from the far end of the village, they've all come here. We'll have dinner together, drink hot tea and coffee, while keeping watch in case Adipati and his men come to attack us," Karim said, and Dezo nodded in understanding.
Dezo chose to sit on the veranda of the house covered with a pandan leaf mat accompanied by Karim and several middle-aged men of the same age as Karim, while dozens of young men sat in tents, some standing in front of and even behind the house while watching for anyone coming, such as the envoy of Adipati Gopal.
Near the stove not far from where Dezo sat, a beautiful girl appeared, wrapping her rice and side dishes in banana leaves, occasionally stealing glances at the warrior. As soon as her gaze met the warrior's eyes, the girl reflexively lowered her head in shame with a sweet smile. Dezo smiled at the girl's behavior, who was none other than Karim's daughter, Seruni.