Dayang Haya's Secret

Back at the present time, after the Lumin's Tribe had successfully bid their farewell to the deceased.

On the following day, it was an uneventful day but Miguel could not shake off the image of the Dayang. He found himself delaying his tasks just to see the Dayang.

In the meantime, since the whole tribe had been preoccupied with other things such as preparations to continue the Trials which the Saman has started...

The ceremony for Apprentice acceptance had been put on hold. And the Babaylan tasked Miguel to get familiar with the herbs. Miguel had never been too particular with this stuff, he only knew his way to the battlefield, this lousy task about gathering herbs and memorizing them never crossed his mind, yet now he is in the woods gathering some herbs.

And it so happens that the herb he needs to gather is close to the Dayang's Kanya. The Dayang can be seen basking in the sunshine outside her residence with her servants following her.

Miguel is on his feet returning his gathered herbs to the basket and placing it back afterward, he felt stupid but kept on repeating it at the same time as he stole glances to the Dayang.

Some Alipins who are keen and have heard the rumors observed the actions of Miguel, and now they became sure of it. "Those eyes... Those are the eyes of someone who is smitten by a woman."

An Alipin by the name, Pudan nudged the shoulders of his fellow Alipin. Just like Miguel they too are tasked to do something near the herbs. They are there to remove pesky wild plants that is scattered among the herbs.

It just so happens that Miguel is also there to pick up herbs. While they murmured and talked about Miguel, on the other hand, this so-called talk of the tribe simply ignored them.

"She really does look like her." And as he stared at the Dayang, he noticed the looming sadness painted on her face. He wondered why the Dayang kept on pacing forward and backward around her yard. "Maybe she's troubled with something..."

Curse his curiosity, he decides to go close to the yard.

In an almost arrogant and commanding tone as he gestured "Hey! You two over there, can I ask for a favor?" Miguel called out the two Alipin beside him, and these two Alipin who had been previously gossiping about him was taken aback. They thought Miguel must've been angry at them.

So they came close as soon as they were called with timid expressions written on their face. "Were sorry just now..." But before they could even continue to speak, Miguel did not even glance at them as he continued to speak, "Please, watch over this basket. I'll have to go somewhere. It'll be just for a while don't worry."

And as he said so, he hurriedly went close to the Dayang's yard sneaking away from the guards and the Alipins.

When he has safely settled, he hides at the bushes near to the tree where the Dayang is currently standing. But at that moment, something he shouldn't have learned was heard.

A servant came to the Dayang holding a strip of bamboo with a gloomy look. The servant bowed and greeted.

"Our Ladyship Dayang Haya, I have something to tell..."

"Speak, what is it?" But in fact, Dayang Haya already had a foreboding dark feeling.

"Our Datu... Datu Hagat..." The servant found himself stuttering, he found it difficult to relay the message but found courage when he saw how worried the Dayang looked like.

"Datu Hagat... Died."

When the Dayang heard his words, he felt his world collapsing. She had been worried all this time. now that one thing she was most worried about came true.

Tears fell, she felt weak all over her body as she staggered and almost fell. Luckily the servant was quick on the uptake as she supported the Dayang.

"Hagat... He died?" questioning the servant in a muffled voice, disbelief was written on her face.

"Our ladyship... It is true. Here is the message by the most trusted warrior of Datu Hagat." Presenting the strip of bamboo and placing it at the trembling hands of the Dayang, the servant felt great sympathy.

The Dayang opened the strip and read the contents.

[I am writing this letter to inform you that Our Datu has been betrayed!

Do not believe in the upcoming messengers from Apkon Amron. He is the culprit! He let Our Datu suffer a shameful death! We do not know the details but two of us saw their fight. We saw our fellow warriors killed after successfully doing the tasks, we are supposed to go home on the following day but Apkon Amron ambushed us and has taken the Datu to feed to the sharks. We are not sure what happened but the chances of Datu's survival are dim. We can only conclude that the Datu has died. Be brave Dayang Haya, the Tribe now rest upon your shoulders.]

Reading the note in her hands, it was at this time that her strong mentality collapsed! She broke down and slumped at the floor, forgetting to keep that same tradition she scold to her daughter.

And it was the first time Miguel saw the Dayang in her weakest state. The usually Majestic Dayang had her face flushed, crying at the ground.

Some sympathy was garnered due to this, adding the fact that she looked like her wife, he thought about his family that was left behind in his previous world.

He could not help but mutter, "Perhaps this is also how my wife broke down when she heard that I died?"

Miguel is thrown in a series of questions about what to do. He did not felt any belongingness to this tribe since day one. All he had been doing so far was to gather information on how he could return, but continuously seeing the things happening around him he had the urge to do something.

Plus after having a goodnight's sleep, all the previous muddled memories he was unable to piece together made sense now.

A question dangled in his mind upon leaving the yard, "How do I keep my promise to Argus and Toto? Things are different here, many things should be considered. I can't act recklessly or I might dig a pit for my own coffin... Oh well, didn't I died two times now?"

Perking his ears and his eyes focused at the Dayang, he waited for a while for the Dayang to make any movements, but seeing that the Dayang continued to cry, he decided to leave. But just when he is about to leave, he heard the Dayang speak...

"Do not let anyone know this piece of news! Understand?" Steeling her heart, she remembered the last part of the message: [Be brave Dayang Haya, the Tribe now rest upon your shoulders.]

The servant became surprised, from sympathy to being awed. She replied with his utmost reverend tone, "Yes Our Ladyship..."

Calming herself, the Dayang stood as she clutched the bamboo strip in her hands.

"Burn this..." She ordered.

.

.

.

...

Seeing this scene, Miguel too was in awe, "Things are getting interesting at this tribe..." He exclaimed inwardly.

Also realizing this unique experience he had, he chuckled and slipped away to return to that area where the patch of herbs is located.