Taningtha

The establishment that Ahanlem and her group were staying at Taningtha happened to belong to an old patron of the arts. The man was an enthusiastic supporter of dancers and singers and frequently held programs twice every week. But now that the summer deity festival was fastly approaching, rehearsals were fervently arranged everyday in the open mandop till late in the evening. Or so Tomba told her from an account he happened to hear from one of the staffs working there.

Anyway, around the mandop, a modest audience was already gathered to watch the artists. Their eyes watched the dancers who were moving gracefully and diligently while their hearts stirred along the sombre, powerful tone and voices of the singers. Although, it was just a rehearsal everyone watched with rapture attention and awe.

Ahanlem looked around at the faces of the crowd. The chieftain and their twin friends' father were nowhere to be seen, she wondered if they were still resting from the tiresome journey.

"How beautiful! So charming!"

a booming voice interrupted the atmosphere suddenly.

Ahanlem as well as the others turned towards the sound of the voice. A middle aged man stood before them, he was a little plump around the stomach but overall he had a robust built. He was holding a gourd of wine in his left hand and his cheeks were rosy red. And besides him was the chieftain, as well their friends' father, Ibomcha and a little apart from them, stood an old man and a very good-looking lady.

All eyes fell naturally onto the form of the woman who was dressed in a scarlet phanek and phijol with light butterfly patterns. She had a glowing wheatish complexion and her dark black hair were parted in the middle, which was gathered into a low bun onto the nape of her neck and her head was covered delicately by her phi which indicated that she was a married woman. Her face was also exquisitely beautiful with well-defined features and she was poised in a soft, sweet smile that made her appeared like she was the ideal embodiment of a lairembi.

She turned to bow to the old man besides her and said, "I will be on my way, then, father."

"Yes, go ahead." The man gave her a nod.

Everyone's gaze followed her figure as she walked into the hall. At her entrance, the dancers and singers paused their practices and greeted in unison, "Oja." So, it appears that this woman was their teacher.

"Hm, they are all doing well." The old man began to say in a proud tone. He was the owner of the entire establishment.

"Indeed, such a talented group of artists we have this season." The robust man commented, sipping from his gourd.

"Aren't you drunk a little too much today, Sanaton?" the old asked him, eyeing the wine gourd.

The robust man gave him an idiot smile, cheeks looking redder than ever, he said, "My old friends have come to pay me a visit from a long way afar, Eyamba. So, I had to show them my warmest and sincerest hospitality with the best wine that I had saved!"

"Well, whatever, do as you see fit but treat your guests well." The old man said with his brows knotted in disapproval while crinkling his nose at the breath of alcohol coming out from the man. "Now, then, I must go see to the progress of my artists, so long." He told him and then left.

Ibomcha finally noticed Ahanlem and Tomba sitting before them. "There you two are, did you kids rest up well?" he asked.

"Yes." The two answered him in unison.

"Oh, such young lads! How are you? Isn't Taningtha a wonderful place or what? Want to join me for some food and wine? Come on!" The robust man said to them looking overly enthusiastic.

The chieftain shook his head and sighed, "Ah, Sanaton...."

Right at the moment, a familiar face appeared and announced, "Dear guests, dinner will be laid out soon. I have arranged it earlier so that you can retire early to bed." He was the short man from earlier, the king's servant who had arranged their stay and he was also working as one of the main staffs of the house.

Ibomcha turned to him and said, "We just had some food and drinks. Let the kids go have it first. Go on, Ahanlem, Tomba."

The two nodded their heads and followed after the man. Ahanlem glanced back and assumed that this robust man named Sanaton must be the friend they have come for.

After the chieftain saw the three disappearred into the building, he turned to the drunken man and began to say, "Sanaton, let us also go in and talk properly."

"There is no need for more talking, Khaba. I have already told you and will tell anyone else that I'm not returning to that awful place ever!" Sanaton huffed and greedily gulped over the remaining wine in the gourd.

"My lord, must you be so unreasonable? The king needs you greatly. And the kingdom is in danger, I fear." Ibomcha told him firmly.

Sanaton looked at the man with narrowed, glazed eyes and said almost mockingly, "Little brother, let me tell you something wise. You see, the kingdom, the king, they are always in danger! From time immemorial! Why? Because, it's the heavy price of the throne! Really, why are you tagging along with Khaba on this useless endeavour? Don't you already have a family to love and care for?"

"Your words are sharp and obnoxious as ever my lord." Ibomcha sighed but looking serious he added, "But we are telling you, the danger looming about right now isn't the usual ones known to men. It's something completely unknown, something that involves evil magic..."

Sanaton put down his wine gourd and asked disbelievingly, "What do you mean? Are you serious? Why didn't say those before?"

"Of course, we are more than serious. And we were meaning to tell you about it but you started drinking madly like a fish the moment you sat down with us." Khaba looked exasperated as he said but then he added sounding tired, "Anyway, let us go inside to your room first, it's too dangerous outside. As the ancient proverbs go, even the trees have ears. We have to be wary."

Inside Sanaton's room, they all sat down and Khaba along with Ibomcha, started to narrate about the many incidents they have known and come across. Firstly, was the incident that happened in their hometown of Chengmei, the possessed woman who kidnapped the innkeeper's child in the deserted hut. Next, it was the sudden occurrence of the tiger who troubled the travellers away from the main road, leading the travellers with no choice but to take an unfamiliar path where they all ended to a village which was being haunted by supernatural ghost skeletons risen from a cursed lake. They also told of the recent incident of Tomba being framed as a murderer by the actor of the popular artist theatre troupe.

Apart from the possessed woman incident and the latest murder case, the rest of the happenings were directly heard from Tomba who was an interesting storyteller. Ahanlem only added the points Tomba had forgotten in his enthusiasm quietly.

Looking concerned, Ibomcha said, "The strange thing is that, in all of these cases, these two kids are always involved directly. It is not a matter of being unlucky anymore like I first thought. Rather, it is starting to look very deliberate."

"Not to mention, they are all life threatening situations by something unknown and wicked." Khaba joined in looking grim himself. Then, looking at their listener, he added, "That's why we need your help and counsels, Sanaton."

"I thought when you said the king needs my help, it was in regards to petty court politics? Didn't expect this, I'm really surprised." Sanaton said sounding finally sober.

"Well, I'm sure the king definitely needs your help on that matter but personally I'm more concerned about these supernatural things." Khaba chuckled half-heartedly.

Sanaton furrowed his brows in thought, then asked, "Hm, the king himself know about all these happenings?"

"Other than the murder case, he doesn't, I was too preoccupied with the same problem so I couldn't tell him. And as far as he is concern, nothing was strange about it. Even, I didn't make the odd connection, it only came to me after I came back to my town and found no traces of the old woman who had seemingly accounted the shameful deeds of his late master to the actor who instigated the crime." Khaba said.

Sanaton widened his eyes and said, "You mean to say that-"

"Yes, the people at the market told me they saw the actor and the old vendor talking that day. But it was only that day they saw the old vendor for the first time, there is no trace of her anymore in the town." Khaba said massaging his forehead from an incoming headache.

"That is indeed alarming." Sanaton commented wryly. "Anyway, tell me what ails our king?"

Khaba put down his hand and said, "He is wary of the rising power of the Ningthouja clan."

Then, Khaba narrated about the betrothal incident and how it went to benefit the clan's influence in the capital as well as the court.

"Well that's to be expected. Minister Yaima has been always overly ambitious and cunning. But his younger son turned out to be quite clever and without being repulsive like his old man. I'm pleasantly surprised." Sanaton said after listening.

"But you see, the prince is not a simple character either according to the king. Although, I can't say I'm sure about his true nature. I'm still amazed and thankful he was the one who found out the real criminal and saved Tomba. Because Ahanlem, the older cousin, was able to receive his exclusive assistance. From what I heard they had met in the market of the capital the day before the execution." Khaba said.

"But truth be told, that boy, Ahanlem's background is questionable. One afternoon in March, out of nowhere, my twin boys and Tomba introduced the lad as the cousin who had lost his parents in some unfortunate accident. The strange thing is until then I have never heard Tomba mentioning having any sort of relations faraway." Ibomcha said slowly.

"Well, on that note, I would say Tomba and his grandfather's origin is still a mystery just the same. Decades ago, when I was very young, old man Maipakpa came to live in town with his only grandson." Khaba continued.

"What? Maipakpa? The infamous diviner? Really, I didn't know!" Sanaton exclaimed.

"Yes, the diviner. He was an unforgettable personality." Khaba mused with a smile.

"I only remember the old man always drunk on the streets more than half the time." Ibomcha chuckled.

"Never mind all that." Khaba said waving his hand. He looked at Sanaton and added, "So, now that you know. Accept the king's request and become the wisest counsellor of all. Then, everyone of us will be happy."

Sanaton laughed out loud, then said, "Marup, you give me too much credit! I'm telling you right now I'm nothing but a shadow of my past self. In addition, i'm an invalid with an ugly walking stance. I want nothing more than to pass the remainder of my days drinking and chatting with sweet beauties all day. I have heard all your stories but I still can't promise you that I will be able to help in any! Hope your enjoy your stay here but I suggest to you both it is thousand times better to be home with your loved ones."

He staggeringly got up and added, "Rest well tonight!" Then soon after he comically collapsed inebriated from his drinks.