Souls of the sinful were trapped in a large stoned building with the rotten odour of urine and rats scuttling over the floor. Ratna was grasping on his prison bars as he eyed each rat eating another rats cadaver. A man at his ninety’s had been talking to himself, waiting for himself to die in prison as he was sentenced for a lifetime. Ratna yelled, shaking the bars to set himself free. It was futile. He had nothing to eat but moldy oats and a bowl of polluted water. Tired, he sat on his worn out bed and stared out the small window which only illuminated the nightly sun.

He mulled and mulled, imagining his five years life in prison before receiving eighty lashes. As he was about to sleep, a terrifying explosion shook the floor. A few hulubalang guards were straying through the hall with their armaments in on their waists. Ratna peeked out the bar and saw flashes of orange lights blind his eyes, followed by a shout of death. He crept to the edge to have a better look.

By the end of the hall, he saw a hulubalang tremble onto the floor with smoke and blood propping out his chest. Then came tall men in iron armor with bushed beards, muscular and had muskets in their arms. Accompanying them was Pengiran Seri Lela which made Ratna feel glory.

“Your majesty, I don’t know how to express my gratitude.” Said Ratna.

“There is no need. Soon, I shall become the sultan and you as the bendahara.” Replied Seri Lela. “This prison should not be reserved for a honorable pendeckar like yourself.”

“Believe me your majesty, that prick had stolen my title.”

“Our men with the feathers had never returned from the different time intervals. I would sum up that they have died. Our plan with the feathers had failed. We shall proceed to the caravel. Tomorrow night, we shall storm Kota Baru and capture the palace and behead my brother.”

“With the help of the White Men?” said Ratna bewildered as he observed the foreign troops.

“They are not White Men, they are the conquistadors from the Empire of Spain. They make a good ally in time of crisis. They should not be viewed as enemies. Hurry, we are going to let this miserable building tow down in ashes. Let us free the other captives as well.”

Leaving the prison, fourty six Spanish caravels battered their cannons at the walls. All the hulubalang who were not alerted met their instant death, their bodies flung in the air. Boulders of rocks rocketed into the air before crashing back onto the grassy surface below. Seri Lela was proud. He then led Ratna into the captain’s cabin. Upon entering, the captain was enjoying his pork with its mouth stuffed with an apple. The captain chugged down his whine and rubbed his hands with a napkin.

“Ahhh, welcome aboard the Reconquista.” Applauded Capitán-General Francisco De Sande.

“Here, I have brought a warrior of our sultanate. He is Pengiran Seri Ratna.” Said Seri Lela.

“He would make our time fruitful. I do appreciate your cooperation.”

Ratna was speechless and in his heart, it felt terribly wrong.

“Francisco, in this chest I have your desired reward.” Said Seri Lela. He pushed the chest gently and Francisco contemplated it with obscurity. He unlatched the locket and inside was the prize. He slowly took it out and placed in on his table.

“The golden crocodile…” Francisco whispered to himself. “There is nothing to fret your majesty, we shall install the throne for you in no time.”

“I am glad that we have reached a certain point of agreement.” Replied Pengiran Seri Lela. Then, he left the deck with Ratna onto the deck. Ratna was absurd to see a portion of a city in flames with the prison he was in steamed in thick black smoke.

“Your majesty, we should not involve the White Men in the royal feud.” Admitted Ratna.

“I trust the conquistadors. They have the weapons and manpower we need to take the throne.” Replied Seri Lela.

“What if they were double-crossers. They will take the opportunity and make us as puppets!” Ratna bellowed. “They are not from the same blood and teachings as us!”

“Obey me Ratna, I shall be sultan and this is my way of attaining it. If you are not interested, then I should have let you burn in that prison.”

“I understand…” said Ratna in a heavy voice.