The Princess and Ming-huá

Chapter 9(b)

Sitting at the table was Aimee and Kwang Hoo, deep in conversation. That was not all that frightened her. It was the wispy forms or objects, whatever or whoever they were, that drifted all around the garden. They had no defined shape but it was obvious they were some sort of human spirit from a different era. They appeared to be milling about the garden and glancing up toward the window as Ming-huá looked down upon them. She did not know how many there were as they seemed to drift in and out of visibility. All carried some sort of armament, spear, sword, bow and arrows, axe and Ji, a spear that comprised of a long handle with a curved blade attached to the top and a sharp metal tip.

"Oh my God! Oh dear God, how did I get myself here? How do I escape? What is Aimee and Kwang Hoo doing there?"

Again, Li Poh did not answer Ming-huá's question, rather she continued,

"You can escape as you are not from my world. It is I who cannot leave. What I am asking of you is to help me escape. I want to go back to my home land. I have been a captive here for too long."

"But, Puteri, how or what can I do? There are so many spirits. I can defend myself against real people, but not spirits, surely." Replied Ming-huá.

"Come, my young friend, come and sit and I will explain."

Li Poh led Ming-huá to the chairs where they had first met, Ming-huá sitting to Li Poh's right.

"You will have the power to defend yourself, Ming-huá."

"How will I have that power, Puteri? I have some skills in Silat but I am not an expert."

"You will find you will have great skills Pendekar Ming-huá. I will also give you this."

Puteri Hang Li Poh handed Ming-huá a Keris, hilt first. Ming-huá looked at the Keris and hesitated in taking it.

"Take it Ming-huá and feel the mystique."

Ming-huá took the hilt in her hand and she instantly had a strange sensation that the weapon was part of her. It felt as if she had held the Keris all her life and knew it intimately. The sensation frightened Ming-huá a little because she had not experienced this before.

"Oh, what do you want me to do Puteri? Why do you give me this Keris?"

"Now listen carefully Ming-huá and I will tell you. I will tell you why I am here and why you and I have come together. I will tell you where Aimee fits into the story as well. Listen and pay attention, for what you must do will not be easy and it will be dangerous.

"I was sent from Ming China to marry the Sultan so as my country and Melaka would be closer tied. With me came an entourage of 500 officials and servants. I was young and rebellious. It was not permitted by my country that a Princess from China should convert to a foreign religion. I would not convert to Islam. I rebelled and because of that, I was banished. Because I bought disgrace to the Ming Dynasty, my name and any record of me was struck from the Ming Chronicles.

"I was banished and sent to the spirit world for five hundred years. But it has now been longer than that and because of the spirit guards, I cannot escape."

"But Puteri, what can I do? What do you want me to do? This all seems so, so, I .... I do not know how to describe this situation. Sometimes I want to run and hide from it all and not have anything to do with it." Said Ming-huá, in a distressed voice.

"Ming-huá, do not interrupt until I have finished, please. Although you do not realise it, you are a descendant of my closest aide who accompanied me from China. You are Strait Born or Peranakan. It was determined centuries ago that you were to be born at this very time. You are to be my aide along with Aimee."

"How can Aimee and I help you escape with all those creatures floating about outside? They become visible and then invisible. They are all armed with some sort of weapon, Puteri."

"Ming-huá, you are interrupting again. Please refrain from doing so. Allow me to continue.

"When we all came from China, we were accompanied by a group of warriors. They were to protect us. The commander was Hang Tuah. He is the only person who can protect me and rid me of the captive spirits. You must go and bring him back here."

"WHAT? That is ridiculous! This is becoming too much! How can I find a 500 year old warrior?" interjected Ming-huá.

"Ming-huá, again, please, do not interrupt. The Sultan wanted the Princess of Ledang Mountain to wed. He sent a detachment of warriors and aids to ask her to come back to the Sultan. She made some impossible demands before she would come. The detachment of warriors and servants failed. Hang Tuah took the failure upon himself. He never returned from Ledang Mountain. He is still there."

Ming-huá opened her mouth to speak, bit Li Poh held up her finger to stop Ming-huá. Li Poh then continued,

"Now Ming-huá, before you interrupt again, allow me to continue. You and Aimee will travel to Ledang Mountain by oxen cart. Kwang Hoo will remain here with me. So long as he is here, no harm will come to me."

"Forgive me for speaking, Puteri, but what do I tell my parents? How can I go on a mission to find a 500 year old warrior and not be missed by my parents?"

"I know it is difficult for you to understand Ming-huá, but trust me. I will take care of that. You will not be missed. Now I will call Aimee."

Aimee entered the room from the porch. She bowed to Puteri Li Poh and then to Ming-huá. Li Poh then spoke,

"Is everything in order Aimee?"

"Yes, Puteri Li Poh. Everything is packed and ready. The oxen driver and the two guards are waiting."

"Well, you must depart at once."

"Puteri Li Poh, I protest at this." Said Ming-huá in a loud voice, "I am not going on a wild chase, looking for a warrior who never returned from a failed mission! Earlier you said I could escape as I am not from your world. Well, I am not going! I am escaping from all this."

Aimee then spoke. Ming-huá looked at her and she had that strange piercing stare she had during their first encounter,

"Ming-huá, I told you were destined to do this task a long time ago. You were the chosen one. Once the task is completed, you will be free." Aimee embraced Ming-huá before continuing, "Do not be afraid."

"Yes, Ming-huá, do not be afraid. Although the task will not be easy, you will return. Take the Keris I gave you and do not lose it, as it will protect you. Keep it with you at all times. Aimee has packed clothing for you. You will not want for anything."

Ming-huá looked from Li Poh to Aimee and then back at Li Poh. She was speechless and resigned to the task that lay ahead. It promised to be interesting to her.