Stone Warrior
(Part 12)
(Part 12)
(Please see my post of 22th Dec for 11th part of the
story)
Roock, who had cleverly not joined
the battle, had been intently watching the battlefield, hidden in a grove of huge
trees. Outcome of the battle left him devastated.
Roock could clearly see that every
Brasian soldier was terrified of Zoran. “He is such a fierce fighter that these
soldiers will fear him even in their dreams. They will never dare to fight him
again,” Roock muttered in dismay.
The battle was over in less than two
hours. Not a single Brasian soldier could be seen in the battlefield. Most of
them had died. Those who were alive had run away.
Many Talavian soldiers had also died.
Those who were alive were standing near Zoran, shouting slogans of victory.
“Send a messenger to the King. We
need reinforcement. I don’t think Brasian army will dare to attack again, but
we must be prepared for every eventuality. And inform the King that Zoran too is
dying,” Zoran said to a junior officer.
The officer was shocked, “Why do say
that, Sir. The doctor is here and your wounds will soon heal.”
“Don’t waste time; I want to pay my
regards to the King before I die. And I may die soon. Let the doctor do his job,
but go quickly and inform the King.’ Zoran winced in pain.
A messenger left for the palace. When
the King learnt of the grievous wounds suffered by Zoran he became sad. He did
not want to lose a warrior like Zoran. He quickly summoned the royal doctor.
“Doctor, you are coming with me and
we are leaving now. You have to use all your skill and expeience and save
Zoran. We can’t lose him. He must be saved. He is a great warrior. He does not
deserve to die,” King said to the doctor.
“If he is critically wounded then we
must immediately attend to his wounds. Let us start now,” doctor was ready with
his bag of medicines and instruments.
The King and his party left on the
fastest horses available in the royal stable. But when they reached Eastern
Post they were welcomed by sad news. Zoran was already died.
King was shocked.
“Where have you kept his body?” asked
the King.
An officer led the King to the place
where the body had been placed. King was surprised to see that every part of
the body had received deep wounds.
“How bravely he must have fought? We
salute the bravest warrior of our kingdom,” said the King and he saluted in the
presence of everyone.
One officer said to the King, “My
Lord, before his death Zoran had said that the news of his death should be kept
secret. Even his parents should be told that he was alive. He had fought so
furiously that the enemy soldiers would fear him even in their dreams. If they
come to know that Zoran has died they will forget their defeat and start
rejoicing. But if they think that he is alive then this defeat will haunt them
for years. They will never dare to attack Talavia.”
“But some day they will come to know
that Zoran is not alive?”
“My Lord, Zoran suggested that we should make
his statue and install it near the post. This way we can fool the enemy; they
will think that Zoran is alive and is guarding the post.”
While the King was talking to his
officers the royal doctor had been carefully examining the body of Zoran. He
had also heard what the officer had told the King.
“My Lord, let us honour the last wish
of this great warrior,” said the royal doctor. “And if you permit I will take
Zoran to my hospital.”
King asked in dismay, “You mean you
will take his body to the hospital?”
The doctor just nodded. King agreed but reluctantly.
After coming back to the palace the
King asked the royal sculptor to make a statue. It was to be a majestic statue.
King said to the sculptor, “It should
be your finest creation; the statue should look exactly like Zoran; in fact
everyone looking at statue should feel that he is looking at Zoran and not at a
statue.”
The sculptor did not disappoint the
King. He worked continuously for thirty days and then invited the King to his
workshop. The King was amazed to see the statue. It was a beautiful creation.
The King felt that he was looking at Zoran and not at his statue.
(To be continued)
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