Stone Warrior
(Part 8)

(Please see my post of 15^th Dec for 7^thpart of the story)

Zoran was taken aback but he had no option but to accept the challenge. In those days and in that country no brave man could refuse to accept a challenge to fight a duel. A man who refused to fight a duel had to bow to the man who had given the challenge. He had to remove his headgear and had to lay his sword on the feet of challenger. For every brave it was dishonourable to refuse to fight a duel.  

Zoran reluctantly accepted the challenge. It was decided that they would fight a duel next day, one hour before the sunset.

Next morning, when he was no longer under the influence of alcohol, Traytur felt that he had made a mistake by challenging Zoran. Not that he was scared of fighting Zoran; he thought that it was foolish to fight because Zoran was a decent person who always respected him. And he was worried that the King would be displeased if he killed Zoran in the duel.

He was angry with himself; he thought he had acted rashly and foolishly. He came to Moon’s Inn for a drink. There he met Roock and said, “I have done a foolish thing; I have challenged Zoran to fight a duel.”

He did not recall that it was in fact Roock who had cleverly incited him to challenge Zoran. He believed that Roock was a friend.

“My firend, I had cautioned you last evening. You had taken a drink too many. But now is not the time to regret. You can’t back out from duel without losing your honour; and what is a brave man without his honour,” Roock kept on inciting him.

“Yes, I know have to fight the duel for I cannot lose my honour.”

“I think I can suggest a middle way. You fight the duel for you can’t run away from it. But you don’t have to kill Zoran. Just inflict few serious wounds on him. That would be enough to prove that you are stronger than him,’ Roock said cleverly.

“But he will not give up easily. He will keep fighting till he has beaten me.  I fearthat none of us will accept defeat. This duel will end only after one of us is dead,” Traytur said. He was appearing sad and remorseful.

“If you wish I can help you. I have a magic dagger. If someone is inflicted a wound with that dagger that person will lose his strength. He will become weak. He will not be able to move any part of his body.  If you want I can give you that dagger. If you stab Zoran with that dagger he will not be able to continue the fight. He will lose the duel and you will be the winner.” 

“But that will not be a fair fight?”

“You were also not fairly treated by the king. You have to just prove to the king that you are stronger than Zoran. You can do that without killing him or getting killed.”

Traytur got influenced by this smooth talk of his friend. He agreed to said he would use the magic dagger but Roock was not to mention this to anyone.

“How can I mention this to anyone? Besides the dagger will lose its power if anyone comes to know about it. And mind you this dagger can be used only once. After that it will lose its power; therefore, use it with caution. When you are confident that you will be able to inflict a wound, use it and stab him. One stab and you will win the duel.”

                                                                         (To be continued)

                                                                                © i b arora
           You can read next part of the story here

Stone Warrior
(Part 5)

                             (Please see my post of 25th Nov for 4th part of the story)

Roock was bubbling with joy. He was dreaming of the day when he would stab Zoran with the magic dagger. Zoran’s blood would fall on earth and he would change into a statue of stone. Talavian army would then lose heart and run away from the battle field. Brasia would win a great victory. And he would be the hero of this victory. People would praise him. The king would reward him.

His joy knew no bounds. He rushed back and requested for a secret appointment with the king. 

“Who are you and what do you want?” king asked him.

“My Lord, I am Roock. I am a soldier in the army. I have devised a plan to kill Zoran. I will challenge him to a duel. I will fight a duel and kill him. Once Zoran dies our army will capture Talavia. I have come to seek your blessings.”   

King looked at him suspiciously and said, “Let me think; Zoran is a fierce fighter. I don’t want to lose a brave soldier like you for nothing. Come and meet me after one week.”

King asked his Minister to make an enquiry about Roock, “I don’t think he is brave enough to challenge a man like Zoran. Just find out what he is planning to do?”

The Minister reported after two day, “My Lord, Roock is not a brave soldier. He is no match for a warrior like Zoran. He can never kill Zoran in a duel. But I have heard a strange rumour. Roock is friendly with Arwiz, the wizard. Perhaps his father was assisting Arwiz. Roock has possibly obtained some magical power from the wizard. He will use that power to kill Zoran. If he succeeds it will be good for us. We can reward him and make him an officer in the army. If he fails he will die and that should not bother us. So let him go and challenge Zoran.”

King of Brasia did not want to win a war by treachery. But his army had lost every battle against Talavia. Everyone knew that as long as Zoran was defending his country, Talavian army was invincible.

King kept thinking and thinking and finally decided to give his blessings to Roock.

Roock was summoned. King said to him, “I learn that you are a brave soldier and ready to die for our country. We are proud of you. Go and challenge Zoran to fight a duel withyou. But fight a fare duel, like a true and honourable soldier; fight with all your skills and strength. If you win we will reward you and make you Captain of south garrison. If you die you will die a hero’s death and we will all be proud of you.”

Roock bowed to the king three times and kissed his hand, “It is a great honour to serve you. I am blessed to be your loyal soldier.”

The Minister said, “Five hundred soldiers under the command of a Captain will be camping in a forest, south of the Eastern Post of Talavia. When you kill Zoran in the duel, send a signal to our troops. Shoot a fire arrow towards south of the Post at sunset. Our troops would attack and capture the Eastern Post. Once we have the Eastern Post our army will march into Talavia.”

Roock was pleased with his success and he left for Talavia. But he had yet not decided his next move. He knew that he could not defeat Zoran in a duel and he had no intention of challenging him. He knew that he could never match the strength and bravery of Zoran. In a duel, Zoran would kill him in a flash. He had no intention of dying a painful death at the hands of Zoran.

(To be continued)

 © i b arora

You can read next part of the story here