Yawn

The king yawned, once again.

“Fifty-three,” said the doctor.

“No, fifty-four,” mumbled the magician.

The king shouted in annoyance, “How does it matter whether it is the fifty-third yawn or fifty-fourth? When will I get sleep?”

“My Lord, it is just a matter of a few more minutes and then you will surely get a sound sleep,” said the doctor.

“My Lord, my magic has never failed. Just try to relax your frayed nerves and the magic will do the rest,” said the magicians.

“Throw these buffoons out of the palace,” the king thundered at his soldiers.

The king had not been able to sleep for many months. He would yawn and yawn and yawn but sleep would not come. He would toss on his bed; he would stroll in his room; he would walk in the garden but sleep refused to oblige him. Doctors had tried their medicines and magicians had tried their magic but all to no avail.

The king announced that anyone who would help him sleep would be declared heir to the throne for he had no son of his own.

One day a young man, named Hewise, came to the palace and said to the king, “My Lord, I don’t need to be declared as your heir for I am a farmer and I love my farm more than your kingdom. But if you do what I tell you to do, you will soon sleep like a child.”

The king was impressed by his confidence, “Youngman, I promise that I will do what you ask me to do.”

The man left for a few minutes and came with a boy who was about five years of age.

“My Lord, you have to pretend that you are a boy as young as my son, Newise, and just try to do whatever he does.”

The king looked at the man and his son and laughed, “Are you serious?”

“Yes, My Lord.”

The king agreed.

Newise had never seen a king’s palace. His excitement was boundless when he saw the royal bed chamber. In sheer joy, he started jumping on the ground; next moment he was dancing on the floor and later he was singing as loudly as he could. Sometimes he rolled on the ground and sometimes he laughed for no reason.

The king pretended that he was a little boy and he started copying every action and every movement of Newise. He tried to everything that the child did. But he could not keep pace with the boy and soon he was tired and breathless. It was difficult for him to match the boy’s energy and enthusiasm.

The king finally gave in and raised his hands. He asked the boy to relax for a few minutes. Both of them lay down on the royal bed. Soon the king was sleeping like a child. The boy too fell asleep.

When the king woke up he told Hewise, “This is the magic I had been looking for. If I want to sleep like a child then I will have to live like a child and find joy in everything I do”  

*****

The king still yawns but only for a few times; he has learnt to live and sleep like a child.

********************

© i b arora 

Stone Warrior
(Part 13)

(Please see my post of 24^th Dec for 12^th part of the story)

Statue of Zoran was installed near Eastern post.  Everyone who saw the statue thought that it was Zoran himself who was guarding the post.

Spies of king of Brasia also got fooled. They promptly reported to their king that Zoran was seen guarding Eastern post. He was not dead. He had survived the wounds suffered in the battle and he was back on the post, defending his country from the enemies.

King of Brasia was wild with anger; he thought that Roock had lied to him. After the battle, Roock had told the king that Zoran had suffered fatal wounds and he would not survive.

After a few days he had informed the king that Zoran was dead, “My Lord, I have some spies in Talavia. They have informed me that Zoran had died even before the King of Talavia could come to Eastern Post. The royal doctor of Talavia did his best but he could not save him.”

But when, after a month or two, news arrived that Zoran was alive and guarding Eastern Post, king of Brasia lost his temper. He ordered that Roock be beheaded for lying to the king.

Roock was arrested. He was in a pitiable condition. He did not want to die. He wept and begged the king for mercy. But king was not be mollified by his tears.

“I will remit your death sentence on one condition. You must personally go to Eastern Post to find out whether Zoran is dead or alive. If he is alive you will have to challenge him and fight a duel with him,” king said in an angry voice.

Roock promptly agreed. He had no intention of going to Talavia to challenge Zoran. But he had readily accepted king’s proposal because he just wanted an opportunity to run away from Brasia .

“Don’t even think of running away from Brasia,” king had read his mind, “A beautiful, muti-coloured bird will keep a watch on you, all the time. If you try to run away, you will be killed.”

Roock was shocked. He did not know that Arwiz, the wizard, was assisting the king.

“Arwiz has given me that bird to keep an eye on you,” king said with a cruel smile on his face.

Roock knew that bird would report everything to the king. It would be impossible for him to escape.  He would have to follow the order of the king.

Roock came to Eastern Post. He stayed in Moon’s Inn in the garb of a merchant. He was hoping that someday Traytur would come there to drink beer. He would then try to again entice him. But he waited in vain for the Talavian soldiers had stopped coming to that inn.

Roock hired a greedy shepherd to spy on Eastern Post. His spy was unable to get any information about Zoran. But he did learn that Talavians had installed a marble statue of Zoran near the post.

“What everyone sees is a statue and not Zoran,” reported the spy.

“Why did they install a statue of Zoran?” Roock kept asking of himself. All this time the beautiful multi-coloured bird was always nearby, keeping a close watch on the activities of Roock.

One day his spy told him that Zoran was actually dead. But king of Talavia had decided that this information would be kept secret. His spy had got this information from a soldier who had served under Zoran. That soldier had since left the army and was now in the habit of remaining drunk.

Roock was overjoyed to learn about the death of Zoran. But he did not know that he was falling in a well-planned trap laid by Talavians.

He immediately left for Brasia. He suggested to the king that it was an opportune time to attack Talavia, “Zoran is dead. Talavian soldiers are demoralised. If we strike now they will not be able to withstand our attack. We will win the battle and capture Eastern Post. Our army can then march into Talavia.”

King thought for some time and said, “We will attack but not with a large army. Just take fifty soldiers with you and raid the Eastern Post.”

Roock was scared of attacking Eastern Post with just fifty soldiers. But he had no option. He had to obey the order of the king.

He came with fifty soldiers to Talavia. It was early morning when they reached Eastern Post. They all hid in a thick grove near the post. Everyone could clearly see the statue of Zoran. 

                                                                        (To be continued)

                                                                              © i b arora

                                    You can read next part of the story here

Stone Warrior
(Part 11)

(Please see my post of 20^th Dec for 10^th part of the story)

The Captain was fooled by this brave talk of Roock and he decided to attack Eastern Post. It was decided that the attack will begin one hour before sunrise.

Early next morning Brasian soldiers attacked Eastern Post. Talavian soldiers were taken by surprise. Many of them were dejected and demoralised because of the events of last evening. Zoran and Traytur had fought a duel. Both were seriously wounded. Traytur was running high fever. Doctor had administered him strong drugs. He was unconscious under the influence of the drugs.

Zoran was also seriously wounded. He was not unconscious but he could not take part in the battle. A young officer said to him, “Sir, you don’t have to come with us. We are good enough for these coward Brasians. The battle would be over sooner than they think. This time we will not spare them and we will kill all of them. We will show no mercy this time.”

Battle began. It was a fierce battle. Zoran was not with Talavian army. Roock shouted towards the Captain, “You see, Zoran could not come to the battlefield. He is as good as dead. Let us fight like brave heroes of the past and win this battle.”

Brasians were well trained and well equipped soldiers. When they did not see Zoran in the battlefield their confidence rose. They fought bravely. Slowly but surely they started gaining ground. Talavian suffered heavy losses and started retreating.   

When Zoran learnt that his soldiers were on the verge of a defeat his anger rose like hot lava in a volcano. He quickly got ready to join the battle. He ignored the doctor who was saying that it would not be good for him to leave his bed.

“You have lost a lot of blood in that foolish duel that you fought yesterday. If you get wounded in today’s battle you will surely die. We all need you. Even if we lose this post it would not matter. We can always win the post back. But if die in the battle it will be a great loss.”

“No, as long as I am alive we will not surrender the post. You are making too much of my wounds. I had suffered worse wounds in the last battle and still I survived. You don’t worry; nothing will happen to me.”

Thus saying he brushed aside the doctor and left for the battlefield. And what he saw there made him angry; rather very angry.

His soldiers appeared tired and dispirited. They had not yet left the battlefield. But Zoran could sense that any moment his soldiers would be running away from the battle. He felt he was staring at an impending defeat.

Zoran was a warrior who would not accept defeat, not as long as he was alive. He forgot his wounds, he forgot his weakness and he entered the battle like a wounded lion. He moved like a raging storm. One moment he was here, another moment he was there; one moment he was fighting with a sword, another moment he was fighting with a spear; one moment he was thundering like an angry cloud, another moment he was exhorting his dispirited soldiers to fight like tigers.

But brave Brasisans were not to be cowed down. They kept suffering wounds and death but they kept fighting heroically. Talavians were outnumbered. They had underestimated the courage and desire of Brasians to win. They began to retreat.

One by one Talavian soldiers got wounded and killed. Some of them ran away from battlefield. Only Zoran remained on the battlefield fighting the enemy. The numerous wounds suffered by him did not slow him down. He kept fighting. He was unstoppable. No Brasian could match his strength, ferocity and bravery.

Brasians soldiers fought bravely but eventually lost heart. Many of them got killed; many got seriously wounded; many ran away from battle. It was an unbelievable situation, for they had almost won the battle. But Zoran had almost singlehandedly fought the Brasian soldiers and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

                                                                               (To be continued)

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

Story of a Little Prince

A little kid was glum and sad

and it was real real bad,

he was a little royal prince

and in a royal robe he was clad.

Little prince loved to fling stones

on poor trees who couldn’t groan,

and on little birds, for that matter

prince would laugh

when birds would scatter.

But today he was glum and sad

and that was real real bad.

Little prince was holding a sling

and he was wanting to fling

a big stone at the moon

but it was only noon.

Little prince rushed to the king

and shouted, I  want to fling

a big stone at big bright moon

and I want to do it soon.

King had no time for prince

he was in thick of a fight,

his dear queen was trapped

by two sombre bishops

and one fearsome knight.

Little prince wasn't amused

no wish was he ever refused,

his wishes were always met

so he won’t fuss and fret.

Little prince was angry and dismayed

he howled and he wailed

king was angry and  outraged

his game plan had totally failed.                                            

Little prince screamed

and shouted

but king would not hear

his army was totally routed.

When king couldn’t bear

little brat’s silly drone

he jumped from his royal throne

in air all chess men were thrown.

King made a dash

for the door

on his little prince

he was very sore.

But little prince

ran after the king

for he still wanted to fling

a big stone at the moon

and he wanted to do it soon.

Little prince chased the king

silly ministers all followed

like puppets on the string.

It was such

a funny spectacle

to see them all,

the king

little prince

and silly ministers,

running in a circle.

© i b arora