The general's wife

The General

He was handsome, tall, brownish golden tanned skin got by training under the hot sun, unruly curly hair which fell into a tight ponytail, sharp eyes with brown iris having a golden ring and the rest of his face covered by an armour. His brigade was the best in the country's entire military setup. He handpicked his men, trained hard with them. What started as a handful was now more than half of the entire military population. There were rumours as to him being the second most powerful person in the entire country just next to the Emperor, despite him being the youngest war general.

The ministers and the royal council held him at high regards and the corrupt officials were never near his presence. He had an impatience and swiftness of the wind and the power and strength of the fire. There were instances when he had punished the guilty without even the judicial council getting involved. The Emperor was kind enough to brush it off. He even exempted his presence from the council meetings and gave the general the security work on important occasions just to ensure his absence.

There was also the rumour that the Emperor was afraid of the general and hence kept him away. The council and ministers knew that the reason was to ensure that his impatience doesn't disrupt the proceedings.

The nation was at peace for a long time. But the neighbouring country was slowly instigating unwanted issues and causing unrest. The dark clouds of war were slowly forming. The Emperor called the council for a war meeting for which the general was absent as always. A letter briefing the arrangements being made for all the soldiers and generals at the war zone was sent as an excuse for his absence.

The other senior generals planned the war strategies and the Emperor was the best in planning such things. His playful attitude will be taken over by a serious attitude when it is war plan.

When the strategies were completed, the war generals were taking their leave, when the old second in military command said the most strangest but striking thing.
"Your highness, I request you to not allow the young general to fight."
" And why might that be."
"He isn't married your highness. Our country has always upheld the law that only married men might go for war. He has no one for a family and if he isn't married and something happens in war, it will be a curse to our land."
"Do you think that will stop him from entering the battlefield."
"No your highness."
"And so you propose to...."
"Get him married. Your highness. "
"And which girl do you think will marry a man who might die in war tomorrow. "
"We will find someone. Your highness. "
" I hope you know what you are doing and that man would agree or atleast understand.  You can leave."
"Thankyou your highness. "
That went well and the news was conveyed to the young general.
He laughed.
He gave his hand crafted sword, his life, and said the most impossible words that anyone who could ever hear.
"Tell the woman who wants to marry me to accept this sword as me and marry it. She shall shed a small amount of blood on the tip of this sword to finish the process she must do for my tilak which will finish the wedding process. Tell her to be ready on the sacrificial torture chambers to finish the rituals from my tribe which includes burning of the skin with moulds which will allow her to be accepted into my tribe."

He took a deep breath and continued "Why do you think old man I deferred the thoughts of wedding. Our tribe has different rituals for marriage. Our women know it and will be willing to accept it. It isn't same here."

He took one more deep breath and said with  a voice full of authority, he boomed." Any woman who accepts this shall be my wife. You have a day to find me a wife. If not I fight this war without being a  married man. And you all shall accept it." He walked out.

No one took his words for granted. They all knew that each. Tribe had a specific ritual for the newly wed brides, but this ritual must be really torturous, if ever the general was having difficulty to perform it. The old general who came with this idea, thought of his youngest daughter to become the general's wife, which was the reason he played this up, even though such a rule did exist. Now not just him, not even the corrupt ones were ready for their daughters to suffer such a fate even when it meant great respect, treasure and power. Some were ready but they knew they will pay with their heads if their daughters told the truth to the general as to their lack of knowledge.

The parai (an age old drum for announcing announcements) was drumming  and the announcement was made very clear. Many loved the general but were not ready to suffer a scorching tradition of his tribe. The ministers and generals even gave out a big monetary reward fot the family of such a girl. But none were ready.

It was almost evening and the old general's friend who was the landlord in the village where they were camping for the war visited him. His daughter had accepted the general's proposal. The old general immediately left for his friend's house and tried to convince the girl against it, afterall she was more like his own daughter. But the girl's stubbornness won. She clearly said the most important thing " Without him, his men will loose confidence. If he is unmarried the entire army will loose their confidence. Let him win and come and then we will think about tribalism."

The information was conveyed to the general.