The Duel

War!!!

CHAPTER 1
It was a stressful day for Adonak. He had confidently led his army to war and they were fighting thier enemy with full strength. But the Gadraic seemed not to give up. They were fighting back with much fuller strength. The war had lasted for 2 full years. As adonak walked through the passage he thought of home. He had left his wife and son there with no other option than to go for the war. Being the chief warrior and the commander of the army he had no option than to get ready and set for the war. Speaking about war it was the worst experience, with life lost and cities and countries burnt down with women and children captured. He could remember vivdly how he left hiram for hebor-minadrak after he received words from the king. It was a sunny day as he led his cattle to graze when his wife told him of people wanting to see him.
"They have words from the king" she had told him "And I think it's no good news" she added as she walked out of the fields into their house. He wondered what they wanted and what word they had from the king. As he got into his house, into the room were the visitors were staying he began to think fast.
"Peace unto you and your household. We are here again" one of them greeted with a sly smile playing on his lips. "Long time, no see comrade" he added this time smiling fully. Adonak looked confused and he wondered where he most have seen him before.
"Well" he replied not knowing full well of what to say "Nice to meet you"
"Nice to meet me?" he asked a little surprised
"Of course. We haven't met before have we?" he asked
"You've grown really old Adonak. You need the army doctor to check you" he replied mockingly. Adonak wondered what he meant by that. He was getting no younger but not getting old. He tried remebering where he must have seen him before. His voice sounded familiar but he couldn't place where he had heard it. Then he remembered.
"Thesarus" he said out of surprise. Thesarus was his oldest and best friend whom he fought with while in the army. "you should have said it was you" he said "I hate being fooled around like that and you know it"
"Of course I know. But I must confess you've grown really old" he replied
"Not as old as you've looked my good old friend" he said and they both laughed.
"Sit let me bring you drinks; i'm sure you had a stressful day while coming"
"A stressful day we've had" Thesarus replied. Few minute later they were served.
"I heard you bring news from the king" Adonak said after they had been served. "And I heard that they are no good one" he added
"You've got a good sense of smell" Thesarus continued after taking a sip of wine "they are no good news."
"Tell me. What is the problem this time?" he asked looking confused
"War" replied Thesarus in a cold voice "war has broken out and he needs you to command the army" Thesarus said
"War? But how and why?" Adonak asked.
"It's a long story but I will cut it short. The ever young foolish prince of Hebor-minadrak; prince Bethga had gone to Gadraic and killed the king's white horse scraped its hair and taken his beautiful daughter who was betrothed to Madroan"
"Madroan king of Dogon " Adonak said in surprise. He felt as if he heard wrong. He began to have goose bumps all over. What was wrong with that boy he thought, really annoyed. But his friend continued
"I'm sure you are fully aware of the consequences of killing a king's horse." He continued "As a matter of fact our dear prince didn't just kill a horse but a white one" he paused to know whether it was right to continued. "the king of Gadraic got so annoyed and sober after the capture of his lovely daughter, that he sent words to Madroan who sent words to his brother Priak who gathered the best soldiers in the whole of Crete and now they've come to war against us." He concluded and took another sip of wine. Adonak couldn't believe his ears. He tried to think straight but it wasn't working. If Gebular really declared war then things were not right. Now he got the whole picture. The king had actually summoned him to lead the army to war. Now he was really confused. He looked at thesarus and wanted to speak but Thesarus knew what he wanted to say. "Our king summons us to Hebor-minadrak. I got words yesterday so I came to inform you" he said.
"Well then you lodge here tonight. Tomorrow we set for Hebor-minadrak" Adonak replied. Then he stood up and went to inform his wife about his leave.
"No!" she replied. "Not this time Adonak. I won't let you go this time. It's dangerous"
"But I have to go. It's my only option"
"Then what if you get hurt? What if something dangerous happens to you? What would happen to our son? He is barely 2 years old" she replied. Adonak looked at the direction of his son he was playing happily with the servant girl and just smiled at his father. Adonak felt guilty he wished war hadn't broken out but he had no option.
"Pray for me Torie. Pray that I would return to you and my son" he said and kissed her. After much time spent, dinner was served they all ate in silence after which they went to bed. The next morning they set for Hebor-minadrak.
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In the palace the guards were getting ready for war. The king sat and watched his daughter train them. She was good at fighting and was the best. Since Adonak had not arrived she was instructed to train the army. After much fighting she walked up to her father. Narub knew exactly what his daughter wanted to say.
"Dad" she began "I am tired" she said.
"But how could you be tired Ava. We've practiced for just an hour" Narub asked her. Although Ava was good at fighting she was also a great beauty.
"Dad, I said I'm tired and I mean it. Dad I can't believe you really want to fight this war. It's true we've got the best soldiers but don't get too confident about winning this war"
"There you go with your good old sermons Ava" Narub grumbled. But She just continued.
"Okay. Daddy imagine if I was captured and bumi was killed and its skin scraped off, how would you feels?" Narub scratched his head. Bumi was his favorite horse and he never wanted it dead. Ava was his beloved daughter and he never wanted her to be captured. He thought for a while then answered
"I would feel sad" he finally replied
"Exactly now that is how king Gebular is feeling. Dad I suggest you return his daughter or else........."
"Oh come on Ava. You know full well that I can't pock my nose into his affairs" Narub said already tired. Though Narub wanted to war he didn't actually like his son's action but he couldn't talk to him either
"His affair? You call that his affair. I can't believe I'm hearing this from you of all persons. I can't believe you call that his affair. Dad you once said that if the actions of a king brings burden to a whole country then it is no longer his private matters but that of his country and what Bethga did brought war unto us and you still call that his affair" she said already getting annoyed

"Ava" her father called her already tired of his daughter's nagging character "I would no longer take this conversation any farther we are going to war and its final" he concluded but Ava won't just let go like that.
"Fine" she said "But You will find it interesting to know that I will retract from this war"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I would no longer fight this war or train your soldiers" she said
"Good" he said "your services are not needed anyway."
"And I'm withdrawing my army too" she said
"You would do no such thing"
"I'm sorry father I already did" she replied "Long live your majesty" she said and left the field leaving her old father confused.