The Duel

Arrival

CHAPTER 2

It was a sunny afternoon as the gadraics prepared for war. They seemed not to give up. Priak king of Debir had assembled his best soldiers including Acher, gadraics best soldier. Though Gadraic had assembled their best soldiers and was convinced of winning the war Madroan won’t still rest. Inside the palace he stood pacing around and cursing under his breath.
“Fools!” he began “They are worthless! Cowards. If I get the opportunity to lay my hands on Hiram I would tear it and its inhabitants to shred” he said boiling with anger.
“You’ve said enough Madroan” said Priak “We are getting the ships ready, very soon we would start sailing”
“I would make sure” he began again “To deal with Narub and his household. Just wait until this war begins”
“Sir!” a servant stormed in interrupting him “The ships are ready to sail”
“Good!” exclaimed Madroan “Go! Inform Acher, tell him to send the news to Gebular and make sure he arrives safely”

“Alright sir” he replied and dashed out immediately. Few minutes later Gebular arrived and they were ready to sail.
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“Open the gates” was the instructions given to the soldiers. Slowly the gates was opened and Adonak galloped into the palace open field.
“So we finally arrived” Thesarus said “Who knows what he wants to say”
“Let’s hope it’s no bad news” Adonak replied as they walked into the palace. Few minutes later they were waiting to be announced.
“Your majesty Adonak is here and he wants to see you”
“Adonak! Send him in immediately”
“Yes your majesty”
Few minute later adonak came in with Thesarus.
“Adonak! Thesarus” the king said with joy
“Your majesty” greeted Adonak kneeling
“Stand up my friend you must  had a stressful journey, why kneel?” the king asked looking concerned but adonak was not ready to divert the topic
“I heard of the war” he began
“Oh you’ve heard of it already” he said scratching his beards.
“Why didn’t you return his daughter?”
“Listen adonak you had a stressful journey, here go clean up and when you come back I would explain things better” he said. Adonak had no other option than to leave. Later that day the king invited them to his chamber.
“How was your day? Hope you had nice meals?” the king asked.
“Yes your majesty we did. Your chef’s performance increased a 100%” Thesarus replied
“Your majesty could you get to the real reason of this gathering” Adonak said worn out
“Okay! I am coming to that. I actually called you here because of……yes that reminds me Thesarus how was your sleep?” the king asked
“Your majesty it was…….” Thesarus had hardly finished responding when Adonak cut in
“Your majesty.” Adonak called out a little annoyed
“Oh Adonak have little patient I was actually coming to that, Thesarus……………”
“Dad!” Adonak said this time fully annoyed
“You shouldn’t shout at your old father like that. I was just showing concern”
“So how about this, stop showing concern and tell me what exactly Bethga did” Adonak said
“Alright. It went like this……….actually…….it is” the old man stammered scratching his white curls. “Actually Adonak, what you heard was right Bethga actually did it” he said
“Really so why call me to train the army? And why can’t you return Gebular daughter?” Adonak asked his father.
“Adonak. You know what it means to do such thing. It’s difficult”
“Difficult? I can’t believe I am hearing these words from your mouth. How could it be difficult? Bethga is your son so what is difficult in telling him that?”
“Bethga is not a child adonak. He is a man”
“A young man father” Adonak said already seriously annoyed. “Okay. Who has been training the army lately?” Adonak asked trying to calm down
“Ava. But she is too stubborn she won’t listen to a word I say. Actually she tried asking me to withdraw from battle and return Micah to her father but I couldn’t do that so she withdrew with all her soldiers” the king explained
“She withdrew huh? Dad for crying out loud Bethga was wrong, why do you ever want to fight this war? You talk about justice and preach about it but you can’t carry it out”
“Adonak”
“Why are you being selfish? Have you thought of what would happen if we lost the war? We have good soldiers but how sure are you that we are going to make it? You know how Madroan behaves but you won’t still return his wife!”
“Thesarus” the king began already annoyed “You better remind your best friend on the ethics to be observed while talking to a king because it looks like it has escaped its head”
“Adonak calm down” Thesarus said placing his hand on his friend’s shoulders.
“Alright. Ava withdrew her army your majesty and you said nothing. Well I think that I am not fit for this war. I have a wife and a child to take care of and I am not just ready to die young”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning that I withdraw from this war with my men alongside Thesarus. And it is final. Long live your majesty" Adonak said leaving his chambers with thesarus.
“Briam” the king said calling a servant
“Yes your majesty”
“Send for the queen immediately”
“Alright sir” he said and ran out.
“We would see how this child of mine survives it. Nonsense”