Scars

Chapter 6- The sun rises

Djehuty steppped ahead, and as he removed the cloth from the hostage's head, he smiled, and as Djehuty, to reciprocate the gesture, smiled back; the hostage spat on him. Enraged at this, Djehuty leaned back to attack him, but the hostage stood up in a flash, and pushed him away before he could even comprehend what just happened. The cloth, his hands being tied, was all a trap.
"Finish him." Prime Minister's voice emerged, Djehuty wondered why he did not specify who were to be finished.

The man ran a little back and pulled out a sword from the sand. It was a sword by Ahmos, his sign could be seen on the golden hilt of it, and it spanned almost one and a half times more than his simple, yet effective Khopesh.

The sound of the swords clashing showed the immense strength both the fighters possessed, except there was no cheering. There was no crowd. This batlle was not meant to glorify Djehuty and simply serve him the royal positions at such a young age. It was meant to test him to the extremes. And this time, simply no boundaries were drawn. As the blade of the hostage cut sharply on his right forearm, he was able to put two and two together and now knew what "finish him" meant. Djehuty would simply be given a memorial by the dusk if he did not improvise.

Djehuty went into defensive mode and started observing. His stance, his fighting style, any vulnerabilities. He realised he was facing to the east and the rising sun was blinding him and giving his opponent an edge. He made a lot of movement to make Djehuty confused. He decided to focus on it, observing a pattern as he went around in half a circle and soon as he was facing away from sun, he swung his khopesh to hurt him on the right leg. Bull's eye, as it gave him a deep cut and restricted his movements considerably.

It was a fierce duel and around an hour later, both were drenched in blood, dust and sweat: none of them could look away for a second though, let alone think of resting or even catching breath, for if they did they'd be taken down in a flash.

Djehuty had used all that he knew but the man against him was a seasoned fighter, and was fighting for his life. He had to behead this young boy no matter what. "Enough" the hostage said, as he threw his sword on the ground and gestured him to stop the fight. Djehuty respected the rules and put his Khopesh down, looking at the multiple scars he just got.

The hostage fastened his belt and the headband and stepped back in. Djehuty was given some water that he turned down. "If I lie there soaked in blood, and am about to die, bring it to me then." He said.

Hostage was moving the sword between his hands, very rapidly as he moved fast again, and Djehuty sensed something was wrong with him. "What could it be?" His first instinct was that he probably had a cramp or something wrong with his forearm. The hostage quickly sensed this and held the sword in his non-dominant(left) hand for a while. Djehuty realised this was his only shot at dominating this 2-hours long and running duel, and he moved towards him, luring him to swing his sword left to right, from his left hand; and this was when Djehuty tossed his sword from left to right and gave a mighty blow, running across his torso, from the left side of the back to the chest. As he tried to move the sword back to the right hand, Djehuty threw another swing and it left his arm badly mangled, as he fell on ground.

He quickly jumped closer, and threw the hostage's sword away. As he was about to behead him, the hostage grabbed his legs, but he had had it.
He hit him on the face with his knee, and threw the sword away. And threw back to back punches at him. His face badly bruised, started bleeding and Djehuty was pumped up. He did so until the man was unconscious.
He was breathing heavily as he walked back to pick up his sword, and the Prime minister and Henenu walked towards the ground. He grabs his skull by one hand, as he blunts his blade against the neck of his opponent. His body moved one last time.
Two and a half hours long battle, finally won by him as he decapitated the hostage and brought the head to the prime minister and Henenu. His face showed no signs of fear but a sense of accomplishment and immense pride.

"Kemet shall remember your name, and his too, for he was the luckiest among the three: to be beheaded by you."

"The land of Kemet has waited enough. We have a new General, and it's time the King sees him." Prime minister said to Henenu as his chariot departed. Djehuty sat on the ground, still somewhat struggling to breathe.
"Get up, your highness." He looked back as he heard Henenu call him. Confused, he asked "Why are you calling me that? I am your student, like your son!"
"And that is my good luck, to have witnessed you in my lifetime. Your name is about to be a part of the history."
As he gave him a hand to get up, Henenu continued, "Get ready to meet the only man that is above you, Djehuty!"