LEGACY ||Indian Historical Fiction||

40|| TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE

Fear ceases to be where will stands.

Darsh and Ansh were now occupied with hand to hand combat. Ansh used all his cards while Darsh only defended himself against it. He had to keep his cool with Ansh for the bigger plan that they had going on for him. Though, he found it frustrating. He could defeat Ansh that very moment and save his army. But every second he spent just brawling with him one of his soldiers were dead.

On the other side of the field, Rajat had been severely wounded. He had a  bruise forming on his chest, a cut on his thigh and many a few smaller injuries. However, Suyodhan and Nishumbh were hurt more. They had, nonetheless, managed to corner Rajat. One fatal blow away from their sword's tip would end Rajat's life.

Abhik had re-enterd the field with a newfound determination and confidence. He was better than before mentally but his new wound held him back from his potential. He thought at the back of his head, "The army won't last. We need to fall back."

Chavi who was adeptly handling the general, kept looking at Darsh and Ansh's fight. She wasn't scared that Darsh would loose his cool before Gaurang arrived. She was more scared, however, that Ansh would hurt Darsh. And that too would be because of her.

"You have been using him." She spat at the general.

He was a man in his late fifties. A scar across his jaw and a sickening smirk at his lips. She couldn't say she'd come face to face with him in the past but it seemed less like a combat in the first place.

"I don't have to answer to a woman dressed in yellows who could definitely learn a thing or two from the men here." He said as he backed up. Chavi scoffed at his harsh misogyny.

"Well, then. Ansh would love to know how much you've lied to him about."

"Why would the boy believe you? I've been a father to him for the last two years. He trusts me far beyond your estimation."

"Is that why you took advantage of him?"

"I only guided him in the right direction." The general parried Chavi's attack and turned around.

"The direction of revenge?"

"The direction of power." The general scoffed, "why would I expect a woman to understand."

"You'll know soon," Chavi smirked as she held her sword steadily, "why you need to trust a woman."

Tara who stood by the camps, held her hand to her chest as she heaved out a breath. Uncertainty hung in the field, the smell of blood filled the air and the breezes seemed to have pulled back by the gods. She tired to smile but found her racing heart a distraction.

Adarsh saw a herd of soldiers heading towards the camps. He looked around to see if anyone would go to help. But it seemed he was the only one who noticed them. He tried calling out to others but they were all occupied with their own battles. He let out a strong groan and turned his horse towards the camps. The medics were there, the wounded soldiers were there and most importantly Ishani was there.

He reached the battalion and started shooting them with sharp wooden arrows. Many fell off their horses. A couple came at him with their swords. He ducked under it and buried his dagger into their necks.

Getting down from the horse, he chased behind the soldiers whonwere climbing up a boulder to reach the camp. He stabbed a man in his calf and pulled him down while using him to push himself up to the others. He winced. One soldier was able to peirce through the armour of his back and given him a cut across his back.

Enduring the sting he held the man by his armour and topped him over the cliff. The crunch of his back breaking was audible.

Noticing the commotion outside, Ishani and Tara both turned their attention to him. Tara rushed in to find anything that might help him. Ishani just stood there intimidated by the scene. Tara shook her back to her senses and the two got back to finding things or other soldiers that might help him.

Adarsh held back as many soldier as he could, kicking them and stabbing away relentlessly. He couldn't get tired. Frankly his will to protect was never exhausted...but his body was different. His movements got less agile as he overexerted his attacks. His knees started giving but yet he stood his ground. 

He plunged his blade into the last of the men there...or so he thought. He stood gasping for breath, taking support of the tree nearby. His grip on his sword was weak. But. The faint approaching footsteps behind him triggered his strong hold on the hilt of his sword. He raised his sword with a growl and turned around...

Ishani who just then walked out of the camp with a spear, felt as though the air in her lungs was stolen. She stood witness to the enemy's blade cutting through Adarsh's stomach and come out through his back. When the sword was withdrawn, a terrifying gasp left his lips. He fell to his knees with a thud as the soldier turned towards Ishani.

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Part two coming up today. Stay tuned. Okay, not to ruin the mood of the war I'll leave.
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