Shakti- The Warrior Princess of Brahma

Chapter 5 - The Tournament

The clash of metal against metal rang out in the arena. The tournament was in progress. On four raised platforms the last of the contestants could be seen battling it out. The round was of weapon mastery. Sword was the main weapon of choice but the contestants could choose anything they liked.

Princess Shakti could be seen executing and maneuvering perfect moves against her opponent. She more than compensated for her lithe figure against the heavy opponent , in speed and agility. She was simply too fast and her opponent was getting more and more aggressive by the minute.

The crowd had gone wild for her from the moment she stepped into the field in the morning. Her speedy victory against her opponents had made her a favoirite. It was a little past noon and the sun was burning hot above. Though the other 3 platforms were occupied, the entire crowd was focused on her fight.

Princess Shakti tried to stay focused even though her muscles began to ache and her calm facade was slipping due to her opponents agression. It had been drilled into her from childhood to keep her mind calm and focused during battle. Anger was a handicap that caused mistakes and cost lives. However her opponent's failure to strike a point had made him furious. He was resorting to jeering at her and flinging insults. She just about managed to make him drop his sword which indicated the end of the fight. Sighing a relief she turned to go when a warning shout rang out. She had just placed her weapons down and was disarmed. Turning around she managed to duck just in time as a dagger flew at her.

Her opponent angry at his defeat was standing poised wih another dagger aimed at her. The look in his eyes told her he was enraged beyond reason and though he would pay with his life for this foul play, he was determined to kill her. Before the soldiers could rush in and block him, Princess Shakti shaking wih fury decided to take matters into her own hands once and for all.

She made a swift turn and by the time she was facing the madman she had in her hands her favourite weapon the Urumi, or the curling blade. It was a narrow four feet length of flexible blade which was sharp on both edges. It had been neatly coiled over her shirt. The fearsome blade glinted in the sun as she gave a sharp crack with it like a whip. The astonished crowd gasped at the sight. Never have they seen such a weapon. It was a well kept secret of Shakti's kingdom. The sound and sight of it had distracted her opponent and she moved in for the kill, cracking it again she neatly sawed off his hand that held the dagger. Blood sprouted and he gave a scream of rage and collapsed. He crowd was silent for a minute and then went wild with applause.

The ripped bloody hand still holding the dagger landed at her feet. Princess Shakti picked it off the ground and handed it to the soldier who by now had climbed into the arena. Bowing to the crowd she exited. The Royal pavillion was in excitement at the turn of events and the members were discussing the developments in astonishment. The King was just about to order the mad contestants death over his breaking of the sacred rules of the tournament when it happenned. Prince Adithya who seemed mesmerized by the turn of events stayed silent watching the black mysterious figure exit the arena.

King Narasimha turned to Prince Adithya, "In the history of the tournament , only once has such a weapon been used and that was hundreds of years ago. My father only a boy then watched a head cleanly sliced off from a contestant. It is no ordinary weapon and that is no ordinary contestant. The laws allow annonymity to the contestants but it is imperative you find the origin of that contestant. I have a feeling he is not here by mere chance".

"Why do you feel that way father?" Prince Adithya enquired, sensing that the King was troubled by something more.

"Because my son , the last time that weapon was here, your grandfather was murdered!".