Oalef- (temporary title)

The Shame of the Pride

The days, they curved into the most romantic of nights. The nights of which Rodulf was unaware. Had he known Olef's clandestine trysts with his lovable daughter, he would have had him sent back. For Rodulf was never fond of the Groods. He never talked beyond the quest with Olef nor did he wish to learn about him much. When Olef confronted with other affairs, Rodulf responded to him lately and less politely. Unlike him however, Saba would never ignore him. For she waited for him the whole day. They talked, and they talked war, life and love. And they talked love more often. He made her laugh, he made her passionate, and passionate he made her often. As their nights passed they came to know each other the way they did know themselves. When he held her with his iron like arms she felt she was safe, like she was never safe before. He commanded her every breath but she was only charmed with his boldness. And to him, she was the prize of a hundred wars. "What relation do we have?" asked Saba one night. "The one for which I have no name yet." Olef said "All I know is that it is stronger than the bond I have with my brothers and stronger than that I ever had for anyone. For I was never afraid of losing them as much as I am afraid of losing you..." He said. They kissed, as they did every night. Like it were their last. And then Olef left her, wanting more.

It was the day Rodulf felt was favorable enough for the hunt. He took Olef and Horus along with hundred men to the jungle. When Rodulf asked Olef if he were excited for the hunt, he stated "I do not enjoy killing animals who do not stray." He was but unhappy because he would have to leave Izara after the hunt. While the men were plotting the hunt, Olef was planning how to escape with the princess. They reached the hills and explored until they found the rocks stained in blood. The locals suggested it was the place where the beasts dwell. Olef pointed to a flat surface and said "lay the heap." The men did so after several trials. They would run away when they heard a cat or a leapord and go back to work under their king's command. They left a space in the center and then they poured oil on the hail around it. Horus took a sheep and walked to the center while Olef followed. "These men are mad." Rodulf said to his commander generals. Horus killed the sheep while Rodulf's men watched from the distance. Very soon, the two brothers found themselves surrounded by a pack of Decorian lions. The beasts shook their tails as they studied their preys holding spears and scimitars. And then came the one they waited for- The alpha. It was a black lion almost the size of a camel. "Has it come from the underworld?" Hamod asked sitting still on his horse. The beast roared when it saw Olef pointing his spear. While the men who watched trembled, the brothers shook not a bit. It rushed towards Olef like an arrow from the bow and leaped with its paws reaching. Olef pushed the spear onto the chest of its feline structure and killed it. The King's men cheered but their cheers did not last long as they saw the pack of lions rushing towards the Groods.

Olef and Horus ran to pass the hail and then Rodulf commanded "Quickly, burn them." The King's guards shot torched arrows on the hail raising a fire over the cats while the Groods escaped. To escape the fire the beasts jumped into the center of the hail were the land lay barren. But they were encircled by the men and shot until none of them could breathe. Rodulf managed to kill a wounded lion with his arrow. Soon, the hunt was over and men collected the dead lions for trophies.

Rodulf came to him and said "Verily, you are the bravest man I have ever known. We honor you with the name "Brave". We shall throw a feast to celebrate the events. For not many kings have killed a lion with their own hands. Let all the kings in Decorus come and learn of my brave deed... and yours too o fierce Groods."

It took Rodulf six more days to arrange for the grand feast. He had placed an iron lion head over his throne and sent messengers across the kingdom to announce his bravery. He wished to depict the affluent future of his kingdom to his rivals in the coming feast. The hall was decorated with three times more lamps, new monuments were built and installed. Ladies of immense beauty were hired for dances, antic vases were potted around and food was cooked for more than a thousand people. Though just two hundred guests were to arrive.