A Warrior's Saga

Chapter 10.

"What happened Rudra?" Mahendra asked.
"Nothing.......You said you belong to the Clan of Eagles." Rudra said to Ratan.
"I did." Ratan added.
"So, do you know any man named Pushkal......"
Rudra was about to complete his sentence when Ratan looked at him startled.
"How do you know him?" Ratan was surprised after that name been taken after years.
"Umm....He was my father."
"I knew it. The time I saw you in battlefield, it reminded me of Pushkal. You have an uncanny resemblance to him. He was my companion, he respected me a lot, so did I. You have surely inherited his warrior skills in you. He was like a younger brother to me." Ratan had tears in his eyes.

Rudra bent low and touched the feet of his uncle.
Ratan gave him blessings.
"Uncle, I want you as the second-in-command of my remaining army."
"That would be a great honour for me."

After the fight there were only 50 men alive. The rest were lying dead in the road of Sulsam forest. Many mothers lost their children; many wives their husbands; many sisters their brothers.

Mahendra held Rudra by his elbow and took him away, out of the earshot of Ratan.
"Do you really believe what this man says." Mahendra asked.
"Yes I do."
"If he does something, the responsibility is yours."
"You worry a lot, my friend. You should learn to trust." Rudra said.
"Yes, ok."

"Where's Anumak?" Rudra asked his soldiers.
"He fled away some time after the battle started." One of them replied.
"He fled. That coward." Mahendra thundered, "We have to inform the king about this."

They sent a messenger pigeon bearing the status of the men and the battle.

The remaining sodiers decided to depart once all the bodies were burnt and proper ceremonies were held. They were on their way back to their capital city. Rudra suggested they take a different route. They won't be able to retaliate if Anumak attacks them.
It was noon and the sun was shining overhead. Everyone was exhausted because of the battle and injuries. Ratan also followed them.