My gratitude, My death

THE BITE OF DEATH

      Marina was an insignificant town, and no one could have imagined that the Princess would want to visit such a place. It was a small town, edged out from one of Portsmouth’s water bodies. Despite the small population of this town, they produced men of valor. Although their desire was far from becoming Portsmouth’s soldier. They had a general philosophy that, all men should be strong and brave.

      Two hundred and sixty-six men participated in the Sword feast. Day after day the crowd kept increasing. The challenge continued till it remained the last two men who would fight till the death of one. And the winner, if he was a prisoner will gain his freedom. It was a furious and battle and death, was the timekeeper. This feast has been there for long but had gained no recognition from the king of Portsmouth. The final day of the feast was considered as most interested and entertaining. So many of Marina indigenes were ready to abandon everything that day for this feast. It was a memorable event and the uncovered archaic wooden arena was filled to the brim with men, women, and children. 

      The Princess was sitting under a blue canopy with other special guests of Marina. Six females, each carried a white bowl and they watered the battleground in style. Their dresses reviewed some sensitive parts of their bodies. When the six girls left the battleground, an agile elderly woman came out from the crowd. She was tall and thin. Grey hairs mingled he dark full hair. She had a small nose with squeezed eye bag. There were wrinkles on her forehead and her skin was dry. She wore a white gown, with red stripes on it. This was one of the traditional wears of Marina and her voice was loud and persuasive.

      “Greetings from the very ground of strength. Where strong men become heroes. Where sword determines the supremacy in men and a place where freedom is bought with blood. Since the birth of your ancestors to the existence of our present being, this soil.” She quickly bent down and packed a hand full of sand, “has felt the feet of valiant men. This was the birthplace of legends. A place where strength and endurance reign with attitude. Today, I present to you the two men worthy of possessing the ancient sword and one will walk home in freedom. Countless men of old had battled themselves to handle this heroic blade; this sword which is only seen in every twenty-five years. The time has come when we shall hail.” She stopped and looked at the crowd and continued. 

       “The two men who I am about to present to you have bathed themselves with courage. Fearlessness has become their being, and on their head, wreaths of confidence. We shall wait no longer. Right before our eyes, we shall behold the man worthy of the legendary sword.” She gave a sign with her right hand and men dressed in silver-colored wear walked out. They moved at a pace that magnified the glory of the sword. Tenderness was on their feet and the way they stepped on the ground made the crowd yell. Matured men and women were pointing at the sword from afar to the younger ones beside them. Four men carried the sword on a wooden carrier having four handles. They placed each handle on their shoulders and the sword was covered with a white cloth. No one had seen the sword more than five times and those who had seen it four times were few.

     The woman took the sword with both hands and held it fragilely. She raised it to the view of everyone and removed the piece of cloth that sheathed the sword and everyone could see the dazzling sword. This woman's name was Charity. She was among the notable personality in Marina and was known for her eloquent speech and faultless advice.

       “Let not your hearts be troubled as I invite the indomitable men. On my right,” she made a call sign and one of the contesters came out of his hideout. He had a broad chest, huge and tall. His eyes were red and fearful. His veins were swollen, thin, and visible on his hands and legs. He came out with his sword buried in a black sheath.

      “This is Alex, the mighty conqueror. The man who has defeated men of immeasurable strength and a stretch of his sword could slay thousands of weak men.” Alex shook his chest as the woman fed his ego while the crowd cried out in praise and his legs were in chains. The woman did another sign and the second warrior came out from the crowd and he held his uncovered sword in his left hand and chains on both legs. His chest was also exposed like the first, but less muscular. His name was Mike.

     “Behold, the challenger, the one who took all by surprise to reach the final stage. May his undying passion help him through this deadliest battle for prestige.” There was also a resounding shouting from the crowd as they were eagerly waiting to witness the clash.

“Here,” she held their hands and raised them, and continued. “These are men of valor and they have knocked out all who had the same desire of upholding the sword of glory. And now; their skills, strength, and will, will win them untold glory and honor. From generation to generation, the very one with the sword though may have died, but lives in the heart of men.” She dropped their hands and walked away into the crowd. A few seconds later, a sound of a bell made the two men hold their swords for battle. They hit their swords together as a sign of greeting and they walked backward-looking at each other. The noise of the crowd was capable of deafening one’s ear. The battle had begun and their swords struck one another for a victory. As the fighting was getting tougher, the crowd screamed. Many people were trooping in and the place became overcrowded.

 The girl the sorcerers had sent to present the fruit arrived late, she couldn’t pass through. She tried all she could to breakthrough, but the crowd wouldn’t a chance. She was frustrated, and walked backward a little and sat down. Beside her was a decorated handbasket and the fruit was inside covered with a black material. She could only follow up the event by the sound of the clashing swords. The crowd yelled following the skills and patterns of the warriors.

The fighting took several minutes, close to an hour. Sweat on their faces, down to their feet. Their strength was declining as they struck one another with less determination. Blood was coming out of Mike’s right leg. The more the blood flowed out; Mike started feeling dizzy. The way he held his swords showed that he was getting weaker. Alex managed to stab the elbow of his left hand and he fell sluggishly, kneeling with his right leg and as Alex walked closer to finish him. The crowd was frozen with shock. Alex raised his sword and wanted to chop off his head.

“Stop!” The Princess stood and shouted. Alex suspended his sword on his neck, but the blade of his sword has already lacerated Mike’s flesh. Alex looked at the Princess and dropped his sword stained with blood.

“You have won.” The Princess shouted and the crowd yelled with a different tone. Some put their thumbs down, this signified the slaying of Mike. They have come to see death and blood. But the order of the Princess broke their hope.

 Half of the crowd stood up in joy and made great applause. The Princess' hands were weak to clap. She tightened her eyes and also felt pity for Mike, having bloodstain all over his body. Alex held his sword up and shook it. The crowd yelled again. Two men dressed in black clothes came out of the crowd and removed the chains on Alex’s legs. Alex had been set free and the iron chains left some scars on his legs. He was a prisoner.

The same men went to Mike who was sitting down-casted. They chained his hands and pulled him up. They were taking him back to prison. One of her maids turned to the Princess and whispered to her right ear. The Princess changed her sitting position towards Mike. She saw how they were dragging him away. She called one of her soldiers to call the men taking Mike away.

 “Where are you taking him to?” The Princess asked.

“Back to the prison,” one of them replied.

“Remove the chains from him.” The men removed the chains from his hands and legs and stood behind him.

 “What are you still waiting for?” The Princess’ demonstrated with her hands.

“He is a criminal, a murderer. He is worthy of death.

“Today, he has become my property. You may leave.”

“Your majesty,” they bowed. They scowled their faces and left him. The Princess looked at Mike and said.

 “You may go.”

“Go where?” He asked.

“You are free.”

 Mike fell to his knees and tears came down his eyes.

“Thank you, your majesty.” He wanted to bow.

“Get up, get up,” she demonstrated with her right hand and continued.

  “I will reward your skills and bravery. So that you may not return home empty-handed.”

 She ordered the soldiers to bring one of the royal swords, a helmet, and a shield. She turned to the maid close to him.

“Come, clean bloodstain, and give him something to eat and wear.”

   The crowd was leaving the arena in groups. This allowed Sonia to enter the battleground. She stirred anxiously, looking for the Princess. Not long, she saw her from afar still sitting down. She ran towards her and genuflected at her front.

“Your Majesty, welcome to our little land of pride. From the depth of my heart, I present this fruit to you.” The Princess kept smiling at her and her heart knew no small joy. She collected the basket and removed the cloth covering the fruit. The fruit became desirable to her eyes. Sonia immediately left her presence as the Princess was spending much time looking at the fruit. She took the fruit closer to her mouth and gave it a bite. In the process of pulling some portions from the fruit to chew, she was interrupted.

“Your majesty,” she turned, and it was Mike who came back again.

“Thank you for my freedom. May you live long.”

 She removed the fruit from her mouth and immediately lost the desire to eat it.

“It is my social responsibility to show empathy. Go and do not commit crime anymore.”

“I will not,” he bowed and left.

That little distraction made her drop the fruit inside the basket. But the taste of the mysterious fruit had already touched her tongue. Its negative manifestation will soon begin.