Stone Warrior
(Part 13)
(Part 13)
Statue of Zoran was installed near
Eastern post. Everyone who saw the
statue thought that it was Zoran himself who was guarding the post.
Spies of king of Brasia also got
fooled. They promptly reported to their king that Zoran was seen guarding
Eastern post. He was not dead. He had survived the wounds suffered in the
battle and he was back on the post, defending his country from the enemies.
King of Brasia was wild with anger; he
thought that Roock had lied to him. After the battle, Roock had told the king
that Zoran had suffered fatal wounds and he would not survive.
After a few days he had informed the
king that Zoran was dead, “My Lord, I have some spies in Talavia. They have
informed me that Zoran had died even before the King of Talavia could come to
Eastern Post. The royal doctor of Talavia did his best but he could not save
him.”
But when, after a month or two, news
arrived that Zoran was alive and guarding Eastern Post, king of Brasia lost his
temper. He ordered that Roock be beheaded for lying to the king.
Roock was arrested. He was in a
pitiable condition. He did not want to die. He wept and begged the king for
mercy. But king was not be mollified by his tears.
“I will remit your death sentence on
one condition. You must personally go to Eastern Post to find out whether Zoran
is dead or alive. If he is alive you will have to challenge him and fight a
duel with him,” king said in an angry voice.
Roock promptly agreed. He had no
intention of going to Talavia to challenge Zoran. But he had readily accepted
king’s proposal because he just wanted an opportunity to run away from Brasia .
“Don’t even think of running away
from Brasia,” king had read his mind, “A beautiful, muti-coloured bird will
keep a watch on you, all the time. If you try to run away, you will be killed.”
Roock was shocked. He did not know
that Arwiz, the wizard, was assisting the king.
“Arwiz has given me that bird to keep
an eye on you,” king said with a cruel smile on his face.
Roock knew that bird would report
everything to the king. It would be impossible for him to escape. He would have to follow the order of the king.
Roock came to Eastern Post. He stayed
in Moon’s Inn in the garb of a merchant. He was hoping that someday Traytur
would come there to drink beer. He would then try to again entice him. But he
waited in vain for the Talavian soldiers had stopped coming to that inn.
Roock hired a greedy shepherd to spy
on Eastern Post. His spy was unable to get any information about Zoran. But he
did learn that Talavians had installed a marble statue of Zoran near the post.
“What everyone sees is a statue and
not Zoran,” reported the spy.
“Why did they install a statue of
Zoran?” Roock kept asking of himself. All this time the beautiful multi-coloured
bird was always nearby, keeping a close watch on the activities of Roock.
One day his spy told him that Zoran
was actually dead. But king of Talavia had decided that this information would
be kept secret. His spy had got this information from a soldier who had served
under Zoran. That soldier had since left the army and was now in the habit of
remaining drunk.
Roock was overjoyed to learn about
the death of Zoran. But he did not know that he was falling in a well-planned trap
laid by Talavians.
He immediately left for Brasia. He
suggested to the king that it was an opportune time to attack Talavia, “Zoran
is dead. Talavian soldiers are demoralised. If we strike now they will not be
able to withstand our attack. We will win the battle and capture Eastern Post.
Our army can then march into Talavia.”
King thought for some time and said,
“We will attack but not with a large army. Just take fifty soldiers with you
and raid the Eastern Post.”
Roock was scared of attacking Eastern
Post with just fifty soldiers. But he had no option. He had to obey the order
of the king.
He came with fifty soldiers to
Talavia. It was early morning when they reached Eastern Post. They all hid in a
thick grove near the post. Everyone could clearly see the statue of Zoran.
(To be continued)
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