Dead Bodies....
Dead bodies all over the bloody field, a field which once had beautiful green grass and fertile brown soil. Now, it was an ugly sight with corpses all over, instead of flowers there were bones and flesh on the field and bloody red soil. Ravens on corpses like butterflies on flowers, picking eyes, ears and flesh out of the dead....and living, who were unfortunate enough to not receive any attention after the battle.
They laid there breathing, praying the Gods for death, but the cruelty of Gods....He refused to give them what they wanted.... a peaceful death.
That was the state of the field at the end of seventh day.
**Eighth day of War**
Swords clashing, arrows flying and blows being exchanged by maces. Soldiers of the mighty Chandpur against the Elite soldiers of Harniprasth. Every breathing soldier fought with everything, with weapons and fists, and mouth if needed. The battle had gone on for long enough, everyone was tired, all they wanted was for it to end before any more lives were lost. Every soul wanted peace.
"Not bad! Not bad at all, Prince" King Jayaram said while pressuring Prince Kushpal with his sword on top of Kushpal's.
"You are much stronger than I expected, you might be equal to Prince Gulab too. Chandpur sure has good talents."
"But it's a shame....I will have to kill you today.... and your brother after you!"
Jayarama continued pressuring Kushpal with all his might.
"You talk a lot, King Jayarama. Your tongue sure is sharper than your sword"
Prince Kushpal tried to push Jayarama back with his strength but it was not enough.
There were many fights being fought on the field on the eighth day, but the most important one and the most attractive one was between the King of Harniprasth, Jayarama and Crown Prince of Chandpur, Kushpal.
"I will admit, your plan was good and you got me where you wanted...."
Jayarama said as he looked around him. They were in the center, surrounded by soldiers of Chandpur. There were three layers around them made by the soldiers to stop anyone from interfering with their fight.
" But it's not me who you have trapped. It's you, you and your brtoehr are trapped in here with me. And I will kill you both today with my hands to win this war."
"Again. Fighting with your mouth instead of swords. Why would the Gods favor you of all?"
Kushpal managed to gather all his strength and push Jayarama, he titled his sword making his lost a little power, freeing himself from the pressure. He turned around and hit Jayarama's face with the back of his hand, gloved by strong and thick layered steel.
"....Ahh. That hurts!" Jayarama shouted and stepped back from the impact as he covered his face and fell onto his knees.
Kushpal stood before Jayarama with his sword between his hands, pressing it on the ground.
"It seems I have hurt your eyes. I will wait for you."
"Yashwant, are you okay?"
Kushpal turned towards his younger brother who was inside to assist Kushal against Jayaraman.
"Yes, I am. Are you alright, brother?" A soft and gentle voice.
"I am perfectly fine!"
"Do not insult me, Prince!" Jayaraman got back on his feet in an instant after rubbing his eyes for a bit. He had got a black eye from the punch, but he managed to get up and pick his sword up.
"How dare you? Do you really think you have the time to talk when you are in here with me? You insult me by your actions, you should focus on me."
"Forgive me, King Jayarama. I did not intend to insult a warrior like you."
Kushpal picked his sword again and turned towards Jayarama.
"Shall we dance again?"
"No. I will get rid of that hindrance first!"
Yashwant picked his sword up and held it tightly between his hands as he prepared for Jayaram who was coming towards him passing Kushpal.
"No, you don't."
Kushpal grabbed Jayaram from behind and pushed him away, getting in between them.
"You will have to get past me first!"
Kushpal lifted his sword up and brought it down on Jayaram who had managed to pull his sword up just in time to block him.
"Ha! You might save him, but what about the other one?"
"Gulab? He doesn't need to be saved..."
Not very far away from them, another interesting fight was taking place. Three of Jayarama's most elite Knights against Gulab, the beast of Chandpur.
Prince Gulab was one of the, if not the strongest man on the land known to men, some even comparing him to the strongest being alive, Asura King, Meghraj, the King of rain. Bron from the drops of black water. Prince Gulab was easily the strongest person on the field. There was no one in the north who could compare to him, with an exception of Abhay, his uncle and brother of King Vikramaditya II. Gulab was the younger brother of Prince Kushpal and twin of Prince Yashwant....the deadweight.
Gulab had already managed to take one of the Knights down who watched two of his friends try to survive while waiting for death, he knew that his friends would soon follow. They had intel and estimation on skills of Gulab, but even with that, they failed....failed miserably.
"But the other one certainly does need to be saved!"
Unlike Prince Gulab, his twin, Prince Yashwant was a weakling. Comparing him to the foot soldiers of Chandpur would be an insult.... to the soldiers. He was known as the deadweight of Kabwar. The only weakling to have been born in the Kabwar family. But he was also the most loved, the favorite son and sibling.
Yashwant looked at the ground, heavily disappointed in himself. 'Can I not do anything? Why am I so weak....why am I the dead weight...'
".... I am sorry, br-"
"There's nothing to be sorry for, Yashu. No one can even dare to scratch you while your brother is here!"
Kushpal was a strong Prince, a very capable one and the wisest. But he possessed one fatal weakness, his love for his siblings. His love knew no limitations.
Kushpal knew well that Yashwant was not capable of fighting yet to not disappoint him he had dragged him to the center and trapped him with a dangerous enemy who now had his eyes set on him. All because his brother's eyes were blinded by love for his younger, weak, dead weight brother.
Yashwant soon began realising it.
'I am sorry, brother.... I truly am sorry for being so pathetic.'
He tightend his grip on the sword handle as he held it up.
'I know how important this is to you.... I won't let my weakness become an obstacle for you!'
Determination was good, but there was nothing, the deadweight could really do, not even a miracle could change that.
"You keep insulting me, Prince! You should have your eyes on me, not him."
"Maybe what they say is true. You really are blinded, are you really as righteous as they say?"
Jayarama slowly began overpowering Kushpal. He broke the contact and kicked him on his stomach, pushing him back.
"You know what I think? You are not just. You would pick your siblings over anything. I see it now. You do not deserve Harniprasth"
"Maybe...maybe I don't deserve it. But I will still have it after I have your head!"
"Come on then, try me...."
Both the warriors engaged in a fight again, they were equally matched. All the soldiers surrounding them watched the spectacular match while Yashwant stood a few inches away from the soldiers, frozen.
The battle between them continued without any breaks, there was no time to rest or let down guard for either of them as they were both in there with intent to kill one another.
The sun was about to set and Prince Kushpal was getting desperate. If he fails today, he won't get the opportunity again and all the efforts put by his soldiers and Gulab, all the sacrifices would be in vain. His desperation was visible in his swings.
'No.... I can't give up today. I can't....I shouldn't slow down now.'
Both were tired, breathing like dogs with their mouths open. They had no strength left in them yet with sheer will continued to swing their swords as fiercely as they could.
'I.... I must help brother!'
Being the deadweight of the family was not easy, every single battle for Yashwant meant an opportunity to show and prove himself worthy of being with his brothers, but even the tired King was a strong foe for him. He took a few deep breathes and lifted his sword and began walking towards them.
"Oh..." A tired voice and gasps for air from the King "....Looks like the young tiger is ready to die before the old one"
"Yashwant...no! Stay back" yelled Kushpal.
"I can help you brother! He's tired. I can do it!" He screamed as he charged at the King.
"Alright, come on. I will tear you into two in a single strike!"
The King kicked the distracted Prince and charged at Yashwant.
"Nooo. Protect him!" Kushpal ordered the soldiers as he fell down onto the ground and soldiers rushed in to help the brothers, breaking the formation and letting enemies who were out in. Setting chaos on the field.
Soldiers of Chandpur successfully covered Yashwant and protected him from the King, but they were not enough to stop the King and his soldiers. As the hell broke, soldiers of Harniprasth rushed to help their leader with a horse.
"Your Majesty! You should get out of here! We will take care of It.." A soldier jumped down from the horse and handed the lead to the King, but instead of moving to safety the King mounted it and charged at the young Prince again after his soldiers had managed to overwhelm Chandpuri forces, Yashwant was alone, on his knees, unarmed as the King charged at him.
'Am I going to die now?'
Thoughts ran through Yashwant's head as his feet gave out and refused to listen to him.
The King leaned on the side and aimed for Yashwants head.
"May you rest well in heaven, Prince-"
The horse at its maximum speed ran towards helpless and unarmed Yashwant who was just there, on knees, frozen from fear and mess that he had created. He closed his eyes and prepared for the sword. Hoping and praying for a clean hit.
Thud....
The head flew away from the body....while it was still on the horse.
"We--we won! Prince Kushpal has slayed the King!" The soldiers exclaimed and cried out loud.
Just as King was a few inches away from Yashwant, Gulab jumped and beheaded the King who was leaning on the side, sending his head flying.
"My Prince! You did it-"
Gulab fell onto his knees and smiled with blood coming out of his mouth. He was relieved to see his brother still alive despite being stabbed by the King in middle of the chest. He was happy. Happy to ha e saved his brother at least.
"Prince Kushal!" Soldiers carried him and rushed him into the camp.
****After an hour****
Gulab and Yashwant were sitting outside the camp, waiting for the news from physician who was treating the Prince.
The physician came out and shook his head.
"ThePrince is dead...."