Chapter 1- The Bandit
It was a cold night with a full moon. The moonlight was shining on the velvety sand, making it glimmer. A trade caravan was travelling in the desert to the city of Morrzania, leaving a winding trail on the sand.
“We must clear the trail as we go. This region is full of bandits.” said a guard to one of the servants.
“We will set-up camp here.” said the caravan leader, much to the guard’s dismay.
“But, my lord, it’s too dangerous.“ he said, confused with his master’s decision. The leader ignored his guard’s warning.
At that point they heard a shout. “Now!”, from the nearby sand dunes, a group of bandits appeared.
Looking at the bandits charging towards the camp, the caravan leader, after a brief shock said smirking, “We have come prepared.” The guards readied their weapons, each with a sword and a shield. To the surprise of the bandits, the traders also drew swords, doubling the combatants.
The bandit captain, without hesitation, continued charging. He had a lean body and looked younger than most of the other bandits. His bravery and the zest in his eyes was the only way to ascertain that he was the captain. Aiming for the leader, he galloped through the camp, ignoring the guards and the traders. He pointed his sword straight at the leaders face.
”Drop your weapons!” commanded the bandit captain. The leader quickly drew his sword, forcing the bandit’s sword away from his neck with overwhelming force. In a state of shock the reckless captain gave a better look at the caravan leader, realizing that he was of a much larger build than him. The leader gave another blow. The captain blocked it. The leader attacked the captain relentlessly as he tried to block his attacks. Meanwhile the other bandits were outnumbered. Each bandit was fighting with more than one enemy. The traders surprisingly fought with great skills along with their guards. Soon, all the bandits were overpowered by the traders. Unarmed, the bandits were on their knees at the traders’ mercy. Their faces were filled with fear. The captain, however, continued his duel, showing almost no regard for his comrades. The leaders’ fight had similar results. The large man knocked the young bandit’s sword out of his hand.
“Get down!” the leader ordered the captain. The bandit dismounted and the tradesman pointed his sword at his neck.
“Do not take your enemies lightly, young captain,” said the leader. Eager to kill the bandit he was ready to slice his head off. Before he could do it a blade came flying from behind him, hitting his hand. The tradesman’s sword dropped.
“An Elf?” he grumbled in a confused yet angered state. Another blade came from the other direction. The two blades, about the size of a dagger without a hilt attacked the tradesman and the guards as if they had a mind of their own. Flying across the battlefield, they unarmed their enemies one by one. As the captain started going for the gold, the blades came in the way.
“Retreat!” shouted the bandit leader. The bandits quickly got on their horses and fled, empty handed.
After gaining a good distance, the bandits stopped. A person wearing trousers and a baggy shirt came up to the captain. He was about the same height as the captain but was slimmer.
“Mother sent you didn’t she, Herius?” asked the captain dismounting, this time of his own will.
“Why do you always rush unprepared for your raids Strava? Not that I expect much wisdom from you,” said Herius with a stern look on his face.
Strava gave him a mischievous smile and said, “Since when did the noble elves become advisors to humans, or human bandits to make matters worse.” Herius shrugged and got on his horse.
“Why didn’t you let me get the gold?“ asked Strava.
“I could not hold them forever till his highness gathered the treasures,” snapped Herius while leaving. Strava got on his horse and followed him along with the bandits.
The bandits and the Elf reached their village in the morning. The village looked more like a camp. Villagers lived in tents, much bigger compared to the tents used by the trading caravan. There were no built roads. The sand was flattened by people and horses walking on it, showing an indication of paths. The ‘path’ had tents lined on both sides. The bandits went into their respective tents. Strava and Herius continued walking and came across the marketplace which was in the centre of the village. It had stalls with women selling fruits, vegetables, pots and several goods. This showed that all bandit raids were not failures. The women wore robes made of light cloth which kept them cool in the heat.
Strava entered his tent along with Herius. The tent looked much bigger from the inside. The floor was carpeted. The rooms were divided by pieces of large cloth. The biggest room had a dining table and a stone oven. A woman was baking something in the oven.
“You’re back. Do you want some breakfast or your defeat was enough to satisfy your hunger.” said the woman as she saw them enter the tent.
“Mother, how’d you know that?” asked Strava, although he knew the answer.
“The look on your face and your empty hands are a little too revealing.”
“I will take my leave Lady Kruvi,” said Herius.
“Thank you Herius. Take this bread I baked today, you must be hungry,” Kruvi insisted.
“Thank you,” said Herius. He took the bread and left. Strava went to bed after eating.
“Wake up Strava, Valeria is here to see you,” shouted Kruvi after few hours. Strava got up, wore his vest and went out of his room.
“What is wrong with you?” cried a young woman marching towards Strava. She had long black hair and was wearing a dress similar to the other women in the tribe. “Why do you always go under prepared for your raids?”
“Where have I heard that before?” mumbled Strava sarcastically.
“You’ve just become a captain. Don’t you like your promotion? Father’s furious at you.” she rambled.
“Valeria, calm down, tell your father that Strava will come and see him in an hour. Is that all?” said Kruvi in a rude tone.
“Yes, I will see you later Strava,” said Valeria, much of her enthusiasm drained by Kruvi. She left the tent, humiliated.
“Why do you hate her so much? You can’t blame her for what her father did,” ranted Strava.
“I do not hate her. She is a sweet girl,” said Kruvi while dusting the table.
“So you don’t like me spending time with her. Is that it? Can’t you accept another woman in my life?”
“You give me much less credit than I deserve.” said Kruvi smiling. “You should be leaving. We do not want the chief coming to our house to yell at you. Look at this mess.”
Strava gave Kruvi a sarcastic smile and left, shaking his head.
The chief owned two tents in his yard. The smaller one had a banner on its entrance with the tribes symbol on it. The other was the size of the other tents in the camp. As Strava was walking toward the bigger tent, Valeria came from behind, with a basket of fruits in her hands and said, “Fathers waiting for you in the council tent.”
Strava then changed direction to the tent with the banners and went in. This tent was like one big room. It had several chairs arranged circularly. A man was sitting in the centre chair. He was wearing a simple vest and trousers, just like the other men of the tribe and a turban on his head with the tribes symbol on it. The man’s majesty was shown not by his attire but his large muscular body. Strava walked towards the chief with his head down, giving an occasional look at him. “Strava, you have acted in a very irresponsible manner,” scolded the chief looking at Strava with an angry face. “This kind of behaviour does not suit a captain.”
“Does this mean I get demoted?” muttered Strava with a face showing more fear than when he had the tradesman’s sword at his neck.
“No. Considering this is your first failure you can still keep your precious title,” replied the chief, “But this will be the last time. A bandit troop can charge into its own peril or into riches. The choice is made by the captain. That will be all.”
Strava gave a sigh of relief and said “Thank you sir, I will try not to make this mistake again.” He gave a bow and left the tent.
“Strava would you like some of these apples I just got? Come in,” said Valeria standing at the entrance of the other tent.
Strava went into the bigger tent. This was very similar to his own tent. It was the chief’s residence.
“You look a little gloomy. Aren’t you happy that you’re still captain?” asked Valeria, giving Strava an apple.
He took the apple, sat down on a chair at the dining table and said, “I don’t think your father likes me Valeria.”
“Well, you don’t give him any reason to.” chuckled Valeria.
“Neither did my father.” murmured Strava looking down.
Valeria sat down on another chair beside him and, in a comforting tone said, “Strava, my father is a lot wiser than you, just like you have forgiven him for what he did, I am sure he doesn’t hold any grudges against you for your father’s crimes.” After a pause she said in an annoyed tone, “And out of the words of wisdom he shared with you, him disliking you is a very insignificant conclusion. You are so self absorbed Strava.”
“But Valeria, you should be worried about his opinion of me more than anyone,” said Strava looking at her.
“Do not flatter yourself,” said Valeria giving a blushed smile.
“And didn’t the great chief teach her beloved daughter not to eavesdrop on important meetings?” complained Strava with a smirk on his face.
“Important meetings with a reckless kid, no.”
“These apples are really good, another one please.”
Valeria gave him another apple and said “Yes, self absorbed and a glutton.”
“I don’t know what you see in me Valeria.” said Strava laughing.
Strava left the tent after a while. On his way home he met Herius.
“I hope the bandits get a break before they go for another life threatening raid under you, that is if you are still captain.” taunted Herius.
“Captain still and with a sword.” grunted Strava pointing at his scabbard.
“Then I must watch my words.”
They started walking towards Strava’s tent while talking.
“Luck has always been at your side Strava. Since childhood up until your first three raids as a captain. But luck is a treacherous ally, even to its most favourite friends. I hope you learned your lesson last night.”
“Yeah even if I didn’t people around me will make me. They will keep forcing it down my throat until I choke with it.”
They reached the tent. Upon entering Kruvi said, “Your meeting took awfully long. The chief sure likes chatting with you.”
Strava sensed the sarcasm in his mothers statement and suddenly burst into anger.
“For once mother, for once will you take interest in my life. I have been worried dead about this and instead of asking me about the meeting you are busy giving witty comments on me and Valeria.” he yelled.
“Strava that is not how you talk to your mother, show her some…“ said Herius putting his hand on his shoulder before being interrupted by Strava.
“Shut up Herius, the last thing I need at this moment is for you to act like the perfect gentlemen, the ideal son that she wants,” said Strava shrugging Heruis’ hand off his shoulder. “You have always increased the rift between me and her. Just because you don’t have a mother doesn’t mean you can have mine.”
Herius was shocked at Strava’s statement. He decided to leave. As soon as he turned to the exit Kruvi stopped him.
“Wait Herius. Strava, do not bring Herius into this, sit down and tell me clearly what is the problem?” she asked.
Strava sat down and, in a murmured “You know how much it means to me to be a captain, even though I don’t show it.” Raising his tone again he said, “You have always tried to bind my success, you weren’t happy when I became captain, you aren’t happy that I am going to marry Valeria. Why?”
“You equate your success with marrying Valeria? You just answered your own question. That’s why I do not like you to marry Valeria.” said Kruvi. This left Strava speechless. He opened his mouth but could not say anything. He looked at Kruvi shedding a tear as she continued, “Your unconditional pursuit of success, your will to step on anyone and everyone to climb heights of success, it frightens me. It frightens me that some day you might try to…”
“That I might try to kill the chief,” said Strava. Looking at her mother who is always calm and collected cry, even though a little brought Strava to his senses. His anger was doused with his mother’s tears and he got up.
Putting his hand on her shoulder he said, “I may have gotten father’s ambitious streak. However, you have brought me up and your influence on me is far greater than his. I would not even dream of doing such a thing.” Feeling a sudden rush of love for her son Kruvi gave Strava a hug. Strava hugged her back. Herius smiled and decided to leave the mother and son alone. Kruvi stopped him yet again.
“Wait Herius, I think Strava wants to talk to you. I have to go to the market to get something to eat, stay for lunch.” she said. Kruvi and Strava gave each other a reassuring nod, as if they knew what Strava wanted to say to Herius before she left.
“I am s…” Strava stuttered with much difficulty.
Herius interrupted him saying, “Do not hurt yourself. I know you have more difficulty in apologizing than even using your brain.”
“How do you or anyone forgive me so easily?” asked Strava. Then giving a sly smile, bragged, “is it my natural charisma or are you have no self-esteem.”
“You rarely show humility, at least let it remain for more than a mere second.“ said Herius smiling.
“But it surprises me sometimes that how my behaviour barely affects you. Today in particular I was more rude to you than ever. How can you still remain friends with me after knowing how I feel about you,” said Strava in a serious tone.
“Well I can ask you the same thing. You have been jealous of me for so long, and I have known it before you started showing it. Yet you overcame your envy and always kept me close to your heart. You never tried to separate me and your mother. It is not ones feelings but how he acts upon them that makes a person who he is.” explained Herius. Strava gave him a smile. Herius returned a smile and said, “You have virtue in you Strava, even if an Elf’s perception gets exhausted looking for it.”
“Elves aren’t known for their emotional perception are they now?” asked Strava wittingly.
“Well, I have got special training these eleven years with you.” laughed Herius.
After a while Kruvi returned with food supply. She grilled some meat and vegetables, as was the usual food made in the tribe. They had lunch and Herius left.
