Error Nemore (Original Short Story)

Drazen’s horse grunted and came to a stop, silently refusing to go any further. The woods had become dense and Drazen would have to continue the rest of the search on foot. He dismounted and heard his companions do the same. The grating sound of a sword being drawn from its sheath made him look behind. It was only Bonzo, a man who found purpose in life through the death of others. Drazen looked at him and turned away. The brute beast was the least of his concern.

He carefully looked around, half expecting an ambush. The women of Endor were canny and sly. They had no mercy and as such, deserved no mercy, or so King Saul had declared. “It is not your place to debate these things, captain,” he heard Salima whisper into his ear. Of course, he was the only one who ever heard her voice these days. Everyone else considered her dead. Dead. The word felt like zinc in his mouth.

He signalled his men and took the first step into the woods. At once, everyone drew their swords, everyone but him. They were just hunting women, weren't they? What need would they have of their blood swords. “Because King Saul had ordered their extermination, and you dare not disobey your king. Be careful Drazen, disobedience could cost you your life’ Salima lectured.

With his hand on the hilt of his sword, he led the forage into the woods. Spaced about ten feet apart, the men began to search out the last of the Women of Endor who had run into the woods for safety. “Drazen, do you question the will of your king? The will of the king is the will of the gods. Be careful Drazen”, Salmia chided as she floated before his eyes.

“I am not challenging the king’s decision. I am only wondering why we should kill defenceless women. They’ve done nothing wrong. What is the king scared of?”

“Shh,” Salima motioned as she pointed to someone coming up behind him. He was jolted out of his reverie by the approaching sound of footsteps. It was only Das, his loyal friend and fellow solder. Had Das heard him? Had he spoken too loud? Had he given the other solders reason to doubt his allegiance to the king? Did Bonzo the beast heard him…”

“Commander, we have found one” came the cry from the far side of the woods. Quickly, he ran towards the direction of the cry.

Bonzo already had her on the ground waiting for execution orders. He looked at her. A young girl of no more than 17. She was young and soft and… “She reminds you of our daughter”, Salima completed. Yes, she did and Drazen found that curious.

"Captain…” Das prodded watching the strange behaviour of his captain. Many people had expressed concerns about his captain’s mental state following the lose of his wife who had been his most trusted adviser and loyal friend. Das had always defended him, now, he was beginning to wonder if his friend and captain wasn’t losing it. Today wasn’t the first time he had heard Drazen talk to himself.

Drazen approached the girl expecting to read fear. Insread, he read defiance in her eyes. She wasn’t scare of him. Who could blame her? After all she had probably experienced, what could be worse, rape, mutilation, death? Death. Drazen bit his lip.

“Captain. Should I?” Bonzo began as he began to approach the girl with his drawn sword. Drazen looked at him. Bonzo wasn’t one to request for permission before making a kill, especially one sanctioned by the king himself. His sync with the blood sword was poor. Drazen would cut him down in one deft move. He turned to the other two. Jule and Grindr were good solders but they neither had his speed or his experience. Besides, it takes years of bonding with the blood sword become it becomes a perfect extension of one’s arms. . They didn’t stand a chance against him, even if they attacked together.

Das studied his captain carefully. Something about Drazen actions reminded him of the battle of Amsterdam during the civil war. During the battle, they had found themselves far from the army in the midst of twenty rebel soldiers. The entire fight had lasted just five minutes, with the first three minutes spent by Drazen simply prancing around, measuring the strength and weaknesses of the rebel solders. Drazen’s strikes had been swift and neat. While Das was still parrying with his second victim, Drazen had cut down all eighteen men and watched Das finish his fight.

No, Das said to himself as he considered the implication of his train of thoughts. His captain would never draw his sword against his own men. Yet, he watched with curiosity as Drazen approached the girl as if he sensed something amiss.

Bonzo suddenly lifted his sword and braced to take a swing. Das turned his face to avoid watching the death of the girl. Bonzo was an unrefined solder and his strike was sure to be messy. Instead he heard a loud scream. He turned to see Drazen with his drawn blood sword dripping blood and Bonzo sword arm lying on the ground. Only the blood sword could do that. The blood sword was a magical sword with spikes that pierced into the palm of his bearer. Once connected, an expert bearer like Drazen could cut a man into two with one strike.

Das was enraged. His captain had gone mad and it was up to him to handle it. Das drew his sword and prepared for the worst. Jule and Grindr followed suit, not knowing what to expect. Drazen turned when he he sensed the conflict in the air. Just then Bonzo jumped at Drazen and almost immediately slumped. Just as he had made the lunge, Drazen had turned his sword in anticipation. Bonzo landed on the sword and died instantly.

Jule and Grindr suddenly charged against their captain, one on each side. Das watched with surprise as Drazen took so long to cut them down. Each time either Jule or Grindr lunged, Drazen would take a step back as if he was retreating. It was then Das saw it; he was approaching the girl. Suddenly, Das felt the impulse to attack. Charing at full speed, he lunched a swing at Drazen’s right hand. Drazen recoiled with surprise. He looked at his bleeding arm and then at his companions with pity. In three deft moves, he slashed Jule’s neck, ended the swing with a lunge in Das’s heart and slashed grinder in the back as he made to run.

It was then he felt the sharp pain in his back. The girl, who had been speechless all the while had crept on him and stabbed him with using his own dagger. He summoned his last strength and stabbed her in the guts with her sword. Just then, he began to fall. Salima caught him just as he was about to fall and laid his head gently on the ground. “To disobey would cost you your life. The Women of Endor are crafty and can get into the head of any man. But you are mine.”

…..

“Commander, we have found one,” came the cry from the far side of the woods. Quickly, he ran towards the direction of the cry. He saw her lying already on the ground. Bonzo had draw his sword and was ready to strike. He looked into the girl’s defiant eyes and smiled. Then he turned around and made to walk away. Just then, he turned back and threw his dagger. He never misses. The dagger found its mark in her right eye.

Salima smiled and held his hand as they walked away together. She knew what the Women of Endor were capable of in the woods and she had just shown Drazen what would happen if he allowed the girl enter the minds of his men.

Shocked, the solders followed after their captain in silence and continued their search in Error Nemore - the woods of deception.

This is my entry for the Art Prompt Writing Contest #9 organised by @gmuxx. The picture is graciously provided by @bex-dk.

Thanks for reading