Moonlight filled the forest where all the hungry night animals were wandering for prey. The howling of wolves travelled around in the eerie forest making one's hair stand in fear.
Despite the danger, the forest is calm and steady. Cool breeze is blowing over the animals, making their fur float in its direction.
Somewhere in the forest, there are soldiers resting in their tents. A few of them are guarding the place. The area is well lit by the torches. Suddenly, from behind each tent somebody came in attacking.
They shot arrows and wielded knives, making the guards fall to the ground. Thus they quietly snuck into the place. Divided into small batches, they went to the entrances of the tents moving with sync.
They signalled to each other and opened the tents at the same time. To their shock, the tents were only empty. Everyone's eyes widened and before they knew that they're tricked, a rain of arrows struck their bodies.
The continuous arrows shot from different directions reduced the people to half. Before they recovered from that shock a small army came out from the bushes and started attacking them violently.
Within a few minutes all the dead bodies are laid on the ground and the leader for that troop is captured. He is shivering with fear from top to toe. He is looking at the people whose facial features are surprisingly the same and the expressions are dark and cold.
"Tell me. Who sent you here?"
The leader is still processing how it happened. He thought to take their lives by surprise but to his shock his people got doomed in no time. They're all dead.
"What?? Are you dumb?? Speak out!" Karthik roared.
"I.. I.."
The leader tried to speak but his voice is not agreeing because of the 7 people who are looking at him seriously. If the looks can kill, he would've been dead for more than a thousand times.
"We.. We just want to rob you. We live in the forest and rob people who pass by... in this.. this way." the leader stuttered.
Maira smirked and came forward folding her hands to her chest. By her every step forward the leader's heart jumping wildly and cold sweat broke down on the back.
Maira stood near the person and asked, "Only one chance. I am giving you one chance. Speak the truth"
The leader wants to faint but his senses are fully active due to fear. But he's not able to move a muscle in his body and held his breath when Maira spoke.
Before the leader replied, Maira added, "Remember this chance will decide whether you live or die. Try to speak one wrong word and you will lose one part from your body. Your death won't also come near you until I show mercy".
The leader's heart is beating crazily that the look in her eyes is scary. He gathered every ounce of his courage and stuck to his words and responded, "W.. What I said is true."
"AHHHH..."
A heart wrenching sound echoed in the eerie forest. The left hand of the leader is cut down by a soldier. The blood is oozing like a river.
"I told you. The truth!" Maira again remarked.
The leader lost his consciousness due to the pain and a bucket of cold water brought him up but the pain is unbearable.
"I will tell you the truth. I was sent by King Surya," He confessed.
"Good."
"Now do what I say and if you really do, I will grant a wish." Maira stated.
"Write a letter to your king saying the mission is success and that you are coming back with the hostages," Maira informed.
The leader looked at Miara with wide eyes. He knows what that results in, it will make them relax and their guards will be put down. It will eventually lead to a massive destruction and he will remain as a rebel in their history.
"No. I won't do that." The leader shouted.
If he doesn't send that information, another group will come in search of them and will eventually find the truth. But if he does, there is no chance for the king to discover it's a lie. It will just take time to figure it is a lie.
"Okay. Think carefully before you answer." Ashmita stated.
"Just kill me you bi**hes, I won't surrender to you even if it costs my life," the leader shouted.
Maira and Ashmita smirked by seeing his foolishness. Maira raised the leader's head by grabbing his hair with force. He hissed with pain.
"What?? Do you think you can trick us with your foul words? Dream on.." Maira stated. The leader's heart sank by listening to her words. Generally the royal people would get irritated if someone speaks ill of them. That way he could get killed but now his little plan to die has not worked.
"Do what I said now or lose another part from your body" Maira stated.
The leader's throat dried and he forgot the pain, but now it has returned. He clearly doesn't want to live anymore.
"Ok"
"Good. I like people who listen to my words," Maira smiled and ordered her men to bring the paper.
"Mission complete. Arriving soon."
"Write this and call you messenger," Maira informed.
The leader whistled and a pigeon came and sat on his shoulder. He tied the piece of paper to its leg.
Maira took the pigeon in her hands and went away from him. She said something to the pigeon and lifted it off into the air.
Then she came towards the leader and stated, "Now tell me your final wish."
"Kill Me!" the leader said.
"I thought of giving you freedom, money, place, and treatment to live. Too bad you are asking for death." Maira informed.
The leader gritted his teeth. He knows even though he's provided, he is like a living dead body. His arm was cut and he betrayed his own kingdom. He'd only live his life with regrets as a nobody instead like an army leader who dies on the battlefield. And actually they don't have any intention of leaving him alive.
"Alright, you get what you wished for." Maira said by shrugging her shoulders.
Maira looked at the soldiers who were holding the leader and nodded.
Maira turned around and left the place as the leader's body fell to the ground.
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