Swords of Justice
Chapter 11: One on One
Hamza, Commander Jalal, his deputy Salman, and Princess Hasna continued their journey after Hamza had defeated Qasim, whom Hasna had spared on the condition that he fight as a warrior for their kingdom. This time, Jalal was not inside the carriage with the princess—he chose instead to guard it from the outside, wary of another ambush from the bandits who had once defeated them.
Jalal, to himself: Danger lurks everywhere… I must stay vigilant so we don't fall into another trap.
Hamza halted, dismounted his horse, and turned to the others.
—"We'll hide our horses and the carriage here."
—Salman: "But why?"
—Hamza: "It's too dangerous to enter the bandits' village looking like this."
—Jalal: "What do you mean?"
—Hamza: "Your armor will immediately expose you as soldiers of the kingdom. That carriage, with the royal crest, will give away the princess at once. The moment they see it, they'll attack."
—Salman: "But without it, we'll be easy prey."
—Jalal: "He's right. We can't risk the princess's life again."
After hiding the carriage and the horses, Princess Hasna stepped down. Hamza handed her a cloak.
—"Cover yourself with this so they won't recognize you."
She draped herself in the cloak, and they continued on foot until they reached the village. The place was crawling with vile criminals who sneered at them with contempt.
Hasna whispered to Hamza:
—"Don't kill any of them. Understood?"
—Hamza: "Whatever."
A drunken man staggered toward them.
—"How did you get in here? How did you even get past Qasim and his men?"
—Salman, trying to bluff: "We snuck in quietly."
—The drunkard: "Ha! Cowards. If Qasim finds out, you'll be slaughtered…" His eyes then fell on Hasna's beautiful face, and he grinned. "Well, well… such a beauty. I have an offer. Hand her over to me, and I won't tell Qasim you're here."
He lurched forward, lust burning in his eyes, but before he could touch her, Hamza's fist smashed into his face, sending him flying unconscious.
—Hamza, with steel in his voice: "Do you think we're not men here?!"
The surrounding bandits erupted in anger, each drawing his sword.
—Jalal, unsheathing his blade: "I can't believe it—we're trapped in their den. This is bad."
Suddenly, a woman's voice echoed from afar:
—"What's going on here?"
A woman appeared, seated on a throne carried by four men. They set her down as she spoke.
—"Who are you? How did you get in? What's happening here?"
Princess Hasna stepped forward.
—"We are soldiers of the Kingdom of Dar Homsan. We've come to ask you to join us."
The woman's face twisted with fury, veins bulging on her forehead.
—"What? You wretched scum! How dare you come here!"
—Hasna, trying to calm her: "We come in peace, nothing more."
—The woman: "Peace? No one enters here unless they've defeated Qasim."
—Hasna: "Qasim is alive. We didn't kill him—I asked him to join us."
—Hamza: "But we did kill the rest of his men."
—Hasna, scolding him: "Hamza! You didn't need to say that."
—The woman: "Are you mocking me? You come to my land and do as you please?"
—Jalal, cutting in: "Your land? This is the land of the Kingdom of Dar Homsan, not yours alone."
—The woman: "Enough! I'll end you here and now!"
But before she could give the order, a man rushed toward her, shouting, "My lady! My lady!"
—The woman: "What is it now?"
—The man: "I was walking in the forest and found a carriage… not just any carriage—it bears the royal crest. That means… the king is here."
Jalal, muttering to himself: Damn it. I didn't think they'd discover it this quickly. What will he do now? (He glanced at Hamza.)
—The woman, intrigued: "A royal carriage… how interesting."
Her eyes scanned them one by one. She pointed at Hamza: "Not this one." Then at Jalal: "Doesn't look like a king…" Next at Salman: "Probably just a deputy." Finally, she fixed her gaze on Hasna. A slow smile spread across her lips. "You… you must be the princess."
Shock rippled through them all at how quickly she had uncovered the truth. Laughter and jeers erupted among the bandits.
—The woman: "What a glorious day! The princess herself, standing before me…"
—Hamza, interrupting: "Whatever."
—The woman: "What did you just say?"
—Hamza: "Don't underestimate us. I defeated Qasim—and if not for the princess, I would've killed him. Her guards cut down his men. Do you really think your rabble can handle us?"
The woman trembled with rage.
—"You boast of defeating Qasim as though you're invincible. That was luck—and luck doesn't last."
—Hamza: "Then here's my offer. I'll fight your strongest warrior, one on one. If he defeats me, we're yours."
The woman laughed.
—"Why should I agree? I could kill you all at once."
—Hamza: "Then I'll be forced to slaughter every one of your men, and you'll be left with nothing."
—The woman: "Arrogant fool. Why do you think you can do that?"
—Hamza: "Because I'm strong. And because I promised the princess I wouldn't kill you. Or… are you afraid your best warrior will lose to me?"
A vein pulsed on her forehead, but she calmed herself with effort.
—"Fine. You'll fight my strongest man. But you'll regret it."
To be continued…