The Starving Winds

All my life I thought about one thing –Myself. You could call me a selfish or an egotistic, and believe me, I was. Then came a change, a series of incidents that turned me into a dream-chaser, a sailor, a merchant, a prisoner, a puppet, a fighter and a hope for my family, whose lives were cursed by nature and tormented by an intoxicated king. 

Let’s begin this tale with the night when I left my home. The reason was simple; I had my own dreams while my father’s were different. Once at dinner, the debate for my future broke out. As expected my mother was at his side but I knew she too didn’t want me to get involve in royal affairs. “Those politicians are multi-masked people. No one knows what they think. They will smile at you, greet you and even celebrate with you. But when you turn around, they’ll never miss a chance to incise a knife in your back,” she always told me.  The dispute ended as I left my half-eaten dinner. I was so annoyed that even the scrumptious cuisine of my mother flavoured tasteless. I hurried to my room and dropped myself on the bed. Whether it was my determination or ignorance, I didn’t know, at mid-night I decided to leave the city.

My dream was simple. I desired to sail across the eternal waters and to earn the riches beyond count. But once I reached the port-city I realised the path wasn’t as undemanding as I anticipated. I joined a merchant-ship as a sailor and with few sea-journeys I was recommended for my good service by everyone. There’s a saying of this port-city – “If you think about storms, you’ll find yourself on the beach. But, if you decide to sail, no storm has power to hinder your voyage.” This saying and the salty-cool breeze of ocean stimulated me whenever I found myself alone and sadden. With accumulation of some wealth I bought a ship and became a merchant myself. It was matter of few sails before my empty chests bustled with gold coins. I was rich and happy until, ten years after, I decided to return.

Dry winds welcomed me when I stepped in to my empire’s land. My face burned, the heat was overpowering. Somewhere, something told me that somewhat foul had transpired at my birthplace. In order to seek the answer I squeezed my steed’s chest with my legs which galloped swiftly across the dry plains. I came across a great part of land with deep cracks honeycombed over it. The portion was surrounded by naked sun-baked trees. I knew it was once a lake amassing immense water but now every drop had vanished. Everywhere I looked I found only one thing – desiccation.

Before I could get a glimpse of my city I was attacked by a group of bony savages at dusk. They bounded my wrist and took me and my horse to their cave. The night’s cold breeze was relieving but the erupting red flames of the fire they had ignited were more like warnings to me. I knew something bad was going to happen and to my horror it occurred. They all lunched on my steed at a time. One of them revealed a knife whose sharp edge instantly severed the white fur of the innocent beast. It whined in agony and looked at me with its liquid eyes for aid. I was its last hope but I was incapable. It stopped struggling as its soul departed this materialistic world. Disheartened, I wept for it. It was my companion for many of my errands from last two years. The butcher brutally hacked another blow and tore the fur with his hands. The view was disgusting as they all dug their fingers in my horse’s flesh. I screamed, “No! Please leave it alone.” My pleas were unheard because they were busy in wolfing down my ride’s raw meat. I considered that moment as an opportunity and struggled at my ties. With some time of exertion I got myself free from bounds and silently disappeared in the darkness. This dreadful incident had shaken my soul. One thing I learned that day – hunger defies all man’s morals and turns him into beast.

With first rays of the day I saw the outer-fortifications of my city. The sight of the main gate was revitalizing for my heart that again pumped hope-doped blood in my veins. I staggered through the stone-paved road and found that the gate was locked. I called and waited however, no one responded. Finally I entered, through a loop-hole in the wall that I had used previously when my designation was nothing except as my father’s son.

Guards on the ramparts were absent, streets were deserted and the houses once occupied by merry people were now laid in rumbles. Wherever I turned my gaze I only witnessed the marks of chaos. Fear settled within me as I made my way to my home. But, my home was no more than a ruined memory.

Lost in thoughts I stepped directly on the crooked form of an old man huddled next to my home’s courtyard. The man moaned pathetically, reaching up with a thin arm. I looked down, and felt a sudden chill. The old man was no more than fifteen years old. His dust-tainted skin was like papyrus over his skeleton but his face was of a child. I step backward. The boy realized that his last chance would soon pass, extended his arm forward. “Food?” he mumbled. “Please?”

Then his arm fell and his body slumped on the ground. His eyes however continued to watch me. Painful eyes. I had been probably fooled by impostors a number of times during my voyages. This boy, however, was not faking.

 I reached my pack that was strapped over my back and offered an apple from it to him. The look of disbelief ran across his face. He had given up hope long ago.

Soon I noticed skinny figures clothed in rags, emerging from the ruins nearby. Their eyes, yearning for food, were set on the boy. I immediately withdrew myself from that spot and reached the gate of inner-defence walls. I heard the boy’s screams as one of the form kicked in his belly and snatched the apple. The plunderer took his prize and sprinted away from the gang, desiring to devour the fruit by himself. Somehow the group sensed his intentions and followed him. The only problem was that, he was running towards me.

My luck charmed and the gate behind me opened. The air nearby me overwhelmed by the stench of sweats as twenty soldiers marched out from the gate in twin rows; their spears pointed to the sky. Petrified, the burglar and his chaser ran for their lives and hid in their ruins. I was now in centre, surrounded by the tips of spears.

One of them asked my name. I introduced myself and told them my purpose. I motioned my hand to my perished home, hoping someone would know about my family. They all laughed. I thought they recognised me. I was no intruder.

I heard one of them saying, “We got our final player.” Suddenly, something hard hit on back of my head almost cracking my skull. I tasted sand before slumbering into unconsciousness.

I opened my eyes, still feeling the dizziness from the impact, and found myself shackled in chains. I was a prisoner in my homeland. The chamber was small and barred with iron rods.

“You finally woke, eh?” said my prison-sharer. “You almost were out for a day.” He was an old-man with stature of warrior.

I nodded, massaging my neck’s back.

“So what’s your tale, lad?” he asked.

I told mine and wanted to know about him. He began, “I was king’s bodyguard. Our lands haven’t blessed with rain from last five years and it stopped thriving grains. At first, everything was under control but as time passed every container got emptied in each house. Our king, I hate to call him king. He is a bloody scum! He impounded taxes on citizens. Frenzied with hunger, people revolted against him but they were vulnerable against the royal army. Those who couldn’t pay the taxes were banished and thrown to starve in the outer parts of the city. The people who could pay became the audience of a death-game.”

“How did you end up here?” I asked. “You were the king’s man.”

“My daughter was ill, all because we were starving. I somehow used to steal some food from the palace’s kitchen and feed her. I got caught and he, son-of-devil, imprisoned me. He didn’t even think about those tumultuous moments when I saved his life during his entourage.”

“And what about your daughter? Is she safe?”

The aged warrior gave me a discontent look.

“He told me that if I win this game, he’ll fill my house with gold and food,” he said. “Everyone in arena fight for one thing. Food. Aren’t you?”

My mind was attempting to solve a mystery. Every player was fighting for his needs. Theirs was food but mine was different. For a moment a dreadful thought settled in my mind, which shivered me whole. They had my family!  

The lock clicked open and a soldier with a blazing torch entered the room. “Time for the show, you filth.” He escorted us in a dark cramped archway until a wooden-ledged door halted our way. “Wait here. Your third partner is coming.”

It was a second-day in my homeland and still I wasn’t aware about my family whereabouts. Impatient cries of the audience could be heard; hoots demanding to start the game. Whatever was beyond that door would decide the fate of me and my family.

I felt my tongue swollen as my throat hadn’t felt the presence of water from a day. Somehow I tried to accrued saliva but failed to collect any.
            I pleaded to the nearby soldier, “Have mercy on me. Can’t you atleast provide some water?”

“Mercy? If The One has mercy on us we won’t be suffering this draught. We are cursed for sins.”

“Sins that your king decant on the unaided ones,” a man’s voice echoed behind me. Darkness hid his identity. “Talking about The One, I would say, tremble before his terror. Your atrocities are being noticed by his unseen ever-open eyes.”

“One more word against my king and I’ll forget that you are a priest,” barked the soldier.

“Death is the ultimate destiny, my friend. Hunger devoured many our kinsmen and soon it will embrace you too. It’s just matter of time.”

“That’s your last preaching, priest,” mocked the soldier before leaving the three. “Pray to The One before you enter. Hope he’ll do some miracle and save you.”

The priest came near me and gave me an assuring smile. “Everything we’ll be fine. Have faith in The One.” He looked to the old-warrior. “Before you ask for my deeds I tell you, I was helping the needy ones in ways that our king considered as crime.”

We all stood silently till the door infront of us cracked opened. The glare of mid-day sun blinded me for a while. Roars of spectators ricocheted in my ears. Somehow I adapted myself to the new-arid condition. Finally, the game was about start.

The arena was a circular structure with fifty feet high walls. The seating arrangement was set up over the walls which were occupied by the people who came to satisfy their hunger for entertainment. Under the shade of white canopy seated a beefy man in royal robes. His helm glinted in the light of mid-day sun. The heartless king was surrounded by the elegant women. I cursed him for everything.

“There’s a cage and weapons scattered over here,” said priest. I immediately ran across the ground and found my family encaged in it with a skinny weak girl. The moment I saw her I knew who she was – the warrior’s daughter. All were in sick condition and were blackout.

“The One shower your mercy on these innocent souls,” whispered the priest. I rattled the cage, my father stirred. Opening his old weak eyes he murmured, “Son, are you there?”

I examined his condition; guiltiness filled my heart. My mother hadn’t moved yet. I cried for my decision for leaving them alone. They wouldn’t in such wretched condition if hadn’t left them. “I’ll free you, I promise.”

Words of the king nipped my ears as he announced, “People of my realm. I hereby present you a warrior, a sailor and a priest. Indeed, a unique team. Will they survive this game and return their homes? Will they defeat their opponents?”

A blend of roars and claps reverberated around the arena.

“Or will they meet their doom? Ah, I forget to tell, your opponents are as hungry as you are. Begin the game! Open the gates!” 
            I noticed the three gates in three different directions of the high walls were rising.

The old warrior immediately picked up a sword and scythed my iron bounds. I was free; picking up another blade I instantly freed both of them. I was trained in swordsmanship to resist the pirate-attacks for my sails. Priest chose a spear.

“I am a man of God. I follow The One.” he protested. “Violence is not the weapon I ever wield.”

“For the sake of those feeble lives caged, fight!” the old man said.

Three gates were now fully opened. The opponents were about reveal.

A thunderous roar silenced the yells of audience.

“What on earth we are facing?” I asked.

From each gate a tiger came out. They weren’t aware about the three people’s presence yet. Soon or later they would sense men’s scent.

“I had a plan. We need a distraction,” shared the old-warrior his strategy. “It’ll be easy for us to strike.”

Fear gripped me. Only words I managed to say were, “But how?”

“A man who follows The One never fears for sacrifices,” said the priest, smiling. “Make sure you’ll help the others too. Humanity must be restored.”

“No, don’t do it,” warned the old-warrior.

“What’s going on?” I demanded.

The priest passed his spear to the old man and sprinted in direction of the tigers. The beasts ruthlessly lunched over him, their razor-sharp nails tearing his flesh, their jaws crunching his bones.

The old warrior javelined the spear, getting few steps ahead. Tearing the air, it pierced one of the tiger’s necks. “One down!” he roared as the saffron-furred wild cat fell on the ground. The remaining ones were still feasting the priest’s meat unaware about theirs mate’s demission.

I looked at my imprisoned family. Their freedom, their lives were depended on my victory. That was the moment of self-realization. Life is not about fulfilling own wishes. Instead, it’s all about fighting for the people who cares about you; people who creates your world. Suddenly, a new kind of courage thumped with my heart beats. I turned my gaze to the king. He was busy with his wine. Rage blended with vengeance tightened my grip over the sword’s hilt.

“Let’s kill those bloody cats!”

There was no reply.

I looked around and found myself alone. I noticed a figure encircling the predators from behind. The old-man waved his hand. I understood his idea.

With a yell I ran towards the tiger, same as the old man. We jumped as he shouted for it. While in air I positioned my sword’s blade and landed on one of them. The sword deepened itself almost cracking the tiger’s ribs. With booming roar the beast fell. At the same moment, the old-warrior with a sharp-arc sliced off the last beasts head. 

We were victorious but, the crowd’s silence was uncomforting to me.

The king rose from his seat. I found unnerving the way he was looking at me. Something unexceptional was about occurred, I considered.

Then the king ordered.

RELEASE THEM!