warrior's heart

Chapter 49

"Archers! Take your position! Bows raised and strike!" Boomed Ali's voice, as Beig's horse riders rushed to them. The arrows hit home, killing a lot of the men on horse back and others were gravely injured.

"Strike!" Came Ali's command again until the first group of archers were almost exhausting their arrows. Immediately, he gave the command for a switch and a new group of soldiers emerged to continue with the onslaught.

Taif Pasha, Mahmud Pasha's brother and a commander in Beig's army, who was in charge of the men on horse back, was taken aback by the attack. He did not expect that the enemy's army would have such precision in shooting down the men on horse back.

"Retreat! Retreat!" He bellowed and the men began to fall back until they had gone back to their territory.

"A sudden retreat? I do not want to be quick to rejoice" said general Farouk.  They had gone to the battle field only to find to their bewilderment, men on horse back and no foot soldiers at all, even though their men had confirmed there was a lot of foot soldiers in Beig's army.

"I agree with you ammu, something is not right. There are no foot soldiers to be......" before Murad could complete his sentence

"Aaaaaahhhh!!!!!!! They heard men shout from behind them and they turned around only to see the foot soldiers running very fast towards them. Before they could re position themselves, they heard the unmistakable sound of horse hooves and to their horror, saw Taif Pasha riding towards them with other riders.

They were trapped in the middle of Fazil Beig's army.

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Marliyah woke up, her vision blurry and she blinked a few times before she could see where she was. She sat up abruptly from the bed she was on and looked around her surroundings. She was in a very wealthy looking tent that smelled strongly of Bukhoor. There were plush carpets and pillows here and there and there were intricately designed lamps at each end of the tent. There was also a carpet that held foods and fruits of variety and her worry increased.

How did I get here? Where am I?  Why am I here? Nawfal.....

"You are awake, finally."

She turned around at the sound of the voice and paled when she saw who was before her.

Fazil Beig.

He walked up to her and gently caressed her cheek, his eyes tender and his gestures gentle.

She flinched at his touch and pushed his hand away.

"Keep your vile hands to yourself Fazil Beig" she said, the hatred in her voice causing him to take an involuntary step back.

"That is no way to speak to your husband to be my queen" he said, looking offended.

She looked at him in disgust, unable to comprehend how a man could be so evil as to see another man's wife as his.

"I understand your anger, my men were not gentle in bringing  you to me. Forgive me my queen, I made sure they were punished. The hands they used to hurt you are now useless, I do not wish to burden your mind with the details. Come come! You must be famished, let us eat."

She made no move to sit and he smiled with a hint of evil.

"Now now dearest, you do not wish to starve your child, do you?"

She paled further and felt utter fear. He knew, he knew.

"Yes Marliyyah, I know. Now, sit and eat."

In all of her years, she never believed she would listen to this one man, but she did as instructed and reached for an apple before biting into it.

She could not taste it.

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Murad looked around him to see if there was a way they could break out of the forced circle they were in as a result of the ambush by the enemy. They were closing in on them, breaking free would be suicide.

"Brothers, perhaps the time has come for us to pay the ultimate price for our home. Believe in Allah and fight like it is your last!" He said even as he thought, it is the last fight. He adjusted his helmet before running towards the enemy, sword drawn with Marwa on his mind. I love you Marwa.

The arrows came from no where.

"Murad!" Yelled general Albasha in horror.

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I am truly so sorry, I just had to do it. I hope you didn't have to wait for too long, the next update will come soon In Sha Allah. Until next time, let's hear your thoughts (hopefully without guns involved!). Maasalam.