Chapter 2 02

The parade had started already when he entered the arena. All seats were occupied with raucous chants resonating through the arena; mostly from the standing stragglers watching from behind the row of seats. The only vacant seat was the central and most coveted seat, reserved for King Esimorp, known as Lord Bissaka the ruler of the kungdom of Ssaka.

As he made his way to his vaunted throne, a wave of attention flowed through the crowd as each man stood up as he got closer. Clothed in his ceremonial flowing red garment signifying blood of many shed in the past to sustain his kingdom. He had his ceremonial sword by his side but not the magical Wan-bissaka sword. The Wan-bissaka is not to be brandished on such a day as this.

As he sat on his throne flanked by his chiefs prominent of which is Lord Thaiff, the arena rang with his praise. He earned his respect through many battles. Behind his throne remains the drawing of his great grand father, King Bih-zaz, standing on a pile of skulls. It is a constant reminder of the legacy of the Bissakan lineage.

The parade soon continued with different cadres of the Ssakan army matching by in their full attire of war. Helmets, drawn swords shimmer in the glaring sunlight. It is always the pride of every Ssakan family to have a son take part in this annual parade. Soon the contests will start, hostility will again erupt in the arena as of old, a new leader of the Ssakan arena will emerge- if the former loses out.

As the contest began, King Esimorp's mind wandered from the arena. He could not help feeling the guilt of the last war he waged. Even though he has never lost a war, but this one leaves a feelong of defeat in his mind. The loss of the Wan-bissaka chain was worse than the loss of a thousand soldier. The loss of the chain means he carries a partially innefective Wan-bissaka, the magical sword carried with pride by many before him.

"Thaiff" he murmured, his husky voice sounds calmer in a murmur

"Here my King" Lord Thaiff answered crouching forward in obeisance.

"Have your seat my noble warrior, my heart yet feels heavy"

"Is it over the same matter my King? Our chain shall not be lost forever" he said with some assurance.

"Every year I watch this parade I can not but be transported in my mind to the battle of Mizarah. We fought well, our men resisted the cheating cowardly midlanders like men should do... But somehow we made that mistake..." The king stared with flaring nostrils and eyes vacant of expression.

Remaining silent for a moment, also deep in thought about the war and how the Wan-bissaka chain was lost. He still could not wrap his mind around the misery. But he had to calm his kingdom down.

"My warrior king, the wielder of the great Wan-bissaka, the only surviving heir of the great lineage of the Ssakan Kings. I assure you, the chain shall return" he uttered his words with confidence but not really knowing how best to actualise his words.

"We shall see, we shall see... There has to be a way... " The king's stare soon focused back on the event in the arena below him.

A sudden roar of the crowd as a young Ssakan soldier acrobatically defeated another gave Lord Thaiff the brief respite he craved.

Shortly after the ascension of King Esimorp, war errupted between the Ssakans and the dwellers of the Midlands. The Ssakans are born-warriors, skilled in battle with every male wielding a sword. Despite the support of the Krakaans the midlanders still could not prevail, until King Wigwolf seeked the help of Lord Scott of the underworld. Little did he know that Lord Scott had a different agenda.

As the half-beasts of the underworld fiercely matched the Ssakan army and began to drive them back, Lord Scott put his plan to play.

He was curiously missing at the war front, with many believing that his presence would have tipped the battle. He journeyed through adjoining forests -sometimes in the form of a leopard, sometimes in the form of a fierce looking rat -further away from the battle ground towards the Ssakan palace. He soon gained entrance easily into the pallace in the dorm of a black rat and made for the king's chamber. The battle has given him all the distraction he needed to steal the Wan-bissaka and it's magical chain.

Little did he know that both were kept far apart in different locations, and he was only able to get the Wan-bissaka chain before exiting the palace without a challenge as king Esimorp and his men were busy fighting against the half-beasts of the underworld. As he made his way past the last bored-looking guard, he transformed into a big black bat with the chain in his beak as he flew away into the dark skies.

At his death, his magical powers and the chain now belong to the ruling Lord Karius.

Lord Thaiff's thought was broken by a loud guffaw from the king, as he got distracted from his worries by the event in the arena. He realised he is the one to provide an answer to the question at hand.

The event continued long into the night with Captain Yluck retaining his championship as he defeated the young acrobatic soldier in the final. As the king made his way out of the arena, he glanced at his trusted right-hand man almost absentmindedly.

"Tomorrow, we solve the misery of our stolen Wan-bissaka chain. Whatever it costs, tomorrow we solve the misery" he said, barely audible over the noise from the excited crowd around him.

"Surely my lord, tomorrow shall birth for us a solurion" answered lord Thaiff, obviously worried. The sweat on his brow had nothing to do with the temperature on the arena.

It was a long night for lord Thaiff as his path with sleep did not cross. He wondered on his bed, tossing this way and that. There has to be a way of retrieving the Wan-bissaka chain without a battle. The Ssakan army can handle the dwellers of the Midlands if not assisted by the underworld beasts but defeating the beastly underworld army is a different prospect entirely. There has to be a way through he thought.

He rose up, going through a list of names by his bedside. He could barely see in the early morning hue of his room but a name stood out -Sarzan. Most of the men on his list are of the Ssakan army except a few, like Sarzan the bounty hunter. He was credited with many daring acts. His dexterity in handling a sword and his descendance from a lineage of sorcerers stands him out. Some say he was exceptional because he is left handed.

Morning soon came and Sarzan was surmoned before King Esimorp. Sitting before the king in his popular leather jacket and boots, his sword by his side and that illustrious little bag that has become a permanent part of his features. He listened to the request of the king with a wistful smile, making him look boyish. He had his head cocked to one side as he drank in the details of the request. The king could not help but wondered if this boyish average hight man in leather boots with no armour is the notorious Sarzan. The same Sarzan who brought great warriors to their knees, killed dreadful beastly and half-beast rulers; often without a sword.

Looking at Sarzan's beardless face and short flowing hairstyle packed to the left, he recalled how this same man was said to have climbed the wall of the tower of Bhazuz to rescue the princess of that land. To make matters more complex, he often operate alone. How could this be?

"You look rather young and a bit smallish for all I have heard about you" King Esimorp confessed.

Sarzan's grin only grew wider.

"Do you think you can do this"?

I don't make rash promises. But I have always delivered on my word.

Lord Thaiff promptly interjected. "He has carried out similar acts in the past. My king he will do it. Our chain chain shall be restored"

The king remained doubtful. "I'm a warrior, won many battles from my youth, from the lineage of warriors and my scares tell the story. How come you carry no scare? Not a single scare on your young-looking face. Are you sure you are the same Sarzan? Ahhh! I give up"

Sarzan held his chin up, opening his two palms upward in a gesticulation of confidence. "Wisdom, dexterity, mystical powers far exceed bruth strength. I shall deliver your chain back to you."

Advance payment was made, Sarzan the bounty hunter left the palace, leaving behind a doubtful king Esimorp and lord Thaiff who held on to his belief that Sarzan was the last hope of retrieving the lost chain. As Sarzan set out into the horizon on board a boat belonging to his old friend captain Haeler, he conteplated the job ahead of him. Avoiding the Midlands and unnecessary suspicious glare will be the best, he reasoned. Advancing to the underworld by the Cordian waterway will be the best.

As the boat sailed on lazily with a crew of five men, Sarzan stared above the waters. In his mind he had a nascent plan, one he hoped will work. It was all he could lean on. Yet there is the little matter of a possible rebirth of lord Scott of the underworld. Turning his handsome face gently in the gentle breeze, his smooth face and chin dimple catching the emerging sun, he gently tapped his sword beside him with his left hand.

"You have never failed me, this will not be the first time" he whispered, as if to an unseen protector.

And so the journey to retrieve the lost Wan-bissaka chain began.