Swords of Justice
Chapter Seven: The Bitter Reality
After Hamza had eliminated all the assassins sent to kill Princess Hasnaa, he stood silently, watching the princess, Commander Jalal, and his deputy Salman. Then, he crouched down.
The princess couldn't bear what she had witnessed that night. She had seen people being killed right before her eyes, blood splattered everywhere, and the horror of it all caused her to faint.
Jalal, shaking the princess: "Your Highness! Your Highness! Wake up!"
Deputy Salman: "What should we do now?"
Hamza, from a distance: "Take her inside. There's no one else left here but us."
Commander Jalal carried the princess into the inn.
Salman, looking at Hamza: "And you? Aren't you coming with us?"
Hamza: "Go and help him. I still have something I need to finish here."
Salman didn't understand what he meant, but he hurried inside to help Jalal.
Hamza stood, removed the headbands from the assassins' corpses, and hung them on a tree. Then he gathered the enemies' bodies, arranged them into a pyramid near the tree, placed their leader at the top, and set them ablaze.
Far away, two brothers of the slain assassins were watching the inn. Suddenly, they saw flames rising.
One of them: "Look… There's a fire near the inn where our younger brother went to assassinate the princess. Does this mean he succeeded?"
Assassin 1: "Look closer."
Assassin 2: "What do you mean?"
Assassin 1: "That fire isn't normal… it's shaped like a triangle. And if you look carefully, you'll see the bodies arranged in a pyramid, burning."
Assassin 2: "Are you saying our brother killed them and burned them like that?"
Assassin 1: "No, idiot… The princess had six guards. Add Commander Jalal and his deputy Salman, and that makes eight. But there are eleven bodies in that pyramid. Our younger brother had ten followers. Which means the eleventh body—at the very top—is his."
Assassin 2, angrily: "What are we waiting for? Let's attack and avenge our brother!"
Assassin 1, grabbing his arm: "Look at that tree behind the fire."
Assassin 2: "Aren't those our brother's followers' headbands?"
Assassin 1: "I don't know who did this, but the pyramid of fire and the headbands on the tree send a clear message: 'You will burn in this world, and in the hereafter.' This is a direct threat."
Assassin 2: "You think Jalal or Salman did it?"
Assassin 1: "I'm not sure. But whoever did it is a powerful warrior, and we're not ready to face them now."
Assassin 2: "Our brother was weak, but you and I are strong."
Assassin 1: "Think for a moment… Our brother was skilled in silent night assassinations. He would never have failed. Whoever stopped him is a formidable fighter, and we don't want to get tangled with them yet. First, we'll find out who it was. Then we'll finish the mission our brother failed to complete… and take revenge for him."
Then, they withdrew.
Once Hamza was certain no one was watching, he muttered to himself, "They got the message," and headed inside.
He entered to find the princess awake, still trying to process what had happened. He spoke as he walked in with steady steps:
Hamza: "You called her 'Princess'… does that mean she's the princess of Darhomsan Kingdom?"
Jalal, tense and ready to draw his sword: "Who are you?!"
Hamza, pulling up a chair and sitting before them: "If I'd wanted to harm you, I would have done it—just like I did to those who tried to kill your princess."
Jalal: "We don't need your help. Thank you for what you've done, but you can leave now."
Hamza couldn't hide a mocking smile and chuckled lightly.
Jalal, sharply: "What's so funny?"
Hamza: "No offense… but you would all be dead if I hadn't stepped in."
Jalal: "What do you mean?"
Hamza, turning to the princess: "There were people who wanted you dead, Your Highness. And believe me, that's not something to take lightly."
Hasnaa: "Are you saying my people want to kill me?"
Hamza: "No. But whoever ordered your assassination is someone of high rank, holding a grudge against you… and wanting you gone."
Then he added, "So, what brought the pampered princess out into the dangerous outside world, where her life could be taken?"
Hasnaa: "I came to seek justice. I want to know the truth. I don't want my people in Darhomsan Kingdom to suffer injustice."
Hamza, with a sharp look: "Even if it means death?"
Hasnaa, hesitating: "Yes… I would die for my people."
Hamza, sarcastically: "You fainted just from seeing a few people die in front of you. What do you know about the truth you speak of?"
Hasnaa, defensive: "No, that's not what I—"
Hamza, cutting her off with a confident gaze: "You're weak. You have no right to speak of truth. You almost died tonight, and because of you, six guards lost their lives. You talk about justice, even if it means death—but you couldn't hold yourself together when you saw people die. Go back to where you came from. There's no place for you here. Return to the palace… it's better for you."
Jalal, angry: "Who are you to speak such foul words before the princess—"
Hasnaa, interrupting: "No… He's telling the truth. I thought I was capable of changing what's happening in our kingdom, but…"
At that moment, Princess Hasnaa felt a painful lump of sorrow fill her small heart. She couldn't control her tears, and they streamed down her face before she could finish her sentence, her voice trembling with deep grief.
Commander Jalal was stunned. He had never seen Princess Hasnaa this vulnerable before. It made him remember the past as he thought to himself: "But… you are Princess Hasnaa the strong…"
…To be continued