The Spoils Ere The Fortnight

        The Kingdom of Kula. 

   "We'll be loyal till our last breath to whatever bidings you toss at us."

   One of the three kings bowing before him said. Another of the Kings didn't hide his detest but there was little he could do at the moment. He only tossed his head to and fro as though he had been bewitched, his bounty beards flowing in the air. 

    "Speak for yourself, Ivanama."

   The King of Kula shot at that king. Ivanama, the King of Haojo put his head down. Not in respect but in both rage and shame. 

  You know, when you're being belittled and there's little you can do about it. You have an idea how hot it'd burn. So was the manner at which the fellows were burning. 

   But the degree of the pain varied. 

    "Airu seems to have a contention."

   The King of Kula said again, looking at that king with bounty beard. He was the king of Hubrim, Airu, and was at the extreme to the right of the three Kings. 

    The three kings were merely spoils to the king of Kula. Both them and all their subjects. 

  Bringing in all their subjects to his land would be way barbaric and overcrowding, hence he was having quite the bargain with them. 

   Initially, if a king defeats another king, such king is expected to kill the defeated and stake a claim on the kingdom of the defeated king. But the king of Kula seemed to have more than enough up his sleeves. 

     "You have no idea what mistake you're making."

    Airu shot at him. One of the attendants was going to hit Airu for speaking in such manner to the King but the king waved him stop. 

      "Airu, your father was quite stubborn than this. Yet my father beheaded him before his wife. You're no different. All you have is the mouth."

     The King of Kula said. 

     "You will all do what I want, and there is nothing else to it."

     He continued. The tone of his voice was ranging and his chiefs who were seated behind the spoils prepared themselves. 

    "You will all go back to your lands and rule them under my orders. You will all be my puppets. Whatever law I issue must you revere and whatever I loathe must you toss far away from your kingdom."

    He stopped talking. He could hear murmurs amongst the chiefs but they had their time.  

   He continued,

      "You can be foolish enough to think yourself wise and draft out a plot against me. I'll expect. But be sure that you will never have this golden opportunity anymore."

   As soon as he stopped talking, one of his chiefs stood up and he nudged him to speak,

     "Well said, your majesty, but how do you trust some con artists for kings? Don't you think some of your chiefs should be part of the kingdom and be your eyes there?"

    The chief sat as soon as he was done. The King smiled firstly, then they all watched the smile melt into a light laugh. 

     "Eyes would be plucked out, Pulat. But my words shall stand. Don't be scared for me. Let any of them who isn't scared for life make a stray of my decision."

    The King stood up and began to walk down the throne. He got to the Kings and walked by them to the right. There were three women there. Three queens. The wives of the Kings. 

     "Whether or not the three of you stick to the contract terms I'm awarding you..."

   He started, tracing his fingers across the cheek of the voluptuous queen with flowing hair. The queen of Haojo. 

     "These three are mine. Probably I could get three princes from them."

    "You lie!"

    The King of Hubrim shot again. He wanted to stand up but was pinned down again. 

    Not only were the three Kings tied in the hands and legs, they were also pressed down by attendants. 

      "Even the dumbest sorcerer in Hubrim would make this truth out. Well, your rage speak not you!"

    He walked to the left of where the Kings were knelt. The Kings were kneeling in the middle. 

   There were numerous ladies. All virgins. Those where the most important spoils he had retrieved from the lands. 

    He began to lift the boobs of all the ladies as he walked past them,

     "Chiefs, gifts for you."

   He smiled and went on playing with the ladies boobs. 

   Then abruptly he stopped and walked to the throne again. He assumed his seat. 

     "Bring in the princes."

   He said wearing a long face. The incursion of the seriousness was quite strange. None of them were expecting it.

   One of the attendants scrambled off and disappeared into the tiny passage by the two royal Chambers opposite each other. 

     "Our sons."

   The queen of Haojo said. Her pretty face smothered by a link between joy and sadness. 

     The three kings looked one person to the other. 

    "But I thought you killed them."

     "Shut up! My son is not dead."

     Barely out of the words, the silent king of Iaje snapped at the King of Hubrim. 

    He seemed to be more passionate about his child than his kingdom. 

     "You'll see for yourselves, dear kings."

   The King of Kula said amidst churning chuckle.

   At once, the attendant who had gone to get the princes returned, dragging a sac with him. 

    He hurried through till he got to the King of Kula who was already standing. 

     He dropped the sac at the feet of the King and hurried back to the position he was. 

      The King of Kula bent and lifted the bag up. Then he tilted it and from it, dropped six heads. 

      "Identify your sons' heads."

    He said and sat. The Queens of the three lands made efforts to run towards the throne but were restrained. They broke down crying. 

     The three kings couldn't utter a word. One bowed in grief, the other looked sternly at the king and the King of Hubrim screamed,

     "You'd be dead in fortnight, retard!!!"

     He began to sob heavily. The King of Kula turned a deaf ear,

     "None of them are interested. Take the heads away. And to you all! Tomorrow, we pay Ikpala a hideous visit. The King of Havila will be there and his new Queen. I'm more interested in the lady than the man. Get yourself ready."

     As soon as he finished speaking, the attendants began to take the kings away. 

     One attendant from nowhere rushed into the palace. His heart in his mouth. 

     He got to the King and fell on his face. He pulled himself up and said, panting,

      "The Roman Emperor will be paying a visit at Fortnight."

     The King of Kula stood up. He looked at the king of Hubrim who was being pulled away. The King of Hubrim smiled at him and looked away, then disappeared into the aisle of the Chambers. 

     "From where did you hear?"

    One of the chiefs called. 

       "From a messenger who was later killed by the warriors."

       "Help yourselves to the ladies."

     The King of Kula said stomping off the throne. He was beginning to be worried, but why would he show it to them? He would meet the his Sorcerer in person. 

   The chiefs kept interrogating that attendant.