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The Trials Written by Zak Hunter
The Warrior’s Vow In the land known as the Congo, there was a great kingdom that resided there. Guarded by pristine bronze gates and a limestone wall that surrounds the city, the kingdom was peaceful and thriving, protected by its warriors and ruled by fair and just king. This king had a daughter named Chand, who was rumored to be the most beautiful women in the kingdom, perhaps even in all of Mother Africa herself. This beauty attracted the attention of one of the king’s fiercest and most loyal warrior’s, Bakar. One day, Bakar approached his king to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage. The king was surprised by Bakar’s request, but respected his warrior and would be glad to have him as his daughter’s husband. But the king also knew that any suitor of his daughter’s, needed to accomplish three trials if they wanted to gain the king’s permission of marriage. “You may marry my daughter Bakar, if you complete my trials,” said the king. “Tell me these trials my king, and I will accomplish them,” answered Bakar. “There are three that must be done, a trial of wit, then strength, and finally speed. You must obtain a diamond shield from the Hyena, wrestle the Rhino for the fruit that he guards, and catch the Monkey for the gift he has.” “I will do these my king, and I will gain your blessing to marry Chand. The only way I will fail, is if I die.” And so Bakar left his kingdom to complete the trials of his king, and as he exited the gates that protected his home, he prayed to the gods to give him the power to finish these trials that stood before him.
The Hyena Bakar’s first challenge was to obtain a shield, made of the strongest diamonds in Africa, from the deceitful and merciless Hyena. Hyena guarded his treasure from all who tried to take it. Hyena would ask all those who wished to have his shield, a riddle. The riddle was different each time it was given, and if the answer is incorrect, Hyena would devour the person, bones and all. Bakar made it to the dwelling of Hyena, a den made from the bones of his kills, some animal, others human. To summon the beast, Bakar threw a rock into the opening of the den. There was a thud that verified that the rock hit something. Emerging from his home, Hyena bared his teeth at the warrior. Hyena was a hulking creature with a length of seven feet from head to tail, with tight, lean shoulder muscles, yellow teeth, and feral, amber eyes. “Who dares disturb me from my slumber?” Hyena asked in a inhuman growl. “I do, I am Bakar, and I seek the shield that you hoard Hyena.” Hyena smiled, “Then you must answer a riddle of mine. Correctly.” “Ask your riddle,” Bakar demanded. “If you break me I do not stop working, if you touch me I may be snared, and if you lose me nothing will matter. What am I?” Bakar pondered the question. He contemplated all the possible answers, but could not match a tool or object to the riddle Hyena gave. Bakar grew nervous, worried that he would not be able correctly answer the riddle. But what truly inspired fear in his soul, was the thought of never seeing Chand again. Just then, Bakar realized what the answer was. “A heart. You are a heart.” Bakar gave his answer. Hyena’s face was one of shock and anger, “You cheat!” Hyena roared, “No man has ever been able to complate my riddles.” “No man has ever been in love, such as I.” Hyena growled, and when it seemed like he would kill Bakar out of anger, he ran back into his den. He came back out a few moments later with the shield in his jaws, and then he dropped it at the warrior’s feet. “Take your prize warrior, but know this. You may have bested me, but the beasts you will face next will make wish you were devoured by me.” With that grievous statement, Bakar carried the shield like a warrior going into battle, and made his journey to his next trial.
The Rhino Bakar arrived at the dwelling of the strongest and most fierce beast in the Congo, Rhino. Rhino’s home is a bank near a river, where the tree of the Golden Trunk fruit grows. With the length of a baby elephant’s trunk, and a rind that is the color of the purest gold, its fruit is the sweetest than any other fruit in Africa. But it only grows near the river that is home to Rhino, and Rhino guards his prize diligently. Any who attempt to harvest the fruit will most likely be gored by Rhino, or trampled and crushed. Walking up to Rhino, Bakar readied himself for a sure charge from the beast. “Rhino, I request the fruit that you guard.” Rhino, who was sleeping under the shade of the prized tree, awoke urgently to see Bakar standing several meters away , “And who are you to demand such a request?” “I am Bakar, warrior and suitor of the princess of this land.” “That gives you no power here. This is the land of the beasts, not of man. And this is my fruit. If you wish to have it, you must fight for it,” with those last words, Rhino charged. Bakar stood his ground and put the shield before himself and Rhino. When the beast collided with his target, it pushed Bakar backward several feet, landing on his back. Getting back to his feet, and grateful that the shield withstood the assault, he regained his stance and prepared for another strike. Rhino paced back and forth in front of Bakar in a semi circle, enraged by the failure of his attack. Readying himself for another charge, Rhino snorted and kicked the ground. Bakar braced himself for another strike, but then he noticed the glare from the sun off the diamonds of shield, and he developed a thought. When Rhino charged, Bakar angled the shield so the glare would blind Rhino and throw him off course. When Rhino swerved, Bakar dropped his shield and grabbed hold of Rhino. With an arm around the beast’s neck and a hand on the beast’s horn, Bakar used all his might to bring Rhino down to the ground. Then he squeezed the neck of Rhino tightly, and eventually, Rhino passed out from the lack of oxygen. Bakar released his hold, for he did not wish to kill the mighty beast, he only wanted the literal fruit of his labor. When Bakar plucked a Golden Trunk fruit from the tree and and retrieved his fallen shield, he left Rhino to slumber, and went on to complete his final trial.
The Monkey Bakar’s final trial was to obtain the gift from the elusive and sly Monkey. Monkey was very tricky and did not surrender his gifts easily. He had to be caught in order for him to give up his prize. But Monkey had the gift of camouflage, agility, and flexibility. But fortunately Monkey was also very stupid and possessed great ignorance. Bakar came upon the tall tree that Monkey called home and called out to the creature, “Monkey! I have come for the gift that you have.” Monkey poked out his head from the canopy, “Ah, warrior, I see that you bested the beasts before me. Impressive, but I am more of a challenge.” To prove his point, Monkey converted the color of his fur to match the detail and color of the canopy. Bakar could barely out the body of the creature until Monkey changed his color back to a simple black and white. “As you can see, I can be very well hidden. And I cannot be easily fooled like the guardians before me,” with that, Monkey jumped to another tree and began hopping from canopy to canopy. With Monkey gone from his sight, Bakar thought to himself on how to capture the beast. He was fast, but his speed would not match Monkey’s. He had to outsmart Monkey, and looking to the Golden Trunk fruit he held, he knew exactly how to outsmart Monkey. Laying the fruit on the ground, Bakar walked behind a tree to hide himself from Monkey’s sight, and then he waited for his prey to take the bait. After waiting for several minutes, Bakar heard the crunch of leaves that signaled the arrival of Monkey. Peeking from behind his hiding spot, Bakar saw Monkey, a gleeful orange, holding the fruit and trying to peel it. Seeing his opportunity, Bakar stepped out of his spot and tackled Monkey, who was so preoccupied with the fruit, he did not see the warrior attack him. Holding the thrashing Monkey by the throat, Bakar gave a victorious smirk, “Now guardian, you will give me my reward.” Monkey, with a reluctant frown, reached him and tore off his tail, though it was effortless and no blood was spilled. “Here,” said Monkey, “This must be tied to you and your bride’s wrist for a night. “Why?” “It symbolizes the bond that you two will have in marriage. My tail is strong and cannot easily be broken, unless untied by either suitor or bride.” Bakar took the tail and released Monkey from his grasp, “Thank you, and I can assure you that this will be an unbroken bond.” With those words, Bakar left Monkey and returned to his kingdom, becoming the first warrior to return from the trials, and marry princess Chand.
