ROLF

(Twenty six years back)

The day was hot as most of the other days in Jilbethem kingdom, one of the nine kingdoms in the Belthes empire. This was a kingdom neighboring Hezbethem in the east and were separated by hills of Taxtit and a great valley Delgado named after the ancient King who ruled both Kingdoms before they split into two. This valley was a natural gift to both kingdoms who selflessly fought often to acquire it to themselves entirely. This had continued until when the then new emperor Datson had told them to keep it as no man land for both kingdoms. They were greatly prohibited from using it as hunting grounds or any other personal benefits. This in turn let the valley grow rich in nature!

The kingdom was collectively a rich land where different species of animals grew and various flora for human and animal consumption. This was the kingdom known for the best medicine men in the whole empire, a direct gift of nature. The emperor's medicine men were always got from Jilbethem.

Due to the kingdom's gifted fauna, many of the men were hunters and relied on it to acquire fame through hunting wild beasts, one would be considered a kingdom warrior if he managed to kill a scary beast! This the warrior would take out its two canines and give one to his wife as a bond tying them together in unbreakable marriage.

Jilbethem was known as a peaceful kingdom in the whole empire except for its one great rival, Hezbethem! A few months back, there had been a bloody battle in which Jilbethem had looted Hezbethem, it was in the absentia of the king that even one of his concubines was taken! Jilbethem being one of the weakest kingdoms in the empire had chosen such a time because they were not sure of their ability to fight face to face with the ruthless King Regan, the cousin brother of the emperor! Who knows if he could ask for reinforcements from the emperor himself!

It had been a week since it rained, there was dry sand all over the pathways since the soils in the kingdom were sandy, in less time than anyone could realize, clouds gathered in the sky, and it did not take them long to have heavy rained drops splattering around. This was true joy for most people in the kingdom as rain was considered to carry with it blessings, a true sign that the gods were clearly responding to their prayers. 

The king's concubine who had been taken by the Jilbeths, was now known of her new title, queen Marie Ronitette, the wife to the current king of Jilbethem, King David Hartin. This stopped King Regan from coming after David to fetch his concubine, He was considerate enough to Let Marie enjoy royalty.

It is only the king and the queen herself that knew of the secret, the secret that by the time of captivity, queen Marie had come pregnant with a son to King Regan! up to this day, the king himself was not sure of the reason as to why he let Marie keep the baby, and it was due time she delivered. After a series of labor cries, the boy was brought to life, unlike other babies, he did not cry even when the midwives pinched him lightly on the thighs! It was as if he knew he would to be tough to the world!

The rest was greatly overjoyed to have a prince born to the kingdom, accompanied by the drizzling yet warm rain indicated that he would yield much to the kingdom of Jilbethem. The king himself never found the reason to hate the child, so he let him enjoy the honors too and for that, he named him Rolf Harkins.

At the age ten, Rolf was so much loved in the kingdom, very talented in many skills. He had a very target in archery for his age and was so swift when one on one in close combat. His dad, the king was so much proud of how he swung his sword when sword fighting. He was the most talented boy in the kingdom yet of his age, at the age of ten, he had killed two buffalos singlehandedly. This acquired him honor all over the kingdom and his name had started sounding in the neighboring kingdoms, the mighty prince of Jilbethem.

On his twenty third birthday, he had been walking in the woods when his tracker caught scent of a beast wandering in the trees. They paused and stood firm and immovable! This would help them hear in which direction it was going.

"Do you still smell it's presence?" asked Rolf

"Yes, your majesty" responded Greez, the tracker, "It seems more concentrated in the--"

Hardly had finished reporting, the beast, size of three well-built men, emerged from the thick woods in the north, Rolf looked at it intently with no aim of fleeing Batlle! The beast growled, and he continued looking on. The sound it produced in what seemed like its lowest growl was enough to get someone piss in their pants. It was a grizzly bear, an old one in notice! One of the fiercest animals in the kingdom, none in the history had ever managed to kill one but their population was also less.

This beast had brown fur that made it look friendly, but the fiery look in its deep black eyes was an assurance that it was not a good visitor.

"Find the possible chance and run for your life," Rolf growled in a rough tone to Greez.

"No, I cannot leave your majesty in the face of trouble!" Greez' response was accompanied by actions as he jumped in attack, his hand armed with a long double-sided sword.

When action set in, Rolf took advantage of time and pulled out his golden daggers, his eighteenth birthday gift, he slid into the legs of the grizzly bear and sliced its hind leg just above the knee, this seemed like an onset for its fury, It swiftly turned and swept Greez off his feet with its pawn, this sent him flying and landed on the adjacent tree with a loud painful growl!

This showed Rolf that this is some serious battle that they may not survive! As he thought of plans to take it on, the bear did not take any second thought to turn stamp the position where Greez had fallen crushing everything on the ground.

Rolf jumped and pulled Greez away just in time before the bear landed, 

"Be more careful Greez," Rolf warned," we need to get out of here alive!"

Greez managed to get up and once again face the bear, looking at Rolf, he could read the expression in his eyes, It was some sort of agreement they could reach with just looking at each other.

"I'll take it on from down" Rolf whispered, though it would not make any difference even if he shouted, the bear could not understand.

Greez fiercely attacked from the sides, as it turned to counteract his attack, Rolf once again slid and stabbed it in both its legs, this earned Greez a great claw in the chest and put in in am immobile state for a while, a lot of blood was gushing out of his wounds.

When Rolf realized that he had remained on his own, he had to plan accordingly because he was truly no match for the beast though he one of the best warriors in the kingdom. He looked at it straight forward and called blessings upon himself, he then jumped and swung on the tree in front of him, this propelled him as he jumped in the bear's direction.

As a Jilbeth, he had knowledge of human physiology, they would learn that at an early age and that helped them in battle to attend to the wounded and also to figure out the opponent's weak points.

On jumping, Rolf was targeting the neck region, he wanted to tear its jugular, at least he hoped like human do, it also had one! The beast also launched a ferocious attack to meet Rolf on the way. He had almost stabbed his target, but it also was quick enough and hit him with its claws, this made him unstable, and his two daggers landed on the shoulders instead. The beast growled in pain as it swung free of him, but he could not let go, he ensured that he inflict great effect on it.

It staggered backwards on its hind legs and crushed him into a tree, he deliberately let go of the beast and fell to the ground, without wasting time, he stood and crushed into it from behind before it could recover. This took it by surprise, he directly stabbed its spine and tore across through the bones into the rib cage, having done that on both sides, the monster weakened and fell!

He cautiously turned it to lie on its back and directly stabbed it into the chest piercing directly into its heart, this awaked it and it gave him a blow in the chest that sent him flying. He landed on his back with a fractured arm and coughs of blood accompanied by gasps of air!

This was the last blow the grizzly bear would ever give out, painfully, Rolf blew his whistle and collapsed!