She had looked keenly into the eyes of the Reaper, in it was a stare of intent and ruthlessness. For the first time in her life she had doubted her abilities.
Fingers were bitten in fear and trepidation for their savior. Women had turned the ground to a wailing center, their hope grew bleak with every single move she took.
This was the last chance she had. If she failed, all will come crumbling at her feet, and the fate of her king would be sealed for good.
Then the voice of the Reaper came down in a practiced mechanism;
Let the game begin.
The palace was calm and serene that night, the birds of the nights had come out to give melody of chills in the background. The guards mounted the gates unflinching without listlessness. They ought to be vigilant at all times. Even the melodious buzz of mosquitoes noise had no effect on them.
Their code is to show no weakness, especially not to an insect as small as the mosquito. There was a bigger test. The Reaper is coming.
They manned the palace gate as if their lives depended on it, it actually did. This was exactly two week since the Reaper appeared and said he was going to kill the mad king.
The spirit had accused the mad king of bending the will his people. He stood accused of unfair judgments and total disregard for the rule of natural justice. He instilled terror in the hearts of the citizens.
The king declared that no man should grow beards in the community, because of his inability to grow one. Not even he-goats kept a beard, if it did, the he will claim ownership of it and the owners would appease him with the gift of their virgin daughters.
He had declared also that since he was the king, the community was his and his alone. He created a shrine for the exaltation of himself. Rumours has it that he had made a pact with the spirit world to elimination all potential sons from his wives who could succeed him.
There was no western education, it was a taboo. He had ruled for 70 years and still had the vigor of a 17 year old boy. Not even a little strand of hair on his chin.
The reaper had given him a forth night to make right his ills. But the king was as mad as his spirit. He took orders from anyone, but himself.
The ill treatment to his people continue and tripled since the threat to his life. He had heard that there was rumours of whispers by the citizens about how soon he was to die.
Anybody caught was whipped and punished severely as a mark of deterrence to others. Thereby still projecting his ruthless destruction.
The fateful day came and the palace was surrounded by the native priests of the mad king. The position of the guards has been fortified even more. The priests in their infinite wisdom had done all form of incantation against any sudden attack of death.
He was their king, their lord and ruler, any form of charm he needed will be given to him. They had assured him against any threat, he sighed in satisfaction and almost went to sleep.
Seconds became minutes, minutes evolved to hours, all waiting earnestly for the visit of the Reaper. The uncertainty of the time had been what deluded them, and the mad king was not known to be taken aback. But the words of the priests gave him comfort.
The Reaper came in amidst the whole fortifications. Chaos was the order of the day. The sight of him had sent the guards running for dear life.
The priests muttered some black magic to dissuade his movement, but he headed forward with one motive, one desire; to kill the mad king. They all ran haphazardly when he responded with an ethereal wave of the hand.
The children and wives were shaking not from the total destruction of the defence but from the dread and purposeful gait of the Reaper.
He stood tall over the mad king and in a distinct voice he said; It is time
The mad king knowing that he had lost all his bulwark, begged for his wretched life. This was re-echo by the quiet sobs of the wives and children.
The king in confront of the full dread, had made a promise to turn a new leaf, be a better person and a good king to his people. But it was too late.
The reaper had finally come. And the time is now. He brought out a square box with 64 squares in it and some piece which looked like the ancient board of battle strategy.
The sobs and pleading stopped and turned to gaze of awe and uncertainty. They had not seen anything like it before, not in this life of theirs.
The reaper gave a smirk and burst into a hysterical laughter. He stopped almost immediately he started and said; You the mad king, have only one life line.
Play me to a chess game, and your life will be spared.
The king replied that he had no knowledge of the game. And cried further that if the Reaper was to make him a favour good, he should allow the king to search for one who had knowledge of the game, to engage the Reaper on behalf of the king.
The Reaper agreed and almost immediately, calls were made to all the sage priest in the town to come to the aid of the king. They all came but none could boast of any knowledge of the game.
Then out of the crowd came a little girl of 8 years old. She claimed knowledge of the game and everyone whispered in hushes and low tones.
She had explained that, she used to sneak out of the house to join the church education of kids in the other village and they had thought them the rudiments and elements of the game.
That had been against the instructions of the mad king, but it is immaterial at the moment.
The reaper explained the rules of the chess game to her for the avoidance of doubt, yet she claimed affirmative to the game. Then he made a boost that she could not survive two moves with him.
The king accosted the Reaper and said; What if she went further and survived three rounds?
The Reaper, said she would'nt even last 10, and if she did three, the king will be spared. She knew what she was about to enter, maybe she does not understand it fully, but she knew that the game was a dire one, even more daunting because the king's life depended on it.
The reaper moved in Sicilian defense in the opening round. The little girl had not seen such move before. And was beaten.
She was beaten for the second time in a row. Everyone in the palace has been on the edge now. The mad king was shaking in fear and under the apprehension of his death.
She had looked keenly into the eyes of reaper, in it was a stare of intent and ruthlessness. For the first time in her life he had doubted her abilities.
Fingers were bitten in fear and trepidation for their savior. Women had turned the ground to a wailing center, their hope grew bleak with every single move she took.
This was the last chance she had. If he failed, all will come crumbling at her feet, and the fate of her king would be sealed for good.
Then the voice of the Reaper came down in a practiced mechanism; Let the game begin
In the final round, the height was realized. It was closely fought and the reaper never saw any of her moves this time.
But it was not to be, she didn't win the game, neither did the reaper too. It was a stalemate.
The Reaper recounted his promise and the boast of 3 round defeat to the girl. He had failed.
So in the interest of justice he gave clemency and pardoned the king. Saying,
let this day be remembered as the day the game of chess gave you a second chance.
