Maiden Duel Chapter 3: The Third Duel (Tribal, Brutal, M/M)
Disclaimer: These stories are a work of fiction. All of the characters depicted are at least 18 years old. None of the events depicted have occurred as they are depicted.
Intro: This story concept is based on real tribal "coming of age" ritual's like wearing gloves filled with fire ants, scarification, bungee jumping, or getting whipped at dance parties. You can google those, they are all real. This one obviously isn't, but draws loose inspiration from those.
Previous Chapters
Maiden Duel Chapter 3: The Third Duel
My name is Teeko, and I’m a member of the Sorsac tribe. I woke up the morning after my second duel with my whole body aching—especially my balls, swollen and raw. The sheets clung to me, stiff with dried blood and sweat. I couldn’t move without wincing.
Through the wall, Father’s voice came low and harsh. “That scream—like a girl. The village calls him the best Thulak in years.”
Kael laughed, easy. “Yeah. Everyone’s talking—‘Teeko the girl.’ But he’s our Thulak too.”
A cold weight dropped into my stomach. Thulak. Everyone in the tribe knew the word, though no one ever said it to your face unless you were already finished. It meant the chosen loser—the man mothers picked on purpose because he would scream, bleed, and finally release the handles. The entertainment. The one who never earned a wife. And now my own father and brother were calling me that. The shame burned hotter than the pain in my balls. My family had given up on me.
After the laughter died down, Kael spoke quieter: “Mother, Father, I need moonroot. My wife’s spotting. The Witch says without it, the baby won’t make it. I can't afford it, and I know you can't either, but I was hoping you could help somehow.”
Mom answered steadily: “We will find a way.”
Father grunted. “Focus on your line. Your brother Teeko is just the tribe’s punchline, now, so you must succeed for the family.”
Mom added, softer: “Teeko’s young. He might still prove useful.” But her words sounded thin.
I lay there, face hot. Not just family—the whole village saw me as a fool.
The next morning, Mom slipped into the room. She sat on the edge of the bed and rested her hand lightly on my knee. “Your father and Kael think you’re weak. The village laughs. The only way back is to prove to everyone tonight—duel for Lira. Endure it. Win it. Show them you’re no Thulak.” She met my eyes. “For us.”
Thulak. I can’t be a Thulak. Anything to avoid being a Thulak. “I’ll go.”
The ceremonial ground buzzed. The Old Witch and Lira carried the platter out—Pain-Sticks all wrapped the same, built secret in the woods. They climbed the platform and set it down. The chanting died.
The Witch spoke clearly: “Tonight Lira finishes her thirty days. Remove your clothes, new woman—show what you offer.”
Lira dropped her wrap. She was unattractive, her breasts were mismatched, but her hips were wide for babies. Her appearance gave me hope.
I looked at her and thought: Unattractive girl from a family with a bad reputation, maybe I won’t have competition.
“Men—who would duel?”
I stepped in—limping, chin high. The young trader followed—a soft pudgy man with no hunting prowess. A few others joined as well.
I looked at the trader: Weak man… but from a very wealthy family. If the mother picked him, I had a good chance.
“Seekers—strip. Present honestly.”
We did. Trader’s nuts looked fresh far too round to be a warrior's manhood; mine were bruised and puffy. Murmurs rose from the crowd seeing the state of my testicles. It was nearly unheard of for a seeker to enter a competition before fully recovered.
The Witch turned to the married women: “Mother—evaluate.”
Lira’s mother moved down the line. She felt arms, touched chests—then grasped balls. When she reached me, she squeezed hard and jerked twice. Pain shot through me. “Still tender. Good.” With the trader, she was gentle. Mom nodded at her—like a deal. I ignored it.
“I choose Teeko and Trader.” Cheers—mocking, but mixed.
We climbed the platform. The Hukineekee closed around our balls—the wooden boards trapping them out front, locked tight. No escape. My hands gripped the handles.
Lira stepped to the altar.
“The Duel begins. Lira—choose.”
She picked me first. She handed me a Pain-Stick—heavy and solid in my grip.
“Gong.” I swung hard. The head thudded into Trader’s testicles. He grunted, knees buckling a little. The crowd hushed.
She took it back and gave him one—same weight, I figured.
“Gong.” Trader swung well. The impact jolted my balls—dull ache spreading through my sack. I held steady.
We traded like that for five rounds. Each gong, I landed solid on his nuts; his yelps grew sharper. When he swung, my testicles took the the pain, already sore, now the pain was much worse, but I remained silent.. Slowly, the chants changed from: "Thulak... Thulak... To “Teeko… Teeko…” it gave me hope I could win.
Lira smiled—real. “Tougher than they say,” she whispered.
Lira handed me a stick that was a bit lighter than before. "Gong" I swung and connected. Bright spots of red blood grew from Traders nuts where the brambles penetrated skin.
"Gong." Trader's return swing seemed to briefly melt into my testicles before a lightning bolt of white pain nearly broke my stoic composure.
My next stick felt heavy. "Gong" I swung, and watched traders nuts flatten, his body tensed at the pan.
Then Lira’s mother flicked her wrist—sharp, deliberate. Lira’s face fell. She hesitated for a heartbeat, then obeyed her mother.
She handed me a light stick. “Gong.” I swung at Trader’s balls, but the head barely brushed them. The blow did almost nothing.
“Gong.” Trader swung heavily. His stick slammed into my already damaged testicles, flattening them against the wooden board. Fresh blood welled up from the reopened scabs and ran down the wood of the Hukineekee.
She gave me another light stick. “Gong.” My swing at Trader’s nuts was weak and useless.
“Gong.” Trader swung hard again. The blow crushed my swollen balls, driving the thorns deeper. I gasped, the sound high and broken.
Light stick again. “Gong.” My swing at Trader’s sack was pathetic.
“Gong.” He hammered my testicles with full force. My balls felt like they had been pulped. Blood ran down the wood of the Hukineekee.
“Gong.” My swing did nothing.
“Gong.” Trader’s heavy stick smashed into my sack once more. My testicles felt destroyed under the impact. I couldn’t stop the scream that tore out of me—shrill and girlish.
“Trader’s turned Teeko into a girl!” someone shouted from the crowd.
“Gong.” I swung the feather stick. It was useless.
“Gong.” A heavy blow landed. My balls felt no longer like my testicles, but rather an aura of pain that inhabited me like a demonic spirit..
“Gong.” I swung. Pathetic.
“Gong.” Trader slammed my testicles with everything he had. The pain was unbearable.
As yet another useless light stick was pressed into my hand, the truth finally slammed into me. I had seen Lira’s mother give the signal. She had obeyed it instantly. Every stick after that moment had been light for me and heavy for him. The fix had been in from the very beginning. Lira had never been choosing for herself. I was never meant to win. I was only here to bleed and break for the crowd’s amusement. The last spark of hope inside me died.
“Gong.” I swung a feather stick. My swing was hopeless.
“Gong.” Another heavy swing. My balls felt like they were being ground into paste.
I thrashed wildly in the Hukineekee, shame and agony burning through me. My hands slipped from the handles. I had released.
Lira knelt down and kissed Trader’s balls. Her lips coming away dotted with blood. Her eyes flicked to me once—apologetic—but it was over.
I collapsed onto the platform as the crowd erupted: “Thulak! Thulak! Thulak!”
Jeers and laughter thundered around me.
Back home, I collapsed into bed. Hours later—still dark—I heard them through the wall. Mom to Father and Kael: “Trader couldn’t beat a real man. That’s why we gave them Teeko—he screamed pretty. Trader’s wealth got us the moonroot. Your wife’s safe. The future of our Family is secure.”
Kael laughed softly: “Thanks to the Thulak.”
I hauled myself up—legs shaking, vision blurring—and burst into the room. “You used me?”
Mom turned, her face cold. “Look at you—you can’t even stand. You’re no man. Certainly no son of mine.”
Father said nothing. Kael looked away.
I stumbled out into the night. Rain hit my face. The village lights faded behind me. I wandered the dark edge of the settlement—pain, rage, and nothing left.
Then shadows moved. The Old Witch stepped out from the trees, eyes sharp.
“Lost boy,” she said, grabbing my wrist. “Come. I’ll forge you.”
I didn’t fight.
Author's Note: I appreciate feedback. Leave a comment if you liked this story. Feel free to suggest future ideas.