CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 1
There were no grasses on the land, yet almost no dust with several huts and scattered debris. A huge hut with golden metal gate and turret, erected just in the centre of the land; the home of the King of Sowotuom village.
AMATEY, of mediocre height and slim, was trained from the cradle to use sword to defend their territory. The King, stout and bald headed, lost his wife when their son was barely two years. Adored very much by the father because he was ecstatic to sire at an old age. He worried and cried on the gods for almost fifteen years.
Knowing his son was now grown and competent enough, he appointed him to lead his combatants. He was eighteen. The combatants were donned in goatskin as pants, bare-chested with spears and shields. Such were their style of dressing with cloth wrapped around the bosoms of the females and all barefooted.
“And I swear to the gods to defend and stay truthful to this kingdom with all my breath.”
That was the last statement of his speech and they applauded in ecstasy.
The King was not getting any younger and started growing feeble at age sixty. His fair and hairy skin wearing away each day, face began wrinkling and hairs pulling out as if inflicted by trichotillomania. Not knowing the cause of this strange illness, they summoned the ORACLE.
“Only the blood of a lioness can be used to save our King. It could even resuscitate the comatose” the oracle said in front of the whole village.
Their heart skipped a beat and they murmured in surprise.
“But…” Amatey’s statement was interrupted by the oracle.
“On the east. It’s in a cage chained and protected by soldiers of ADAKROM, and you have only seven days to save your father and it starts counting from tomorrow. Gather your men and start preparing by dusk.”
Adakrom was a small village located 500 miles away. The King had sternly enjoined his men to guard the wildlife with no entry especially the lioness to be used for their incoming festival.
It was still daybreak but there wasn’t enough time to prepare. Befuddled, Amatey walked around slowly trying to find a way to fix the situation at hand.
“Commandant, there is no time to waste now. We must start gearing up” said one of the soldiers with hands at the back.
He summoned all the thirty soldiers.
“We cannot all leave. Some have to stay behind to defend our territory. Ten will stay behind and the rest will go with me. Remember, I only have the jurisdiction to choose who stays and who goes with me!” He spoke as a leader with command.
They sat around campfire that night, held their hands and sang till midnight. They took everything that they thought will come in handy like foods, water, spears and shields.
Early the next morning, families and friends bade farewell to the soldiers and wished them good luck and safe journey. Energetically, they then began their quest.
Barely 20 miles away
The weather became too much dicey depicting that it wanted to rain. There were large trees to hide under in case it rains
“Commandant, the rain clouds have gathered and I think we have to find a place to hole up for some time.” Uttered ANTO.
“We continue to match on. We are soldiers sent on a 7-day mission to save my father, our King!” he snapped, turning back and staring intently and angrily at him.
In a high pitched voice he continued, “We are not stopping till it is midnight where we will have to catch some z’s. Hopefully, there will be breaks to have our meals.”
Anto, in his middle twenties, tall and well-built, was the commandant before the king chose Amatey to take over. He was now the next in command and thought his opinions would be obeyed.
Anto starred at him with narrowed eyes and tight lips but uttered nothing. They left the woodland and got to a narrow pathway in a bush where there were no large trees. Soon they were faced with a severe and violent wind like never before followed by a heavy rainfall with thunderstorm.
They were stranded and chose to run back to the woodland where they could seek shelter from the large trees.
After the storm
“Commandant, two of our soldiers are not here, TUTU and ABBEY.” One of the soldiers nervously uttered whiles still gasping.
Amatey stood there for a while speechless and later said with authority “we have to search every nook and cranny for them. They can’t be left out.”
“There is no time for that. We have to get moving. It’s almost midday and we have less than six days. Pride comes before a fall” said Anto.
In Sikadua
Sikadua was quite larger and populous than Sowotuom but with the same style of dressing and similar culture ruled by a Queen. The village was endowed with treasures that they were almost always attacked by nearby and distant villages. The Queen had enjoined her soldiers to conceal in the bushes around their territory to prevent any abrupt strike on them.
“Stay sharp because we are about to enter another people’s territory. We won’t fight till they decide to attack.” Amatey uttered softly.
It was a thin passageway with bushes around. There were no other noise than the cry of birds. A spear, without warning, landed just in front of Amatey who was leading. They dropped their weapons and slowly raised their hands as if surrendering.
“We’ve come with no other intention than just passing by. We are passersby crossing your village to another.” Amatey said loudly with hands in the air.
“Identify your village.” A very deep voice yelled from the bush.
They were escorted to the Queen after the soldiers were fully gratified that they meant no harm. It was dusk and darkness will soon fall. They beseeched the Queen to grant them sanctuary for that very night.
“Be cautious. I’m a
Imprint
Publisher: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG
Text: Ahmed Wahab Obeng
Editing: Ahmed Wahab Obeng
Publication Date: 07-16-2017
ISBN: 978-3-7438-2323-5
All Rights Reserved