THE BLOOD BENEATH THE BAOBA
2033 Words
That night the scream of a woman tore through the silence of Bantana.
“Warriors!”
Another scream followed.
“Help! Somebody help us!”
The village woke up in confusion.
Dogs barked wildly.
Children began crying.
Women rushed out of their compounds while men grabbed whatever weapons they could find.
Some picked up cutlasses.
Others carried spears.
A few grabbed wooden clubs before running towards the sound.
But before anyone reached the western side of the village, a second cry echoed through the night.
“They are here!”
Aloni woke up immediately.
His little body rose from the mat as his heart pounded against his chest.
For a few seconds, he remained confused.
Then he heard his mother.
“Aloni!”
He jumped to his feet.
“Mama?”
“Stay inside!”
Her voice sounded frightened.
That frightened him even more.
His mother had never sounded like that before.
Aloni rushed towards the doorway.
His father was already standing there.
Chief Warrior Amoni had his spear in his hand.
His eyes were fixed on the darkness outside.
“Papa?”
Amoni turned.
“Stay with your mother.”
“But what is happening?”
“Aloni, listen to me.”
His voice was firm.
“Do not leave this compound.”
Aloni nodded slowly.
Amoni looked at his wife.
“Lock the door.”
She nodded.
“You are going out?”
“There are people in the village.”
“You should not go alone.”
Amoni looked towards the entrance.
“I am not alone.”
Several warriors were already gathering outside.
One of them shouted.
“Chief Amoni!”
Amoni stepped out.
“Take care of the eastern side,” he commanded.
“Yes, Chief!”
“Do not chase anyone into the forest.”
The warrior looked confused.
“Why?”
Amoni's expression became hard.
“Because that is what they want.”
The warrior nodded.
“Yes, Chief.”
Amoni turned back briefly.
His eyes met Aloni's.
For a strange moment, father and son simply stared at each other.
Then Amoni walked away.
Aloni watched him disappear into the darkness.
Something inside the boy told him that tonight was different.
He did not know why.
But he was afraid.
Very afraid.
His mother pulled him away from the doorway.
“Come.”
“But Mama…”
“Come inside.”
She pushed the wooden door shut.
Aloni could still hear the noise outside.
Warriors shouted.
Women screamed.
Drums began beating rapidly from the centre of the village.
That was the alarm.
Bantana had been attacked.
Aloni sat beside his mother.
“Who are they?”
“I don't know.”
“Are they from another kingdom?”
His mother remained silent.
“Mama?”
She finally looked at him.
“Sometimes the people who hurt you are not the people you expect.”
Aloni frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.”
“But you said…”
“Aloni.”
Her voice became softer.
“Promise me you will never disobey your father tonight.”
The boy looked at her.
“I promise.”
Outside, a loud crash shook the compound.
His mother jumped.
Aloni grabbed her hand.
Then they heard footsteps.
Someone was running towards their house.
His mother quickly stood.
She moved Aloni behind her.
The footsteps stopped.
A voice came from outside.
“Open!”
His mother recognized it.
“Who?”
“It is me.”
She released a breath.
It was Kato, one of Amoni's closest warriors.
She opened the door slightly.
Kato entered.
Blood was running down his arm.
“Where is Amoni?”
“He went towards the western side.”
Kato shook his head.
“He must come back.”
“Why?”
“They are not attacking the village.”
His mother stared at him.
“What do you mean?”
Kato lowered his voice.
“They are looking for something.”
Aloni stepped from behind his mother.
“What are they looking for?”
Kato's eyes fell on the boy.
He immediately became silent.
His mother noticed.
“Kato?”
The warrior looked at her.
“I cannot say it here.”
“Then tell me.”
Kato shook his head.
“Your husband will explain.”
Suddenly, an arrow struck the wooden wall.
Thud!
Everyone froze.
Kato immediately grabbed his spear.
“Get down!”
Another arrow flew through the doorway.
Kato pushed Aloni and his mother to the ground.
“Stay here!”
He rushed outside.
His mother pulled Aloni close.
The boy could hear fighting.
His father's warriors were shouting.
Then a voice screamed.
“Find the warrior's house!”
Aloni looked at his mother.
“What?”
She placed a hand over his mouth.
“Do not speak.”
Another voice responded.
“The boy must be here!”
Her eyes widened.
Aloni's heart stopped.
“They know about you.”
The words escaped her lips before she could stop herself.
Aloni stared at her.
“What did you say?”
She looked frightened.
Then the compound door was kicked open.
Boom!
His mother screamed.
Three men entered.
Their faces were covered.
They carried spears and knives.
The first man looked around.
“Where is the boy?”
Nobody answered.
He stepped forward.
“Where is Amoni's son?”
Aloni's mother stood between them and her child.
“There is no boy here.”
The man laughed.
“You are lying.”
He raised his spear.
Before he could move, Kato appeared behind him.
His spear pierced the man's shoulder.
The attacker screamed.
Kato pulled the weapon back.
“Run!”
Aloni's mother grabbed him.
They rushed through the back entrance.
“Where are we going?”
“To the forest.”
“But Papa said…”
“Your father is fighting for his life.”
They ran.
Behind them, the attackers followed.
Aloni could hear men shouting.
Branches slapped against his face as his mother pulled him deeper into the forest.
“Mama, I cannot run anymore.”
“You must.”
“I am tired.”
“Aloni, you must keep moving.”
He stumbled.
His mother caught him.
She looked back.
The sound of footsteps was getting closer.
She suddenly changed direction.
“This way.”
They reached the ancient baobab tree.
It stood at the edge of a sacred section of the forest.
Aloni had seen it many times.
His father always warned him never to approach it without permission.
His mother pulled him behind the enormous roots.
“Stay here.”
Aloni's eyes widened.
“What are you doing?”
“Listen to me.”
She knelt before him.
“If I tell you to run, you run.”
“Mama…”
“If you hear me scream, do not come out.”
Tears began forming in Aloni's eyes.
“Why are you talking like that?”
She touched his face.
“Because I love you.”
The boy began crying.
“I want Papa.”
“I know.”
“I want to go home.”
“I know.”
She kissed his forehead.
“You are your father's son.”
Then she stood.
Footsteps approached.
The men had found them.
His mother stepped away from the tree.
Aloni remained hidden behind the roots.
One of the masked men appeared.
“There she is!”
Another man came from the opposite direction.
“Where is the boy?”
She said nothing.
The first man grabbed her.
“Where is Amoni's son?”
She struggled.
“I don't know what you are talking about.”
The man slapped her.
Aloni covered his mouth to stop himself from screaming.
His mother fell to the ground.
The man pulled her up again.
“Tell us!”
She spat in his face.
“You will never touch my son.”
The man's eyes became red with fury.
He raised his spear.
Aloni's eyes widened.
“Mama!”
She turned towards the tree.
Their eyes met.
For one brief second, she smiled.
Then the spear came down.
Aloni screamed.
“MAMA!”
Everything went silent.
The men looked towards the tree.
Aloni realized his mistake.
One of them pointed.
“There!”
They rushed towards him.
Aloni ran.
He did not know where he was going.
He only knew that he had to escape.
He ran deeper into the forest.
Branches tore his clothes.
His feet hit stones.
He fell.
He got up.
He ran again.
Behind him, the men shouted.
“Catch him!”
“Don't let him escape!”
Aloni kept running.
Then suddenly he heard another sound.
A war cry.
“YAAAAAH!”
A warrior emerged from the darkness.
His spear struck one of the attackers.
The man fell.
Another warrior appeared.
Then another.
Aloni recognized them.
Bantana warriors.
His father's men.
They had arrived.
The attackers fled.
The warriors chased them.
Aloni turned back.
“Mama!”
He ran towards the baobab.
His mother was lying beneath the tree.
Blood had soaked the earth beneath her.
Aloni dropped to his knees.
“Mama?”
She opened her eyes.
Barely.
“Aloni…”
He grabbed her hand.
“I'm here.”
Her breathing was weak.
“Where is Papa?”
“He is coming.”
She smiled faintly.
“You must listen to me.”
“I will.”
“Your father…”
She struggled to breathe.
“Your father loves you.”
“I know.”
“No matter what happens…”
She coughed.
“Never become a cruel man.”
Aloni began crying.
“I won't.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise.”
Her eyes slowly closed.
“Mama?”
No answer.
“Mom!”
He shook her.
“Mama!”
Nothing.
The young boy screamed.
His cry travelled through the forest.
The warriors stood silently.
Even the birds seemed to have stopped singing.
Then Amoni arrived.
His body was covered in blood.
His spear was still in his hand.
He saw his wife.
Everything stopped.
The warrior who had faced armies without fear dropped his spear.
“No.”
He rushed towards her.
“Amara!”
He fell beside her.
He lifted her head.
“Amara, open your eyes.”
Nothing.
“Please.”
His voice broke.
“Please open your eyes.”
Aloni watched his father.
He had never seen him cry.
Never.
Not even after returning from battles.
But that night, Chief Warrior Amoni cried.
He held his wife's lifeless body against his chest.
Aloni moved closer.
“Papa…”
Amoni looked at him.
Their eyes met.
Neither father nor son knew what to say.
The boy crawled into his father's arms.
Amoni held him tightly.
They remained beneath the ancient baobab.
Two broken souls beneath the same tree.
The warriors stood around them.
Nobody dared speak.
After some time, Amoni looked towards the darkness.
His eyes were no longer filled with grief.
Something else had taken its place.
Fury.
Pure fury.
He slowly picked up his spear.
“Who did this?”
One of the warriors stepped forward.
“We caught one of them.”
Amoni looked at him.
“Bring him.”
The captured attacker was dragged forward.
His mask had been removed.
Amoni stared at his face.
His expression suddenly changed.
He knew the man.
“Where have you been hiding?”
The man said nothing.
Amoni stepped closer.
“You are one of the King's guards.”
The warriors looked at one another in shock.
The captured man smiled.
Then he whispered something that made Amoni's blood run cold.
“You are already too late, Chief Warrior.”
Amoni tightened his grip on the spear.
“Too late for what?”
The man looked towards Aloni.
Then back at Amoni.
“The kingdom has already been sold.”
Amoni's eyes widened.
“What did you say?”
The man laughed.
“The enemy is not coming to Bantana.”
He paused.
“They are already here.”
Amoni's heart sank.
And somewhere far away, deep inside the sleeping kingdom, another war drum began to beat.
Boom.Boom.Boom.
The age of peace in Bantana had ended.
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