THE KINGDOM IN DANGER
2572 Words
The first light of morning slowly spread across Bantana, but there was nothing peaceful about the new day. The birds still sang from the trees, women still moved around the village preparing food and the sound of pestles striking wooden mortars could still be heard from different compounds, yet beneath the normal activities was a strange fear that nobody could explain. The previous night's attack had left the people restless. Several houses had been damaged, warriors had been injured and, most painfully, the wife of Chief Warrior Amoni had been murdered. Nobody knew why the attackers had come, and the few people who thought they understood what had happened were too afraid to speak openly about it.
Inside Amoni's compound, the silence was even heavier.
Aloni sat beside the wall, holding the small wooden spear his father had given him. He had barely slept. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw his mother beneath the baobab tree. He remembered her voice, her hands on his face and the last words she had spoken to him.
[You are your father's son.]
He did not understand why those words kept returning to his mind.
He was only a boy.
He did not know what being his father's son truly meant.
He only knew that his mother was gone.
Amoni stood outside the compound, staring at the royal seal he had found the previous night. He had not told anyone about it. Not even Kato. The small object sat tightly in his palm while his thoughts moved from one possibility to another.
The royal seal could belong to many people in the palace.
But the captured guard had been a royal guard.
The attackers had known exactly where to find his family.
Someone had warned them.
Someone within Bantana had given them information.
And that person had access to the royal palace.
Amoni looked towards the palace in the distance.
[Who are you?]
He had spent years fighting enemies he could see. He understood the sound of an approaching army, the movement of an enemy through the forest and the signs that came before an attack. But this was different. His enemy wore the same clothes as his people, spoke the same language and could sit beside the King as a trusted man.
That was more dangerous than any army.
Kato entered the compound quietly.
“Chief.”
Amoni turned.
“You are awake already.”
“I have not slept.”
Kato looked at him for a moment before noticing the object in his hand.
“What is that?”
Amoni opened his palm.
Kato's eyes widened.
“Where did you get it?”
“Near my compound last night.”
Kato took a step closer but did not touch it.
“That is the royal seal.”
“I know.”
“Chief, you need to show this to the King.”
Amoni shook his head.
“Not yet.”
Kato looked confused.
“Why?”
“Because I do not know who can be trusted.”
Kato's face changed.
“You do not trust the King?”
“I did not say that.”
“But you are thinking it.”
Amoni looked towards the palace again.
“I have served the King for many years. I have fought his battles and protected his kingdom. I still respect him, but yesterday a royal guard attacked my family. The man was carrying information that only someone close to the palace could have known.”
Kato folded his arms.
“Then we need to find out who gave them the information.”
“We will.”
“Where do we start?”
Amoni looked at him.
“The palace.”
Kato nodded.
Before either man could say another word, a loud horn sounded from the direction of the village centre.
They both turned.
A messenger was running towards them.
“Chief Amoni!”
The young man stopped in front of them, breathing heavily.
“The King has summoned you.”
Amoni's face became serious.
“Why?”
The messenger hesitated.
“He did not tell me.”
Kato looked at Amoni.
“Something is wrong.”
Amoni placed the royal seal inside his cloth.
“Take care of Aloni.”
Kato nodded.
“I will.”
Amoni turned towards his son.
Aloni was still sitting quietly.
“Son.”
Aloni looked up.
“Papa?”
“I have to go to the palace.”
“Are you coming back?”
Amoni paused.
The question touched something deep inside him.
“Yes.”
“You promise?”
Amoni walked over and knelt before him.
“I promise.”
Aloni nodded.
Amoni placed his hand on his son's head.
“You must stay with Kato. Do not leave the compound.”
“Yes, Papa.”
Amoni stood and followed the messenger.
But as he walked away, he looked back one more time.
He did not know it yet, but that promise would soon become one of the hardest promises he had ever made.
At the palace, King Maredi sat on his throne with several elders and warriors around him. His expression was different from the previous day. He looked tired and troubled.
Amoni entered the council chamber and bowed.
“My King.”
King Maredi looked at him.
“Chief Warrior Amoni, come forward.”
Amoni moved closer.
The King raised a folded piece of animal skin.
“This was found near the northern border this morning.”
Amoni looked at it.
“What is it?”
“A message.”
“From whom?”
“We do not know.”
The King handed it to him.
Amoni opened it.
His eyes moved across the strange markings.
The message was written in a mixture of words and symbols.
He recognized only a few.
Bantana.
King.
War.
And another word.
Amoni's eyes stopped.
His face changed.
“What does it say?” the King asked.
Amoni looked up.
“It is a warning.”
“What kind of warning?”
“They say Bantana will fall if the King refuses their demands.”
The council erupted into murmurs.
One elder slammed his hand against the wooden seat.
“Who are these people to threaten our King?”
Amoni continued reading.
“They demand access to the western forests.”
Another elder frowned.
“That land belongs to Bantana.”
“They also demand permission to establish trading stations inside the kingdom.”
King Maredi's eyes narrowed.
“And if we refuse?”
Amoni slowly folded the message.
“They say war will begin.”
Silence fell over the room.
The King leaned back.
“So it has begun.”
Amoni looked at him.
“What has begun?”
“The invasion.”
The words sent a cold feeling through Amoni.
The King continued.
“For months, these foreign traders have been asking for more land. I refused. They offered gifts. I refused. They sent messengers. I refused. Now they have begun threatening us.”
Amoni looked around the council chamber.
“Then we should prepare our warriors.”
One of the chiefs shook his head.
“We cannot fight foreigners with their powerful weapons.”
Amoni turned towards him.
“We have defended Bantana with spears for generations.”
“Against neighbouring kingdoms.”
“And we defeated them.”
“This is different.”
Amoni's eyes hardened.
“How?”
“They have weapons that can kill from a distance.”
Amoni remained silent.
He knew the man was right.
He had heard stories from traders about weapons that could make thunder and kill a man without allowing him to come close.
But Bantana had something the foreigners did not understand.
The forest.
Their ancestors.
Their warriors.
Their knowledge of the land.
Amoni looked at the King.
“We cannot surrender because they frighten us.”
King Maredi nodded slowly.
“I agree.”
Then the palace doors suddenly opened.
A royal messenger rushed inside.
“Your Majesty!”
The King turned.
“What is it?”
The messenger dropped to his knees.
“The western village has been attacked.”
Amoni immediately stepped forward.
“By whom?”
The messenger looked frightened.
“Foreign soldiers.”
The council erupted.
“Impossible!”
“How many?”
“Where are our warriors?”
The messenger swallowed.
“They came before sunrise.”
Amoni's expression hardened.
“Casualties?”
“Many.”
King Maredi rose from his throne.
“Send every available warrior to the west.”
Amoni immediately stepped forward.
“I will lead them.”
The King looked at him.
“You have just buried your wife.”
“My people are being attacked.”
The King stared at him for several seconds.
Then he nodded.
“Go.”
Amoni turned to leave.
But before he reached the door, an elder spoke.
“Your Majesty, perhaps Chief Amoni should not lead the warriors.”
Amoni stopped.
The King looked at the elder.
“Why?”
The elder lowered his voice.
“Because we cannot ignore what happened to his family.”
Amoni slowly turned around.
“What are you saying?”
The elder looked at him.
“There are whispers that the attack on your compound was connected to the foreigners.”
Amoni's eyes narrowed.
“Say what you mean.”
The elder continued.
“Perhaps your family was targeted because you have been secretly communicating with them.”
The room went completely silent.
Amoni stared at the elder in disbelief.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“You accuse me of betraying Bantana?”
“I am only saying that we must investigate everything.”
Amoni stepped towards him.
“I have fought for this kingdom since before you could hold a spear.”
“And yet your wife was killed by people who somehow knew where you lived.”
Amoni's fists tightened.
“You dare use my wife's death against me?”
The King raised his hand.
“Enough!”
Amoni stopped.
King Maredi looked between them.
“No accusations will be made without proof.”
The elder bowed.
“As you command.”
Amoni turned away.
But something had changed.
He understood now.
Someone was already beginning to destroy his name.
And the person doing it knew exactly where to strike.
Meanwhile, back in the village, Aloni sat with Kato near the fire.
The young boy had remained quiet since his father left.
Kato tried to speak to him.
“Aloni.”
The boy looked up.
“Yes?”
“Your father is a brave man.”
“I know.”
“He will return.”
Aloni stared at the fire.
“My mother was brave too.”
Kato's face softened.
“Yes, she was.”
“She told me not to become cruel.”
Kato nodded.
“Then listen to her.”
Aloni looked at his wooden spear.
“I want to become a warrior.”
Kato smiled faintly.
“You are still too young.”
“My father was a warrior.”
“He became one when he was older.”
“I will become one too.”
Kato looked at the boy carefully.
There was something different in Aloni's eyes.
The pain had not destroyed him.
It was beginning to shape him.
Before Kato could respond, the sound of hooves echoed from the road.
He immediately stood.
“Stay here.”
A group of villagers came running into the compound.
“Warriors are coming!”
Kato grabbed his spear.
“From where?”
“The western side.”
Kato looked towards the road.
A moment later, wounded Bantana warriors appeared.
Some were being carried.
Others were walking with blood covering their bodies.
Kato rushed forward.
“What happened?”
One of the warriors collapsed.
“They came with thunder weapons.”
Kato looked shocked.
“Foreigners?”
The warrior nodded.
“They killed everyone.”
Aloni stood at a distance, watching.
His heart began beating faster.
Then he noticed something.
One of the wounded men was carrying a small piece of red cloth tied around his arm.
Aloni had seen that colour before.
His mother had mentioned it.
He remembered the night of the attack.
One of the men who came into their compound had worn the same red cloth.
Aloni slowly stepped closer.
“Uncle.”
The wounded warrior looked at him.
“What?”
Aloni pointed at the cloth.
“Where did you get that?”
The warrior looked down.
His face suddenly changed.
He quickly tried to remove it.
But Aloni had already noticed.
Kato grabbed the man's arm.
“Wait.”
The warrior became nervous.
Kato stared at him.
“Where did you get that cloth?”
The man remained silent.
“Answer me.”
Still nothing.
Kato pulled his spear closer.
“Who gave it to you?”
The warrior looked around.
Then he whispered.
“The palace.”
Kato's eyes widened.
Aloni stared at him.
“The palace?”
The warrior nodded.
“They told us to wear it.”
Kato's face became pale.
“Who told you?”
The warrior opened his mouth.
But before he could answer, an arrow flew from the trees.
It struck him in the chest.
He fell instantly.
Kato pulled Aloni behind him.
“Everyone inside!”
The village erupted in panic.
Warriors grabbed their weapons.
Kato stared into the forest.
Someone was watching them.
Someone had just killed a wounded warrior to prevent him from speaking.
And this time, Aloni had seen the direction from which the arrow came.
He pointed towards the trees.
“Kato!”
“What?”
“He ran that way.”
Kato looked at him.
“Who?”
“The man who shot him.”
Kato tightened his grip on his spear.
“Stay here.”
But Aloni was already staring into the forest.
For the first time, something burned inside him.
It was not only fear.
It was anger.
He had lost his mother.
Someone had tried to kill him.
Now someone was killing people to hide the truth.
And somewhere inside that dark forest was the person responsible.
Aloni tightened his little hand around his wooden spear.
He did not know what awaited him in those trees.
He did not know that the path he was staring at would eventually change his entire life.
He only knew one thing.
He wanted the truth.
And deep inside the forest, hidden behind the trees, a man watched the boy closely.
The man smiled.
“So the warrior's son has finally begun to see.”
He turned and disappeared into the darkness.
Behind him, another figure was waiting.
“Did he see you?”
“No.”
“Good.”
The first man looked back towards Bantana.
“The boy must not reach the King.”
The second man frowned.
“And Amoni?”
“He will be too busy fighting the war.”
“And if he discovers the truth?”
The man smiled coldly.
“Then we will make sure Bantana believes that its greatest warrior is the traitor.”
The two men disappeared deeper into the forest.
And while the drums of war began beating across Bantana, Aloni stood beside Kato, holding the only weapon he possessed.
A small wooden spear.
He was still a child.
But the kingdom had already begun preparing him for war.
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