THE FIRST LESSON OF WAR
2012 Words
The sound of war drums spread across Bantana before the sun had fully risen. From the western hills to the village compounds, the deep beating moved through the land like a warning from the ancestors. Women gathered their children close, farmers abandoned their fields and the warriors who had returned from the western village began preparing themselves for another fight. The attack had changed everything. Until that morning, many people still believed the strange foreigners were only traders looking for land and business opportunities. Now there was no doubt that they had come with a different purpose. They had attacked a Bantana village, killed its people and used weapons that sounded like thunder. But for Aloni, the greatest danger was not the foreigners standing beyond the forest. It was the enemy hiding among his own people.
Kato stood at the entrance of Amoni's compound with his spear in his hand. His eyes remained fixed on the forest where the arrow had come from. The wounded warrior who had mentioned the palace was dead, and whatever secret he carried had disappeared with him. Kato knew that the attack had not been random. Someone had been watching them and someone had wanted that warrior silent. He turned towards Aloni, who was still holding his small wooden spear.
“Go inside.”
Aloni shook his head.
“I want to know what is happening.”
“You are a child.”
“I know.”
“Then behave like one and stay inside.”
Aloni's eyes hardened.
“My mother was killed because people came looking for me. My father has gone to fight. Now someone killed that warrior because he wanted to tell us something. I am not going to sit inside and pretend nothing is happening.”
Kato stared at him for several seconds. The words were too mature for a boy his age, yet Kato understood where they came from. Pain had forced Aloni to see things that most children were protected from.
“You sound like your father.”
Aloni looked at him.
“Is that good?”
Kato gave a faint smile.
“It can be dangerous.”
Before Aloni could respond, a group of warriors entered the compound. Their leader was a broad shouldered man named Dako, one of the older warriors who had fought beside Amoni for years. His body was covered in dust and blood, and one side of his cloth was torn.
“Kato,” he called.
Kato turned.
“What happened?”
Dako looked around before speaking.
“The King has ordered all able warriors to gather at the western field.”
“Why?”
“The foreigners have established a camp near the river.”
Kato's face became serious.
“How many?”
“We don't know.”
“Then how are we supposed to fight them?”
Dako shook his head.
“We are not waiting for them to attack again. The King wants the camp watched.”
Kato nodded.
Then Dako noticed Aloni.
“Where is Chief Amoni?”
“He went with the King's warriors.”
Dako's expression changed.
“He should not have gone.”
Kato looked at him.
“What do you mean?”
Dako lowered his voice.
“There are rumours in the palace.”
“What rumours?”
“They say Amoni has been helping the foreigners.”
Aloni immediately stepped forward.
“My father would never do that.”
Dako looked at him.
“I know.”
“Then why are people saying it?”
“Because someone wants them to believe it.”
Kato exchanged a serious look with Dako.
The pieces were beginning to fit together.
The royal seal.
The red cloth.
The attack on Amoni's family.
The accusation against Amoni.
Someone was building a story.
And that story was meant to make the people of Bantana turn against their greatest warrior.
Dako looked at Aloni.
“Your father has enemies he does not know about.”
Aloni tightened his grip on the wooden spear.
“Then I will find them.”
Dako shook his head.
“No. You will stay alive.”
He walked away with the other warriors.
Aloni watched him disappear.
Kato placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Your father gave me one instruction.”
“What?”
“To protect you.”
Aloni looked towards the forest.
“Then teach me how to protect myself.”
Kato frowned.
“You are asking me to teach you how to fight?”
“Yes.”
“You are too young.”
“My father taught me how to hold a spear.”
“Playing with a spear is not becoming a warrior.”
“I am not playing.”
Kato looked into the boy's eyes.
There was no fear there anymore.
Only determination.
He sighed.
“Fine.”
Aloni's face brightened.
“But I will teach you only the basics.”
“Why?”
“Because a warrior who does not understand his own strength becomes dangerous to himself.”
Kato took a long stick from the ground and handed it to him.
“Show me how your father taught you to stand.”
Aloni positioned his feet.
Kato immediately shook his head.
“Wrong.”
He moved Aloni's feet apart.
“Again.”
Aloni tried.
“Keep your eyes forward.”
He corrected his posture.
“Your hands are too tight. If you hold the spear like that, your arms will become tired quickly.”
Aloni adjusted.
Kato walked around him.
“Your father taught you something, but he has not taught you everything.”
“What else do I need to know?”
Kato looked at the forest.
“Before a warrior learns how to attack, he must learn how to survive.”
He pointed towards the trees.
“Tell me what you see.”
Aloni looked.
“Trees.”
Kato shook his head.
“Look again.”
Aloni concentrated.
He noticed movement between the branches.
“A bird.”
“Which one?”
Aloni studied it.
“Black bird.”
Kato smiled.
“Good.”
He pointed at the ground.
“What else?”
“Footprints.”
Kato crouched.
“Whose?”
Aloni examined them.
“Human.”
“How many?”
He looked carefully.
“Two.”
Kato's smile disappeared.
“Look again.”
Aloni followed the marks.
“Three.”
Kato nodded.
“They passed here recently.”
Aloni looked towards the forest.
“Are they enemies?”
“We don't know.”
“Then why are we standing here?”
Kato laughed quietly.
“Now you are beginning to understand.”
The lesson continued for hours. Kato taught Aloni how to identify footprints, broken branches, disturbed soil and unusual bird movements. He taught him that the forest could speak to anyone who knew how to listen. A warrior who relied only on his weapon would eventually die, but a warrior who understood the land could survive against an enemy who was stronger.
By afternoon, Aloni was exhausted.
His hands hurt.
His feet were covered in dust.
Yet he refused to stop.
Kato finally looked at him.
“You have had enough for today.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I can continue.”
Kato shook his head.
“Your father would not allow you to train beyond your strength.”
Aloni lowered the stick.
“I want to become strong.”
“You will.”
“How long?”
Kato smiled.
“As long as you live.”
Aloni looked at him.
“What if I die before then?”
Kato's smile disappeared.
“Then you will never become the warrior you want to be.”
The words stayed with Aloni.
That evening, the warriors returned from the western field.
They brought disturbing news.
The foreigners had moved closer.
Their camp was now only a short distance from the river.
They had built wooden structures and were bringing more men into the area.
The King had ordered the village elders to prepare the people.
War was coming.
But inside the palace, another battle had already begun.
King Maredi sat alone in his chamber when a man entered quietly.
It was the same royal adviser who had remained silent during the council meeting.
The King looked up.
“What news?”
The adviser closed the door.
“Amoni has left with the warriors.”
“Good.”
“The people still trust him.”
The King frowned.
“That is why I am worried.”
The adviser stepped closer.
“If he returns victorious, his influence will become stronger.”
The King looked at him carefully.
“Why are you speaking as though you fear my own warrior?”
The adviser smiled.
“I fear no man.”
He reached inside his cloth and removed a small object.
A royal seal.
The King stared at it.
“Where did you get that?”
The adviser smiled.
“It was never lost.”
The King slowly rose.
“What are you saying?”
The adviser moved closer.
“The seal found near Amoni's compound was meant to be found.”
The King's eyes widened.
“You?”
The adviser smiled.
“You still do not understand, Your Majesty.”
He placed the seal on the table.
“The foreigners do not want Bantana destroyed.”
The King stared at him.
“They want to own it.”
The adviser nodded.
“And they already own the people who can give it to them.”
The King reached for his spear.
But before he could draw it, two armed guards entered the chamber.
The King looked at them in disbelief.
“You are my guards.”
They lowered their weapons towards him.
The adviser stepped back.
“You should have accepted their offer when you had the chance.”
The King stared at him.
“You betrayed Bantana.”
The adviser smiled.
“No.”
He looked towards the window.
“I simply chose the side that will win.”
Far away from the palace, Amoni and his warriors moved through the western forest.
They had been ordered to observe the foreign camp, but Amoni had another purpose.
He wanted to know who was supplying the foreigners with information.
As they approached the river, Amoni raised his hand.
The warriors stopped.
He crouched and examined the ground.
There were fresh footprints.
“Men came through here.”
Dako moved beside him.
“How many?”
Amoni studied the marks.
“Six.”
“Foreigners?”
Amoni shook his head.
“No.”
He pointed at one of the footprints.
“These are Bantana sandals.”
Dako looked at him.
“Then someone from our kingdom is meeting them.”
Amoni's face became cold.
They followed the footprints silently.
After several minutes, they reached a clearing.
Amoni raised his hand.
Everyone crouched.
Across the river stood several foreign soldiers.
But they were not alone.
A Bantana man was standing with them.
Amoni narrowed his eyes.
He recognized him.
The man's name was Bako.
One of the King's trusted messengers.
Bako handed a small bundle to the foreign commander.
Amoni's breathing became heavy.
The commander opened it.
Inside were drawings of Bantana's villages.
Maps.
Warrior positions.
The location of the palace.
Even Amoni's compound.
Dako whispered.
“They have everything.”
Amoni's eyes became bloodshot.
“They have been receiving information from inside the kingdom.”
Then Bako turned slightly.
For a brief moment, his eyes moved towards the forest.
Amoni froze.
Had he seen them?
Bako suddenly pointed.
“Someone is watching.”
The foreign soldiers grabbed their weapons.
Amoni raised his spear.
“Get ready.”
The forest exploded with movement.
“Attack!”
Warriors charged from the trees.
Foreign soldiers raised their strange thunder weapons.
A deafening sound shook the forest.
A Bantana warrior fell.
Aloni's father tightened his grip around his spear.
The war had begun.
And this time, Amoni knew exactly who he was fighting.
Not only the foreigners.
But the enemy within.
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