CONQUERORS

Emir Shibkau of Lumana

Arzika's power house

       He alone, had the full access to the room, the lord Riya mayu (witches) who were his personal and spiritual guards eventually completed the preparation of the concoctions, Arzika was ready for his next top up, he was asked to gulp all the concoction to perfect his fortification, he groaned and his eyes color switched multiple times as he swallowed the horrible liquid.

"This is one of the last steps to making you become what you wish " the first mayya(witch)said.

" Now you will smell your enemies whenever they are close," said the second mayya

" We are fully your servants and would do whatever you want, the gods are pleased with your sacrifices," the first mayya added.

Arzika breathed in and laughed , he noticed a slight change in his laughter, it sounded more evil " I see, What about her? Is she still praying?" he pointed to the last mayya  who was kneeling on a mat, with her arms stretched out in the air.

" Yes she is, she is with the gods as well speak. But not to worry, I will always be by your side from now on, no harm will come to you, the eagle's blood bath it is the final one," said the first mayya , she wore a very bright smile.

" That would make me become a god and become forever young, I suppose," Arzika continued with his evil smiles, he nodded in satisfaction as he left for his main chambers.

He was notified that the chiefs needed his attention, he granted it in no time, he was in a good mood.

He smiled all through as he was honored by the chiefs.

" You royal highness you look good , it is great day," the Welfare Chief started, he spoke in parables and a

Arzika understand his points.

Arzika laughed sheepishly for a while, he knew that had obscure motives " I fear women, they break men"he paused for a while ,massaging his full beards with his long nails, he snapped " how many daughters have you?" He directed to the Welfare Chief.

" Four daughters and they are all betrothed, the first one is very rip,e"

" I am intrigued, no one was bethroted to me but nevertheless, you are all right, I need a queen by my side, her seat has been empty for a long time" he smiled as stared at his mayya who was beside him, they were only visible to him, they could hear and speak to each other with their minds." I like your daughter, the fair one"

The Welfare Chief was stunned " She is bethroted," he knew this wouldn't go well.

" But she is not married, I will pay a huge bride price"

" Forgive me, your highness, we can change the subject of discussion, it wasn't the main reason for our presence here" the Welfare chief starred at the other Chiefs bit it seemed he was alone as they all hid their faces.

" You are about to explode" The mayya whispered to him

" I do not like the way you talk" Arzika directed to the Welfare Chief, the guards general barged in with an apology, he explained as he walked towards Arzika.

" I sincerely apologize, there is a situation, some men were caught at Rushewa's cage, they were with a dismembered human. When we did a thorough investigation, we found out that the dead human was a palace guard"

" They all planned it, they want to take charge" the first mayya said and Arzika replied with his minds" I know"

" You played your cards well, I know you are trying your best to get me off this throne, my own birth right"

The Chiefs were lost, they knew it was over.

" You drama skills are poor, you want to release rushewa so that you could kill me" Arzika laughed sacarstically, "my guards are too incompetent, the fool got himself killed, but not to worry, since you want Rushewa so much , I will release her "

" Your royal highness" the Chief of commerce went on his knees," we are sorry , please don't release her"

" You should be ashamed of yourself for being involved in this conspiracy"

" No, your highness , we know nothing about it" the Health Chief said, they were all frightened.

" I will cut your tongued and feed them to Rushewa"

" Your royal highness, please we are sorry , forgive us, it won't happen again"

" You!" to The Welfare Chief " I am giving you the privilege to release your daughter , that could ease your punishment"

" your grace, my daughters are.....

" Seal that hole!" Arzika's demon has risen" I am too calm, I will not only take your daughter. I am taking all your daughters and I won't pay a dime"

The welfare chief became fierce, his expressions switched " you won't dare it! Arzika!"

The other chiefs wore roguish looks but Arzika remained unreadable.

" Good one, I won't marry them,I will make them Rushewa's dinner"

" I am quitting, kill me as an ordinary citizen , I refuse to be a part of your reign you beast!"

" Who else wants to quit?"

Arzika looked around , the other Chiefs couldn't move their muscles.

" Nobody, oopssss, sorry, take him to the usual place and get me his three damsels before sunsets!" Arzika added , the guards obeyed

" You have all made a good choice, I will reduce your punishments, do you have any other thing to tell me?"

They shook their heads vigorously

" Good , but I have to tell your sons to get ready, a strenuous exercise will begin, we need to upgrade our security ,there might be a war invitation which I would love to grace, and I also need more guards at the border, no one comes or goes out of Nasara without my consent, even strangers must get my permit !" He said crossed glowering at the Chiefs with his legs crossed.

As the days and nights passed by for years, Arzika sought for more powers, no one could face him, not even the other Emirs.

Emir shibkau of lumana Emirate

( A decade before Arzika became the emir of Nasara emirate)

   Emir shibkau was deep in thoughts, he didn't want to be termed a dictator, he was satisfied with the outcome of the prosperity in lumana after he had accepted to dump the old beliefs, he believed his ancestral beliefs had done more harms. Ever since he accepted the Maker beliefs, lumana land had been fertile and poverty had reduced, there was no need for any human sacrifices to blood thirsty gods in return for blessings, He knew it was going to be herculean, but he had a mission he must accomplish.

" I would make sure that every citizen of lumana turns away from the lies and embrace the truth, the Maker will help me" he thought as he walked to and fro in his room, then, there was a knock on his door and it was the Chief guard

" Your highness, the Chief priests seeks your attention"

" What again?" Emir shibkau was Off mood.

" He says it is urgent"

" Everything about him is always urgent, tell him to wait at the meeting hall, I will be with him shortly"the Emir was pessimistic, he had lost all his his beliefs in the priest.

He met with the impatient priest, the priest looked unhealthy

" Your highness" the priest bowed and winced as he uttered.

" You look Ill"

" Yes your highness, the bones are getting weaker, I am not immortal"

" Why are you here?"

" I am bothered, you have not visited the gods and perform your royal duties for a while, and I have noticed this changes ever since the foreigners left, I hope you are not planning to deviate"

" Hmm, you are wrinkled, you should rest"

" Yes, I have already prepared my son , Gamsheka, he will succeed me and I know he would be greater than me"

" High priest, I don't know how it might sound to you, but you should have noticed some changes in In lumana too. The land is green , the well is full, the crops are plentiful, it rains almost every day, I have never witnessed this since I was born, and all these began to manifest ever since I stopped visiting your gods"

The high priest eyes doubled its sizes. His son had told him that the Emir had changed and had even employed a foreign messenger in his palace

" So it is true, you have gone astray and you house a foreigner, they have successfully brainwashed your with a fake beliefs"

" Watch your speech, high priest, if believing in a fake belief had brought me more prosperity and stop me from making human sacrifices" he halted and breathed out "I see no reason to continue bowing down to some blood thirsty gods that do absolutely nothing"

" Your highness! You don't talk to the gods like that"

" High priest , are you scared that you would loose your position?" he smiled broadly " no you won't  if only you accept the maker's beliefs , and if you don't, I won't force you, but I have ceased to be a part of it"

" This is a mere coincidence your highness!, you shouldn't have allowed them into lumana, I told you" he winced again

"Go have some rest, I am done with the meeting"

" The young foreigner you keep has enchanted you, he is evil"

The Emir found the statement hilarious

" Evil? Some who only asks me to kneel to pray and it would be answered, you compare a god who demands for a human as sacrifices and still fails to him?" he sighed" he asked to stay so he could teach me more about the beliefs ,and also ,he would work with me to make lumana great, he is more than you!"

The priest felt insulted,he wanted to say more, but he could not complete his sentence, he slumped and suffered a convulsion, the Emir raised an alarm and the guards came in to take him out.

"I guess it is time gamsheka becomes the high priest but I fear he would be disappointed" the Emir silioloquized

The Emir walked out of the conference hall with his able guards, he sighted prince Hana, his third and youngest son training so hard, he was impressed with the skills and got really amused with some strange and adequate skills Hana pulled off.

" He is good"

" Yes, he is learning so fast" one of his guards added

" Where is jikau and yerima?"

" I have no idea your highness"

The Emir already knew the answers to his questions, he was very certain that yerima, his son and jikau, his second son would be up to nothing but merry, he wondered if yerima would ever become a good Emir. he looked up to Hana again and his hopes returned, Hana was done with his trainings at the mini outdoor training arena. He turned and his eyes met with his father, and they both smiled to each other. Hana went ahead to put on his robes , it looked like he had another mission.

" He needs to rest" Emir Shibkau said.

" Your highness, Hana does not rest, he has a meeting with the Maker's messenger, Hana told me yesterday that he wanted to know more about the maker's beliefs" the guard reported

Emir Shibkau was excited, he couldn't express his joy, his son had finally embraced the new beliefs. he laughed genuinely but his laughter was halted as he got the news of the high priest sudden demise.

He ordered some guards to beat the drums as his last honour to the high priest. Following the death of the high priest, prince yerima, jikau and hana had a private discussion In yarima chambers.

" We have to prepare for gamsheka ordination, he will become the next eyes of the gods"yerima said as he remove his golden turban.

" I don't think there would be any grand celebration, our father doesn't believe in the gods anymore" Hana said which some funny gesture from Prince Yerima and Jikau

" May the gods be praised that you are not the crowned prince" Jikau said

" I don't know, he is just like father" Yerima added

" Brothers, you are being blind to the truth, the Maker's belief is quite real" Hana persisted

" Let's be realistic, I don't understand why a sensible Emir would dump his ancestral beliefs just because some foreigner told him otherwise" Jikau said and yerima spread his arms in support.

" But brothers, since he accepted it. Things have been going from good to better in lumana, we don't have to sacrifice humans to the evil gods for some unforseen blessings"

" Say more boy, you are too young to see what we see, what is the difference between the gods and this your Maker's beliefs, it might be true that we don't hear the voices of the gods but we have the special ones who could hear them and deliver their messages" Yerima added as he sipped his drink

" The Maker's beliefs also has an eye, the foreigner in the castle also reveals , and what makes his religion unique is that you won't give him anything for him to bless you in return, all you need to do is to ask and have faith and patience and he will answer, brothers, do you prefer giving half of your farm products to one priest while the citizens go hungry? if those so called gods were not evil, you would have made a point but these gods are blood thirsty!" Hana  said.

"Look" the words hit yerima" you are 20 , i witnessed your birth, you have made your opinion and so have I, when I become the Emir, I will give my citizens a free will, I won't dictate to them,I don't want to create enemies for my self, the enemies will come for me, not him, he is closer to his grave, we all have eyes, I am disappointed you believe in one maker beliefs already"

" Maker?what did he make" Jikau mocked

" He made you and me, trees, animals"

" Wait , so the Maker's messenger has been giving you some private lessons?" Yarima asked

" Brothers, father had instructed him to teach us more about the religion but unfortunately, it seems like I am the only one Interested"

" Yes. You are alone, I need to retire to bed, Gamsheka is a good friend of mine , I must attend his ordination" Jikau said and left for his Chambers

" Brother yerima"

" Say no more, you can leave except you want to spend the night here"

Prince Hana left , he wanted to tell him more about the little knowledge he had gained from the new religion. He was accompanied by his guards to his chambers , he met some place guards at his main entrance who told him that the Emir needed his presence, prince Hana granted the request.

The humble Hana praised his father and they were left alone as ordered by the Emir shibkau,

" My Hana,the finest of all, the wisest, the bravest, the most skillful, I wish you didn't come late"

Hana gave a shy smile, his father had never praised him in that manner

" Have I done anything baba?"

" No. You have not, I am proud of you, you are so obedient" Emir Shibkau coughed as he talked

" Baba, are you taking your herbs?"

" Yes , the bones are just getting weaker, I am aging, I want to tell you a story"

" I am all ears"

" Have you heard about the three brothers story?"

" Baba, they are many three brothers tales"

" Alright, this one is about three princes born of same parents, the youngest happened to be the wisest and bravest of all and due to this qualities, he became the crowned prince and eventually sat on the throne but, he faced many challenges while he was Emir but with the Maker's grace. He was able to overcome"

Hana was puzzled " that is a strange one baba, is it a foreign story?"

" Well, I hate long speech , I will make it official tomorrow at the conference , the Lumana emirate does not have a crown prince yet"

Hana got more confused" but baba, the crowned prince title has always been the first born son's right"

" That is why I am the Emir, I have the power to intrude into some traditions, an Emir should be someone who deserves it, Yerima does not have those qualities"

" But if you announce it tomorrow, Yerima would be disappointed and furious"

" That is where the competition begins, each of you are qualified for the throne but you must prove it, I will put up some tests for three of you, who ever comes out successful will succeed me"

" But father ,I am the youngest why are you telling me this?"

" You already passed the first test,you are obedient, you have shown more interest than your brothers in the new beliefs and who ever will sit on the throne must think like me"

" Baba, I am still talking them into believing it""

" Good. Another good quality of a leader, I am certain of your victory"

Hana nodded slowly then he digressed a little" baba, gamsheka will be ordained tomorrow, will you honour his ordination?"

" I already beat the drums for his father, that is the only part I will play, you may now leave"

" Yes baba" Hana said as he left unwillingly.

" I don't know why you are taking this sudden decision" Queen Sauraniya stated as she walked towards her husband, she had hid behind the curtains

" It is the best decision , Hana acts like a leader even at a very young age, he learned fast, he is so skill full,   I have watched beat his elder brothers in swords fighting, Yerima and Jikau cannot be compared to him"

" Don't you think this would might create enmity among the siblings?"

" I will announce it literally, I will set up a test for them and who ever wins become the emir"

" What if yarima wins?"

" He can't. it will be too difficult for him"

The Queen sighed" I know you adore the fact that Hana has embraced the Maker religion, was it the Maker's messenger that revealed it to you?

" He told me something similar , but I already had those thoughts, I have been observing these lads"

" You are the only emir who has wholeheartedly accepted the religion"

" Yes , I am proud of myself, and I want the citizens to also believe in it, but how can I possibly achieve that when my household is being odd"

" You know I am always with you no matter what, I always trusts your actions, you are not just a good husband but a very courageous leader and Emir, I will always be on your side"

The Emir was pleased , he was very much in love with his Queen ,he held her hands and said "I wouldn't have achieved a lot without you, you advice , your care and warmth kept me going, I adore you and you have given me the best of sons, I have no reason to stop believing in this religion, I found peace with it" he said in low tone while the queen smiled along but the lovey-dovey moments was interrupted by a knock on the door, it was the Emir guard, he was permitted to walk in .

" The messenger is here to see you" the guard reported

The Emir nodded in approval " sorry my queen you have to give us time to talk, no one is permitted to listen whenever he wants to see me"

The queen accepted to leave for her personal chambers, she was accompanied by the guards

The messenger who was always in a white robes praised the Emir.

" You are welcome, you have something important I guess"

" Yes , I couldn't wait till tomorrow"

"say it"

" The Maker have asked you to make a triple edged dagger and that you should be hand tight with it, it should always be in your possession. The dagger should be made from the rarest material and it shouldn't be duplicated, you will make it and give it to me, the Maker would bless it then ,I would return it to you"

" and...." The Emir wanted more information

" That's all that was revealed, maybe when he reveals more on it ,I would let you know, you need to prepare it in two moons"

"I will make sure its preparation commence as soon as possible and I will be hand tight with it"

The Emir watched the messenger leave, he believed the message was for lumana's progress. He wouldn't mind spending a lot to make the dagger.

The next day was so bright, the notice were distributed, the councils of Chiefs were all sitting at the conference ,and the princes who were all dressed elegantly were also present, they all await the special announcement apart from the prince Hana. Emir Shibkau finally walked in and he was praised respectfully as the congregation stood and bowed their heads.

He sat on his throne wearing a broad smile

" It is impromptu, but it is good one, first and foremost, the Commerce Chief should see me personally after the announcement, and this is not about the old priest or Gamsheka ordination, it is very far from from that" the Emir cleared his throat" my son , Prince Yerima, being the first son has the crowned prince title as his right but my reign is different, I will give my other sons an opportunity to know what the throne feels like, I owe nobody any explanation for my actions"

there was a mild murmurings amongst the chiefs

" We have three Princes in the emirate, they will have to compete for the throne and one will emerge the crowned prince of Lumana, I have three tests of which they have unconsciously gone through one ,and I have the outcome already, the second test is a little physical , they will combat with their swords fighting teachers individually in the presence of a large audience at the training field , their individual swords fighting skills will be judged and I will announce the next test" the Emir concluded and gave chance for the Chiefs to contribute, Yerima and Jikau were already in a terrible state, they sweated profusely.

" My Emir, we cannot tell you what to do because we know that you have your reasons, but it is a tradition that we cannot neglect, the first born son have always being the Emirs, I don't think the gods will be pleased..

" hold it!, I am not a believer anymore, so I can change the rules, that would be all"

Yarima ran mad. He felt so horrible and betrayed, he locked himself up in his room and wailed, but with much pleadings from the Queen, he lent her some audience

" Mama , I hope the new religion has not driven baba crazy"

" How dare you, don't you ever use such words on your father, he remains your father and the Emir, show some respect"

" Baba ridiculed me!"

" He didn't take the crown prince away from you"

" What is the difference?, I have to compete with my younger brothers for the throne, it is too intimidating, the throne is mine mama, I have never heard such a thing in my entire life" he spoke in tears " putting up a competition among your sons? It has always been the first son"

" Son, A future Emir has to learn to get hold of his emotions, you are not showing any of these qualities. All these reactions are among what your father would judge you with, I must tell you the truth, you have become too relaxed, you don't make any contribution in the Palace, I hardly remember the last time you trained with your teacher. You and Jikau have become too playful, you don't go for the Maker's lessons, you let your position get into your head and that's what your father observed, you believe you don't have to learn much about swords fighting because you have competent soldiers and that is very wrong, passing these tests will only buy back your father's trust so use your head"

Yerima had stopped crying, he was becoming calm , he drank some water and breathed slowly.

" What was the first test? He said we have unconsciously gone through it?"

" I cannot answer to that"

" I hope I hadn't failed" Yerima  thought " but how can I meet up with the swords fighting? I hadn't trained for eight moons"

" Start practicing now, you have two sunsets" the Queen concluded, she left for Jikau's chamber but jikau was asleep, he had drunk himself to stupor at the instance of the news, she proceeded to Hana's who had gone for his lessons, she waited patiently for his return.

He sighted her and he increased his foot steps,she sat on a Wooden chair at his main entrance

" Hana"

" Mama, you are awake, it is late"

" I needed to speak to you" she replied and they went into his room. The queen looked around " Auta (Last child) your room is simple"

" Thank you mama"

" Are you ready for the task ahead"

" I know it is disrespectful to compete with my elder brothers for the throne, but it is an order from the Emir"

" You know the throne rightfully belongs to your eldest brother" she lifted his body ointment and smelled it

" Yes I know" Hana entered his changing room to put on his training outfits, the outfits were loose brown top and elastic-bandaged pants " mama, I am sorry but my swords teacher awaits me"

The Queen was short of words, all she wanted was peace amongst her sons, she feared Hana might emerge as the emir and she foresaw a lasting hatred from Yerima  and Jikau towards him.

" I like the smell of your ointment, but it is old, I will replace it"she said still holding the the small bottle containing the Hana's body ointment

"Thank you, just believe, it will be fine"

The queen touch his smooth cheeks " I am proud of you"

Hana hugged his mother , then he left for his trainings,she watched him till he faded.