Magnifico

Disaster is coming.

The General went to sleep while Jonas and Viruz shared the night shift after they advised the old man to take his sleep too. The following morning everyone assembled at the tavern to be briefed on what next to do and also how they will conduct themselves against the intruders who may be attacking their village very soon. The old man brought out swords he had hidden in the tavern. The swords he brought were swords he had hidden for some time waiting for when to launch an attack on the bandits but realizing that it may never come to pass, he had to give up the vision with the weapons too. Sun had to wait for everyone to come in before he started addressing them that early morning.

Sun was standing very close to the tavern's entrance with his brown sac long sleeves, cotton black trouser with his fine sword holstered firmly on his scabbard. He waited till they were complete before he started saying what he wanted to say.

“Good morning all!" Sun greeted and they greeted back too. "I trust your night was okay…” Sun said while Jonas chuckled.

“The worst night ever” Jonas said.

“Well, I know the night may be horrific for some people but it wasn’t for me. Today, We need to be up and running. We need all the energy we can get because we will be needing it. Please I want you all to visit the village men and women and tell them to take cover and also hide whatever that may be important to them wherever they know it will be safe to hide them. Tell them that a disaster is imminent. Make them understand that it is high time they faced their fears and be as bold as an eagle in this period. For this epistle may be the beginning and the end of their servitude. We are about to face and probably destroy those that have held them captive for years and we need everyone’s full cooperation to make this work. When you are done telling them, I think we should gather outside the tavern for further information” Sun stopped. He brought out his sword from his scabbard and leaned forward. He raised the sword with his right hand by extending his hand just at the level of his hip. He continued “if you believe we will win if you believe with all your heart that we will triumph if you know the time has come for you all to be free from this b*****e if you want to make every Phox men and women feel entitled, come forward and keep your sword on top of mine.”

The old man felt like crying but he didn’t. He quickly brought a sword and kept it just above Sun's sword. Others followed suit and kept their swords on top of Sun's sword.

“Good. Good. On this day, whether you fail or pass, just know that you did something your generation would be proud of. You have taken a decision and there is no going back. When you fight this brawl, fight it like there is nothing left to lose. These evil men deserve no mercy nor sympathy for any of them you fail to kill, would probably kill you. We fight like brothers” Sun said.

“Yes sir!” everyone yelled together. The men in the room were in high spirits after listening to Sun's speech. They understood the need to succeed and give no chances to failure for this opportunity may never posit itself ever again. So everyone was battle-ready and Sun could see that through them.

Moments later, knocks were heard banging on the tavern's main door. It was a surprise. After all, no one was expected to enter the tavern at that time because everyone that was needed had already entered the room. Everyone looked at the door and thought that the bandits had arrived at the village, the old man quietly went close and looked through a small hole in the door to confirm the identity of the person there before he opens it. Everyone in the room thought the old man would give a sign to them so they can hide if it is someone they weren't expecting but he went straight and opened the door which wasn't what they expected. Surprisingly, what was seen as a crowd of people, both old and young, males and females, big and small, gripping numerous weapons, objects, farm tools, cutlasses standing at the door. These people were people of phox and the old could recognize most of them.

When the door was opened, there was a continuous chant from the people.

“We will fight, we will fight we will fight”

Sun was surprised and was deeply touched by the enthusiasm shown by the people of Phox and the willingness to defend their land from these invaders. He walked closer to the door and others came closer too. Another old man from the group came forward and hugged the old man.

“You later came? Thank you so much” the tavern owner hugs the man again.

The chants stopped.

“What is happening here?” Sun asked.

“Oh General, meet my friend Thomas. I initially told him about this plan but he refused to accept it. I knew he was the only one who could talk in sense to the people. I am happy he has finally joined us”

“Welcome, sir. My name is Sun”

“Sun. I heard about your plan to save our people. Initially, I declined to help but I later gave it a second thought. If someone who is not one of us was willing to help us, why won’t I help out too? It’s only a coward who runs away from his responsibilities and I am one. Please do forgive my inability to see beyond my nose” Thomas begged.

“No. You are not a coward, you were being careful and afraid. I’m afraid too because I am not sure how things will turn out but seeing the people of Phox joining us today has given me hope and has made my heart robust,” Sun said as he shakes Thomas.

“What makes you so sure that the bandits will even come today?” Thomas asked.

Sun grinned. “Yesterday in this tavern, we killed about seven of them when they came to steal from us. Then when we went to the mountain, we also killed one of their guards and stripped him n***d. So yeah, I am sure they will come here today for revenge and they will surely come to destroy us,” Sun explained.

“Alright. Now, what’s the plan?” Thomas asked.

“The plan has changed. I don’t know if what we went to do yesterday in the mountain would be successful because if the bandits come at us at full speed, what then should we do? Now, since everyone has come to fight alongside us then we must divide ourselves into groups. These men here at my back” Sun paused and turned around to pointed at where Owen, Sun, Viruz, and the others were standing.

He continued “they will be divided into two's and each of them will lead a group comprising of men and women of Phox. These partitions will take directives from their group leaders. We need to be coordinated and being coordinated is a very important war strategy.”

“Alright, Sun. We will do as you say. Anything that will work is fine by me and lots of us,” Thomas said.