Chapter 5
734 Words
4
WHEN RASHA AND JAK arrived, the council was discussing the growing population and the need for more resources. Rasha interrupted and asked the only question that mattered to her.
“Where are my fighters?”
“The call was sent. We await the reply,” Keabasi reminded them.
“And in the south? The seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth?”
Xeku said, “Wanaka has sent more men. They should be there in a day or two.”
“How many?”
“Approximately two hundred.”
“I want to be informed the minute they arrive.”
“Your Highness.” Xeku gave her a slight bow.
“Sidoa and Vol promised reinforcements weeks ago. Where are they?”
“They were stranded by weather at the Chilali border, Your Highness.”
“How many?”
“Fifty, Your Highness.”
“Fifty each? What do they think this is, a schoolyard spat?” She looked pointedly at the councilman from Sidoa.
“No, that’s fifty in total. They’re small and don’t have as many men to call on,” Xeku said.
Ummo, the councilman from Sidoa, looked away, embarrassed. He recognized that for the weak excuse it was. Hard feelings and spite were the real reason.
“They are sending beasts by the thousands, and we are still scraping together a few hundred fighters at a time. Is it any wonder we’re losing this battle?” Rasha couldn’t understand their shortsightedness. They would rather wait for the fight to reach their homelands than to stand with Adalu now.
“What is the latest report from the scouts?” Rasha asked.
“The beasts have pulled back. We expect it will be several days, at least, before they strike again.”
From the corner of the room, Temi’s booming growl filled the chamber. The councilmen covered their ears.
“The council feels that for now, royals should return to the palace and duties of state that cannot be delegated, such as addressing the realm,” Gungbe called over the din.
“We have already discussed this. Jak and I cannot waste time attending balls and waving at crowds. We need to be at the front, defending the kingdom.” Rasha was furious.
“Our combined forces will break up into factions. They won’t take orders from other kingdoms. They are rallied behind our leadership,” Jak said. “And furthermore, we can’t make the necessary split-second decisions watching the battle on a screen.”
Keabasi banged her staff to get their attention again. “The palace and your realm need to be your priority.”
“I’m not staying up here and playing princess while the beasts take down our people.” Rasha said, her voice climbing an octave and several decibels.
“The role of incumbent princess is only temporary. You’ll be replaced soon enough. For now, you must keep up appearances.”
Rasha found the whole thing demeaning.
“Let’s be clear about something. This whole thing was your idea. I don’t want to be here any more than you want me here. However, since I am here and we all have a job to do, what I need is support from all of the Bolaji kingdoms. I refuse to be a figurehead and stand by watching the kingdom fall to its knees. I’m not going to smile and wave from behind the palace walls, I’m going to fight. Are the rest of you willing to do the same?”
Rasha didn’t wait for an answer. She called Temi and stormed out. Jak went after her.
“You handled yourself well in there. You didn’t hit anyone this time,” Jak said, giving her a poke in the ribs.
“Stop it.” She slapped his hand away. “That was an accident. Sort of like the one you’re about to have.” She shoved him hard in the shoulder but he barely moved, instead shifting his weight and pulling her in by the waist.
“Hey, come on now. Let’s go get in some practice time, put all that mad you’re carrying around to good use.”
“Princess Rasha, may I have a moment of your time?” Ebere was standing shyly behind her, holding something she didn’t recognize.
She was in no mood for another discussion. “Can it wait?”
“This will only take a minute,” Ebere said insistently.
“What is it?”
Ebere looked up at her, his brownish-green eyes serious. He was an excellent second. He didn’t talk too much, and his large ears were always alert. He could hear things that even Temi didn’t catch.
“Remember how you asked me to try and find a way to capture and trace messages between the beasts and our kingdom?”
“Yes, I remember. Have you found something?” Rasha’s eyes followed Xeku as he approached his son. They stepped to one side, and their voices were too low to be heard.
“I have, and you’re not going to like it.”
- Writer
