Brave Souls. (Book One.)

The General investigates.

Mariani's First General Mejazi walked casually down a Lekuta pathway away from the royal homestead. He peered through the first homestead's entrance that he came across, saw a group of women sitted outside chatting animatedly no doubt of the council meeting that was taking place.

He moved on, passing a few more homesteads before peering to the one on his right. It was quiet and deserted. He entered slowly , noticing the old worn out sorghum sack plopped next to the nearest hut. Next to it was a crude farm tool.

He smiled.

"Ah, a lazy farmer escapes the endearing African sun."

"I'll be borrowing this briefly."

He picked up the sack and hurled it on his back and with the crude farm tool on hand he stepped out once more with the tired bent swagger of a disgruntled old farmer.

With a casual glance and seemingly aimless walk General Mejazi expertly surveyed the village huts and homesteads methodically. He worked his way slowly beginning east then back west tracing his steps.

It did not take long. Concentrating on the the far left a cluster of grass thatched roof tops caught his attention. Inconsistent dark plumes of smoke rising up to the Lekuta skies quite some distance from the royal homestead had his instinct flare up.

The smoke that seemed to emanate from several sources flickered and puffed in a rhythmic pattern as if the grass thatched huts were engaged in an afternoon puff of the old man's pipe.

The general expertly navigated his way towards the smoking huts, keeping his stance and gait of an old tired farmer slowly making his way back home from a tedious day at the sorghum fields.

As he approached, he immediately noticed the heavy presence of Lekuta regiments. He wisely kept his distance. He did not need to come any closer as the pungent smell of molten steel and muffled sounds of the famous Lekuta steel men's heavy hammers confirmed his worst fears.

The Lekuta kilns were without a doubt in full operation. Their dear neighbors while advocating for peace were busy preparing for war.

"Those two faced chameleons.! How truly naive we have been."

As the general made his way back to his servants post, abandoning sorghum sack and crude farm tool, his face was deeply contorted. His thoughts were miles away. On immediate orders to the Mariani kilns men , of immediate emergency meetings with his fellow generals and of quick deployment to all risk areas of all Mariani's ranks and regiment.

War was coming.

Fast and true.