Brinda

Surrender or War

A year and half passed in peace and calm and the people of Brinda found their footing in the new laws. Women were finally granted the freedom to air their grievances and stand their grounds by learning to fight, but the numbers still dwindled in comparison with those who truly wanted to try it out. Scores of men on the other hand, enrolled into the King's army, willing to prove their worth and work their way into the people's hearts with victories in battles and by completing the mandatory two year period as a warrior and in training as demanded by the King.

King Adigun stood and oversaw a training session as the men let rip both blood and sweat into the earth in the early hours of the morning. The sight was refreshing and brought back memories of the harsh trainings he received in Chiroma before becoming the man he was.

"Every time you stand to watch them, I cannot help but feel you miss being in the dugout sparring", Ambika Devi said to his left after announcing her presence by sneaking her hand into his.

King Adigun heaved out a sigh in exhaustion and closed his eyes momentarily.

"What bothers you, my King?" she asked intuitively.

"My father sent word, demanding we find a way to get an heir or I remarry, amongst other options", he explained.

The last h saw of his father was when the man brought Princess Zaria who had since returned to her kingdom, over to Brinda to become his wife.

"What other choices?" she asked. "What other choices are you given?"

He cleared his throat, shook his head and said, "He asks that I leave the throne or bring war upon the kingdom from Chiroma".

Ambika Devi tightened her hand around his in obvious show of fright, and then slowly eased her hand out of his.

"What was your decision?" she asked again.

King Adigun looked up and into her eyes with guilt in his eyes. "I chose war. I will rather fight for what is mine and ours than let him try to take it away from me".

"Isn't that dangerous at such point in time? We barely have enough allies and soldiers to take on Chiroma, let alone the kingdoms you helped Chiroma subdue under its reign", his wife reminded him. "Our men are no match for Chiroma's warriors and even if we manage to break through, there is no telling what will become of you and your father if you faced off".

King Akogun whose full name was "gbogbo ara kikida ogun", simply translated as a man whose entire being was built for war, was not someone who would give in easily. More so the man might be a little bit old but he did teach and train his warrior as well as King Adigun on the art of war.

"It cannot be helped if we indeed intend to build a legacy in Brinda that will last the test of time and protect its people", he explained. "We might not have enough men or even allies but I have reached out to the people and you will be surprised just how many are willing to fight for the new Brinda".

Ambika Devi held her man in her gaze and leaned over to kiss him. "Whatever you choose to do, however you choose to carry it out, I will always stand by you".

King Adigun turned back around and leaned into the window, closed his eyes and tried to imagine how his father had taken the rather difficult message. He had made things absolutely clear and his stance was unshakable; he would rule Brinda as he saw fit and there would be no interference from Chiroma or even falling as one of the colonies under Chiroma's reign.

"King Adigun", one of the guards called to him. "The newly appointed Generals have arrived".

The King waved the guard off and cocked his head. He stretched himself some bit and yawned before hurrying along to the meeting room where he hoped reports would be far better than he had exaggerated things to Ambika Devi to avert her from feeling worried.

The four newly appointed Generals upped from their seats as soon as King Adigun walked in. he waved them back into their seats and took his position at the head of the table. The faces before him held nothing but innocence and they were young. Three out of the generals had been newly promoted for doing a fine job in his last war, but he wondered if they could or even would stand a chance against Chiroma's warriors.

One of them looked bold and ferocious, just as his father had done too. Ahmad's son, Kalil sat in his full regalia, trimmed with gold around his helmet and looking more like a handsome warrior than a brutal one. King Adigun had watched him in training and asked that he be promoted immediately to the rank of General.

His skills superseded what others had in store and he would need it.

"Why didn't you fight alongside your father during the last war?" king Adigun asked the young man.

"We share differing views on who to follow as a leader, or at least we did until he met you and fought you in person", he replied. "Things are clearer back home and I want you to know that he is willing to lay down his sword and fight for you in this battle against Chiroma".

King Adigun felt flattered but he wasn't about to take a man who sustained such brutal injuries and was not fully recovered from them to fight against the savages his father had as warriors.

"Having you in my ranks is more than enough", the King replied before looking at the others. "Do you have any news from the neighboring kingdoms?"

The Generals fell flat in tone and looked at one another with discomfort in their eyes.

"Nobody is willing to cross the line by going against Chiroma", one of the men said. "At this rate we have fewer men in numbers as compared to them and if what you say is true about one Chiroma fighter equaling three, then we might be in far more trouble".

King Adigun feared things would come to that but he held a brave face up and continued to hide hi worries.

"It is indeed true", Kalil interjected. "Tales of what Chiroma warriors can do or have done still have a way of resonating through the kingdoms years after. My father faced them once and it was one of the two times he has faced death and surprisingly".

King Adigun took a moment to gather his thought but nothing seemed to be enough. They were short on soldiers, short on allies, and short on experience in battle in difference to Chiroma.

"Gather the women, train them equally as the men", he looked up and said. "If we must stand and fight, then we will do it together. I also need your best strategist. I doubt fighting my father and his kingdom head on would yield nothing but disaster".

Slowly, he helped himself to his feet and thanked them for coming.

"My lord!" one of the men called out to him. "Must we draft women into this war? Wouldn't it come at a disadvantage to us?"

King Adigun shook his head and replied, "We need as much hands as we can get to battle. More so, haven't you seen the changes in the tide? Is it no apparent that women are far more capable than you have given them credit for over the years? Train them as you would train your men, and gather as much allies as we can".

He exited the room and proceeded to write to his father once again. It just might be the only way to bring things to an end before they even began.

"You have enough kingdoms under your belt, father", he thought to himself with a loud sigh. "What more would you want from me?"

A scourge of anger fueled his soul while he recalled how he managed to win over more than half of the kingdoms under Chiroma through battle. Seeing those kingdoms now pledge allegiance to his father was heartbreaking and it left him feeling somewhat betrayed as well.

"Brinda stands alone", he thought to himself. "Brinda bows to nobody".