Brinda

Armored all over, standing tall above the hill overlooking Chiroma, King Adigun sucked in ample air and let his lungs weigh heavily on what he used to call home. The sight was different since he was last there, and he could only say Chiroma had gotten more powerful. The grasses were greener all over, and the scent of peace and growth couldn't be cast aside.

To his left was Kalil, armed to the teeth and yet doing just enough to leave himself flexible and light. The other generals looked nervous and King Adigun had expected it of them. They were about to face their greatest fears and their worst battle yet, and he, the King, was about to face those he once called comrades and who once served under him.

In the distance, a blow horn announced the arrival of the almost naked Generals, bearing large blades and riding atop their colored and striped horses. The black colors lined across the skins of the horses signified they were about to battle a traitor, and King Adigun couldn't help but see the oddity in their belief; he had sought for peace one last time from his father but he was turned down.

"We outnumber them", Kalil said, sounding rather excited and prompting a somewhat troubled expression from

"You are going to get yourself killed just by measuring up the number in your head", King Adigun spoke in calm and precise tone. "Here me!"

He turned to look at his troops and ran his gaze over the five hundred men and women he managed to gather. Princess Zaria had provided about two hundred soldiers and in it he found gratitude.

"I can imagine your fright and I can see the level of overconfidence threatening to take over that feeling of fright right now", he started by saying. "On the soil we stand, memories of sweat, blood, tears and victories are in good numbers and I assure you it will repeat itself today. Man or woman, victory is victory and defeat remains defeat in its taste. I stand before you as a man and not just your king. I stand before you as the leader you chose to go into battle with, and I stand before you as a warrior who is unbeaten. As such, I make you a promise that we will fight to our last living breath for Brinda, and while we do this, may the odds be in our favor, and may the gods go with us!"

He held up his blade and got a raucous cheer from the crowd. They rammed their spears and blades hard against their shields, screaming in buoyant spirit and bringing nothing but joy to his heart. The women armed themselves mostly with spears, making it easier for them to maneuver after they swing and for them to reach better distance even before they got close enough to their opponents.

Yet, one woman stood to differ; she wielded a blade swift in its steel and no different from one King Adigun would take into battle. It brought him a thin smile to his lips and he brought her a nod of acknowledgment from him.

"Kariya", he called out to her. "I will entrust my back to you while the other generals break into factions as discussed".

Kalil and te others bowed to the king as they split up immediately and spanned across the green fields. Like a well oiled system, they took their spots behind their generals and maintained their grounds while King Adigun and Kariya stood alone.

"Let's go, Kariya!" he commanded.

Kariya gave a short nod and a rather aggressive show of acknowledgment as well. King Adigun snickered softly and held out his blade while his feet began to cut across the grass. Counting his breath and conserving as much energy as possible, he felt safe with Kariya covering his blind spots. True to himself, he could feel some nervousness slowly begin to air within his chest.

"Chiroma is my home too", he thought to himself in conflicting emotions. "It was all I knew before Brinda and it was meant to become mine after my father".