Way of The Pride

18| The Ambush

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Whispering Caves
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After Onochie left Iweobi went about his day as usual. To hide his growing anxiety he kept himself busy. Fortunately, the King had taken the day off to spend with his Queen so he was in charge for the day.

From his morning patrol of the palace grounds to training with the guards, supervising the menial task of the servants along with the Head Maid, resolving conflicts among the youth leaders of the villages while running a few errands for the King.

It was a wonder he could still stand.

In the blink of an eye dusk rolled by bringing in twilight. After they all had their evening meal the time came for everyone to retire for the night. Exhausted maids dragged their tired feet to their chambers as the guards changed shifts.

Blessed silence.

The palace was so quiet one would think it empty. Yet, in the depth of those shadows and dark corners laid watchful guards hiding in plain sight.

Night had finally come and it was time to move.

As with the night before he snuck out cloaked and armed, evading the watchful eye of the palace. It dawned on him that he could stroll through the palace gates if he wanted, he had that much authority, but that will raise questions.

Questions he could not answer.

After a bout of hide-and-seek with the guards and a few wandering maids, he finally arrived at his destination, the weapons store.

For the sake of security, the store was built with the dark rocks of Spider Mountain — hard and impenetrable to ordinary swords. Fortunately for him the store was built along the fence and he was the only one in the palace tall enough to climb to the roof.

As he looked around to make sure no one was watching he quickly climbed up using the walls of the fence for support and then jumped over. He landed safely on the other side of the fence where Onochie waited with his usual irritating smile.

"I was beginning to suspect that you would not come." He was also covered in a similar cloak with both axes dangling on his waist.

Iweobi brushed the sand off his palms as he observed his surroundings. They were on the King's unclaimed territory, one of the arable plots of land marked for the next planting season. The last time he came the grass barely reached his knees. Now they were well above his shoulders and the entire field was overrun by grass.

"I am here now. We should go."

Silently, they waded through the wall of grass until they came across the trail that would lead them into Esu village. It was a shortcut he found not too long ago.

Using the shadows to their advantage they stuck to the outskirts of the village, passing flatlands and rocky hills until they arrived at the place where two paths crossed. One led to the stream and the other, the Whispering Caves.

As Iweobi climbed up the rocky grounds, each step bringing him closer to his destination, a heavy feeling settled in his chest. It was not fear, only a heightened sense of things and the restlessness of what was to come.

The sounds of crickets accompanying him, the weight of his sword latched around his waist, the brush of warm air caressing his skin and the comforting breath of his friend by his side.