WIDA

Chapter 3: The Unclaimed Land

The terrain changed as they rode further from the heart of the empire. Rolling hills gave way to rugged plains, and the dense forest that had once shielded them began to thin. The air grew drier, the landscape more barren, and the tension in the group thickened. Wida's muscles ached from days of riding, but she kept her discomfort to herself. Her brothers were tired too, and they didn't need her complaints weighing them down.

By the fifth day, their provisions were running low. The forest had provided some game, and Hakeem had foraged what little he could find, but they knew they couldn't survive long like this. Wida could feel the weight of their desperation growing heavier with each passing mile.

It was Imbo who first spotted the valley. He had been riding ahead, scouting the path as usual, when he came to a halt at the top of a hill. His sharp eyes scanned the horizon, and Wida saw his posture change—his back straightening with cautious optimism.

"What is it?" she asked, urging her horse to catch up.

Imbo pointed. "There. In the distance."

Wida followed his gaze and saw it: a vast, open expanse of land, nestled between two towering mountain ranges. The valley stretched wide, its borders touching the edge of a distant forest. From their vantage point, she could make out a river snaking through the landscape, its waters shimmering in the sunlight.

Obis and the others joined them, taking in the sight.

"It's unclaimed," Imbo said, his voice laced with excitement. "No tribes, no empire. No one controls this land."

Lewa scoffed. "And why's that? Looks perfect to me."

"Because it's disputed," Obis replied, his tone dark. "The land lies between the Gadir and Mbari tribes. They've been fighting over it for years, but neither side has been able to hold it for long. Too many blood feuds, too much bad history."

Wida felt a flicker of hope, despite her brother's words. "But that means no one lives here now, right?"

Obis nodded slowly. "No one that we know of. It's dangerous, though. If either tribe catches us, they'll see us as invaders."

"Or worse," Abudem added, frowning. "They might think we're trying to take sides."

Wida's mind raced. This land, untouched by empire or tribe, could be their sanctuary. It was fertile, defensible, and far from the reach of her father's forces. The possibilities unfolded in her mind like the petals of a blooming flower. Here, they could start anew. A place where they wouldn't be hunted. A place where they could build something for themselves.

"What if we claim it?" she asked, her voice gaining strength.

Her brothers turned to her, surprised.

"Claim it?" Obis repeated, his brow furrowing.

"Yes," Wida said, her pulse quickening. "We've been running for days, chased from every direction. But this land—no one rules it. If we build here, make it our home, we could defend it. We could start over."

Imbo raised an eyebrow. "And if the tribes come for us?"

"We negotiate," she said. "We won't take sides. We'll offer them trade, resources. We make it clear that we're not a threat."

Abudem spoke up, his tone cautious. "It won't be easy. Building a village from nothing... it'll take time. Resources."

"We have the skills," Wida countered. "You can build. Hakeem can heal. Obis can train fighters. Imbo can strategize. And I... I'll lead."

Her brothers exchanged looks, a mixture of doubt and belief in their eyes. But Obis, always the pragmatist, was the first to nod.

"We don't have many other options," he admitted. "And we've come too far to turn back now."

Imbo sighed, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You've always had a talent for crazy ideas, Wida. But this might be the craziest yet."

Lewa grinned. "I like it. Let's claim the land before anyone else does."

With the decision made, they descended into the valley, their horses kicking up dust as they rode toward the river. Wida's heart swelled with both fear and excitement. This land was dangerous, yes, but it was also full of possibility. Here, they could escape the shadow of the empire, escape the destiny that had been forced upon her.

As they set up camp near the river, Wida gazed at the surrounding landscape, imagining what it could become. She pictured homes, fields, a village where people could live freely, without the heavy hand of royalty or tribal conflict weighing them down.

But she knew their new life wouldn't be free of challenges. The land might be unclaimed, but it wasn't uninhabited. The wild animals would be the least of their concerns; it was the neighboring tribes, the Gadir and Mbari, that posed the greatest threat. They would need to tread carefully, establish their presence without provoking war.

As night fell, the brothers gathered around a small fire, the crackling flames casting shadows on their faces. Obis took the first watch, his sword resting on his lap as he surveyed the darkness.

"We need a plan," Imbo said quietly, breaking the silence. "If we're serious about this, we need to move fast. The Gadir will hear of us soon, and they won't wait long to act."

"I'll start scouting the land tomorrow," Abudem offered. "See what materials we have, what we can use for building. We'll need defenses, shelters... everything."

"I can look for medicinal plants," Hakeem added. "The forest might have what we need to treat injuries and illnesses."

"And I'll start training," Obis said. "We can't rely on luck if we're attacked again. Everyone will need to know how to defend themselves."

Wida nodded, listening to their plans, but her mind was already racing ahead. They needed more than just a village—they needed to prove they could hold this land, that they could create something worth defending. And she knew it was up to her to convince others to join them.

As the fire crackled and her brothers spoke in low tones, Wida felt a shift within herself. She had fled the palace a runaway princess, but here, in this unclaimed land, she had the chance to become something more. She wasn't just running from her father's control or Osomo's grip anymore.

She was building something. And for the first time in her life, she would be free to choose her own destiny.

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