WIDA

Chapter 5: The First Challenge

The sun was high in the sky by the time Wida and Obis reached the edge of the first village. It was a small settlement, tucked between the foothills of the Gadir Mountains, with simple mud-brick homes and crops growing in neat rows. A few villagers glanced up as they passed, curiosity and caution in their eyes. This far out from the larger tribes, outsiders were rare.

Wida dismounted her horse, her heart racing as she and Obis approached the village center. This was the moment that would determine whether her plan had any chance of success. If she could convince these villagers to join them, to leave behind their lives and start fresh, they might have a fighting chance at building something real. If not...

She shook the thought from her mind. Failure wasn't an option.

A man, tall and weathered with a heavy brow, stepped forward from the group gathered in the square. His eyes narrowed at them, suspicious and alert. He looked like the village headman, or at least someone with authority.

"What brings you strangers to our land?" the man asked, his tone gruff.

Wida forced herself to stand tall, despite the nerves roiling in her gut. "My name is Wida, and this is my brother, Obis. We've come with a proposal—one that could benefit your village."

The man's brow furrowed. "And what might that be? We have little to offer outsiders."

"We aren't looking to take anything from you," Wida said, her voice steady. "In fact, we want to offer you something: a new start. A chance to escape the control of the tribes and live freely on land that belongs to no one."

The villagers exchanged skeptical glances, murmuring among themselves. Wida could sense the doubt, the fear of the unknown. She understood it. These people had lived their entire lives under the thumb of the Gadir and Mbari tribes. The idea of leaving that behind, of striking out on their own, was terrifying.

But it was also the only way they would ever truly be free.

The headman folded his arms. "And where exactly is this land, you speak of? The Gadir and Mbari have claimed everything around these parts."

Wida shook her head. "Not everything. There is a valley—unclaimed, untouched. It lies between the two territories, and neither tribe has been able to hold it. That's where we're building our village."

Obis stepped forward, his voice carrying a note of warning. "But it won't be easy. The Gadir and Mbari will eventually learn of it, and they'll try to take it. That's why we need people who are willing to fight for their freedom."

Wida shot her brother a look, though she knew he was right. These villagers needed to understand the risks as much as the rewards. Building a village in disputed territory was a dangerous game. But if they succeeded, they could create something that neither empire nor tribe could take away.

The headman eyed them for a long moment, then glanced at the villagers behind him. "You say this land is unclaimed. But if the tribes couldn't hold it, what makes you think you can?"

Wida's pulse quickened. This was the heart of it, the question she had been turning over in her mind for days. What made them think they could succeed where others had failed?

"Because we aren't trying to conquer it," she said softly, her gaze sweeping over the crowd. "We're trying to build something different. Something that doesn't rely on the power struggles of the past. We'll create alliances, not enemies. We'll trade with both tribes, offer them peace instead of war. But to do that, we need people who believe in that vision. People like you."

The crowd murmured again, uncertainty still lingering in their expressions. Wida could feel the weight of their hesitation, their fear of stepping into the unknown. But she also saw something else—a flicker of hope.

The headman frowned, scratching his chin. "And if we leave our homes, what guarantee do we have that you can protect us? You may have good intentions, but good intentions don't stop swords."

Obis stepped forward, his voice firm. "I will train every man, woman, and child to defend themselves. I've fought in the Gadir wars. I know what it takes to survive. We won't be helpless."

Wida could see the doubt beginning to wane, replaced by a growing sense of possibility. These people had lived their entire lives in fear, under the constant threat of being caught in the crossfire between warring tribes. Now, for the first time, they were being offered a way out.

"We don't ask for blind trust," Wida said, her voice steady. "Only for a chance. Come with us. See the land for yourselves. And if you don't believe in what we're building, you're free to leave. But if you do... we'll fight for it together."

The headman studied her for a long, silent moment, then finally nodded. "I will speak with my people. Give us until the end of the day."

Wida nodded in return, feeling a mix of relief and tension. The hardest part was done—now they just had to wait.

As the headman turned to address the villagers, Wida and Obis retreated to the edge of the square, where they could speak in private.

"Well," Obis said quietly, "that went better than I expected."

Wida gave him a small smile. "You didn't think they'd go for it?"

Obis shrugged. "People don't like change. But they like fear even less."

She sighed, glancing back at the villagers. "Do you think they'll join us?"

He paused, then nodded. "Some will. Enough to get started, at least. Once they see that the valley is real, that we can protect them, the rest will follow."

Wida hoped he was right. They had come too far, risked too much to fail now.

As the sun began to sink toward the horizon, casting long shadows over the village, the headman returned with a small group of villagers in tow. His expression was somber but resolved.

"We've spoken," he said, his voice carrying the weight of the decision. "And we've decided that we'll send a few of our people with you. If they find what you've promised, more will follow. But if you fail..."

He let the threat hang in the air, unspoken but clear.

Wida nodded. "We won't fail."

With that, the first group of settlers was chosen—six men and three women, all strong, capable, and wary of what lay ahead. They gathered their belongings, said their goodbyes, and prepared to leave the only home they had ever known.

As they set off toward the valley, the sky darkening with the approach of night, Wida felt a surge of hope and responsibility. They had taken the first step toward building something new, something worth fighting for.

But she knew this was only the beginning. The true test was yet to come.

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