Say Walah

50: For Mairo

I held my breath and steadied my heartbeat, every sense tuned to the courtyard scene unfolding before me. Mairo, Amadi, Obiageli, and Obi were surrounded by Ashangi bowmen, eyes cold and expressionless, their arrows drawn and ready to let fly at a single command. This was no ordinary standoff. Ozo Ibezim's fortress was well-guarded, and he must have anticipated my escape, even using my own friends as bait. But he hadn't anticipated my resolve or the fierce loyalty of those who stood with me.

For Mairo.

My mind raced, every muscle taut, as I scanned the courtyard, searching for an opening. One, and only one.

To the left of the courtyard, I spotted a stack of clay water jars left from the night's storm. The ground around them was a swamp of mud and water, slick as oil, with a scattering of rocks along the edge that had been washed free of dirt by the downpour. It would be treacherous footing for anyone, especially a band of heavily armed bowmen. My eyes shifted back to the captives, noting their bound hands and the tense set of their shoulders.

I gave a low, sharp whistle—the signal we'd perfected over years of missions. Within moments, Amadi's gaze flickered toward me, his expression unreadable but his stance shifting almost imperceptibly. His eyes followed mine, catching sight of what I'd seen. In that brief, silent exchange, he understood, his body tensing, every muscle coiled and ready. He gave a barely perceptible nod, signaling that he was prepared to play his part.

Inching back into the shadows, I slipped along the perimeter of the courtyard, creeping until I stood behind a small boulder close to the clay jars. My fingers closed around a handful of small stones. The guards were trained to watch for armed threats, not distractions.

A single flick of my wrist sent a stone skittering into the opposite direction. The sound drew three of the guards' attention for just a breath. That was all we needed.

With a swift jerk, Obi feigned a collapse to the ground, his body curling into the mud, buying me a few moments as the guards exchanged glances and one of them broke formation to check on him.

I burst from the shadows, sprinting low and silent toward the bowmen with the knife gripped tight in my hand. My feet found purchase on the scattered rocks, keeping me from slipping on the slick mud as I plunged into the heart of the guards. My blade caught the closest one by surprise, silencing him before he could raise the alarm. A twist of my wrist, and he crumpled soundlessly to the ground.

Amadi took his cue, using his bound hands to strike another guard in the side, causing him to lose balance on the muddy ground and fall hard. Obiageli moved with deadly precision, hooking her leg around another guard's knees, sending him sprawling. In moments, we had a small clearing in the midst of the chaos.

"Amadi!" I hissed, tossing him the fallen guard's knife. He snatched it mid-air, his eyes gleaming with fierce determination, and quickly freed Obiageli and Obi.

But then, a voice like nails on stone cut through the night. "Did you really think it would be so easy?" Ozo Ibezim stepped from the shadows beyond the courtyard, a cruel smile twisting his lips. In his hands, he held a small, raffia pouch. His eyes were full of dark triumph as he shook it, releasing a cloud of dark green smoke that billowed around him, carried by the slight breeze toward us.

I recognized the scent instantly. "Onwu powder," I whispered, my throat tightening. This was no ordinary herb. It would steal our breath, paralyze our limbs, drown us in our own minds. Ozo Ibezim's final trick.

"Hold your breath!" I yelled, but it was too late. The smoke swept over us like a living thing, clinging to skin and clothing, sinking into every pore. My head swam as I felt the poison settle into my lungs, dulling my senses. Obi stumbled, clutching his throat, his face twisting in horror. I had moments – less than, maybe – to act before it claimed us all — even the Ashangi.

Through the thickening haze, I saw Mairo's eyes widen as she choked, reaching toward me from her place on the ground, where she'd fallen. I gathered the last of my strength and staggered forward, scooping her into my arms and stumbling backward, pushing her out of the smoke's reach. She clawed at my arm, her eyes fierce, but I shoved her with all my remaining strength, sending her sprawling free of the cloud, her gasping breaths drawing clean air once more.

"Go!" I rasped, feeling the toxin dig deeper, winding its way through my veins. She hesitated for a split moment, her eyes locking with mine, agony and defiance mingling in her gaze.

"Please," I whispered, the word escaping like a final breath.

Something in her gaze softened, and the defiance melted, replaced by a reluctant resolve. She turned and sprinted into the shadows, swallowed by the night.

The world spun around me as the smoke closed in, thick and unyielding. My limbs grew heavy, my vision dimmed, and I could feel the earth beneath me tilt as I sank to my knees, Amadi's voice a faint echo in the fog, cursing, calling, and then fading into silence. The last thing I saw was the faint outline of Ozo Ibezim, his smile still twisted with satisfaction, standing just beyond the cloud, triumphant.

With my remaining strength, I sprinted across the courtyard toward Ozo Ibezim. He turned at the last moment, eyes widening with recognition. We collided as I stabbed his neck repeatedly.

"It ends here," I rasped. Thunder rolled in the distance as raindrops began to fall again.

We both fell in a sickening thud. The darkness wrapped around us like a shroud, leaving nothing but the hollow sound of rain and the taste of bitter herbs in the air.

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