BANABELLA

 The day began like every other day. Sunlight filtered through the clouds as dawn broke, casting rays of brilliant light down to the earth; surely a sight that should have warmed the heart. But in the kingdom of Muzagah, it wasn’t appreciation its inhabitants felt; it was rather fear and trepidation. Today, they were going to war!The three lads felt it; the ripples of fear coursing through their veins, squeezing their heart and sucking life out of them, as they sat at the top of the mountain, their duty it was to sound the alarm at the sight of the approaching army.                They sat quietly, none having the courage to speak. Jonah and Luh were almost similar in appearance with their dark skin and lean appearance, while Murai’s skin was of a darker shade, with an athletic build. They made an odd trio, even though they had all clocked eighteen, as Murai looked quite different from them. As the hours grew long though, thei

He continued.“Son, this kingdom of ours boasted of having the most beautiful black woman. All of Suramy’s sorcerers and magicians with virtually all those old folks who are called ‘priest’ sought after her in conjured visions, yet, it seems they were blindfolded. No one could foretell the future to the ailing prince. Days went by, moving closer to the deadline; for there was a deadline. The Emperor knew that if Prince Habeb died, his chances of retaining the aged dynasty will be slim. In Suramy, the dynasty had never been derailed. “The Emperor, being a prudent man, came up with a plan.  Since the priest of Suramy foretold that such kind of a woman, whom the gods required as a sacrifice to restore the prince’s health must come from the hilly kingdoms, he dispersed hundreds of his men beyond his territory.  They entered Achar, Disee, Egleton,and our kingdom, carrying parchments whose contents revealed the wealth that woul

The earth shook under the throbbing hooves of the galloping horses. The cavalrymen advanced towards the grand gates of the kingdom of Muzagah. Soldiers on horseback lifted up their glittering swords and sang songs of war in furious delight. The infantry army, which comprised of the men from Egeton, a province of the Empire which lay five miles east of Muzagah, joined the rest of the army to invade Muzagah. At the head of the group was a man on horseback, who looked different from the rest of the soldiers, judging by his royal armour. He lifted up his spear, and his men understood his gesture as they halted in a moment of disorderliness.  The man’s chest was covered with a gleaming bronze breastplate emblazoned with regal drawings. He wore a red garment that swayed sideways when the winds blew against it. He seemed, by all standards, the leading figure. He dismounted from his horse and collected a battle helmet from a soldier who handed it to him. He wore

“May Zoe protect Murai,” a brother replied Jonah, as he joined his fellow brothers to search for the missing boy. They split themselves into four groups. Each group went their own way to search for him. They were still searching when another roar hit the atmosphere. It was a death throe. Somebody had killed another fellow. “That cannot be Murai. I will not downgrade Hugadah’s son. I am convinced he’s the man who killed his opponent. I hope and pray so,” a sympathetic brother uttered. The men were near the burnt palace premises now, following Jonah behind. There was the sound of someone coming through a partially charred door. It was kept ajar. A young man strode out from it. He stood a few yards away from the men. He was difficult to identify; for his face was partly covered in blood. When he came close, the men cringed in fright, for he wore a skirt of bearskin like theirs. From his belly to his head was bare save for the bl