Chapter 1: The Early Beginning

Welcome to Nutusel - the land behind the Woods.

Great anticipation filled the compound of Batard as villagers waited anxiously at the front door of his house singing and cheering. Batard remained in tension and fear as his wife Rebecca failed to push out the baby after a long try.

It was in the cultures and traditions of Nutusel that only the man who begot the child shall remain in the same room with the woman until she delivers the child. Thus, every male adult child of Nutusel got trained on how to deliver a child.

Delivery of newborn babies was specifically the job of men alone in Nutusel. All the men of Nutusel gathered together in the palace of the great lord general for the success of the colleagues, the women gathered outside the house to sing and encourage their fellow women during the childbirth, while the children prepared hot porridge flavored with a lot of ginger and pepper.

"Rebecca, my dear wife, I think you should take a rest. I have tried my best and you have done the same. For months my father had me learning childbirth knowing that it is my utmost obligation as a son of Nutusel, I put in all my time and energy; but look at me, I can not even handle my first child birth successfully."

Batard sat on the silver-decorated metal bed, covered with four pieces of linens. Rebecca laid naked and helplessly on the bed. Having lost a lot of energy, she panted as she rummaged on the bed until she felt Batard arm.

"My dear, you did nothing wrong yet. I have tried all I could, you have done more than required of you but, this child is not ready to join us in our World."

Deep in the woods was Kharl Sterg as she struggled in pain. Her green gown had turned red from the Stains of blood dripping from her vargina. She heard on to the trees as she ran energetically out of the woods.

"Just hold on, I need to get to Nutusel. Please, please!"

She cried out.

"The spirit in the woods is praised, be praised, be praised. Japeek is praised, be praised, be praised. Kabril is praised, be praised, be praised."

Sporge the great hunter of honor sang his self harmonized worship song as walked in fulfillment through the woods heading to Nutusel. He carried his musket gun on his left shoulder, a strong rope held the gun still on his shoulder; on his right arm, he had a baby with the face of a mysterious being wrapped in his coat.

Then the cloud drew nearer and it began to drizzle. Patches of fog filled the woods.

Kharl sterg stood and faced the sky with her mouth wide up in demand for drops of water. After she had a few drops, she began to run again.

Sporge removed the bobble hat on his head and tried to cover the baby's face with it but to no avail. At that moment when realized the need to hasten to the village; he carried the baby with both hands and ran boisterously.

There came hope for Kharl Sterg, she smiled as she got sight of the Tower of Nutusel. She was so lost in strength and energy as she slogged into Nutusel.

"Rebecca my dear, do you hear that sound? It is raining, it is the sign of hope."

"But it is not raining yet, Batard. It is only trying to. Lord Sulu will not let it rain."

"Oh! Sulu is gone forever, my love. Let's try again. Kabri is with us."

"Batard!"

"My dear."

"I am tired, I am weak. I have lost hold of myself, I can not command my body anymore."

Kharl was out of the woods at last but she was faced with a scanty Nutusel. She knew the only cause for this, so she tried to reduce her breathing to hear where the singing would come from. Then she traced the sounds.

At the sight of Kharl Sterg, the children ran to her rescue. They help her hands as they walked her into the compound of Batard.

"That is Kharl Sterg."

"Kharl Sterg?"

"The longtime seen Kharl Sterg?"

"The runaway Kharl Sterg?"

The women murmured as they ran to her, took her from the children, and dismissed them. They carried her into the house and laid her on the floor.

"She is pregnant!"

Screamed Obaji, the duchess of Nutusel and the only wife of the great lord general Zandy.

"Indeed she is in labor. What do we do my duchess?"

One of the women asked in a panic.

"Everyone, leave, outside, outside everyone. Go back to singing and cheering."

The women moved out of the house quickly, and the singing continued, even louder than ever.

The only person who did not leave the room was Abeti, the younger sister of the duchess.

"Why are you still here?"

Abeti walked to her and held her hands.

"My duchess, what is the plan? Do you remember this is not our place? I hope you are not planning to commit a taboo?"

"My dear Abeti, we will not commit a taboo but we will save lives."

"How?"

Kharl Sterg moved her body in pain. The duchess and Abeti turned to her.

"Help me."

She groaned.

"Abeti, come with me."

The duchess walked hurriedly and Abeti walked behind her. They stopped at the door.

"Abeti, you have to stay at this door; do not let any woman in."

"Okay, where are you going to?"

"To fetch help."

"Help?"

The duchess nod her head.

"Yes, help."

"From where? This woman has no husband."

"Dear sister, just wait here."

She walked into the long passage that led to Batard room. She made a stop at the door, took a deep breath, and began to knock at the door.

Batard and Rebecca hesitated to respond to the knock because they were anxious and surprised to hear a knock on the door of childbirth.

"Who is that?"

Batard responded in his deep voice.

"It is I Obaji, the duchess of Nutusel and the only wife of the great lord general Zandy."

"What do you want my duchess?"

"I need you to come help save a woman, a pregnant woman. She is in labor, and she is dying after an arduous journey."

Bartard kept mute. He held his wife's arm tightly.

"You there Batard?"

"Yes, my duchess. "

Duchess Obaji moved closer to the door and leaned on it.

"Batard, please help. She has lost so much blood."

She cried out.

"I am sorry, my duchess. Here I am, still unable to lift my cross successfully."

"Kabril has sent her here for a reason. Perhaps, you are that reason. Batard, come save this woman, come save Kharl Sterg."

"Kharl Sterg?"

Asked Rebecca in extreme shock. Kharl Sterg used to be Rebecca's best friend until she disappeared. Rebecca had searched for months and found no trace of Kharl Sterg.

"Kharl Sterg."

Batard replied in shock too.

"You have to go help her. Please you have to."

She pleaded.

"Who will help you?"

"Only Kabril can help me now, my dear. Go help her, go."

He hurried to the door and opened it. Duchess Obaji stood behind the as she waited patiently.

"My duchess, where is she?"

"In the sitting room."

He ran ahead of her to the sitting room.

When Abeti saw Batard running to the door. She expressed a sigh of relief as she quickly opened the door wide to let him.

"WASTE NO MORE TIME ARGUING ABOUT WHAT A GOOD MAN SHOULD BE, BE ONE."

Marcus Aurelius,