CHAPTER FOUR

A child flung the door of his hut open. Rubs his eyes, still feeling dizzy. Collects firewood from a fireplace at the corner of the hut. Blows the air to make the amber part of the firewood produce a flame. He becomes consistent for a moment but it does not light up. Ashes are lubricated on his face as he tried to blub his eyes with his hand due effect of the smoke that profusely filled the hut making his eyes watery. He swings the firewood severally until a spark of flame contours over the firewood. He smiled.

He staggers out of the hut with his chest bare. He was very sure, he was lazy. He never attended the morning rituals at Kamano. Kamano was situated between river Thiita and Thuura. A ridge that Mugwe rested upon his death. This was the ridge he communicated a message from. Just before the ridge of Kamano, another ridge hindered it from river Thiita. They just boarded. The ridge was Njiru, from its shade of black that towered the land of Ura from the west.

Two burning arrows miss the child by chance of wind that intensely across the land. This awakes the consciousness of the child. His heart kept the pace of the horse that crept the racy speed towards the child. This shuddered his courage, making the child empty his bowel onto himself. “It's my day!” the child mummers to himself.

"Run! Run! Run!" the child heard a voice. It was a female voice. He couldn't connect to whom would she be at first. Still glued to the spot, he recalls how he used to escape the punishment from his mother. The soldiers now crept close and close. Another arrow storms into the air. He realizes that he is spotted because of the flame from the firewood. He drops the firewood. " I can still think, I'm not that lazy," he says as he sojourns the terrain, down the slopes of river Thiita. Slides and get hold of a rope-like plant that hangs on the slope. The rope withstands the exerted pressure and swings the child across the river Thiita. The child lands on the side of Kamano safely. It was a scene for every Mark Slater's soldier who snared the ambience and got amused.

The soldiers followed a path that led them to a crossing bay. Half of the into the cold black waters of river Thiita. A throbbing voluminous wave-like water filled the river, exceeding its range of capacity. The soldiers succumbed in the water with their horses. The dead bodies floated along the river Thiita. Some gave a stiff catch at a straw struggle but the thrusting force of the water, pushed them down, down the river.

Other soldiers started to retreat. The sight was grotesque. Now, the sun's rays gave life to the earth. The plot of captivity compelled the reign of Mark Slater. Laura crossed the river Thiita from the upper region. She led her troop of soldiers. She smiles at the child who stood by the river. " Alexander, Bravo!" Laura complimented the boy.

Alexander, in the past, spent most of his time along the river bank of Thiita. He usually enjoyed the flow of the cold water. He built some structures along the river. He tried to control water in a simple stream he created. His capabilities attracted the interest of the soldiers who buried hatchets around the area. All day long, he would skive home from his mother's work and join a team of soldiers at the river to entertain them with his simple structures. In the evening, the legend would come back home, barefooted and the mud all over his body. The fierce eyes and visage on her mother's face would impede him from entry to the home. He strolled around the fence of the homestead. Her mother's love would not take long after she appreciated his comeback with humpback of firewood. This was the gift of a bribe.

The soldiers joined him and constructed a reservoir of water along the river Thiita. They dug a large pothole in which they directed water into it. They strengthened the lower part with a stone. They also braked stones and aligned them across the river. They piled up and blocked masses of water, forming a second reservoir. They connected the two at the lower point and made a weak point. Until the day of the raid, it remained a secret between them. A learner who learns something in his or her life and doesn’t implicate to the real life, remains a learner. Alexander upon landing on the other side of Kamano disintegrated the weak point causing a massacre.

A strategic point was designated by Laura. Dividing the soldiers into three. One is at the top of a cliff, near the crossing bay at river Thagana. They sharpened the harpoon and tied them. They reinforced the harpoons by loading them with a medium-sized stone at the back. They collectively as a bunch.

The second group was to follow the Mark Slater's soldiers with their machetes. In case they would retreat from the cliff of river Thagana, there was no chance of surviving. It was a fate plot drawn to them.

The third group crossed the border and entered the land of Mark Slater. They positioned themselves near the oil rig.

The oil rig was a contract signed by Mark Slater with the foreigners. The mark Slater land of the reign was endowed with crude oil. Inadequacy of learners in the land of Mark Slater, transposed him to look for professionals outside his land to construct the oil rig. Crude oil was the main trade commodity of mark Slater. This helped the land to develop at a vast speed. Mark Slater used the opportunity to send off most of his young youth to a foreign land to get educated. Once they finished their education they would be role models in the land. They came up with good architectures project. Now, he even has a system of education. Mark Slater was an opportune utilizer. As some territories were busy developing others were busy spearing the goats and confined under norms. The difference between the two lands.

A rumour reached mark Slater's palace.

"Your majesty, your soldiers need reinforcement in the land of Ura. Almost taking over the land." The messenger impressed Mark Slater. He bowed for loyalty and left. Mark Slater was now at peace and appeased by the information. He orders Randolph. Randolph was on the battlefield. Mark Slater mobilizes his special squad that guards his palace. The commandant led the troop into the rail down the valley of the land of Ura. A chariot for Mark Slater reinforced the troop. Mark Slater was ready to witness his first legendary action of defeating Laura in history. He confines himself inside the chariot and led by being behind.

The horses were too bereaved of losing their loved ones. Their wattles clicked the ground barely as they were in pursuit of saving the spilt medicine. The soldiers too never relaxed. Into the plot.

The other troop makes it to the oil rig. Several burning arrow colours the atmosphere. The mark Slater's troop tries to swerve back but it was too late. The arrows hit the tanker that had been cracked a little and the oil dripped profusely making its way into the path the soldiers would use. A beset arose as the tank exploded into flames that turned the construction into a ramshackle. The soldiers who had crossed the wetness too were never left behind. They burnt beyond recognition. A combination of roasted meat and soot wafted to any living organism's nostrils.

Laura compromised with the loss of lives she had caused. She raises her hand as an indication of ceasing the execution of the plan. The soldiers at the cliff had already raised their machetes to cut the rope but good enough the sign had reached them. The Mark Slater's soldiers were spared. They crossed the river.

Mark Slater and a few of his soldiers who had managed to escape stood aloof mesmerized by the scene that befell their sight. Mark Slater sighs. He strolls around the chariot. Still, in disbelief, he smites his lips frequently. Takes a bottle of wine and chokes himself with the wine as he drinks. Lucky enough, aid was accorded to him by one of his soldiers. He sticks one of his hands into his pocket and searches for a moment. He snoozes out a flute. Sits on the ground and colours his well white linen clothes. He plays the flute in deep grief and sorrow. The tune of loss.

The moment felt cumbersome for Laura. Everybody took a stance and listened to the tone as it fell into a pattern in their ears. The land reflected the mood and fell onto deep silence. Insects and other living organisms became motionless.

The Mark Slater's soldiers at the cliff wouldn't control their sorrow. They had let down Mark Slater. The horses bowed their heads down as a sign of honour to the bereaved.

An attendee interrupts him from the world of flashbacks.

"Your majesty, sorry for interrupting you. I hereby pledge to you to receive my warm apologies…"

"No, your apologies are cold." Mark Slater cuts her. She feels embarrassed. A rekindle of courage embarks on her.

"Continue madam."

"Your …"

"Is there something good that can come from…" Another person interrupts panting.

"She is here!"

"Who, Laura!"

"Yes, held in the backyard, your Highness." The messenger bows as he exits.

“And you, I know its food. Tell Mort to prepare a special delicacy and a special room for two only." Mark Slater commanded.

The report seemed comforting and promising. He rubs his black beard approval with a broad smile on his face.

"A penny for penny. No. " He murmured. " I'll take this opportunity to have her as a strategy planner in my regime. And I shall be complete now. Strategy projects reviving, resources of the conjoined lands. Wow! I just won a jackpot." He whispers as he steps down the stairs. He is ushered to a room by a charming lady who never stops to smile.

"Hi, Ariana?"

" Hi, your majesty. welcome. The room is reserved and ready."