2025-02-03 05:07:33"My king, I want to adopt this boy, Ikenna, as my son."
—- You could hear a pin drop in the courtroom as everyone stared wide-eyed and mouth agape at Obinna. No one had expected this from the general—not even his brother Onyeka or Ikenna, the boy in question. Onyeka’s one good eye looked like it was going to pop out of its socket, and his mouth hung wide open in shock. "What! Why would you do that?" Onyeka asked aloud. Ikenna stared up at Obinna in surprise, awaiting his response. The entire courtroom awaited his answer, and they didn’t have to wait long. "Your Majesty, as you well know, my wife died during childbirth with my daughter, and the gods have not blessed me with another wife. I need a son to carry on my legacy," Obinna said. "If it’s a son you need, Obinna, why don’t you take concubines like the rest of us? Any one of them can easily give you a son," the king asked. "My wife’s death still haunts me, my king. I can’t imagine having another woman in my bed. Besides, this is not just because of my need for a son," Obinna said. "This boy has the potential to be a great warrior—greater than myself, if I may say so," Obinna added, shocking the courtroom once more. They all knew of his strength and the great feats he had accomplished. That was why he was the general of their mighty army, the one who enforced the king’s will. And yet, here he was saying that someone had the potential to surpass him. "The boy killed one of our soldiers. You all are well aware of the rigorous training our soldiers undergo, yet he bested and killed one of them. Even I cannot boast of such an achievement at his age, yet he accomplished it," Obinna said. His words elicited shocked gasps from everyone—except Onyeka, who was already aware of the incident and had to admit it was impressive. "I would like to personally oversee his training. In the next few years, the kingdom will have a warrior of untold caliber in him. This will also benefit your plans for expansion, my king," Obinna concluded with a small bow. Murmurs ran through the hall as the noblemen chatted and discussed the matter among themselves. Amobi, in particular, was pensively thinking about it, trying to understand Obinna's motives. While others might see Obinna as a soldier with no patience for politics, Amobi knew better. He understood that Obinna had a shrewd mind—otherwise, he wouldn't be the general of the army. After some minutes of hard thinking, Amobi came up with nothing to justify the request. "I must keep an eye on him," Amobi thought to himself. "I saw the boy with a girl earlier. I must get my hands on her," he muttered with a devious smirk. King Ezeibe stared into Ikenna's eyes and saw the fire burning within them. He knew that if the fire was harnessed properly, the boy could be useful. "If he manages to accomplish even half of Obinna's feats, then this will be the right choice," the king mused to himself. Having come to a decision, King Ezeibe declared, "I have agreed to your request, Obinna. You shall have the boy as yours. Teach him the ways of war and the ways of our people, for he is now one of us." "Thank you, my king," Obinna said with a deep bow of gratitude. "If that is all, then this meeting is over," the king declared as he rose from his throne, prompting the rest of the nobles to rise and bow as he left the room. "Congratulations on getting a son," Amobi said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Obinna knew the man was a snake, but being a nobleman himself, he knew how to fake a smile and shake hands with serpents. "Thank you, Prime Minister. It is the will of the gods that I have a son," Obinna replied, then turned to leave, with Onyeka and the still-bewildered Ikenna following behind. "I have a father?" Ikenna thought. "Why would he do that?" His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. "Why did you do that, brother?" Onyeka queried. "You should have discussed this with me first." "I have my reasons, brother, and you will know them when we get home," Obinna answered in a low voice as he warily looked around. "The walls have ears," he said. Onyeka had many questions, but he knew his brother was right. If this was a sensitive matter, it was best to discuss it in the privacy of their home. "Fine. You will tell me everything once we get home," Onyeka conceded as they left the palace and headed for the stables. "Ikenna! Ikenna!" Ikenna heard his name being called in a small voice. Turning around, he saw a tearful Chizaram with the other children calling out to him. Ikenna left his new adoptive father and uncle and ran to her. They hadn’t been friends for long, but the journey had created a strong bond between them. "Chizaram, I’m going with that man," Ikenna said, pointing at Obinna. "He is now my father," he added in a small voice, as if he were betraying his mother. He had no memory of his father, only his mother, and he felt as though having another family so soon after her death was a betrayal. "Please take me with you. I can help with chores at the house," Chizaram pleaded. Ikenna turned to Obinna, who shook his head in denial, causing the girl to break down in tears once more. "Don't worry, little girl. I will take good care of you," a new voice said. Amobi appeared with a guard in tow, flashing a devious smirk toward the girl. Obinna's face creased into a frown, but he didn’t care what Amobi wanted with the girl. His fate was tied to Ikenna, and all he cared about was the boy. "Let’s go," Obinna said as he turned around and walked away. Ikenna said one last goodbye to Chizaram, then ran after his new family. Amobi watched them go with a dangerous glint in his eyes. Arriving at the stables, Obinna mounted one horse, and Onyeka mounted another. Ikenna stood on the ground, unsure of what to do until Obinna stretched a hand toward him. "Ride with me, son," Obinna said in a calm voice, waiting for Ikenna to take his hand. Ikenna hesitated, but then his face hardened with resolve. He took Obinna's hand and was lifted onto the horse. Together, they rode away from the palace.
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Obinna stood unmoving, his dark-metal helmet gleaming beneath the storm. The bullhorn atop it made him look like a demon risen from the depths of the underworld. The chieftain of Nnewi charged toward him, his cry of sorrowful rage swallowed by the roaring storm. With bloodshot eyes and trembling hands gripping his sword, the chieftain swung wildly, desperation and fury driving his attack. But Obinna remained calm. As the blade came down toward him, he sidestepped with practiced ease, bending low to avoid the strike. Before the chieftain could recover from his overcommitted attack, Obinna’s curved blade slashed in brutal, unforgiving precision. The chieftain froze in shock, his sword arm cleanly severed at the shoulder, falling to the ground with a soft thud. Blood poured out in a surge, as if a dam had burst, spraying across the battlefield and splattering onto Obinna's cold, expressionless face. The general didn’t flinch. The chieftain let out a piercing wail, his remaining han
