The foreigners were in their usual meeting spot, even before the chicken woke. And their clatter boomed louder in the closed large hall. "Now that the first batch of mercenaries was here, what are the next steps?" One among the men asked. "The first step is to confirm if the men were from Onishi and not mafias disguised as mercenaries. Apart from their words, we have no proof if they are the expected ones or not," the oldest among the merchants announced with a stern look. "I have been calling Onishi's number but it's been accepted by a voicemail machine, and so far, he had not called back," Priest answered back. "We are just getting cautious over nothing. Where will they come from, if not from Onishi? Who else knows of this mission except him," Augur mumbled, lolled his back on the chair and close his eyes to erase the taunting image of Aries as he leave for his last journey. "I will confirm with Onishi when I call. I never bother to ask for any password since Aries will be going
The mercenary who volunteered to exercise his muscle against four guards was a short and thin man with curly hair and a clean chin. And he was seen stepping out of the men in line, walking towards the foreigners who stood staring at him, bowing at them then walking back into the space within the circle that was just made by the country P guards and their newly employed mercenaries. "If the weakest among my men can beat four of your guards, then you will agree with me that we are up to Onishi's story of our courage and strength," the leader of the mercenaries who had introduced himself as Presido asked with an impish grin. "Yes. You had proved your prowess if he win." "His name is Kikuchi and he is the smallest and weakest among my men. Singlehandedly, he killed ten men who attacked his village, and that was what drew us to him," Presido explained as the four men circled the small man in their midst and pounced on him. Kikuchi slipped off the grasp of the closet guard, stepped left
The priest followed the twenty-one mercenaries and Augur to the front of the big black gate that separated the foreigner's land from the mafias' territory. "I missed Aries and wish he is here to go along with you," Priest announced, held Augur's shirt, peered at the mercenaries as they walked towards the truck parked outside the gate, then let out, "you must be careful. I can't afford to lose you as well." "Nothing will happen to me," Augur smiled and answered back. "I missed him too, but I can take care of myself. Be at ease." "I know you can, am just scared. This mission is not as easy as I had speculated." "Nothing good comes easy," Augur let out, pat Priest's shoulder, stepped out of the gate and reached the car side in a few seconds. He hopped inside and the car engine became alive and drive out of sight. The priest offered a silent prayer to the gods he believed in, turned and walked back, and the weight of his mood made his shoulder to be hunched as he disappeared among the
El Ramon had been busy for a while as he need to supervise the blocking of some of the secret routes that had been found out by outsiders. Today, he decided to stroll around the palace, and it was the cry of a baby that caught his attention as he walked toward Andrea's section. "Did you hear that?" He asked the mafias at his back. The men looked puzzled, bend their heads to a side, stood mobile for a while, and then grin from ear to ear at the undisputable cry of a newborn baby. "Yes, your highness. I guess lady Agatha had given birth." El Ramon looked lost for a while as he stare into space, nodded his head, dismissed the mafias at his back and strolled into the passage that leads to Andrea's room. "My lord. I just want to pacify this baby before coming to inform you of the blessing in disguise." "And what makes him a blessing in disguise?" "Lady Agatha is dead, and I can train him up as my first son. Isn't that marvellous to have a male, after I was been informed that am carr
The open space of the mafia palace was filled to the brims with the feet of maids, mafias, and sympathetic inhabitants who came to pay their last respect to the departing soul. It Cries and wails boomed as she was lowered into the six feet of the ground, and songs of adieu were rendered as sands were poured on the remain of lady Agatha.A moment later, the teary eyes of all the people became bright at the sight of a delicious meal, and their cries soon gave way to laughter when several locally made liquors were served in big jugs. When the sun was about to go for recess for the twilight to take over, everyone gathered in front of the podium, and they were seen swaying their head and dancing to the fable narrated by Andrea. Thousands of years ago when the earth is populated by animals and other powerful spirits, a great famine descended upon the animal kingdom and they soon start dying from hunger. When the handshake goes beyond the elbow, the tortoise decided to visit the great tro
Heaven wept after the burial of lady Agatha, as the windows of heaven opened and a downpour of water fell through the night. As soon as the dawn broke, Zuma was seen walking towards Andrea's section of the palace, passing through several rigorous checkpoints, and then appearing in her majesty's quarter."His highness send me to come for the newborn baby.""Here he is. Where are you taking him to?""Into the forest behind the palace. Am instructed to hide him and make sure no one knows of his murder.""Do as he instructed you. No one knows that the baby was removed from lady Agatha's stomach before her death.""Aye. That was why his excellency asked me to get rid of him before the news of him circulate the island.""Have him," Andrea scooped the baby up with the shawl, wrapped him up and placed him on the outstretched palms of Zuma, then let out, "come back to give me the feedback after.""I will, your majesty."Andrea's face was expressionless as Zuma bowed and walked out of her comp
Andrea and El Ramon were deep in conversation when Zuma entered the large parlour, bowed and stood with rapt attention as the two royal couples whispered among themselves, giggled at their jokes, and then peered at him. "How was the assignment?" "Done, your highness." "Did you have any remorse for killing him?" "None, your highness. I must obey the order and not be ruled by my emotion." "How about your men's training with the foreigners' seafarers?" "Going on smoothly. I was with them yesterday and am amazed at their improvement. They will be going into the deeper side of the sea for more training soon." "Tell them to be careful, the foreigners are not to be trusted." "They were all aware that they were amid enemies and I expect them to look after themselves always. Nevertheless, I will remind them of the necessity of always being cautious around all foreigners." "Have they made their desire known to you?" Andrea who had been listening to the ongoing conversation raised a ques
Because Zuma won't be going to the mafia's palace today, the hulk of a man woke up after the sun had already peeped in the sky, and he was seen rolling on top of his big mattress, yawning out with exhaustion and stood up with a moan."How I wish I can spend the whole of today in bed!" He mumbled to himself as he stepped into the bathroom, and the running of water from the shower can be heard for a while. A moment later, the reinvigorated mafia emerged out of the bathroom, wore a blue T-shirt and blue pant trousers, and was seen as he stepped out of his room into the corridor, and then out of the gate."Hey, Zuma!"He turned and stare at the lady who called out to him, then smile at the recognition of her face."Hello, Mandy. How is your sister's health?""She is fine and getting healed as fast as possible. Thanks for asking about her.""Where are you going?""Her Majesty allowed me to take today off so that we can have time to be together.""So kind of her, please come inside.""Aren