Karmagha

Kampela and The Lady From Amsnath

Kampella is a little town that was discovered by Sajious. He left his father’s house in search of a better place to stay with his offspring. He’s great in livestock and sought a better pasture for them. He sojourned into Kampella and decided to fallow the whole land for himself and his offspring. The place was named after the third son of his second wife. He loved him so much; he was his smallest child then. However, as he grew older and acquired wealth, he picked another wife from his kindred who bore him more children.

In the late 18th century, King Dovia of Karmagha led his people into Kampella and wiped out everything having breath therein. Dovia slaughtered the king, his wife and son not knowing that Evelyn had hid herself. It was a great massacre; the livestock were taken by the warriors and the city was burnt.

Magnus went out with his wife that day to visit someone in the neighbouring town. On his return, he discovered his house burnt down and his children all dead. He rushed to the palace to see the king, he noticed that the whole community has been wiped out. It was not that easy for him, he sat on the floor and wept sore; his wife alongside with him. Fainted cry was heard from a distance.

“Who could that be?” Magnus said.

“Let’s go find out.”

They went a little further and found Evelyn crying on the floor, a piece of wood had fallen on her.

“It’s the King’s daughter” Margret said.

Magnus removed the wood on her, raised her up and consoled her.

He said, “Don’t worry you will be fine. We will take care of you. I will make sure that those who did this must feel this pain and much more.”

Evelyn used her hand to wipe of the tears on her face while Margret held her as they walked. She followed them home. Where is home? One may wonder, the whole city has been burnt down. It’s really a difficult time to them but they tried to survive; they made a little abode with woods where they stayed temporary before establishing Magnus Institute of Sorcery. Kampella was very close to Karmagha, King Dovia only destroyed the land to prove his might to his people and the people in the neighbouring communities. Kampella was just left desolate.

Prior to now, Magnus and wife had gone to learn sorcery in a neighbouring town. They mastered the art; this accounts for why they were not in Kampella the day it was invaded. They had gone to pay homage to their master’s wife who lost her husband. Kamiel was a very great sorcery who singlehandedly kept his community safe. His death was a great loss to the kingdom, he had trained some persons in the art of sorcery.

With time Evelyn started to learn sorcery. Margret and her husband took it upon themselves to teach her from the scratch. Although, it was not that easy on her; she still misses her parents.

“What are you doing in the dark all alone?” Margret said.

“I saw my parents being killed; I was not able to save them.” The tears from her had already soaked the ground.

“Come here”

Evelyn stood up, walked towards her and embraced her.

“Don’t worry, it’s going to be fine, we’re here for you.”

Margret took Evelyn as her daughter, taught her to cook, do house chores and other things she needed to learn. Margret and Magnus raised her; they made sure she improves in the art of sorcery. She has Magnus and wife as her companion, have fun with them; ask questions when she is confused on the right method to use in performing one spell or the other.

Two years later, Margret gave birth to a son who Evelyn took as a brother. She nursed him, played with him as the only person she could do so with seeing she had lost her siblings. This boy grew and was taller than Evelyn, you wouldn’t know she’s older than him with up to ten years. Of course, he was not left out in the ‘sorcery stuff’.

***

Anthony, a young hunter in Karmagha: full of energy, one who had no fear went into the forest as other times. He met other hunters, they decided to team up for a great ‘catch’. On approaching a cave, they heard a strange sound from it.

“Let’s go back.” They all said, their body fidgeting not being able to stand firm on the ground.

Anthony said, “Not at all, we should see what’s making that sound, it might be the great ‘catch’ we all desired.”

Suddenly, a lion came out from the cave; Anthony turned back and could find none of the hunters he was with.

“Roooaaarrr! Roooaaarrr!”

He decided to confront the lion, ran towards it and threw himself on the lion till it finds its way to the ground. Shortly, the lion was on him; it was able to append its signature on his body rendering his clothes useless. He also inflicted injury on the beast with the knife he had carried along. As the battle for survival continued, another lion came out from the cave. It’s now crystal clear that this is the last day for Anthony on the surface of the earth. In a state of dilemma on how to handle the situation, Adam was caught unaware as the other lion pounced on him. He was now struggling for his life, the texture of the soil changed as a result of mixture with blood. A bullet was shot from behind which hit one of the lions so hard that it fell on the ground. Anthony gathered momentum and killed the other one with his knife.

“Phew!” Then he wiped the sweat from his face. Still panting heavily, he said, “Who was that?” He raised his voice and said, “Who saved me? Who shot the lion? Please come out that I may see you and thank you.”

A lady surfaced from where she hid herself among the trees.

“Thank you for saving my life.”

He collapsed, but she caught him and helped him moved under a tree; then she cleaned the blood on him. He regained consciousness after an interval of five minutes.

Then, he looked to her and said, “You’ve saved me, I owe you a lot.”

“Why did you face those beasts all by yourself? You must be a brave man.”

“I was not alone, the others fled.”

“Anthony! Anthony!!” a distant voice cried.

“Who could that be?” the lady said.

“It should be the hunters I was with. I’m certainly sure about that.” Then he lifted his voice and said, “I’m here.”

They traced the voice to where he was under the tree while some gazed at the dead beasts.

“He killed the beast,” they murmured, “He’s really a brave hunter.”

Those that met him under the tree said, “You’re badly hurt, we’re sorry we fled.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore,” he said, “Thanks to her for saving my life. Let’s get going now, help me with the beast.”

They moved immediately while Anthony struggled behind to move with them, the lady was also in the company.

Other hunters began to sing his praise and said, “Anthony killed the lion. Anthony the brave hunter. The man who faced two lions alone and gained victory.”

They kept singing it loud as they went which attracts the attention of all. Multitudes followed them; a man volunteered his horse to be used to carry Anthony.

“Join me on the beast.” He said to the lady.

“I don’t think it’s necessary.”

“I insist, you’ve shown me much kindness.”

Seeing his persistency, she then succumbed to his will. There was indistinct murmuring among the maidens in Karmagha.

“Who could that lady be? She should better stay away from him.”

Anthony is admired by most young maidens in Karmagha because of his might in the field; he always come back with a great ‘catch’. Many wished to be his wife; some even struck hands that they must get him to themselves. Seeing this lady on the beast with him was a threat to them.

After the celebration of his victory that day, he went home with the lady, thanked her, killed a kid and packaged it for her before bidding her farewell.

“Which family are you from?”

“I’m not from this kingdom, I came to hunt also. When I saw you helpless, I decided to help you. I will be returning to Amsnath.”

“Thank you. I will remember you for this. Farewell.”