Necropolis (Book One of Book One), Penn Fawn [e book reader android .TXT] 📗

“Oh, I’ve heard some things,” Aswad replied. “And, seen too. Much of it was so strange it felt borderline unreal.”

“I know what you mean,” Akua replied.

Aswad did not reply.

“Well,” Akua began, “Don’t kill the messenger. I’m just here to remind you that you have one night before you to try to collect your emotions, and then it’s off to training.”

His guests wore long faces.

“What’s coming won’t break for bruised emotions or broken hearts,” he added. “It’s a heartless world, so like it or not, whatever is to come will come and keep on coming, regardless.”

“I’ll be ready,” Aswad replied.

“You won’t,” Akua said, “but that’s the right attitude. It’s either that, or you may want to fall on your own sword.”

His comment aroused Ossouna’s attention. “That happens here?” he asked.

“And, why wouldn’t it?” Akua replied. “This place is not exactly a paradise.”

“No,” Ossouna said.

“So, brace yourselves,” Akua added, “because we’re at the point where we’re going to have to face the Shetani sooner rather than later.”

“And, that’s assured?” Aswad asked.

“Well, it’s either that, or there will be an exodus,” Akua replied. “In the latter case, we’re still going to have to face outside hostilities.”

“Hm,” Aswad uttered.

“Enjoy what’s left of it, for we did have a period of relative peace for some time now.”

The guests waited for him to say more but he fell silent.

“Well, the night is still young. Isn’t it?” Aswad said. “Care to tell us a bit more about that, or is your job done for the night, and you need to get back?”

“The night is young, but it’s a long story,” Akua replied, “although I can stay a bit.”

“Bits and pieces will do. I mean the salient details. I’ll take those because it’s not like we have anything better to do or anywhere to go,” Aswad said matter-of-factly.

“You speak the truth,” Akua replied. “May as well, right? Considering I may not have many more nights in which I can stay up and tell stories.”

“Why always such a tone of finality around here?” Aswad asked. “It’s not the first we’ve heard. It’s like everyone’s preparing to die.”

“Because there is no doubt that time seems very near,” Akua replied, “and that, my friend, is a big deal. Your name is?”

“Aswad,” he replied, extending his arm.

“Pleased to meet you,” Akua said and shook his hand.

“Life does take on another tone altogether when you’re nearing the end, especially when given time for thought and reflection.”

Keita felt composed enough to speak. “We heard about the Shetani appearing here,” he began, “on the back of the kilman, I mean. We heard about what that most likely means. They will be back to wreak havoc, I’ve heard.”

“You heard right,” Akua replied.

“But have you no power to resist them?” Keita asked. “Power to fend off this seeming inevitability we hear so much about.”

“In our dreams,” Akua replied, and his guests’ faces remained glum.

“I’m sorry you were thrown right into the middle of this,” Akua said. “I can’t apologize for speaking as plainly as I do about it, though. I prefer to tell you the truth rather than paint a picture that’s all wishful thinking or fantasy.”

They said nothing.

“Tomorrow or the day after, the powers that be will announce the final vote about what we are to do. By that, I mean are we to evacuate the village or try to resist the Shetani,” Akua said.

“Once again, I’m here to tell you to be prepared for anything. The people may be more or less evenly divided over whether they want to fight or flee. Either way, you will have to get training. Whatever their decision, learning to fend for yourself can only benefit you and your brethren. It’s no guarantee of anything. It’s just something to help you be prepared when in a time of need.”

Ossouna thought about what he said and considered what they saw and experienced on the way toward the village.

“We appreciate your words,” he said.

“Very well,” Akua said.

“Are you one of the better trainers?” Aswad asked.

“I am,” he replied, “and I’ve been assigned to give you as much training as I can, given the pressing circumstances. General opinion around this place is I’m the best man for it.”

They listened.

“Before your arrival here,” he continued, “up until the present time, the talk that predominated is, what now are we going to do, or some variation of it. There is every variation you can imagine. Everything from the impossibility of brokering a peace with the Shetani to whether we should have ever begun clear-cutting the forest.

“And, why is clear-cutting the forest so bad, I wonder?” Keita asked.

“Because it highlights where we are, shows where we are concentrated. Many here have argued if we remained blended in with the surroundings, our presence would not have been quite so evident. It would have increased our chances greatly of not being detected,” Akua replied.

“Hm,” Aswad uttered. “A life of hiding. What kind of life is that?”

“One we and those gone before us lived for many years,” Akua hastily replied.

A startled Aswad, having detected a slight tone of displeasure in his voice, fell silent.

“You kept a low profile if you wanted to have some type of longevity. Risking being found out meant risking being killed. It’s as simple as that,” Akua added.

“So, you’re one of those who was against the deforestation,” Aswad asked with measured timidity.

“I am,” Akua replied, and the room fell silent for a few seconds.

“If we were going to be taken out, hopefully, that would have come by some kind of natural disaster. Like, I don’t know, being hit by a massive falling star.”

The guests were all ears.

“We adapted well to this place and, with the training of the wolves, learned to keep the ghouls at bay. But at some point, talk about expansion or natural progression, I believe is what they called it, began surfacing,” Akua continued.

“We were not out in the open free to roam the land as they do, and there were those here who wanted that. They believed we