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

bring this fight to us,” she added, and her words commanded full attention from everyone.

“After crossing the river, we should proceed close to the bank at all times to keep as much land as possible between us and their northern kin.”

“Sounds like you thought over this pretty thoroughly,” Mbou said.

“How could I afford not to given how critical this matter is?” she replied.

“What she said is speculative. We have no way of knowing if they’ll come across the plains. They will come in numbers and be mindful of straying too far from the river banks for want of water to sustain themselves and their animals. They may elect to come covertly through the forest with the intent of slaying whatever they encounter on their way here. Man, beast, ghoul, whatever, then establish this area as one that’s free of men once more,” Oluso said.

“But all of our assumptions and alarm is based on thinking they will choose to get here in the most expedient manner. Is it not? And, that would be across the plains. Or, are you altering your tone solely for the sake of maintaining a position other than mine?” she asked.

“If they did come through the forest, it will take them an eternity to get to us. That should buy us enough time to go in the opposite direction from which they are coming, plus we’ll be on the other side of the river too. So, there is time, my friend,” she said. What surprised many and had them thinking more deeply about it all, Oba included, was not as straightforward as initially believed.

“Now that Dalia mentioned what she did, and coming to think of it, it’s likely there can be yet another possibility,” Mbou said.

“What’s that?” Alpha asked.

“The Shetani needn’t hastily come here at all. They can take their time, slowly move in closer to us until they have established a secure supply line, then make their move to lay claim to the area,” Mbou replied.

“We cannot chance thinking they will take that approach,” Oluso said. “And, anyway, if we do, in the end, we may still all be slaughtered. It’ll just take them a bit longer.”

“No argument here,” Dalia said. “The sooner we act, the better, and the time to act is now,” she added, and Oba felt very grateful for her input.

“If I am to draw my last breath and it is during a battle, I wish to do so on the lands to the north and far west of us. I will face or accept my end trying to free our people held in bondage in the mountains beyond the Valley of Death. That is my will and testament. I wish to try and unite with the men from the west, who as you know, have also expressed a desire to free our brethren and thereby increase our influence, territory, and range. Despite this recent turn of events, that is what I have a mind to stick to and pursue, so help me, God,” she added.

“Go to Yagan?” Oluso said. “That’s what you propose? It is a barren wasteland.”

“And, what does that matter?” Dalia replied. “It’s way more than that. It’s where the Shetani dare not approach for fear of sinking into the surrounding marshes. They don’t know the way through it.

“Their only other option is to approach from its northern end over the mountain, which is something they would not do. The land between it and our brethren is too much for them, plus there are enormous expanses of sinking sand in that region.

“And, of course, there’s more,” she added just before Oluso could get a word in. “What you called a barren wasteland, as all of you here know, is precisely what has given our brethren there a chance to survive.”

She meant another way of approaching Yagan, and that was from the vast expanse of land to its east and west. What was more unlikely than the Shetani coming over the mountain to its north was their considering approaching it from either side of the wastelands which flanked it.

The lack of resources there, the scarcity of food and fresh water would be sure to kill any approaching party who did not know better. This was not, however, enough to kill any of them given the curse.

Regarding that curse, their kin, just like those who perished in the valleys of Sanctuary, did not consider they could never die for want of nourishment all bad. Well, at opportune times, they didn’t. After all, it was what gave many of them what they considered an advantage over the Shetani.

“Aside from our traders, no one has ever cared to go there,” Oluso said.

“Now some do,” Dalia returned.

“The place is hell. They don’t call it suicide city for nothing. Only the Valley of Death is worse. They share the same characteristics and features. Its location, their location. I don’t have to go into any details about it with you, and to get there as you know is no easy road,” Oluso said.

“Our options are limited,” she replied. “While only a small number aside from our businessmen has ever cared to go there, now my constituents will, and I needn’t remind you that I’m here to represent them.”

Oluso did not reply.

“I’d wager many others will now not only consider going to Yagan but opt to go there too, given the extremity of our circumstances.

“You’ve heard my position. I will say no more,” she added.

Nyeusi was not pleased when he first heard about Yagan. He didn’t like knowing there was anywhere in which the immortals found refuge. His opinion changed after witnessing just how drab a place it was.

He found out after consulting the necromancer, who granted him a peek at it through his stone.

It was from it that he saw and questioned its owner regarding whether the skies above were often overcast. A blanket of clouds seemed intent on perpetually covering the area, and many a time, their colors appeared dark and foreboding.

What pleased Nyeusi most, however,