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

but, in time, fell like a cut tree.

“Good, good,” Akua said excitedly, grinning from ear to ear, although an X carved on the bark of a tree, or perhaps some fruit, would have served just as well for target practice.

His guests grinned broadly while the beast’s peers closest to it looked at their fallen comrade, apparently in bewilderment.

“You’re good,” Akua said while smiling, and Ossouna took great delight in the compliment.

“Let’s see what you’ve got,” he said to Aswad.

Aswad smiled, and the minute a straggler wildebeest came within range, he dispatched an arrow toward it.

It lodged high up on the creature’s hind legs near its buttocks.

It tried to run but found it now had limited use of its right leg and could move only marginally well.

The men grinned heartily while the beast, having been struck by a poison arrow, would soon die.

“Your turn,” Akua said, and Keita was eager to show what he could do.

He fired into the side of one of the animals. The arrow lodged between its ribs.

It ran for a while before falling; the men were thoroughly amused.

For Akua, apparently, their one hundred percent accuracy kill rate was not sufficient proof of how skilled they were with the bow because he had them, or they agreed to, slay twelve more animals.

He then downed an additional four before they were done with the morning’s training.

Chapter VI – To Yagan

KEITA, OSSOUNA, ASWAD, and Akua, were on their way home from combat training when his friend excitedly approached him.

“Have you heard the news?” Mjumbe asked.

“What is it?” Akua returned.

“Word is most of the people have opted to stay and fight,” he replied.

Akua became reflective. “How many is that?” he asked.

“They estimate about a good two-thirds of the village,” Mjumbe said.

Akua was at a loss for words.

“Let that sink in,” he added, then hastily departed.

The newcomers looked at him.

“How do you feel about this?” Keita asked.

“You mean what am I going to do,” he said, and witnessing him act and speak in so somber a manner was a first for them.

Keita was slow to respond. “Right,” he replied.

“I will fight,” Akua replied morosely.

The newcomers fell silent.

“You don’t have to, you know,” Akua added. “If you feel pressured, you shouldn’t feel like you’re under any pressure. I understand why you may not want any part of this.”

“No one has made any decision,” Ossouna said.

“Right, but you don’t have much time in which to do so,” Akua said. “And, given the short amount of time in which you’ve been here, I don’t expect you’d want to stay with those who do.”

They said nothing.

“Have a good evening,” Akua added then departed.

An unnerving silence came among them.

They continued home steeped in thought.

“What do you think we should do?” Aswad asked, breaking the silence.

“Leave,” Keita replied.

“And you, Ossouna?” Aswad asked.

“I can’t believe I got myself into this,” he said.

“And, what’s your decision?” Aswad pressed him.

“Well, I’m sure not interested in fighting,” he said. “What about you?”

“Same here,” Aswad replied.

“Do you think if we told Akua this, he’d still want to give us training?” Keita asked.

“No,” Aswad said.

“So, there then,” said Ossouna.

“Would you have wanted to stay if we had time to get more training?” Keita asked.

“No,” Ossouna replied.

The others considered what he said.

“I wouldn’t want to stay, period. I want to move on,” Ossouna added.

“We just got here,” Keita said.

“What does that have to do with anything?” Ossouna remarked. “You can stay if you want to.”

“Do you want to, Keita?” Aswad asked.

“I’m playing the devil’s advocate. I don’t care to stay either. I say move on to see what’s next on the list of unwelcome surprises,” he replied.

“I hear you,” Aswad said.

“Again, how or why did I get myself in the middle of this?” Ossouna remarked.

“Quit beating yourself up, man. You’re beginning to sound like me,” Keita said.

“Right. We would never have been able to see this coming, would we?” Aswad said.

“Not in a million years,” Ossouna replied.

“So, no point in crying about it now, I guess,” Aswad added.

However, mostly the women did cry, and several males liked to think they would be stoic in the face of almost any adversity.

Akua came to the newcomers’ home the following morning.

“I don’t have to remind you of time not being on our side,” he said. “So, to the point, what have you decided?”

Ossouna looked at the others before saying anything.

“We’ve decided we’re going to leave,” he began. “We . . .”

“Okay,” Akua said, and Ossouna thought he looked crestfallen.

“It’s fine,” he added. “You don’t owe me any explanation.”

Although Ossouna was certain he didn’t want anything to do with fighting their foe, he found he felt uncomfortable.

Akua placed his hands on his shoulders. “You need to prepare yourselves to depart then,” he said.

Ossouna shook his head in an upward and downward fashion.

“Go. Go join the others. I know you’ll move as stealthily as a thief in the night until you get to your destination. The time calls for it.”

“Right,” Ossouna said.

“Yagan would be honored to have you,” he said.

“Thank you, sir,” Ossouna said.

“No. Thank you,” Akua replied. “I may not know a lot about you, but I know you’re a great marksman. Your skill with the bow will come in handy.”

“Thanks again, Akua,” Ossouna said.

Akua directed his attention to Aswad.

“It was very brief, but it was a pleasure to meet you,” he said.

“The feeling is mutual,” Aswad replied.

“Go in peace, but show no mercy to any man or beast you may encounter on your way to Yagan that may attempt to harm you, for they will show you none.”

“That I will do,” Aswad replied.

“And, to you, Keita,” Akua said, facing him. He also placed his hands on his shoulders. “I bid you farewell and a safe passage.”

“Thank you, Akua,” he replied.

“Try to remember the little we had time to go over. It should come as a great help in close combat situations.”

“I won’t forget, my friend,” Keita replied.

“So, that’s it,” he said, addressing them all. “It’s that time. I must go meet with the others