Six Years Later...
In a small village at the outskirt of the Empire, the sunny cloudless sky basked over the grassy land covered populously by small mud huts and farmland patches.
The villagers roamed around causally, carrying on with their daily lives and activities; farming men and women preparing their lands for planting, shepherds and herdsmen gathering their animals to take off for grazing and mothers and wives busy by the fireside, preparing breakfast for their families while the children ran around to help with the little things possible.
A peaceful day for a small peaceful village.
"THEY'RE COMING!"
A scream echoed from the far end of the village, having the heads of those closest turn to look.
A young hunter ran as fast as he could in their direction, shouting, "THEY ARE COMING! THEY ARE COMING! THEY ARE COMING!"
The villagers' eyes widened in the realization of his words. They quickly turned to alert the orders far back.
"THEY ARE COMING!"
"THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY!
"RUN!"
The villagers quickly dispersed from their activities, grabbing the closest loved ones and racing in the opposite direction.
"Run!"
"Run!!"
"Run!!!"
They rushed as fast as they could, dragging their children, sick ones, animals and whatever their hands could lift.
And just as feared, an army of men on black-coloured horses approached from the far north up.
They had their heads and faces wrapped in black cloths on black full-body clothings, leaving only their eyes exposed as they held up swords and spears charging at full speed.
From the markings written on their horses' bridles and saddles, the villager knew very well who they were.
Arabian slave traders.
With the villagers still struggling to leave their land alive, the fast-approaching intruders closed the distance between them, swinging their weapons and shooting their spears through the air.
A good number of the unlucky were caught between their blades, falling flat to the ground in pain.
"AHHH!"
Those further away from the attacker strived faster to escape — another group of the army came from the side, taking them by surprise.
The villagers fell to the ground in fright, screaming as the intruders circled them with their horses.
The army's commander — a man with a golden band on his upper sleeve — suddenly unmounted his horse and returned his sword whilst walking up the shivering villagers.
The people dragged themselves back, clutching onto one another as they whimpered.
The commander then said to his soldiers in Arabic, "We only need the women. Chain them all and slaughter the men".
The soldiers raised their swords, immediately grabbing a boy by the neck.
"AHHH!"
About to swing the blade across his neck — an arrow pierced into the soldier's chest, causing him to freeze.
The army quirked their brows.
The hit soldier groaned lightly, letting the boy slip from his hand as he collapsed to the ground, bleeding.
Their commander immediately pulled out his sword, snapping his eyes in various directions in anticipation of where the arrow came from.
His men followed.
"Shit!" A male voice echoed from afar.
All gazes snapped to the highlands that surrounded the village meters away, sighting the natural fence of tree branches and bushes.
The commander narrowed his eyes, noticing a particular dried bush ruffle — A man then stepped out — dressed in only an animal skin cloth wrapped around his waist, with short black hair and a bow and arrow in his hands.
He looked down with a scowl.
"Aw, man!" He sighed, "I missed his head!"
"Told you you couldn't make a good shot while running", a feminine voice came from the bush next to him as a woman suddenly stepped out; dressed in hide wrapped around her bosoms and waist and her hair tied up into a puffy bun.
She had a weapon strapped on her back and a yellow band on her right arm.
"I had to, Kamy. We were already late", the man said, pulling out three arrows around the pouch on his back.
"True. But we would have gotten here sooner if someone didn't make us take the long route because it was 'safer'", she made a pair of quotes with her fingers, gazing at the next bush.
It ruffled as well, having an even taller muscular man step out. He was dressed as the other but with a red band on his right arm and a weapon strapped across his back with his long dreadlocks tied into a ponytail.
The huge man hmphed, "I was trying to keep my warriors safe".
"As always, commander Dan", Kamyla rolled her eyes, turning to the archer man.
"Ajefe?"
"Hm?" He set his arrows.
"Would you do the needful or should I?"
"Me!?" Ajefe's brows quirked. "You do it, Kamy! I did it last time and my throat hurts!"
Kamyla sighed shaking her head. "Lazy bones and their excuses". She tsked, taking a step forward.
She looked down at the Arabian slave traders, then at the terrified villagers in the centre. Her brows furrowed.
"So you are the Azada? Known as Trader Of The Hopeless?"
The commander narrowed his eyes, taking a step forward as he switched his tongue. "Who is asking?"
Kamyla nodded in acknowledgement, "Good to see you understand our language. This makes my work so much easier". She crossed her arms, standing with her legs apart.
Azada remained silent.
"I am Kamyla Odjafah. The second in command of the Sah'Jangi army. I order you to lower your weapons and surrender. If you still value your life, of course".
The men in the army shared surprised gazes at themselves and then back at the woman before them.
They busted into laughter.
Their commander, Azada, chuckled, "Can you imagine this!?" He pulled his gaze to the huge man, assuming him to be the commander.
"What sort of army think they are strong enough to face mine when they bring a woman to a man's war. Is this a joke!?"
The men laughed harder.
Kamyla gazed at Danji and back. Danji stepped forward, "Last chance, Azada. This village is under the Sah'Jangi Empire's protection. Step back and save yourself unnecessary bloodshed".
Azada gazed at them like idiots. "Is that supposed to scare me? What can you do, huh?" He crooked a brow, "You and what army?"
Danji's lips cracked into a grin. "Very well then. You have chosen your fate", he gazed over his shoulder, "Step forward!"
The bush fence that surrounded the entire village ruffled vigorously as Sah'Jangi soldiers stepped out on their horses one by one and filled the entire highland, armed with swords, spears and axes.
Two horses then walked up to Ajefe and Danji.
Azada and his soldiers widened their eyes at the sudden army that had them surrounded below.
And just when their eyes were wide enough, a giant white tiger majestically crawled up to Kamyla's side, locking its bright crystal blue gaze on them. They froze.
Its height was unnatural; almost twice of Danji's full body length, with extended canines that were too long for its mouth's length.
Their bodies paralyzed in fear.
Kamyla then shouted, "I, Kamyla Odjafah! Daughter of the Diowo village and second in command of the Sah'Jangi army..."
She then lowered her hand to fetch a handful of soil, "Proclaim war on the viles that dare to taint the lands of our Ancestors! Even at the expense of our lives!"
"We call upon our Ancestors to bless our courage and strength to defile all enemies before us! Hewò!?"
All the warriors slammed their fists on their chests three times, "Hewò!!!" They roared.
Kamyla then blew the sand between her fingers into the air.
Danji and Ajefe slowly mounted their horse.
"Your mission?!" Danji gazed at his attentive men, "Slaughter whoever isn't a villager!"
"Yes, Commander!!!" The warriors readied themselves, waiting for Danji to make the first move.
Kamyla then turned to the giant wild cat, having it lower its head to her. She smiled, mounting the beast to let it stand properly as she rubbed its head.
"You know how it is, Rhou".
It growled.
"Good, boy". She grinned, pulling out her weapon — a long thick metal rod with wide curved blades on both ends — known as a Kuiza sword.
Danji also pulled out the exact same weapon, making them the only two in the entire army with such unique war tools.
Kamyla and Danji held the middle shaft of their Kuizas, tightening their grips. Danji then raised his Kuiza in the air and sliced downward.
The army charged forward.