Just before the fall of the night, the Commander of the imperial forces Babida arrived at the east gate of Ekule accompanied by his aide-de-camp Baba.
They had all day long been on the way to the imperial city. They were extremely exhausted, and so was the camel that carried them and their loads.
At the sight of the Commander in chief, the imperial sentinels at the barricade lined up in front of Babida and gave him a warm military salute.
"Greetings, My Commander! Welcome to Ekule!" said the leader of the squad to the lumberjack as he placed his right hand on the temple before slamming powerfully his thigh with the same hand.
"Thank you, comrades!" replied the superior army Chief Babida who greeted back the imperial guards.
"You may continue your journey." The leader then said and ordered one of his comrades to open the gate.
Babida and his henchman Baba crossed the checkpoint and were now en route to the center of Ekule.
