In kensia.
King Nifemi heart was still in merriment.
It had been so long since he heard a great news. He had sent messages to his army to prepare for war.
Segund must go down in flames.
Tola walked in smartly,his face gloomy and his raiment neat as usual.
"What happened?" King Nifemi asked. "Why the face tola".
"Your highness. He bowed his head.
"You message has been sent to segund and their reply has also been delivered.
"What does it says?"
Tola moved closer to the king and brought out the scroll to read the message.
The message goes thus: we will humbly pay the increase in the tax,seeing that kensia is dealing foolishly with us because luck is in her side for a while. If there be an increase again we will burn kensia with all its inhabitant and take as much water as we want leaving kensia in destruction with which the king will not be alive to behold.
"That is all your highness. Tola said and rolled the scroll back.
"Absurd!. He hit his right hand on the table causing his bone to a make a sound as if broken. "Burn kensia. Kill the king... Segund,segund-d. He said the last word with closed teeth and pronouncing the last letter long. The fury,the furnace that burned inside him. All the merriment and joy disappeared. His heart, stone cold.
He could hear his father's voice in his head.
"Somebody has to take segund down. Nifemi let it be you. The voice vanished.
"Yes, certainly. It will be me.
How he longed to see segund in waste,in despair and in destruction.
Tola watched him. His eyes followed him as he moved around.He dare not utter a word.
King Nifemi walked back and forth. He was very restless.
"This is our land. I am the king. I rule this kingdom,I get to decide what goes down and my wish must be fulfilled". He said in anger. But segund power and population is enough to humble him.
He can only rant and curse,he if course cannot dare segund.
"Who shall come to my rescue? He thought
"Tola we will wait patiently for I perceive that not too long from now a war will break out between hills and segund and then we will take segund,for they will not expect it. We shall come upon them unaware. If I act now,it will be at the cost if many lives.he said.
Tola nodded in agreement.
"O'king , hills victory will shall partake of and our heart will be merry again.
All the king's anger suddenly vanished,but the pain of him not been able to retaliate now pricks his flesh.
" We can only be victorious if hills is victorious. There is a risk here too. He looked at tola. "What if hills go down instead.
His eyes,wide open in realization." We will be dead meat.
"Not so my king. If we withdraw from going to battle,we shall suffer more harsh treatment from segund. It's a two way thing. if we pose to support hills they will count us as their friends and we will have immunity against segund and if hills be taken down we will not die a coward,for we resisted our oppressors.
"Do you not know tola, that the protector will know of our plan to partake in their victory. That we cunningly want to gain immunity against them too, he wields wisdom. He will know.
"I understand you my king,but the protector has nothing to do with the ruling of the kingdom. He has his own duty and he will not do more than that. Said tola.
"Very well then. Let's go on.
"We have something to gain. Tola said assuredly. My neck is on the line too. He added.
"Less on the line. They will come for me first.
"I will go with you then... Tola managed a smile. A hopeful smile.
"Thank you tola. He said.
It is crystal clear that without tola,king nifemi would have lost his mind.
For he cares for tola. sincerely.
Tola placed the scroll on the royal table and bowed his head to leave.