"Anna, get out of the way". He commanded.
"Do not get in the way of I and them Anna. As their lord, this is my responsibility to bear, and mine alone".
Mikeal was not going to stand and hide behind Anna as a shield. He has no plan of hurting them. More than anything, he understands their pain and could even assume what fate will befall him at their hands.
Still!! He wasn't going to back out of it. This is just one of the procedures to be their lord.
Anna saw Mikeal's determination to face the villagers alone. She had a burning desire to stand with him, but disobeying his command would be the same as disregarding his authority.
She could always step in when things are about to get out of hand.
"You-You took our daughters from us".
"Because they had been defiled. I would do the same again if opportuned to". Mikeal answered without batting an eye.
"You robbed us of our kinsmen, deprived the children of the chance to reunite with their mothers".
"A necessary cause to cleanse the village of any bastard background".
His answers were smooth to the elders who confronted him in the absence of the children.
Mikeal's response to their every question was cruel and without regard for their feelings. His countenance stern, his voice undaunted and straight with them.
He spoke with the dignity of a lord and not of one who had committed a felony.
Vincent stood by the sideline leaving it to the elders to pass on judgment. He was furious, even more so than the rest of them. Nonetheless, he left it up to them as the elders that they are.
Besides, his anger toward Mikeal is centred on his inability to stop him from killing the women and for being so blinded as to believe in what he has to say.
There are those among the elders who are related to the people he killed. Some lost their daughters and some lost more than that.
With tears rolling down the eyes of the leading elder, he knelt on both knees on the ground with the rest following suit.
"My lord! We your humble servants bow before your presence. We urge you to please accept our show of loyalty". They chorused, audibly and simultaneously.
Mikeal had flinched with a step taken back when he saw the leading elder make a move. He thought the elder was going to latch at him in anger. But this?... This he wasn't expecting.
Anna too was about to react thinking the elder was about to hurt Mikeal. She had instinctively moved to a defensive stance and was ready to stand guard in front of Mikeal to tank whatever was coming at him.
Her surprise when she saw the elders kneel before Mikeal was unspeakable.
The one who is most surprised by this outcome is none other than Vincent who was watching from the sideline.
He did not interfere because he thought the elders were going to give due justice to Mikeal, but what is this?... Are they so afraid of his might and power that they have lost the balls for rational thought?!
"My lord, accept our humble due to you". They beseeched on their knees.
"I killed your loved ones, and I will not hesitate to do so under the same circumstances! Are you still willing to bow before me?!". He questioned, his composure regained.
"Accept our humble due to you, lord". They beseeched once more.
He knew what was happening, he just didn't know it was going to happen this early.
He smiled knowing that things were going according to proceedings.
"I want the head of the villager, the head of the workers in charge of food production and distribution, the head related to building amenities, one youth representative, and the security head. I will be waiting for the listed heads to meet me on the upper floor, there is much to do if ever our village is to grow". Mikeal commanded.
He headed back to the tree house with Anna while he left the elders to make their decision on who would represent them.
"My lord, did you predict that was going to happen". Anna inquired as they got to the tree house.
Mikeal seemed too composed and the way he was able to give out orders. It all looked like something he had preplanned.
"I told you Anna. My goal is to be the lord of this village. If that is going to happen, I need the loyalty of the villagers with me". He says with a smile.
...
"What was that about?! How could you all bow before him after what he did". Vincent challenged following Mikeal's exit.
"I never knew the elders of the village are too wussy to stand up for injustice. In the face of the one who took your kinsmen away, you all so readily submit yourself just so you can keep your life. Who does that".
Vincent was furious. He left the decision-making to them because he thought they could write the wrong on behalf of the whole village.
How wrong have they proven his decision to be?
"Vincent". The leading elder called. "Look past the big picture and see the bigger picture like we all did".
"What bigger picture is there to look at? He killed our people so mercilessly and without any justifiable cause. There is no bigger picture except that".
"No Vincent, there is". Says the leading elder.
"What-What are you all talking about?! What bigger picture is there? What justification can be linked to his doing". Vincent queried.
The elders were all acting strange like they knew something he didn't.
"We will do as the lord commanded. Vincent as the head of security, you are to be present at the meeting. It is up to you to decide if you will join us or not".
They called him lord so easily and so freely. Had they forgotten what that so-called lord did to them?
No. The question should be, what is wrong with the elders to have them acting this way?!