Chapter 33 - The Indecisive King

The men are being interrogated by Amanirenas and her boys and it is really taking a stern on the assumed Punt army men. Akinidad has grown really stronger ever since he moved to Carthage and undertaking his lessons in line of assuming the throne. It is always believed that a king must be someone who can fight and always ready to step up in the defence of his people. Although Akinidad is not all ready for the role, but one thing is for sure that he has developed a lionheart personality and is finally taking over the bravery and courage of his mother. Hakeemi on the other hand, is a brave man strong enough to take down bears, but he is humbled because he has no relation with any royal blood, but hoping things look at his side.

The soldiers from Punt, who tried and lured their ways into the village of Amanirenas are beginning to experience the worse moments of their lives, as the torture gets more intense. They began to speak but already have it in their heart and mind not to mention the name of emissary Boateng, who has been of great help to them right from the starts. They would not have made it that far if not for his help, not to talk of taking over the Mapungubwe Kingdom, knowing so well of the well trained and capable soldiers safeguarding the borders of the kingdom. If only the captives are able to let every secret regarding their coupe out of the basket, then Ptolemaic Kingdom and its people will have some sense of confidence of winning the war and returning orders amongst all kingdoms.

Things are beginning to look a little bit rough for the Kitaran people, as the number of the Punt army keeps increasing at a speed rate ever since they took over the Mapungubwe kingdom. Their army is taking a fast toll increment as they recruit and train all the able men of Mapungubwe, preparing them fast to join the army to fight so their freedom can be granted back to them after attaining victory. The farms and rivers of the Kitaran people are beginning to be taken away by the Punt army, just like the way they took everything belonging to the Mapungubwe kingdom. By doing so, it weakens the people since their means of survival will be in the hands of their supposed enemy, and that will make them surrender to the wills of the enemy.

Amanirenas and her boys were told of how the plans were made and ow long it took them to plan these attacks which seems like victory for them. They spoke of how they prepared the attacks in the woods which eliminated most of their moon wings and got the rest fleeing from the land, and the potential threat they risk standing at that moment. They then told Amanirenas of how they intend to take over almost all kingdoms existing so as to make it one under them, then decide the fate of its dwellers.

As the discussions in the king's palace is still ongoing, a message of the potential traitor was sent to Azurethra, directing it to their ruler, Amanirenas, warning her of staying on the look for anyone that seems suspicious. At this point, Temi, who broke the news of the coupe was summoned before the king, to give his light on the matter on how he knew what the men were saying and was sure of any plotted war against the Ptolemaic Kingdom. He respected the invitation of the king and summoned himself before the king, as he explains to the whole cabinet how he got to know about it all. His narration seemed to be the same as he was summoned for the second time and their trust and honour was laid before him.

Emissary Boateng tries his best to be vigilant and always on cautious mood in other to make anything know either by the king or his cabinet. He seemed to be more obedient to the king and that has been giving him the upper hand in dissolving and ruining the plans being put together by the king, and that sights a red light for their defeat. The king seem really determined even though the fears of his people are gradually taking a strong stand in their lives as they indecisive whether or not victory will be theirs, as the green light is showing itself to the Punt army.

Masinissa Linette Duah II is now concerned about the maid who was the mistress to his grandfather, and wanting to make more investigations on how to bring her remains back to the kingdom, in the sense of homering her which might ease things for them. As they spoke of the mistress, Emissary Boateng is beginning to get a little upset about it and wishes to crush them all at that point in time. The king elaborated on how he will want to send delegates to go talk to the king of the Punt Kingdom on how her remains can be given to them so a honourable burial can be given to her. Emissary Boateng declines the idea, that it might spark more fuse between them and the people of Punt, because they might see it as mockery and worse of it, a yielding plea to the war.

He told the king that the punt kingdom will see them as weak and will want to make things much worse for them by turning their allies into theirs and taking away all they worked for. This will really make them look really incapable of ensuring the safety of their people.

As the news got to Amanirenas in Azurethra, she decided to use the advantage of having some of their soldier's captive to retrieve the said traitor from them. In all of Punt land, Emissary Boateng is known as Abidemi while he is known as Boateng in Carthage. Due to his long serving task to the throne, it will surely be hard to believe anything said by the Punt army, since they are known of always causing unrest to everyone, even to their own people. Due to lack of trust of the Punt people, Emissary Boateng can surely say that he will be safe even if his name is being given out, but still an agreement is an agreement. His name is not to be mentioned if anything goes the opposite direction, but still ensured them victory over Ptolemaic and that he was sure of making it happen.

Masinnisa Linette Duah II is gradually losing his sense of thinking when the issue of his grandfather comes ringing back in his ears. He is gradually losing his stand as the ruler of the kingdom due to the frequent request from his people of getting the Punt army away from their lands. He is left in the state of indecisiveness as to whether or not to send his delegation to the land of the Punts, as it will defame the name of the land, or should he put away his pride and get the delegates sent for a peaceful resolution. The decision now lies in the hands of the king since he is getting influenced by his able and honourable emissary. 

Amanirenas on the other hand, is getting closer to the truth about the war and the person behind it. She is almost at the verge of getting the name of the traitor is has been enjoying all the good treatments in the land but yet decides to turn its back on his people. But as it stands, things seem to be difficult for them just as they think that they are almost at the bottom of the issue.

The king is finally getting to a conclusion of sending his people to the land of the Punt and reinstate their situations between them. Emissary Boateng still being at the forefront of the decision making regarding their army, he keeps influencing the king since all he needs is time to better equipe his accomplices in ruining whatsoever that was build by the grandparent of the king. And as old age gradually takes the best of the king, he is compelled to adhere to his emissary and redirect everything into his hands, since Akinidad is not all ready to take over the seat of the king.

Amanirenas will not be well pleased upon hearing the news of the king assigning most of the duties to Emissary Boateng, since he is not of a royal blood neither is he the rightful replacement to the king. She believes in at this point in time, Akinidad should be given the mandate of taking on some tasks, as it will help in preparing him for sure occurrences when they are both not alive to help. She certainly be happy and proud since her ambitions are coming to light, but that will not be the pressing issue at this moment. Getting the traitor and winning this war will be her priority since its victory will determine if there will be a kingdom for her supposed son to rule over or not.