Maria and her warriors were ready waiting for the day Ocen will attack. But she was puzzled on how to manage the fact that Ocen is not gonna use his warriors rather Unskilled captives who are just victims of war.
What shall l do now ? Those captives are not my enemies, l don't want to have blood of the innocent in my hands. She thought.
Lost deep in thoughts she was, unable to realize the presence of the prince.
Greetings your majesty!..... greetings the great war goddess!... Greatings the protector of the land!.... Said the prince but Maria did hear since she was down in thoughts.
Oh my gosh!! Maria got shocked as she turned behind to trek back to her chambers, she never expected anyone to be behind her. What are you doing here? She yelled.
Sorry your majesty, l was just passing by then l saw you standing all alone . I even greeted you but you didn't reply, your majesty. He said
How many times have l told you not to call mer your majesty? I don't like it, it reminds me of our former king who brought this suffering to us,she said with a frown face.
Am sorry l didn't mean to upset you, replied the prince humbly.so do you mind telling me what's bothering you please? Asked the prince.
"Am thinking of how to win this war without pouring blood of the innocent". said Maria
I have an idea, he said. What idea? Asked maria patiently.
Let's evacuate from this place for a week, she said with abold expression on his face.
What!! How is that even possible? Do you even know what l went through before we settled here? She asked with disenchantments.
Let me elucidate myself..! If we evacuate from this area for week by the time we come back grass would have grown making it look like a bush.
But since it's not easy to move with kids then the kids and elderly can hid in asafe house for aweek with few warriors for protection. As the strong group go with us on that way we can convince Ocen that there's no village in this jungle and he will go back. Said the prince.
With so much blissfulness Maria embraced the prince that shocked Akello who was coming towards her.
Am l dreaming? Thought Akello, let me pinch my self to see if indeed am dreaming. She pinched her arm. Oohchi!!! Am not, it's true. She screamed out loud surprising Maria.
In the contrary Maria has never embraced any man not even his childhood friend Okirror ever since the betrayal of the late king Emorimori.
She immediately pushed the prince away and pretend as if nothing happens.
The prince looked at her with a bliss and smiled. Akello what's it ? She asked.
Maria you know l haven't seen anything so don't worry. She replied. Am asking you what are you doing here and your telling me no sense. Shouted Maria in a clear and concise manner
Akello looked at a frivolous and zealous maria and said come to inquire you next plan.
Tell all the villagers that we will immigrate from here tomorrow, the young and elderly should be ready to go to the safe house for aweak, she replied solemnly.
Although the villagers were surprised to here this acquaint.
They so much believe in Maria that their thoughts can never doubt her.
As the sun aurora, the villagers were ready to trek and the kids were also prepared to enter the safe house together with few warriors who will stay back to supervise the security.
We're ready to hit the road. Said one of the villagers solemnly.
Maria and the prince then arrived.
As they treked , where there was once a village is now an empty ground with trees planted.
Maria and the rest of the villagers left as Akello and some of the strongest she warriors remained behind to protect the kids.
The kids and elderly had to remain back cause they can't walk a long distance and the journey is filled with dangerous animals.
Mean while Ocen has already prepared to attack the jungle this time determinedly. The only thing that delayed him was an order from the king permitting him to attack the jungle again after two failed attempts.
My king, l and my men are ready to strike the forest again. Valiantly Ocen said .
The king looked at a cozy and complacent man in front of him and said, are you sure about this Ocen? , don't you think that what is in that forest is far morethan a mystery that even our forefathers never trek in and manage to come out alive?
I did manage to come out alive twice and so will it be, the snugging Ocen said.
Well if your sure, then it's ok with me but be more heedful when your out there, he said with less contentment.
Thanks, my king ,l will not disappoint you . Gleefuly Ocen responded.
With much concerns the king asked Ocen when he's planing to trek to the jungle.
My king, our departure will be next *ake market day* which is one week from now. Said Ocen with a humble and faint voice , his face looking on the ground.
Mean while Maria and the villagers trudged in the woods they found a comfortable place to stay for a week. Since it was temporary they made small tents and shared with others.
Maria don't you think the scenary here is more beautiful than that of our village! Said the prince while smiling and looking at Marie's serious face.
Maybe. she replied.
When she glimpsed to hear where the the telltale hissing sound was emerging from. she saw a long big darked printed snake with it's head up as it's forked tongue out sensing the direction of the prince ready to attack.
The prince unknowing of what's happening was still jiggling when certainly Maria jumped on the snake's neck and held it tight while it's tail makes a lateral undulating movement .
When the prince glimpsed to see what was happening, he opened his mouth and conveyed shock in response to a frightening event with a signal of potential threat. He screamed so loud that even the birds around ran away.
Wha....wha...what's that? Fear covered his face as his skin turns pale, he panicked and immediately scremed, snakeeeeeee!.
Maria looked at a terrified young man having a scowl face Infront of her and yelled. Can you shut you month!
Am sorry but be careful that snake will bite you. He responded with a dreadful look ion his face.
Well then be more careful next time and pay attentive to the sound coming around you or else the carnival animals will feast on your meat. She said with gleeful look mocking the prince.
As days elapsed *eke market days* had reached, Ocen was now on set to attack the jungle again as Maria was also ready to trek back to the village .
Since Maria was so brave that she placed watch towers at the entrance of the jungle in all directions, in the middle and the last one near the village. It helped them to know if they're to be attacked and that was what Ocen didn't know.
As Ocen was few kilometers away, she warriors at the watch tower in the entrance in the west at already spotted him.
Take the massage to the second tower "alarm of danger". Said one she warrior, since each tower consists of two people.
She immediately whistled a signal of danger so loud that one may think it a sound of the birds but only the she warriors know of it .
The second tower heard the signal and replied back then made again so that the third tower would also hear.
When the third tower heard, they replied too then one of them had to ran fast to the village and inform Akello of the coming danger.
This alone made it easier for Maria to be always a ware of the emerging danger.
After knowing this Akello immediately prepared her girls and sent a message with one of the she warriors to Maria who was also on her return to the village.
The she warrior was gasping when she approached Maria.
Greetings your majesty. She said with her head bent as she pants with a shuttering voice.
What made you to come runing and gasping towards us? Is there any danger ahead? Asked Maria with so much eager.
It's Ocen again, we received info from the towers Ocen is on his way but he will be delayed by our traps giving us time to sort ourselves. She said while puffing.
"Be alert, enemy a head". Maria shouted. Only with those words everyone knew what's next apart from the prince. It was time to run as fast as their legs could take them so as to reach the village before the enemy.
Hey you! Do you even know what to do next? Said maria as she pulls the prince's shoulder.
You can't run ,you can't climb trees and not to think of fighting, she sneered. Better be by my sides if you want to survive.
"They run as fast as a cheetah" and reached the village. Being so organized, those who are not good at climbing big trees rushed to the safe house and those who could climb went to the highest point on the tree with roasted cassava and sweet potatoes not forgetting water and covered themselves with leaves making it difficult for the enemy down to difereciant between a person and a tree.
Worring about the prince, Maria didn't feel secure leaving the prince alone in the safe house, she then decided to put him under her watch.
Guys help me with the rope l need to push him up. She said. Akello you go up with the rope and pull him as we push from down.
The rope was tied on the prince's waist and he was pushed and pulled up.
Few moments later Ocen arrived with the captives at the river banks. Being so thirsty they all ran to the river to drink water.
Little did they know that that was a strategic weapon against them.
The she warriors on hearing their arrival went ahead of the river and drugged it with sleeping medicine since they were not going to war with the innocent victims of Ocen.
They rushed and drank the water as they finished drinking, they all became weak. Upon realizing this it was already too late , Ocen too had drank the water.
He looked around and noticed the place was strange, like it was once a village but seeing no houses he thought he was just imagining.
They all fell asleep. Then come the she warriors and carried all his men to the main road apart from a twelve year old boy.
Leavung Ocen alone in the jungle.
Upon reaching the road they left a message to the captives.
..." RUN FOR YOUR LIVES ".....