Who are the knights? Epiru and Uben thought as they were baffled.
Well l know you have never heard of such a name before, and your wondering who they are! The elder chief said.
Yes chief, please enlighten us, who are they? They asked .
The knights are a group of twelve female well skilled warriors, and none of us know who they are. He said, but also be aware that they are not ordinary warriors, they have been training since childhood.
What do you mean they are not ordinary warriors? They asked. Those are people trained to kill and they are capable of destroying the whole kingdom. Never underestimate them. He replied assiduously .
You must be kidding us chief, how can twelve female warriors destroy a whole kingdom?. They asked jokingly. "Never judge a book by its cover".... Replied the chief, if only five knights managed to break into Getom kingdom what else can't they do?. He said trying to convince the doubting two men.
Getom was awell known kingdom where even a fly once captured can't escape the hands of Ocen. That alone made the two young men to doubt the chief.
That's impossible.... no one has ever escaped Ocen's captivity and those who try end up kicking the bucket once cought. so how comes?, You must be kidding or trying to scare us, isn't it? They asked.
I wish l was, my sons, but am not. Okey let's imagine you managed to escape these cells, you won't manage to pass by the first watcher. He told with much sincerity .
Watchers!! They were all bewildered again, what are the watcher? they asked anxiously.
The watchers are a specific female warriors trained to climb any time of trees, basically they were trained to be so attentive to any type of movement or sounds and their visions is always perfect either day or night, nothing misses their sights and they ran "as fast as a cheetah", when it comes to whistling their sounds can be heard like a trumpet. They have been trained from childhood till the present, making them professionals in their profession.
The chief then left and went back to the village where he meant the prince waiting for him to go fishing together as he had promise.
The prince being someone who was kept in the palace, he was denied from such activities, having done it for the first time, he enjoyed it. Together they went fishing.
"Curiosity kills the cat" Epiru being a person with so much pride and arrogance did feel okey being locked up in prison, he then decided to escape.
Uben, see today there's no any guards present, it's out only chance to leave this prisons. Remember "luck knocks the door once, and if you don't open the door, it goes and never comes back again". So this is luck knocking at our doors, we must leave here right now. Said Epiru.
Even after being warned, still he didn't take it seriously. Are you okey?.... Asked Uben bitterly with his eyes open,his finger pointing at his head. For your own information am not going any where, you can go if you want, he said.
As they where still arguing amongst themselves, adeep voice come from a dark the corner, it was the captived warriors of Getom.
Do you even think you will make it out? You can't! , if it was as easy as you think, then we won't be here right now. All who tried got lost in the jungle and we're brought back her. He said
Epiru's pride had covered his eyes that he paid a deaf ear to all the advices given to him.
It was midnight when Epiru was so sure that every one was a sleep, he decided to wake Uben up so as they could escape.
Uben wake up! Wake up let's hit the road. He whispered to Uben. Uben who was half a sleepand half a wake was so confused that he didn't even know what was going on and followed Epiru as he slowly broke the door chains of the prison.
Then knowing that no one will sight them, they treked slowly and entered the jungle, little did they realize that Maria was seated at the river. She glimpsed at them and with immediate effect she whistled the call for Akello, in a blink of an eye she had already reached the river.
Now follow them and create a traps that will make them move in circular till they get tired. She said as she continued to stare at the dark clouds with glowing bright stars.
Akello followed them slowly from behind . They treked for hours yet they seemed to be in one place which befuddled them.
They then decided to leave marks as they treked. Only for them to come back to the spot they started from.
It's all you fault! If we hadn't left the village we wouldn't be trapped here right now. Said Uben harshly. Instead of arguing with me, we rather think of how to leave this jungle before wild beasts devour our flesh. Replied Epiru.
Little did they realize that Akello was listening to them as she was seated on to of the tree above their heads.
Before they could think of leaving, a miasma of a cloudy vapour that contained herbs for sleep or unconsciousness was released making them unconscious.
And by the time they regained their consciousness, they were back into the prison. Not knowing what happened and how they ended up back into the prison, again puzzled them.
Welcome back..... a voice said as the rest were laughing out loud. We told you, but you didn't believe us, so next time you won't like what they will do to you. One of the prisoners from Getom said.
Can... Can you tell us how we ended up here?, Asked Epiru as he was mazed. Both of you were unconscious when two female warriors brought you back like corps. your lucky this time, but you may not have this same luck again. Said one of the Getom prisoners who have been locked up for so long.
Although Maria doesn't want to be harsh on anybody, she also has fear of being attacked by ambitious kingdom making her want to keep the kingdom secret as anon existing kingdom till when her motives are achieved.
So no visitor was allowed to leave the kingdom once you enter. And that's the reason the captured Getom warriors were kept as prisoners in fear that if given their freedom they my elope back to their kingdom which will turn into disaster for them.
Although she never had fear for anybody but always, "where there's war, there's death of the innocent too", and that's her only fear.
The sun had already ascended up the sky when maria and Akello come to pay a visit to Epiru and Uben.
Oh so these are the escapists, how far did you go? Or are you in Abela kingdom now? She said while laughing and mocking them.
Now listen, l mean no harm, unless if you call for it by yourselves, and know that you can never escape from here even if l let you go, you won't make it out of the forest just like some of your men when you first entered this jungle. She said with a gleeful smile on her face as if everything was okey.
Although Uben was ready to cooperate with Maria, Epiru still could break down his pride and accept that fact that a woman is the rule and men weren't supposed to raise there voices against women.
Your majesty! Am ready to cooperate and abide by all the conditions of your kingdom and after all in my vines flows the blood of the morungatunians. Which makes me one of you. Said Uben while bowing down with his head bent down.
Maria has never for once admired to be call her majesty cause she regards her self of the same level as everyone else.
I hate it when people address me by that name but for the case that you are repentant and obedient ready to amend by the law of this kingdom l shall set you free and you Epiru when your ready you can tell my guards to inform me. She said as she was going.
Uben was released as Epiru remained in prison. Akello handed him to Okirror who was in charge of men.
The disappearance of Epiru and Uben gave princess Asio who was hoping in their return, she would be able to reunite with her nephew the prince, it gave her sleepless nights. It's been weeks since they crossed the threshold of the forbidden forest.
With much worry, the queen decided to talk to her husband the king of Abela kingdom if he would send his able bodied men to the forbidden forest in search of the three missing persons.
All she hoped was to fulfill her responsibility of protecting the prince as she had promised her late brother king Emorimori of Morungatuny kingdom.
Due to the fact that the forbidden forest was out of reach since ancient day cause it was believed that the forest consists of wondering spirits and dangerous wild beasts.
And all who went into the forest never come out. This made the king worry about sending his men into the forest since it would be a suicide mission. And there was no surety whether the prince , chief guard and the chief warrior was still alive in there....