The king of Abela was left confused not knowing what decision to talk, being in the kingdom where he alone can't make decisions but together with the selected chief council members.
Not knowing what to do he had to call for an augent meeting with the council, after putting matters at hand on the table.
The members were not happy with his matters as they considered king Emorimori a traitor who betrayed his land for ambitious reasons. So they all disagreed with the decision of sending warriors to the forbidden forest where not even their ancestors entered, it was known to be a place where criminals were burnished to suffer and die in there since generations not to talk of rescuing a traitor's son.
"No way! My king our warriors can't enter the forbidden Forest just in search for the a traitor's son, that has to be karma that has devoured him to pay for the sins of his father the late king, sneered one of the elders in the council.
"A stubborn fly follows the corpse into the grave and gets buried with the corpse! The prince was warned by the guards not to go hunting there but he insisted, so who is to be blamed about his predicament?. Another said.
The king was down, since he alone could not make a decision and it was time to choose between his wife the queen, princess Asio and his council members. As he was still thinking of what to do a voice said out loud.
" A son pays for the sins of his father! None of our men are going to die for what they don't know nor will their going in there benefit them or their families.
We ain't ready to loss our warriors. No way!
Upon realizing that all the council members were against it, he had no choice but to let it be as it is.
The members were dismissed, leaving the king in a troubled mind, he call his wife, the queen .
" My dear, am sorry l can't help but to reject your request. He said politely in fear of hurting his wife. After hearing this, the queen was filled with sorrow that she started to cry which made the king have pity on her.
" But there's an option if you don't mind, he said. I remember uben and Epiru come with other warriors. How about you instruct them to go look for their prince and their commanders.
The queen's face turned pale, filled with anger, her eyes were watery with bloodshot, after hearing the outcome of the meeting from her husband.
Slowly with disappointments she moved towards the side where the guards and the warriors who escorted the prince were.
My people! The prince is the only foundation and hope of restoring the lost Morungatuny kingdom of our fathers, she said. We have to go and look for him even if it cost our lives, we will do it.
Some guards weren't ready to risk their lives again like the first time . But others were ready and willing to sacrifice their lives in search for the prince.
Stood one of the warriors after realizing other were looking at each other.
" Am ready to die in the process of restoring my lost kingdom. With so much courage the rest too stood up and they all shouted. Long live the prince, restore the kingdom.
But the kingdom they're talking about was already restored by Maria in the woods only waiting for the right opportunity to go back to their forefathers land.
As sun dawn the queen had already prepared all the necessities needed for the journey and the boys were ready to hit the road.
But where they were going, they knew nothing about.
Immediately they entered the jungle the watcher in the east of the forest where Abela kingdom is located had already spotted them. Not knowing what their intentions was, they had to be patient no to raise false alarm.
They watched them enter and one of the watchers come down and pretended to be collecting firewood in the forest.
As they saw her, they got scare thinking she was a forest spirit but later they become at ease after confirmimg she was human.
"Young girl what are you doing alone in this dangerous forest? Asked one of the guards. " I was in need of firewood augently. She replied
" And what are the great warriors like you doing in here? Are you going for war? She asked eagerly.
No.... we are not going for war, rather we're in search of our lost prince and the two commanders. They replied.
After knowing this she already knew what they were looking for, it was Uben and Epiru as for the prince she knew nothing about him.
It's ok then let me continue collecting firewood, she said. As the warriors also continued there search. As they treked they hard a strange sound, that left them mazed, it was the sound of the watchers alerting the second tree tower.
" It that asound of birds or something else? They thought.
They were not bothered, they continued with their journey.
As Maria was still thinking of how to eliminate their main problem so that they can go back and settle in their ancestral land , news reached her of some armless intruders.
What is it Akello? She asked. The warriors of Abela kingdom are in search of the lost prince again. She replied. " But who is this lost prince? That everyone is looking for! First it was Epiru and and his warriors and they retreated, later they come back and now warriors again.
Maria had already begun suspecting the boy who lost his memory while hunting and she gave him a name* Odeke*
"I hope it's not what am thinking! She said. And what is it that your thinking ! A sharp voice come from behind her, it was the midwife. Nothing midwife... she replied
She then instructed Akello to take some of the warriors to see that all the Abela kingdom warriors are captured.
"I think we should use the knights, replied Akello. Don't even think of it, "l don't want to kill those armless warriors" there of no threat! the knights are trained to kill and to defend the kingdom from external attacks. Take some of your warriors and capture them only if they're heading towards us, but if there go the other way don't bother let them get lost on their own. Said Maria.
Akello immediately treked with some of the she warriors to the jungle but all they could do was to spy on the Abela warriors from afar hoping they don't go to the direction of their kingdom.
While Ocen who lost multiple war to the unknown, wasn't still over it, a notorious man like Ocen wouldn't give up just like that, he needed to do something big to make up for the loss he made and to gain the king's trust again.
Thinking of where to attack again since it's been a half a year ever since he last fought the unknown in the jungle where he lost in a mysterious way.
"Where can l attack? But all the available kingdom are smaller, he thought.
As he was still deep in thoughts the king sent for him. "Greetings the great warrior of Getom, the king sends for you. Said the palace guard.
He then left with the guard to the palace to hear why he was summoned. Greetings you majesty. He said with his knees on the ground and his right hand across his chest while bending his head down as a sign of loyalty and respect to the king.
" Arise! The great warrior of Getom. Said the king with a gleeful expression on his face.
" We need slaves! Our economy revolves around slave trade, and it's been a while now yet our kingdom is running bankrupt. Said the king, what should we do? Asked Ocen carelessly.
I should be the one to ask you that Ocen! Shouted the king, you wasted you time in a useless fight that you lost three times and now your asking me what we should do! Come up with the solution.
But truth be told there was no solution other than Abela kingdom there was no other kingdom nearby. And to talk of Abela, it's one of the most powerful kingdoms not easy to attack. The king left Ocen hopeless and flabbergasted .
My king! Unless if we have to go miles a far from here to scout for other kingdoms. He said.
" I don't care all l need are slaves to end this bankrupty, do what ever you want to do all l need is a yieldful results, responded the king bitterly.
Ocen the left, thinking of which direction to take while scouting the available kingdoms.
Meanwhile Akello was also still in the bush spy on the journey of the warriors from Abela and removing some of their traps ahead of the direction they were taking so as not to alert them of their excitance in that jungle.
Guys! Wait, do you feel something strange...