Uwa's Courtyard
It was dinner time when Osaze arrived at his first wife's courtyard. Seeing her husband appear, Uwa was surprised. Since she couldn't conceive again, he had stopped visiting her room.
"My husband, would you like to have your meal here?" Uwa asked. Counting the days, she realized it was her turn to serve him.
Since he had stopped visiting her room, she usually sent his food to his courtyard. Seeing him come to her courtyard made her happy, and she began to hope that she had regained his favor. The arrival of a personal maid had already raised her status in the house. The other wives were green with envy. Even Eloho, one of his other wives, had used the excuse of pregnancy to ask for a maid, but her request was rejected.
"Alright," Osaze replied, deciding to eat there. It would also make it easier to pass on his father's instructions.
After dinner, Osaze addressed Uwa. "Father has decided to take Efosa to the training camp in a few days. He has also arranged for Iyare to accompany us under the guise of visiting the healer at Medicine Mountain. She will need to stay in bed for the next two days to make it seem believable."
"I will ensure Iyare stays in bed," Uwa agreed immediately. She understood that this arrangement also benefits her precious son. "My husband, would you rest in my room tonight," Uwa asked with a careful smile.
Osaze looked at his wife, thinking that he had not visited her for a long time, he decided to stay.
....
Two days later, Edosa left the house with his two grandchildren. Iyare could ride a horse, but because she was pretending to be sick, a cart was attached to her horse. After all, a sick person riding a horse was not convenient.
The camp area was a whole day's journey on horseback from the general's residence in the heart of the royal city of Towanda.
When they arrived at the camp, there were other warriors and young men who had joined the king's army. Edosa, as the first general, had a hut in the camp.
"You go join the new recruits," Edosa instructed his grandson.
Efosa felt bitter. He had heard from his father that new recruits were not allocated huts to sleep in. They had to make their own tents from branches and bamboo trees. The task was extremely difficult. Efosa had thought that since his sister would act as his body double, he would get to stay in his grandfather's hut. Unexpectedly, as soon as they arrived, he had to dismount and join the other recruits.
"Efosa, over here," one of Efosa's friends, who had also joined the army, called out to him as soon as he walked over.
"Ohiomuwa," Efosa called out, walking over to his friend, who was halfway done with his tent.
"Why did you come so late? It's evening already. Where will you sleep if you don't finish your tent?" Ohiomuwa asked when Efosa reached him.
"My sister was sick; she slowed down our journey," Efosa replied.
"Ahh! Some people are just too lazy. Your cousin Osagie arrived in the afternoon. I heard he's already finished making his tent," Osifo, who did not get along with Efosa, mocked.
"Osifo, mind your business," Efosa snapped, getting angry. He hated to be compared with his cousin.
"What? Did I say anything wrong? Just because you have a little skill, you think you're superior. Fortunately, the General is a just man. I'll see how you manage to sleep tonight if you don't finish your tent," Osifo taunted.
"You..." Efosa dropped his bag and was ready to start a fight, but his friend stopped him.
"Efosa, why are you wasting time fighting with him? He's almost done with his tent, and you haven't even started," Ohiomuwa said.
"He started it," Efosa grumbled.
"Let him be," Ohiomuwa said, forcing Efosa to turn away from Osifo, who kept laughing at him. "Hurry up! I got some extra bamboo and palm branches for you," Ohiomuwa added, pointing to the space beside his tent. Earlier, when he noticed his friend hadn't arrived, he helped collect the materials Efosa would need. This was why Ohiomuwa was only halfway done with his tent, while others who arrived with him were nearly finished.
"Thank you. You're the best," Efosa said, grateful to his friend for solving a major problem.
"We're brothers," Ohiomuwa replied.
"Brothers? You should call yourself his servant instead," Osifo sneered, shifting his target to Ohiomuwa.
"Osifo, mind your business," Ohiomuwa retorted.
"What! I'm just telling the truth. You hang around Efosa and do everything for him. Isn't it because he's the General's grandson?" Osifo said. He was nearly finished with his tent and didn't mind stirring up trouble.
Ohiomuwa decided to ignore him. He focused on finishing his tent quickly so he could help Efosa with his.
---
Inside General Edosa's Hut
"You will stay here with me. Every day, you will switch places with your brother to join the new recruits for training. You must return to the tent after training. Do not make friends or socialize with anyone after training. You don't want anyone to notice the truth, right? If word gets out, our family will be doomed," Edosa explained to Iyare.
"I understand, Grandfather. I will mind my business," Iyare replied.
"Good," General Edosa nodded before stepping out of the hut. He walked straight to the training field to meet the instructors.
"General," they all greeted him when he arrived.
"How many recruits do we have this year?" Edosa asked.
"So far, there are two hundred," one of the instructors answered.
"Then divide them into two groups," Edosa instructed.
"Yes, General. Should we divide them based on strength or randomly?" another instructor asked.
"Bring me their name sticks," General Edosa ordered. The name sticks also contained details about each recruit's skills and region.
The sticks were brought to him, and he glanced at them briefly. "I will divide the groups later. For now, we need to divide the instructors into two groups as usual," he said.
Edosa's subordinate brought a small calabash containing twenty small numbered sticks.
The instructors came forward one by one to draw sticks. In this way, the groups were divided smoothly.
After the division, they briefly discussed the training plans.
"Let them eat their dinner and go to bed early. Training starts before first light tomorrow," General Edosa said, dismissing the meeting.
"Osaze, come over," Edosa called to his son as he walked away from the group.
Usually, Osaze and Osaro joined the instructors. This year, Osaro was still recovering from an injury. Afterward, he would need to select a piece of land from his inheritance to build his house and start his own family.
"Remember to wake Efosa before training tomorrow," Edosa instructed his son.
"Father, do you mean he won't train with the group?" Osaze asked.
"What is the use of him training with the group? We will continue training him privately," Edosa replied. Iyare was more skilled than Efosa. If she didn't receive the best training, how would she adequately assist her brother?
Osaze fell silent. Some things were better left unsaid, as the walls had ears. So even if he felt that Iyare was not suitable to join other boys to training he did say it.
"I understand," Osaze said.