CHAPTER TEN: SOMETHING HAPPENED
The village of Bakoto was in a state of unease. It had been seven days since their soldiers had departed for battle, and there had been no word from them. No reports, no messengers, no indication of their fate. It was as if they had vanished into thin air.
King Ewu called an emergency meeting with the Council of Chiefs to discuss the situation. The council chamber was filled with concern and uncertainty as the chiefs gathered around the table.
"I don't understand what's happening with our soldiers," King Ewu said, his brow furrowed with worry. "This is not like them. Even if they're delayed, they should have sent a message by now. We should have heard something."
"My lord, I have confidence in our soldiers," said Chief Ogbe, a seasoned warrior. "They're not invincible, but I believe they can hold their own against any enemy. Someone should have escaped to bring us news, even if it's just a rumor. Banke and Manke are with them, and I trust them with my life."
Chief Ake, a burly man with a thick beard, nodded in agreement. "I've trained with our soldiers, and I know their strength. They can defeat any enemy, no matter how formidable. I'm sure they've already conquered Sakoto and are enjoying the spoils of war. Maybe they're just taking their time to return, savoring their victory."
The other chiefs nodded in agreement, but one of them, Chief Iyere, raised his hand to silence the group. "Wait, let's not be too hasty. We don't know what's happening out there. Maybe something unexpected has occurred, something that's prevented them from sending word."
Chief Ake frowned, his face skeptical. "What could have happened? Our soldiers are the best in the land. They're unstoppable."
But before Chief Ake could continue, Chief Iyere spoke up again. "That's exactly what I'm saying. We don't know what's happened. Maybe they've encountered an enemy stronger than they anticipated. Maybe they've been ambushed or trapped. We can't just assume they're fine because we haven't heard from them."
The room fell silent as the chiefs considered Chief Iyere's words. They had been so confident in their soldiers' abilities that they hadn't considered the possibility of something going wrong.
King Ewu's face was grim. "We need to consider all possibilities. We can't just sit here and wait for news that may never come. We need to take action, to find out what's happened to our soldiers."
The chiefs nodded in agreement, their faces set with determination. They knew that they had to do something, to find out what had happened to their soldiers and to ensure their safe return. The fate of Bakoto village depended on it.