5 Chapter 4

"Search every nook and kook of this village! If you see any trace of Zaina, bring it to me!" Growl the Amir Rasheed to his men as they entered the village. His heavy chest pounds as his shoulders move up and down from his heavy breaths. He is indeed furious that he wants every man of this village dead!

"Yes Amir!" Respond the men as they rummage through the houses and fields of the village.

"Ya Amir..." a low and frail voice from his behind caught his attention as he watch his men roam around the place.

"Yes elder?" He answered, not giving his face to the old man.

"Be gentle to this tribe ya Amir. We don't want to shed blood, do we? Besides... we are not that certain of the news that your sister is or was here."

The prince did not respond to this and remained focused on what's in front of him. This is the village of the tribe he grew to loath, the clan of his family's nemesis, the village of the Dimacanga.

It was past noon when they depart from their land to travel hours to reach their enemies. It has been four days since his fool beloved sister went missing. News of her whereabouts spread across their land saying that she was sighted living in the territory of their foe!

The sun is about to set when they arrived at the village. Cold breeze welcomed them as the noise of the chirping birds echoed frantically due to the sight of the approaching platoon. The bustling of the people inside the village puts to a halt upon their arrival, only for their women and children to immediately return to their huts.

It took minutes of time before the head of the clan appeared to their sight along with the men of the tribe.

"What brings the eldest prince of the Kansuays to take a visit in our village, unannounced?" Spoke Datu Taliq, the head if the clan. He was still on his prayer dress for it would only take minutes before Maghrib to start. However, his mighty sword can be seen hung in the corner of this waist along with all his men.

"Forgive our rude intrusion, your Excellency." responded the prince. "I immediately deployed my men in your village because of urgency. You see, we received a news regarding our missing sister."

"Your sister?" Taliq brows shoot up from hearing what the prince stated. He intensely looked at the young man's eyes to question his intent.

"Yes ya Datu. My Sister Zaina." Rasheed firmly replied, meeting the intensity of the Datu's gaze. It was his first time meeting the head of the clan he was told to be their foe.

Powerful yet vigilant and wise. A mighty soldier and a strong commander before he was given the title of a Datu. This is how people describe the leader of Dimacangas and Rasheed grew up making an image of this man in front of him. The man who killed many of their men!

"Are you to say that perhaps our village shelters your beloved sister, ya Ameer?" Taliq asked again, now in a raised tone.

"Perhaps, Taliq." A man on his horse showed up from behind the remaining troops of the Kansuays. "Perhaps the news are true, my friend, that my youngest child is indeed here." Datu Kahar added, Rasheed's father and the leader of the intruders.

"It has been long years my friend, since the last time our paths collided. Apologies for our sudden appearance that might bothered your serenity. However, my heart won't be at ease until I prove that indeed my daughter is not here."

"But your daughter is not here! How can you just decide to rummage our village based on a rumor? You could have consulted us first!"

"Silence Khalil!" Datu Taliq scolds his eldest son Taliq who is by his side. He then

faced Datu Kahar again who was surprisingly calm after his son's rude abrupt.

The two heads of the feuding clans once again faced each other. It was bloodshed that made them crossed path before, and now only fate could determine wether another bloodshed is to happen as they reunite.

"I understood well, my good of a friend. Worry not for I accept your stand. However, I can attest that your child is not here as long as my knowledge is concern. Unless my people hid the truth from me, in which I doubt they would commit." Datu Taliq firmly replied.

"I am grateful to you if that is the case." said the King of the Kansuays. "However, we can only believe your words once my men finish their task."

Just as Datu Kahar finished his speech, one of his men came running to their side holding a piece of cloth in his hand and handed it to his King.

"Zaina's shawl." Calmly stated the Datu after scrutinizing the cloth soldier had brought.

Datu Taliq eyes widen by the revelation but refused to speak a word, he hold on to the handle of his hanged weapon instead.

The sound of a sword being drawn was heard from Datu Kahar's son Rasheed and was followed by his men, which caused the Dimacangas to draw their swords as well. Tension rose up between the two groups of men and both of them know that the pact of peace they have sworn to abide would soon be thrown in the river.

"Where is my child ya Tariq?!" Howl the Kansuays' leader.

"Just as I told you before, I don't have any knowledge of her." Answered Datu Taliq who is yet to draw his sword.

"Liar! If I shall have to slit someones throat for you to reveal my child, then I will!" Roared Datu Kahar who is now about to launch his attack, only to be stopped by an approaching pleas.

"Halt my children! Fear the Lord and have mercy on your people!"

All of the strong men drift their gazes to an elderly woman who is slowly walking towards them with slightly haunched back.

"Let no blood be shed! Let no blood be shed!" She pleases.

"Mother!" Exclaimed the highest ranking official Datu Taliq to his frail of a mother.

"Bai Zarra.." spat unknowingly of Datu Kahar.

For the last decades, it was the first time their eyes laid on the once known as the most beautiful woman among the lands. She was the reason of murder against his late uncle-- who was slain by the old woman's family. She was the woman who shake Zacary's life and their whole clan as a whole-- the reason for this clans' feaud. She was Bai Zarra Dimacanga, his uncle's beau.