1 The Banner of Angh

Mo remembered his father and grandfather returning triumphantly to his village after every war with a head in their hands - and the agony of the tattoos they received to celebrate their victory. He is a proud member of the Nonglai, one of dozens of Anghian tribes with grisly histories written in blood. The Anghian tribes used the thorn of the lemon tree to drive tree sap mixed with charcoal under their warrior's skin to ink a permanent reminder of their savage prowess. Tribes and villages commonly waged war over land and cattle, and their warriors hacked off their enemy's head for trophies. The blood on their Janglau, the Anghian broad dagger, was the key ingredient in the ink. The Nonglain women chose to have geometric designs etched on their arms, legs and faces as a mark of their ability to withstand pain. Mos mother and grand-mothers would show him their tattoos and proudly say, Only warrior mothers can bear warrior sons." Isak, Mos father was a great warrior and revered throughout the land, including the kingdom of the plains.

So it was a shock to him when his father called for a meeting of all the heads of the neighbouring tribes after returning from his travels. Generally such an act would indicate a great danger like a plague or a famine. But Mo could sense that something was disturbing Isak more deeply. Something perhaps more dangerous was on its way. Isak had called for an immediate ceasefire of all feuds and gathered the village elders. He asked his tribesmen to slaughter ten boars and prepare rice-beer to greet the heads of the other tribes. Two moons later the heads started arriving, dressed in their reddest scarfs and their pointy feathered tribal hats. It was as if the entire land of Angh had descended onto this quaint village overlooking the valley of the white giants. Kisama was indeed the heaven of the hills.

The entire village had gathered to help their leader tend to the needs of the arriving guests. One by one all fifteen of them arrived, accompanied by the best of their soldiers, just in case Isak had planned a coup. But Isak had far greater fears on his mind. He felt it is his duty to warn his people of the perils fate had dragged their way. It was time to leave behind their petty differences and unite under a single banner. On the fourth day, everyone gathered at the village hall. All the heads were seated on the dais, with Isak the host at the centre, and the people sprawling throughout the courtyard. They began ceremoniously by drinking rice-beer, first to their forefathers, then to the gods, and finally to their newfound unity. What Isak was about to say would be pestilence to their ears.

Isak started by talking about his recent visit to the kingdom of the plains on the invitation of his good friends, the king of Ohom. The leaders from all lands far and wide had gathered on request and at a short notice just like him. There were four strange men among them too, dressed in white and unlike any of the kings from this land. They all adorned fine silk cloths and their sandals were made of wood with leather laces tying them to their feet, uncommon even to the kingdom of the plains. What one of these strangers proposed was even more preposterous. They proclaimed to be the Generals of the greatest army ever built, and they had called this meeting to advise all the leaders to surrender their respective lands to them to avoid confronting this army. If they did, they would be spared from the war and all the bloodshed of their folk. If not, the army will march to their gates and ensure that they pay the hard price for their insolence.

It did not sound like a request to the gathering, more like a warning. The people of these lands were not attuned to taking orders, especially from strangers who threatened of war. War was nothing new to them as for centuries they have been warring among themselves for every reason they could amass. So the sound of a great army did not intimidate them a bit. Instead, they found it rather amusing, and requested the strangers to stop talking nonsense. The Generals kept on harping of all the great battles they had fought on their way to these lands, and assured them that their armies had grown in leaps and bounds with every kingdom that they conquered. Isak laughed at their arrogance and stood up to leave the room. Soon all the rest of the leaders followed suit. They only heard the Generals bark from behind, "You fools will pay for your mistakes!!" Isak was certain that this new enemy was not bluffing, and that they will have a great battle coming their way. But the tribes of Angh were not ones to shy away from a good fight.

In that great hall, Isak called upon all the heads to unite under the banner of Anghand fight this foreign enemy. A spirit of anticipation spread through the crowd as they cheered in unison, their leaders standing together hand-in-hand. Mo stood amidst the crowd displeased.