5 Chapter Four

Emtor

Few days later

"Sir, we have a new prisoner from the capital" the mine supervisor said as he approached Baptiste. Baptiste has spent almost four months in the mines. During his time, he has witnessed a lot of deaths. He did not like it but he had no choice. He brought this upon himself. He loves his brothers but he did not like the way the slaves were treated. He knew he should be the king but his defeats in the wars against the yellows cost him. "Where is he?" He asked. "He is outside" the supervisor answered and they left the room to check the new arrival.

"Oh! He is a yellow?" He asked. "Yes. Spoils from the war against the yellows" the supervisor answered. "So, Adelmo really defeated them. I imagine how glad Xander must be now" he thought. He asked the guards to take the prisoner out and observed him. "Your face looks familiar. Who are you?" He asked the prisoner. "I am Afri, commander of the Yellow army" Afri answered. "I see. I am sure you remember my face. We fought a lot against each other" Baptiste said. "I know and I defeated you in those wars" Afri answered and was slapped. Baptiste stopped the guard and said " he is right. Welcome to Emtor. I hope your stay here is not as horrible as you think". "It is hell enough seeing how you treat other humans" Afri answered. Baptiste looked at him . "Take him to his part of the mine. He starts work at dawn tomorrow" Baptiste ordered and left to check on the slaves at work.

While on his way, one of the guards came running towards him. "Sir, I have news for you" the guards said. "What news? I am listening" Baptiste stopped and asked. "Your wife put to bed and has given birth" the guard answered. "Are you sure?" Baptiste asked and the guard replied him with a nod.

Baptiste climbed his horse and galloped back home. When he got home, he saw his wife on the bed with the baby in her arms. He smiled at her and thanked the maidens. He moved closer and asked her "Is it a boy or a girl?"

Note: Octis is the unit of currency in the new world. Its named after the first king of the blacks.

" It is a girl, My Lord! Baptiste wife said. "A girl?" Baptiste asked surprised. "Yes, my Lord". Baptiste looked at the baby and carried her out of his wife's arms. " My sunshine, welcome to this world" he said. "Wait, I feel something still moving within me" Baptiste wife said and looked at the maidens. "What is it?" They asked her. "Another one is coming" she said. "Really? They are two?" Baptiste said looking shocked. He was asked to wait outside. He could hear his wife groaning trying to push. His daughter has been taken from him. He expected just one child. He was happy with the fact that his wife gave him a daughter. He knew having a son will raise issues; either as heir to the throne or because of the laws surrounding male blacks. The law demands them going to war at age 12. He hoped the child would be a girl again.

Abella- Baptiste's wife had the same worry. Even though she could not think as she was giving birth, she was scared of having a boy. " Will the gods answer her or will they ignore as usual?" She thought. After several labour cries, she gave birth to the second child. She was so tired and was almost closing her eyes when she heard the maidens shout " its a boy". She knew the gods will not answer her prayers and they did not. She knew she shouldnt have placed much faith in them.

Baptiste came in when he heard the maidens shouting in joy. He saw the baby in their arms and his wife asleep already. He heard them shouting too. His heart was broken. "What will he do?" His fears have come to pass. Even if he wanted to hide the boy, he cannot because his brother Xander has whisperers everywhere. He held his son and watched as the baby cooed. He looked at the other baby and asked the maidens to carry her for him. Even though he did not want this, the gods have blessed him with a boy and a girl. He decided to call them Antonio and Antonia respectively.