Chapter 2: Into the vale

Through overgrown weed and wilted flowers, our legs raced across the long stretch of land which was dominated by trees that stood tall and cast their leaves high up over the ground, blocking the beam of the sunlight and chopping it into splinters of rays that pierced through each little space they could find on the leaves. It had been a long day, and I was exhausted from the non stop running we had been at for two days. My legs ached, but I did not have the luxury of complaining or resting, the Igwoba, most revered in all nations was kidnapped. I knew it wouldn't go down well with the villagers, so I traded speed for strength by sending Oni, the strongest in the squad to the village to give the elders a status report while Tonia and Tonio; the speed twins as they were infamously called came with me.

"Boss, who do you think is responsible for this?" Tonia spoke up

I had heard them conversing, but did not pay attention to their words as I was deep in my own thoughts.

"The kidnap?" I asked

"Yes" they replied together

"After giving it some thought, we can't say if the Jube clan or Tantin clan are responsible, for all we know, they might have been kidnapped too, but I believe they did this"

They nodded their heads in agreement. The igwoba's heat signature on the hairpin was still far off to the north, and I was beginning to wonder how they could have covered so much ground in minutes, there was a growing doubt in my heart that the hairpin was malfunctioning but I dared not mention such to the speed twins for fear of murdering their hope.

Night fell as soon as the third day had broken, and fatigue was beginning to make a show of itself in our pace. Not a single drop of water had touched our lips, and at that point, I knew we had to make camp.

"We stop here for the night", I announced.

They breathed sighs of relief upon hearing my announcement, and made to set up camp.

"I'll take the first watch, rest all you can, it's paramount you're refreshed for another marathon", I patted them at the back "you've done well"

They smiled, and went into the tent while I cut down wood, and lit it with my lighter. The flame sparked and came alive, it was just a little flame, but it provided warmth from the icy fingers of the wind. Thoughts crossed my mind, thoughts about what would happen to me and my team if we were to fail in rescuing the igwoba, it would be considered treason and ineptitude, for which they'd behead each and everyone of my team members.

"I can't allow that, i will save the igwoba", I muttered to myself

My sharp ears picked the sound of leaves rustling as they would when a person or an animal was walking on them. To an untrained ear, it would sound like it was just the wind, but to a well trained ear like mine, it was not just a rustle, it was a crunch. The sound jerked me out of my slumber, and without wasting a moment, I put out the fire. Everywhere was dark, only lightened a little by the moon, but that was enough for me as I waited while crouching, the leaves did not make the rustling noise again which was a big mistake on the interloper's part, because it affirmed my suspicion that someone was indeed there. After an hour, the intruder grew tired of waiting, and took its step slowly. Pity though, for I was as patient as a lion when about catching a prey, and I waited for this unknown person to make an entrance. In the distance, I caught sight of a short, white haired figure. My body was perfectly still, and I was in the shadow of darkness away from the moon's scattered rays, which made it close to impossible for the dwarf to notice my presence. From the way it breathed, I could tell it was male, and was up to no good. He came closer, and after seeming to be convinced I was in the tent, began plundering Tonia's bag which she had left with me. He was within an arm's reach, a gazette right in front of a lion.

"Boo" I said

My voice sent him running as fast his nimble feet could carry him, the sight forced a chuckle out of me. It was fun for me, but I had to teach him a lesson for taking what wasn't his. Farther and further away from the tent we ran, as quiet as panthers and graceful as the wind. I was hot on his heels, and grabbed his hair, which made him lose his balance, and onto the ground he fell.

"Please don't kill me!", he pleaded

I looked at him sadistically, and replied "if I wanted to kill you, you won't be talking right now. Return the bag"

Trembling, he handed over the bag, I collected it and began interrogating

"Who are you?"

"Dele, an exiled dwarf"

"Let me guess, you steal for a living?"

"There's nothing else to live on"

"Have you seen anyone else pass by?'

"There are tens of people who pass here everyday, you have to be specific"

"Have you seen the igwoba?"

"Why? You want to kill her?"

"No, the contrary"

"What's wrong with her?"

"Kidnapped. I'm asking the questions. Have you seen her?"

"Yes, I saw three people, one of them was dressed like her"

"They were on foot?"

"What else would they be on?"

"I'll twist your tongue", i threatened

"Yes, yes, they were on foot"

"When did you see then?"

"Two days ago, sir".

Satisfied with his answers, I warned him "I must never catch you stealing again"

"Okay sir Okay"

I strung the bag across my back, and left Dele the dwarf. Truth be told, I was more bothered than satisfied, indeed, we were on the right path, but the question of speed remained. For the kidnappers to have covered such distance in minutes would be madness, near impossible. Mulling over this thought, I was not aware that I had gotten to the camp and dawn was breaking. Tonia's voice ringed from atop the trees

"Boss"

I trailed the voice with my eyes and ears, and beckoned her to come down. Instantly, she jumped to the ground without any branch support. There and then, I decided she was suicidal.

"I won't help you fix your bone if you break it"

She chuckled back a reply " You're the boss"

I tossed the bag at her, and explained the events that took place to both her and her brother. They were amazed they didn't hear anything.

"Not your fault, you were tired" I comforted them.

We packed up and were about to continue our mission when we were interrupted by the dwarf. With a stick in his hand, he climbed a stump and shouted

"I'm tagging along!"

I looked at him bewildered, he was shorter in the daylight, and was a funny sight with the stick in his hand.

"No, you're not"

"But I am" he defiantly replied

"And why should we take you along?" I asked

"I can make tea"

"We already have someone who can make tea" I declared, then turned to whisper in Tonia's ear

"You can make tea, right?"

She shook her head sideways. I looked at Tonio, and asked him too, he also shook his head.

Then, I cleared my voice and spoke

"Okay, maybe we don't have someone who can make tea. But you'll be a drag"

He ran towards me with blinding speed, and fell to his knees

"Please, please please"

Something about him was just admirable, and with his pleas, he won me over.

"Alright then, tag along. We have an igwoba to save"

The dwarf caracoled in celebration, and I looked pitifully at him, only if he were aware of the dangerous path that lay ahead. We had begun running again, and surprisingly, the dwarf kept at our pace. I had predicted that he would quit after five hours, but it was the seventh hour, and he was still going strong. Something caught my attention, and forced me to stop in my tracks.

"Do you smell that?" I threw the question at everyone

"Aye, smells like bacon and something else", the dwarf answered "I've been smelling it for a while now"

Tonia and Tonio couldn't pick up the scent we were referring to, which meant the dwarf and I had the strongest sense of smell

"That's not bacon, that's human flesh!" I exclaimed, "Hurry, let's go"

Our feets carried us as fast as they could, but we began to reduce our pace when the path of the vale widened and showed us a village ahead. My ears hurt from the screams of women and children, I couldn't make out the voice of any man. I unsheathed my sword and made to enter the sunlight and rescue the villagers in pain, when unexpectedly, the entire settlement went up in flames. The force of the explosion hurtled me and everyone else away from the entrance of the village and into the trunk of the trees. Unluckily for me, my head hit the tree and immediately, I lost consciousness