Chapter 9 - The Weight of war
The village had never felt so still. Even with the quiet murmurs of gathered villagers, an oppressive tension clung to the air like the first signs of a coming storm. Mothers clutched their children close, while warriors sharpened their weapons with rigid jaws, trying to mask their unease. Fires crackled low, casting restless shadows on the ground.
Inside the main hut, the elders sat in a semicircle, their expressions a mixture of wariness and exhaustion. Lusweti stood at the center, his broad shoulders weighed down by the burden of his next decision. Khisa, arms crossed tightly over his chest, stood before them, his young face carved with frustration.
"We cannot win against a thousand warriors, Khisa," Namwamba finally said, breaking the silence. "Our numbers are too few. Our people—too vulnerable. This is not just about warriors. We must protect the elderly, the children, and those who cannot fight."
Khisa clenched his fists. "And what will we do if they come for us again? If we run now, we will never stop running. We will be hunted until there is nothing left of us!"
Murmurs rippled through the elders, but it was Mumia who spoke next. "Do not mistake our hesitation for cowardice, boy. We have fought before, and we have bled for this land. But every battle has its cost."
Lusweti exhaled heavily, rubbing his temple. "I do not wish to surrender, but I will not throw my people into a battle we cannot win."
"Then we must ensure that we can win," Khisa countered firmly. "We do not have to fight them head-on. Let me show you another way."
Silence. The elders exchanged uncertain glances. A few warriors standing at the hut's entrance frowned, their skepticism evident.
"You are still just a boy," an older warrior, Ochieng, muttered under his breath. "What can you teach us about war?"
Khisa ignored the sting of the words. He knew this would happen. He was young, inexperienced in their eyes. But he had knowledge—knowledge none of them could even begin to understand.
"Trust me," Khisa said, his voice unwavering. "We will not fight like warriors who only know brute strength. We will fight like hunters, like the land itself is our weapon."