Chapter 63 - A Future Worth Fighting For
The journey to Kilwa took seven long days.
Through forest and field, Malik and Simiyu rode ahead of the Nuri and Kilwa army, leaving the bulk of the troops behind at a fragile ceasefire. The borderlands still simmered with tension—both sides uncertain whether to trust the silence after so much blood. But they needed to see Kilwa for themselves. They needed to confirm what Simiyu told them: that the Sultan was dead, that the city had fallen, and that Lusweti swore to take it back.
Malik barely slept. Every hoofbeat felt like a hammer striking his pride. He remembered Kilwa’s golden age—its domed mosques, the scent of spice and salt from the sea breeze, the bustle of trade, diplomacy, and dignity. It was the crown of the Swahili coast. But what would they find now?
When they reached Kilwa’s outskirts, a haunting stillness awaited them.
Blackened ruins stretched as far as the eye could see. Buildings had collapsed inward like they were trying to hide from the sky. The famed market was now a field of ash, stalls shattered and bones peeking from the soot. The palace—once a gleaming marvel—lay partially collapsed, its walls charred and defaced.
Malik dismounted, stunned. His eyes scanned the broken skyline. His jaw clenched.
"This..." he whispered. "This was Kilwa."
Simiyu stood beside him, silent. But his silence carried weight—not shock, but solemnity. He knew Lusweti had done what had to be done. King Lusweti had never once failed to stick to his word.
They passed a burned cart, the skeletal remains of chains still hanging from its side. Further in, they saw survivors clearing rubble—men, women, and children with soot-streaked faces and bloodied hands. There were small signs of order returning: makeshift clinics, water barrels, and rough sketches of new construction drawn in chalk on walls. Nuri’s flag fluttered in the breeze, and young warriors patrolled, their eyes sharp but their gazes kind.
Malik stopped a boy who was sweeping ash off a broken step.
"What happened here?" he asked quietly.