Chapter 92 - The Banner of Hope
Naliaka and Ndengu sunk into the crowd, their cloaks dusty and their feet aching. They had never been to this part of the coast before, and weren’t even sure if the rumours that Nuri had taken it were true. Still, they kept their heads down and ears open.
The port city was alive—vibrant, noisy, bursting with movement. Buildings were being repaired, markets hummed with laughter and haggling, and soldiers strolled by on patrol, relaxed but vigilant.
The difference between here and Massawa was like night and day. Where Massawa had been drenched in misery—cages, chains, and rowdy pirates—Kilwa was freedom wrapped in stone and song. Merchants shared jokes with passersby, children played freely in the dust, and for a moment, the world felt untouched by war.
Naliaka’s eyes shimmered as the atmosphere soaked into her.
"I wonder if we can bring this to Abyssinia?" she muttered.
"We will do our best," Ndengu replied quietly.
Then they saw it.
The flag.
The glorious flag of Nuri, rising proudly above the tallest building in the city.
Ndengu nearly collapsed from the weight of the journey, the tension in his bones finally loosening.
The former palace of the Kilwa Sultan—now a command center for the Nuri government—stood tall in the city’s heart. The sight of the Nuri colors flapping in the breeze confirmed everything. Relief came like a tidal wave.