Chapter 106 - Building for the Future
The bells of mourning rang through the city. Cloaked in blue and black, the people of the coastal capital gathered by the sea to honor those who had fallen during the pirate assault. King Lusweti stood at the center of the funeral procession, hands clasped, eyes closed. He didn’t speak. He didn’t need to. The silence was its own kind of prayer.
The Watchers lined the perimeter, heads bowed. Children left flowers—white petals for the fallen soldiers, red for the civilians who had perished in the past. Priests and priestesses offered chants for their souls to pass safely, as was custom. The air was thick with smoke, the scent of myrrh mingling with the salty breeze.
Despite the grief, a current of hope ran through the people. Victory had been snatched from the jaws of destruction. For many, that alone was reason to celebrate. As evening fell, drums returned—not for war, but for joy. Fires lit up every corner of the capital. Dances broke out in courtyards, streets, even on rooftops. The mourning gave way to music, laughter, and toasts in honor of the brave.
King Lusweti, however, had more serious matters to attend to.
He summoned Naliaka and Ndengu to the inner court just before midnight.
"With all the chaos we’ve endured," Lusweti began, "we haven’t spoken much about your time away. I want to hear the full truth now—your training, your missions, what you’ve learned."
Naliaka leaned forward, her eyes shining. "We never stopped moving, Your Majesty. We trained under harsh masters. We hunted warlords, took down bandits. Every time we entered a settlement, we made sure they knew Nuri’s name."
Ndengu nodded. "We didn’t just train; we fought. We spread the legend of our kingdom across the northern trade routes. Some feared us. Others respected us. Many wanted to join us."
Lusweti folded his hands. "And what’s the state of Abyssinia?"
Ndengu’s tone darkened. "The people there are suffering, Your Majesty. The fact that Khisa was still rebuilding their navy when we left should say everything. Their government is in shambles. Slavery thrives openly. Corruption festers. Enemies deep inside their territory."
"What should we do to help Khisa? Should we send ships to support him?" Lusweti asked.