A Tale Of Five Bandits

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 17

As dawn set in, they set out for Aleshinloye riding as fast as they could with the wind behind their backs. They had gathered enough supplies that would sustain them for a month in addition from the provision they obtained from Adewole. They were fully prepared for life on the road. Now, they journeyed to Aleshinloye, the village just a few miles away from them with the sun shining warmly overhead from the cloudless sky.

Adesewa glanced at Duro riding forefront as he led them to the village. She found herself stealing peeks and glances at him every now and then

. She discovered that it wasn’t just her. On various occasions, she caught Duro staring at her when he thought she wasn’t watching.

“What is this strange emotion? What was happening to her”, she thought to herself. A thought crossed her mind and she shook her head, trying to get rid of that conception. There was no way she could actually be falling for him. From the little knowledge she had about the matter from watching her parents, affection arises when a man does something nice for you, treats you with love, care and respect. A man being there for you when you need him, someone whose shoulders you could lean on and who picks you up when you’re down. Going on romantic dates and having amorous talks under a glamorous moonlight and maybe some flower exchange

. So there was no way she could be falling in love with him if none of them had been done. Besides, how do you develop feelings while on a gruesome mission to cause pain and shed blood. But she couldn’t help but notice the way Duro had been acting strangely around her, treating her better than when they had first met, how he now looked at her with a soft smile in his eyes and a dreamy look on his face and how he had defended her when the others were angry with her.

“Wasn’t he already doing some of those things that shows people actually like you?”. She rode, lost in thought as she contemplated this new situation which she couldn’t work her way through with swords and arrows. “Perhaps I’m thinking too much about this thing. Maybe this is just how friends act with one another. Hmm, friends…”. She looked around, glancing at the bandits that rode with her. She couldn’t exactly call them friends, the concept was still strange to her but now she cared about them more than she could admit.

“I can see Aleshinloye up again”, Duro announced. They came to a halt and hid behind a hill not far from the village.

“We don’t know if the royal troops have arrived or not. We have to be careful”, Monifa said.

Duro agreed, “Yes that’s true, I’m going ahead to scout. I will get back in the next hour or two. If I don’t come back before sunset, know that I’m dead”, Duro said bluntly.

“Stop talking about death, I’m scouting with you. With me, you will be safe. When death see me coming, he runs the other way”, Goke said confidently.

“Just take a look at yourself, you stand out. With you scouting, you are more or less inviting death”, Leke said.

Goke rolled his eyes, “We can’t just let Duro go alone, It’s is too risky. Even if they get suspicious and come after me, I will rip their souls out of their bodies with my bare hands”. The other bandits heaved a long suffering sigh and Goke looked around expecting an argument, “So it’s settled then, I’m going-..”.

“I would prefer Sewa coming with me!” Duro uttered.

Goke gasped in shock, “Wait what? You don’t want me to scout with you? Don’t we usually do that together and besides I don’t think Sewa is interested in-…”

“I want to go with him”, Sewa blurted out abruptly, “I mean I…umm…It is better if I go. I’m smaller and faster than Goke so I am better suited for the job”.

The other bandits arched their brows, their narrowed eyes drifting between Duro and Sewa. The herbalist smiled and tried to stifle a giggle at the drama before him, “If you ask me, I believe Sewa is better suited for the role. She’s small and agile unlike Goke whose figure will definitely attract attention”.

Monifa hummed and clasped her hands, “It is settled then. Sewa and Duro are going to scout the village. You can’t take any weapon with you so you don’t arouse suspicion.

Read ” The Dormitory (A Sequel) ” by the same author ( Obinna Tony )

. If you are not back by sunset, then we are to assume that everything went bad and you are possibly dead, agreed?”

Duro nodded his head, “That’s the plan”. He carried a bag and handed Sewa a basket filled with food and clothes, “If anyone asks, we are simple travelling traders here on business”.

As he and Sewa readied themselves for the operation, Monifa tapped Sewa’s shoulder “Remember, don’t run off and do anything alone. This is a team work. You scout and get back here”.

Sewa nodded and climbed her horse with her basket strapped to the horse. The other bandits wished them luck and waited patiently in the hill for their return.

The repetitive sound of horses’ hooves against the ground filled her ears and her chest hammered anxiously as they approached the village. She looked sideways to find Duro staring at her again with a warm smile on her face. She turned her head away instantly and from the corner of her eyes, she could still see him staring at her.

“I’m really considering plucking those eyes out with my dagger”, she said, clearly annoyed.

“You are so beautiful” Duro said suddenly.

Sewa’s eyes widened in shock, jaws dropped as her head turned slowly to face Duro, “What?”

Duro grinned and laughed at her discomfort. Sewa’s face flushed and she shook her head “Stop it! Whatever you think you’re doing, stop it”.

“Stop what, I’m not doing anything. I merely spoke my mind”.

“Okay, see. Whatever you think is going on here”, she said twirling her hand, “and whatever you think is going to happen, perish that thought and concentrate on the mission ahead because there is nothing between us and there will never be anything between us. We are just two people with the same goal and when that goal has been attained, we will part ways”.