A Tale Of Five Bandits

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 18

Well, I didn’t say I was interested in you. I only complimented your beauty”. He smiled mischievously, “Why are you so flushed and embarrassed? You are really shaky and panting right now”, he faked a gasp and palmed his chest, “Don’t tell me you Adesewa actually like me?”

“Wait, I don’t…I never said-…”, she stuttered perplexed.

“That explains a lot. The way you have been staring at me all this while and the way you became nicer to me all of a sudden

. Know that I’m thankful for your affection although I have so many suitors but I will keep you in mind”, Duro jested.

“Wait, what? You were the one that was looking at me”, she shook her rubicund face “This isn’t about me, we were talking about you. You were smiling at-…”.

“Look, Sewa. It’s okay to be embarrassed and shy to admit your feelings. It’s hard, I understand, for a tough girl like you but you’ve told me how you feel. It is okay now, you can breathe easily and I promise that I won’t tell anyone. To be honest, you have a chance with me. Among your competitors, you should be in the top three”, he said caressing her face “It’s really not your fault

. I have this effect on the ladies. I think you liked me from the moment you saw me. You acting grumpy back then was probably just you misbehaving so you could have my attention and play hard to get. Hmm I understand now, and that little crush became love after I saved you from those terrible men. Wow that explains everything and it fits with your sudden change in character”, he said nodding thoughtfully as he grabbed his beardless chin.

“How…wait, what?” she shook her head completely baffled.

“It’s nice to have this conversation and everything, Sewa. But we should really focus on the mission here”. She tried to counter him but he silenced her with a finger, “Look, we are at the village’s gate. There are two guards ahead, comport yourself”.

He dismounted his horse, handed the reins over to Sewa and flashed his widest smile yet which unsettled the guards as they shifted from one foot to the other staring cautiously at the strange man approaching them.

The guards crossed their spears and glared wickedly at him, “What’s your business here. The village is closed. No one enters or leaves. By order of the crown”

“Good day, noble warriors. May the gods bless and fill you with strength to trample your enemies for your effort and sacrifice in protecting pitiful villagers like us”. One of the guards smiled proudly, pleased with the praises while the other guard glared at him unwaveringly. Duro eyed him, knowing he would be a tough nut to crack, “So…my sister and I” he said pointing to Sewa who offered a bright smile behind him, “We are traders. We travel far and wide selling food, jewelleries and clothes. Some of them might even look good on you. I can let you try some if you wish”.

The smiling guard moved to accept his invitation but faltered and stepped back when the intense glare of his partner landed on him.

Shaking his head irritated with his partner, the guard bawled “I do not care about your wretched clothes. I asked for your business here. If you wish to enter, then I would have to ask you to turn back”.

Duro bowed sheepishly “My wife and I have travelled far and wide and now we have come home to Aleshinloye, our beloved village. We only ask for you to let us in. We’ve been travelling for days. The horses need rest and water. My wife and I need to eat and rest our heads”.

The hearty guard looked at them with eyes filled with pity, “I’m serious sir but we can’t let you in. You should know that this village is riddled with pestilence and we have to take…umm…appropriate actions to contain it”.

Duro and Sewa shot a furtive look at each other. Sewa drove her horse forward and leaned forward all the while holding the guard’s face “And what kind of action are you taking?”, she asked with an accusatory voice.

The guard swallowed a lump in his throat and stared at the ground nervously. His partner snickered at him, shook his head and muttered “greenhorns”. He stood in front of his partner and faced Sewa, “Actions that don’t concern you. Now, I will ask you to leave or there will be consequences!” he howled.

“I will cut those hands off before you ever have the chance to burn this village down with them”, she said furiously.

The guards froze in shock and Duro, taking advantage of that surprising moment, delivered an upper-cut to the first guard’s jaw. The guard staggered and while he struggled to recover, Sewa reined her horse back with all her strength.

. The horse neighed wildly with its front hooves in the air, bringing it down on the guard’s head. The guard stumbled to the ground unconscious. The once hearty guard, now wimpy, threw his spear to the ground and raised his heart in surrender.

“Don’t hurt me please, I haven’t killed anyone”, he pleaded with his hands on his head, “I have a wife at home and a daughter on the way. Don’t turn my wife into a widow and render my child fatherless. Mo darun. E ma pa mi, ta lo ron mi ni ise yi”, he cried with phlegm running down his nose.

Sewa and Duro stared at him perturbed and shared a look. Sewa heaved a sigh “Just go and never come back”.

“Ah, I should go?” he said looking astonished at them. Duro nodded slowly and the man jumped abruptly, “thank you sir, thank you ma”, he said, eyes lit with appreciation, “The gods will bless you o”. He wiped his snotty nose with his hand and tried to shake Duro.

Duro backed away disgusted, “Go before I changed my mind”.

The man swallowed and ran as fast as his legs could take him. Thirty minutes later, he was still running without rest. Those, who were chanced to get a glimpse of him, went home that night and told their families about a man galloping like death was breathing down his neck.