A Tale Of Five Bandits

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 21

IMPOSSIBLE!”, that was the only word that Duro kept on muttering to himself as he stared in disbelief at the masked man.

Sewa shrugged off the shock, knowing that every second was crucial now that they’ve been exposed. She grabbed another arrow from her quiver and pulled it against the bowstring but before she could aim at her target. Several whizzed through the air in her direction as the guards advanced on their position

. She ducked quickly, just as an arrow flew past where her face had been a second ago.

“Call the rest now!” she shouted at Duro. She eyed the approaching guards. Luckily for her, most of them were trying to control the frenzied villagers that were now trying to escape. She counted seventeen warriors heading her way and as her eyes drifted back to the masked man, she saw him remaining the same posture with his hands clasped behind his back like he wasn’t bothered by her sudden appearance.

Duro nodded eagerly, adrenaline pumping through his veins as he warily eyed the guards that was slowly surrounding them. He cupped Sewa’s cheeks firmly and gazed into her eyes “Don’t die till I come back. Do not die no matter what

. You are not allowed to. Wait for my return” he said with an expression of concern and fear on his face.

Sewa was taken aback momentarily by his sudden perturbation. What surprised her most was the sincerity in his eyes. She saw that he was truly worried. She couldn’t help but feel a blush rise to her cheeks as she shied away from his gaze.

For reasons she couldn’t explain, she was suddenly filled with a newfound strength and determination to survive. She felt adrenaline coursing through her like electricity making her more alert and aware of everything around her. She felt truly invincible and nothing could stop her. She palmed his hands, held his gaze and nodded “Go, you won’t lose me today. I promise”, she reassured him.

Duro lips curled into a weak smile and glanced charily at the masked man one last time. The two bandits descended the hut and as soon as their feet hit the ground, they dashed off in opposite directions. Duro ran like never before with half a dozen warriors on his tail failing to hit him with their arrows. Years later, Duro would reminisce about the events of that day and he would boast to his grandchildren that on that day, he could have outrun even a cheetah.

As Sewa sprinted towards the direction of the first warrior, she unsheathed her sword and smirked in confidence. She felt like a tigress before a pack of kittens. She struck down the first warrior even before he could raise his arm. Two more guards replaced their fallen comrade and she scooped up a handful of sand and threw it in their faces.

Momentarily blinded, they halt and blinked rapidly, losing sight of her. As they scratched away at their eyes, she cut them down with ease. Another charged at her with a roar and she couldn’t help but giggle in mad delight as she clutched her dagger and performed her favourite move; she threw the dagger to his right breast expecting him to sidestep to the left so she could dash to that position and cut him down. Her sly expectation was turned into disappointment as the man made no effort to dodge the dagger. His reflexes were too slow and he tumbled to the ground with the dagger buried in his chest.

Everything else happened like a blur as she slashed and lunged and pierced in fury. To her, all she was doing was trying to survive, not just for her sake anymore but also for Duro’s. But to her enemies, what they saw was a bloodied demon with a murderous grin on its face. From the corner of her eyes, she was surprised to see Leke burying his daggers in one warrior after the other.

A laugh boomed behind her and she turned back to see Goke holding an axe in one hand and a mace in the other hand as he shouted, his arms spread out like an eagle’s wings “Face me! Come on, come to me! Come to your death! Let me send you to the great beyond!”. A warrior stupidly charged at him and his valiant effort was rewarded by a decapitation.

Seeing as the giant man beheaded their comrade with a single swing, the other soldiers retreated away from Goke slowly. He burst into a wicked laugh at their cowardice and bawled loudly “Watch in awe as I afflict the wrath of the gods upon you!”

Goke charged into the clump of craven warriors, unflinching even as an arrow pierced his shoulder. He sent two warriors flying away with a swerve of his mace, his axe cutting through their body and amour like hot knife cutting through butter. His face beamed in delight like a child playing with his toy as he hammered and gashed ferociously bathed in blood.

Standing tall on the roof of a shop was Monifa as she tugged another arrow against her bowstring and sent it flying straight into the faces of her foes. She smiled at her tenth headshot and pulled the next arrow.

Duro appeared beside a berserk Sewa, careful not to get caught in her rampage. A soldier snuck beside her and smiled in triumph as he prepared to strike her down.

. He was still smiling when Duro flung his sword through the air and buried it in his skull. He withdrew his sword and looked up to see a smiling Sewa.

“I’m still here”, Sewa said.

Duro took in her gory figure, “You look nice. I’m glad you are hale and hearty”. He stated with a wry smile and pointed his blade at their enemies, “Now, shall we?”

“Of course, try not to get killed”, she winked at him and hurled herself onto the frantic warriors. Duro smirked and stared at her in amusement. He couldn’t help but love the woman even more. He let out a battle cry and joined her. They fought side by side like savages, spilling guts, cutting limbs, slicing and carving flesh.

Soon enough, the villagers joined in the fight arming themselves with stones, rakes, shovels and kitchen knives as they fought with vigour for their home and lives. The royal troops dwindled and scurried away from the village in fear.

As they fought, Leke shouted at the top of his lungs, “Why are we killing them? I thought we were supposed to just injure them?”

Duro shouted back, “I won’t tell Adewole if you don’t”, he turned sparing a glance at Leke.

Leke’s lips curled into a crafty smile, “I think I prefer it this way”. Duro nodded and resumed battle.

Goke bellowed to the frightful troops, “The King said the gods demand a sacrifice, didn’t he? They didn’t specify who they want, did they?” he said twirling his axe “So it doesn’t matter who dies. You can die for the Kingdom right? You should feel privileged to be a worthy sacrifice and thankful that I am the one that sends you to the gods! Me, Olagoke Adeniyi, the champion of the gods! Oh, what a blissful day!”.

“I think Goke has gone insane”, Sewa whispered to Duro.

“I don’t think he was ever sane to begin with”, Duro replied.