CHAPTER 25

He held up his snuff-box and taped the edge, hoping to get the content into a homogenous mixture. It was not among the best in the kingdom, but he had decided to give it a trial, partly because Ume had persuaded him that the snuff was the real thing in the seven villages. The other part was the shrill fact that the man was his father-in-law. He had married three of Ume's daughters and while they were still being trained to fit into the court’s way of life, Bozo had agreed to buy Ume’s snuff. Out of sympathy than willingness. This was not their first deal of course. He had patronized the man before, a long time ago, and it was a blunder Bozo was not willing to repeat, not while there were still good palm wine tappers across the district. Bozo hoped the man’s snuff was better than his wine, or else, he would consider Ume as a man who only knows how to bring forth children and nothing more.

Bozo frowned as he uncorked the cover lid. The content in the wooden box looks nothing like a snuff. He has never seen a red snuff before and whoever had ground the tobacco had done a bad job. There were large lumps of different types and sizes, poking out their heads as if daring him to stick them into his nose and find out what happened.

The gods forbid I use this. Ume is a fool. Bozo rubbed his nose with irritation as his penchant for routine tobacco dwindled. Even now, he knows that there was nothing he could do to satisfy that addictive stinging sensation at the back of his nose. It was too early to send the messenger to find him a new snuff. Besides, this was the proposed attack day. His presence was needed here. If he leaves to get the snuff himself, the troops might assume that he had sent them off to die while he retires to the comfort of his house. And he has waited so long for this day. This was his moment of glory. The day to rewrite the history of the kingdom.

And my father-in-law has decided to ruin it. Bozo replaced the cover lid and dropped the snuff box on the bench. Maybe he would teach the man a lesson. Father-in-law or not, the man deserves to be punished. At least to send a message to other men across the land.

“My Lord,”

Bozo raised his head to the feet and the voice of the man that came running in his direction. Well-built and a fine-looking man. The best fighter in his rank too.

“You must be hunted by a horde of demons.”

The man only smiled at Bozo’s sarcasm but the beams on his face started to fold when he tried to damp the sweat with the back of his hands.

“A big demon if I may say. They have made me dance before my kinsmen, that's why my heels have not hastened before your majesty in vain.”

Bozo rubbed his nose with irritation and let the side of his eyes study the wooden snuff box again. For some fleeting instant, it felt as though the mucous in his nostril would block every morning air that came rushing in.

I should have made provision to get a good snuff instead of pinning my hopes on that useless father-in-law.

“Is my lord okay?”

Bozo returned his gaze to the man kneeling before him, with his right knees to the floor and his right hands over his chest as if trying to cup his heart.

“Nothing to worry about. Just that, I need the black powder. I can hardly think straight.”

“Oh, I was hoping you wouldn't ask. But I got you covered.” The man smiled. He deepened his hands into the purse, strapped on his waist, and brought out a wooden box, similar to the one beside Bozo.

“My lord can have mine. Not the best, but powerful enough to soothe your palate.”

Bozo snatched the box from the man’s hands and started driving tones and tones of the black powder into his nose, with his thumb.

The tobacco was not as smooth as he would have wanted them. But it was powerful as Chimba had predicted, enough to keep him sane until noon.

“Ahh, this is good.”

Bozo rubbed his nose. Chimba smiled and buckled his purse. He did not move again. For all Bozo could tell, the man had suddenly grown into a statue of some sort.

Bozo would have been careless though. But Chimna was no ordinary commander. If he had left his post to come here in person, then it must be important.

“Speak"

“Good news, sire. Good news.”

“I love good news. On with it, if you may.”

Chima nodded and lifted his head to meet the almond eyes of the King’s.

“Our foes have decided to save us from stress. They have evacuated the land. Not a soul is in it. Everything is waiting for you, my lord. The cattle, the sheep, the farms, and vast lands. They are all yours, my lord. Yours and yours alone.”

“Pity,” Bozo rubbed his nose and tapped the edge of the wooden box. He scooped a large quantity and sneezed twice after inhaling them, “There is no fun in easy victory. My blades have been yearning for blood to spill. And when I thought I would feel the weight of my sword again…” Bozo sneezed again and wiped the tear off his eyes. “No fun at all”

If Chimba was impressed by what Bozo had said, he didn’t show. His eyes continued to stare blankly into the distance as if his soul had been ripped away from his body and spirit.

“Even their greatest warrior has decided to play hide and seek?”

Chimba snapped out of his blank gaze, “That one is mysterious, my Lord. Jide. A very mysterious warrior. Our spies say that he had destroyed an entire army with a single glance. A powerful warrior, but one who loves to keep his identity hidden”

“Powerful warrior, you say?” Bozo glared, daring the man to repeat his statement.

“Powerful my lord, but not invincible and formidable like the great Bozo of the earth and universe.”

A small smile parted Bozo’s lips. Chimba was a wise man. A fine warrior with a cleaver spirit.

“My lord. My lord!!,”

The smile on Bozo’s face folded into a frown as another man came running in his direction.

“What is it?” Bozo tapped the box. The looks on Kechi’s face were not inviting. Whatever news the man bore, it was not going to be a good one. Maybe the villagers have decided not to run away. Maybe his sword would drink some blood after all.

“Trouble my lord.” The man hurried to his knees, panting as though his heart was about to fall out from his throat, “Our spies spotted two men heading this way.”

“Two men, you say?" Chimba stood, "Armed?”

Bozo relaxed with satisfaction as he studied the two men. They were his trusted advisers. The best men that would stand by his side, no matter what happens.

“It's hard to say, Chimba, and I would have taken care of them if I had seen any.”

"What's the trouble then?" Chimba asked. His hands were still on the hilt of his sword.

“Is Jide among them?” Bozo jumped. His heart was already racing. He would be willing to meet this warrior whom the stories held with so much regard and valor.

“We didn’t get close enough to recognize them.”

The uncertainty in Kechi's words told Bozo that they would not even recognize Jide if he walked into their ranks without disguise. And that makes Jide a more dangerous threat. Perhaps he was mysterious as the stories had said. How can a man defeat an army with his glance and yet leave unrecognized? Well, maybe Jide had killed everyone he had encountered. That must be the only explanation.

“These men,” Kechi continued, “these two men are sick, my lord. They have a white band around their body. And a shawl on their face”

"Leapers!!" Chimba's eyes widened.

“They must not come near our rank.” Bozo clenched his fist, “Don’t let them get close to our camp. Do all you can to get them away from here. That’s an order.”

Kechi and Chimba bowed and hurried away. Bozo watched them leave and for the second time that day, he felt the emptiness returning to his stomach. Where on earth did the leapers come from?

Bozo grunted and tapped the snuff box again. He scooped the powder with his thumb and was about to inhale them when he paused midair. The frown on his face deepened as he returned the powder to the box. He had suddenly lost his appetite. There were lepers in the land and if he does nothing about it, then doomsday might just be the visitor, knocking at his door.