Chapter Six: March of Vengeance

The time for battle had finally arrived. Both the Kingdom of Gao and the Kingdom of Benin were prepared. King Sonni had assembled his five best warriors, each one a master in their craft, to accompany him into battle. They were renowned for their skill with weapons and for their loyalty to the cause. Their names were:

Aliou Diallo, the axe wielder, known for his brutal efficiency with twin axes. He was appointed to protect Nosaze during battle, a testament to his trustworthiness and skill.

Mahamadou Keita, The Great Archer, famed for his unerring aim and quick reflexes. His archery had won many battles before.

Yacouba Sissoko, a highly skilled swordsman and the ruler of the Sissoko Clan, who considered Sonni his mentor and held him in high regard.

Fatoumata Diarra, a formidable warrior who inherited her ancestors' twin blades and earned a reputation for her deadly finesse.

Souleymane Konaté, The Skull Crusher, known for his immense strength and his ability to crush an enemy's skull with his bare hands.

In addition to King Sonni's elite warriors, Queen Nosaze had assembled her own formidable team of eight warriors. They were not as specialized with specific weapons as Sonni's fighters, but each was skilled in their own right. Five were personal officers of her father, King Akenzua:

Amadin, her personal officer, trusted with her safety. A veteran soldier, he had earned Nosaze's trust by risking his life during a siege on Benin's borders.

Aigbe, responsible for the fall of General Okankan, Yoname's mother, and someone with a reputation for ruthlessness.

Uyiro, a seasoned veteran of many battles.

Zena, who oversaw the trading operations in the Kingdom.

Usifo, a former follower of King Akhigbe who pulled out for reasons of his own.

The remaining three were warriors Queen Nosaze had appointed after the death of her father:

Oriri, The Champion of Wrestling in the Kingdom.

Ulamen, Amadin's second-in-command.

Woghiren, another trusted warrior under her command.

Together, they journeyed toward the battlefront with the help of the people of Garamantes, who hastened their march and provided logistical support.

Nehizena's Weakening Empire

While King Nehizena was away in Meroe, the absence of his leadership left his territories vulnerable. The kings and generals he trusted lacked his strategic brilliance and struggled to hold the lands he had conquered. Without his guidance, cracks began to form in his empire's foundation.

Sonni and Nosaze, twin storms of vengeance, swept across the land. They tore through Nehizena's empire, kingdom by kingdom, freeing the enslaved, spilling the blood of the oppressors. With every clash of steel, every roar of battle, they chipped away at his empire.

Unbeknownst to Nehizena, his realm was crumbling. His allies grew fearful, his soldiers demoralized. A shadow loomed over his empire—a storm of retribution led by Sonni and Nosaze.

Urgent News

One morning, a messenger approached King Sonni with news of a dire situation in the west. "Your Highness," the messenger said, "a region in the west has sent pleas for help. The people are suffering greatly under an oppressive leader appointed by King Nehizena."

"Who is the leader?" Sonni asked.

"His name is Piye," the messenger replied. "He is a ruler from Kanem."

Recognition flashed in Sonni's eyes. "I know him. Piye and I have a long-standing feud." His voice darkened. "And the people being oppressed?"

"The Nok people," the messenger replied.

Sonni stood, his presence commanding. "Send a spy immediately to gather intelligence on the land and their weaknesses. We will prepare for attack."

A Moment of Reflection with Nosaze

As preparations continued, Sonni found Nosaze tending to the wounded. Watching her, he couldn't help but admire her compassion.

"This is how I've always known you," he said softly, his tone carrying a rare warmth. "Sweet, loving, and caring."

Nosaze looked up, her face coloring slightly. "Save those sweet words until we return home," she replied with a small smile.

She turned serious. "I never knew you fought so aggressively. Where did you learn to fight like that?"

Sonni's expression darkened with memories. "I trained in the north. Their methods are brutal, focused entirely on killing, not disarming. Every arrow shot was meant to pierce deeply, to end a life."

His gaze grew distant as he recalled those battles. Horrible flashbacks clouded his mind. Nosaze gently called him back to the present, her voice soft with concern.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Sonni nodded. "Yes."

"Walk with me," Nosaze said, taking his hand.

As they walked, Nosaze looked at him, her voice breaking slightly. "Sonni, I'm sorry for how I treated you during the meeting in my court. I was a fool. I could have treated you better, but I didn't."

Tears welled in her eyes. "I failed you as a friend. Please forgive me."

Sonni, touched by her words, gently smiled. "We all make mistakes. Even when it hurts others—"

Nosaze placed a finger on his lips, silencing him. "Don't say that. I would never hurt you." She embraced him, whispering, "Just promise me you'll never leave me."

Sonni held her close. "I promise, Nosaze. I'll never leave you."

The golden light of the evening sun wrapped around them, their bond deepening as they prepared for the trials ahead.

The Battle for Nok Culture

Sonni and Nosaze continued their journey to Nok culture to rescue them from the hands of King Piye.

They reached the borders of Nok culture. Piye and his army saw them and assembled outside the border. King Sonni sent his messenger to tell King Piye to leave Nok culture alone and return to Kanem, to avoid bloodshed. The messenger rode his horse across to the enemy's side to deliver the news.

When Piye heard the message, his heart clenched in anger. He told the messenger to go back and tell King Sonni to pay attention to the words he was about to hear his messenger say from his side of the battlefield. The messenger rode his horse back to his people, who were on the opposite side of Piye and his army.

When the messenger returned, King Sonni asked him, "What was Piye's reply?"

The messenger replied, "He told me to tell you to pay attention to the words you are about to hear his messenger say from his side of the battlefield."

King Sonni chuckled and told Mahamadou Keita, known as The Great Archer, to climb up the hill and take the shot if he saw his fellow soldiers raise the flag for a signal.

Queen Nosaze became frightened on seeing Piye's army. Sonni walked up to her. Noticing her fear, he said, "Don't get frightened seeing these people. Just take it easy, ready your army, and follow my lead. These people are no match for us."

Knowing that King Piye was a very insultive man, Sonni sat down to hear the words of King Piye's messenger, trying to pick a valuable insult that would make him attack Piye and his army.

Sonni, a figure of imposing stature, stood at the forefront of his army. His face was etched with unwavering determination, his eyes fixed on the approaching messenger.

The messenger stepped forward, his voice booming across the battlefield. "Sonni, you and your pathetic army have dared to trespass upon sacred Nok land. This land, rich in history and power, belongs rightfully to the great King Piye. You, a mere usurper, have no claim to this territory. You have forgotten the ancient feud, the scars it etched upon our souls. You and your harlot queen, Nosaze, have returned to face the wrath of the true rulers of this land. Retreat now, while you still have a chance. Or face the inevitable: the crushing defeat that awaits you."

A tense silence fell over the battlefield. The two leaders, separated by a mere distance, exchanged defiant glares.

Sonni turned to his axeman, Aliou Diallo. "What did I just hear him say about Queen Nosaze?"

The messenger, sensing the rising tension, responded, "He called her a harlot, Your Highness."

A dangerous glint appeared in Sonni's eyes. He ordered Aliou Diallo, "Signal Mahamadou Keita. It's time to end this charade."

Aliou Diallo nodded, raised a flag, and signaled the hidden archer, Mahamadou Keita. The arrow, tipped with flame, flew through the air, striking the messenger's eyes. With a cry of agony, the messenger collapsed to the ground, dead. A wave of shock rippled through Piye's army.

A stunned gasp rippled through Piye's ranks, followed by a murmur of disbelief. For a moment, the entire army seemed to falter, as the death of their messenger cast a shadow over their morale, a stark reminder of the deadly game about to unfold.

Enraged, Piye bellowed a war cry, his voice echoing across the battlefield. His soldiers, roused from their shock, responded with a thunderous roar. Trumpets blared, drums pounded, and the clash of steel began. The two armies, like titans, collided.

Queen Nosaze, a warrior queen of unparalleled skill, led her troops into the fray. Her sword, a flash of silver, danced through the air, cleaving through her enemies. King Sonni, a seasoned warrior, fought side by side with his queen, their combined power a force to be reckoned with.

The battlefield became a chaotic maelstrom of violence. Soldiers clashed, swords struck, and blood flowed freely. The earth trembled beneath the weight of the battle, the sky darkened by the smoke of burning war machines. Every inch of ground was contested, every life a precious sacrifice.

The Clash of Kings

The clash of steel echoed through the battlefield as King Sonni and King Piye locked eyes. A silent understanding passed between them, a recognition of their shared destiny as warriors.

With a roar, they charged at each other, their swords a blur of deadly intent. Piye's sword, a relic of ancient power, lunged at Sonni's heart. But Sonni, agile and swift, parried the blow, his own blade flashing out to meet Piye's.

The battle raged on, each warrior seeking a decisive blow. Piye, driven by a thirst for vengeance, pressed his attack, his sword flashing with deadly intent.

Sonni, however, remained calm and focused, his movements precise and deliberate. In a moment of carelessness, Piye lunged forward, his sword aimed at Sonni's chest. Sonni deflected the blow, then thrust his sword into the ground, using the momentum to grip Piye's head and strike it against the sharp pommel. As Piye staggered backward, his vision blurred, his senses faded.

Sonni unthrust his sword from the ground, taking advantage of Piye's dazed and vulnerable state. With a swift, decisive motion, he raised his sword and brought it down upon Piye's neck. The king's head rolled to the ground—a chilling testament to the cost of power and ambition.

A hush fell over the battlefield as the two armies, locked in mortal combat, paused to witness the fall of their leader. It was like a gruesome spectacle. Sonni, standing over Piye's fallen form, raised his sword high, a symbol of victory. With a triumphant cry, he rallied his troops, and the battle raged on. However, the battle was far from over.

With Piye's death, a wave of chaos swept through his army. The soldiers, demoralized and leaderless, were no match for the disciplined and determined forces of Sonni and Nosaze. The allied army, emboldened by their victory, pressed their advantage, driving the enemy back.

The battle reached a fever pitch as the remnants of Piye's army were forced into a narrow defile. Trapped and outnumbered, they were slaughtered mercilessly. Sonni and Nosaze, leading their troops, fought with a ferocity that was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

Aliou Diallo, Sonni's loyal axeman, stood guard beside Nosaze, his massive frame shielding her from harm. His twin axes, deadly weapons in the hands of a skilled warrior, carved a path through the enemy ranks. Nosaze, a warrior queen in her own right, fought with a grace and precision that belied her deadly intent.

As the last of Piye's army fell, silence descended upon the battlefield. The air was thick with the stench of blood and death, a stark reminder of the horrors of war. Sonni and Nosaze, standing side by side, surveyed the carnage. Their victory was hard-won, but it had secured their place in history.

The Return of Erhahon

Nehizena returned from Meroe with Erhahon, disguised as an officer. His fury grew as he learned of Sonni and Nosaze's victories.

Now the kings could not recognize King Sonni because he did not wear royal attire during war. Though they identified Gao soldiers, only those familiar with Sonni's background could spot him.

The kings Informed Nehizena that Nosaze's army appeared massive, as though aided by another kingdom. Suspicions arose, but they doubted Gao's involvement due to their previous silence.

Enraged, Nehizena summoned his kings to strategize for a counterattack.

King Nehizena called all the kings to his chamber for a gathering. At the meeting, the kings all brought their suggestions and plans to regain the conquered kingdoms. Though King Nehizena had his own plan to take back the kingdoms and instill fear in Nosaze, he still listened to the strategies the kings proposed and told them to execute their plans.

Under the full moon, King Sonni and Queen Nosaze sat around the campfire, celebrating with their elite warriors, Souleymane Konaté, one of King Sonni's most trusted warriors, stood up and said, "My King and Queen, I must say we've been extremely victorious since we entered the battle. Every movement we make gets us very close to King Nehizena's kingdom. What do you say we do to him when we finally get a hold of him?"

Sonni stood up and replied, "King Nehizena has done so much evil to the people in the west. Each and every one oppressed by him wishes to hold him captive. In such cases, I would let them do whatever they wish to him."

Then Oriri, one of Queen Nosaze's best warriors, added, "We need to reach the Kingdom of Nehizena on time, because we might know the king's name, but his qualities and looks are still unknown to us."

Queen Nosaze considered his words and exclaimed, "Why would such a man cover his face during battle if he Is not hiding something from the west?"

King Sonni, understanding her implication, replied, "The thing he is hiding is his weakness, and it is written all over his face. He wears a mask. We get that mask off, and the secret will be revealed to us."

After a week's rest, we continue. Nehizena will not escape us this time."