Chapter 29 - The Shield and Shadow

Lusweti stood at the edge of Nuri's borders, watching the distant trail of dust rising into the sky. Khisa and his warriors had long vanished from sight, but he still gazed in that direction, his thoughts heavy.

Nanjala stepped beside him, her hand gently resting on his. "You're worried," she said softly.

Lusweti sighed, his voice low. "I sent my own son into the unknown. A part of me wishes I had stopped him." He clenched his jaw. "But I know I cannot."

She squeezed his hand. "Khisa has always been different. He carries burdens that should not belong to one so young."

"He is the reason we're alive, Nanjala," Lusweti murmured. "Without him, we would have fallen in the war against the Abakhore. Without him, Nuri would not exist." He looked back at the village, at the people moving through the streets, at the farmers preparing their fields, at the warriors patrolling with pride. "And now, we must make sure Nuri prospers… no matter the cost."

Nanjala nodded, determination flickering in her eyes. "Then let's begin."

Inside the newly built council hut, Lusweti sat at the head of a long wooden table, the flickering torches casting sharp shadows on the walls. Around him sat the elders, the clan leaders, and the wisest minds of Nuri—each chosen to help shape the future of their growing kingdom.

"We must build something that lasts," Lusweti began, his voice firm. "A government that will keep order and balance."

"We need structure," one of the elders, Jumba, said. "Who will lead? Who will handle justice?"

Lusweti straightened. "As King, I will guide Nuri's path, but I cannot rule alone. Nanjala will serve as Queen, advising on matters of diplomacy and internal affairs. And when Khisa returns, he will take his rightful place as Prince, overseeing the development of our military and expansion."

The elders nodded, murmuring among themselves.

"What of law?" another elder asked. "Who will settle disputes?"

Lusweti thought for a moment. "We will form a Council of Elders, chosen from the wisest among us, to judge matters of law and justice. They will oversee disputes and ensure fairness."

A younger warrior leaned forward. "And protection? The army cannot watch every corner of Nuri."

Lusweti nodded. "Then let us structure our military. We must be prepared for anything."

He looked around the room. "The army will be divided into five main branches: The Elite Special, the Vanguard, the Border Riders, the Watchers, and the Reserves. Each will have a specific role."

1. The Shadow Guard (Elite Special Forces)

Leader: Prince Khisa

Role: Highly trained warriors, masters of stealth, assassination, and infiltration. They serve as both bodyguards to the royal family and an elite strike force.

Selection: Only the best warriors are chosen. Their training is brutal, focusing on endurance, intelligence, and combat mastery.

Symbol: A black serpent, representing their silent but deadly nature.

2. The Vanguard (Main Army Force)

Leader: General Simiyu

Role: The backbone of Nuri's military, they engage in open warfare, defend the kingdom, and expand its territory if needed.

Structure: Divided into smaller units (warbands), each led by a seasoned warrior.

Training: All men and women of fighting age must undergo basic combat training, with the best selected for the Vanguard.

3. The Border Riders (Mounted Scouts & Rapid Response Unit)

Leader: Commander Wekesa

Role: Patrol the kingdom's borders, intercept threats before they reach the villages, and act as messengers in times of war.

Tactics: Fast-moving and highly mobile, able to cover vast distances quickly.

4. The Watchers (Internal Peacekeepers & Law Enforcers)

Leader: Captain Shikuku

Role: Maintain order within Nuri, settle disputes, and ensure that criminals do not threaten the stability of the kingdom.

Subdivisions: Each village has its own group of Watchers, who report directly to Nuri's council.

5. The Reserves (Emergency Militia & Civilians in Training)

Leader: Overseen by the Elders

Role: Farmers, blacksmiths, and other civilians who receive occasional combat training in case of war.

Mobilization: If Nuri faces an invasion, all able-bodied people will take up arms.

"How sure are we that Prince Khisa will bring back a strong force?" One of the elders grumbled.

"My son is a strong warrior, he told me of the training he will undergo, most of us would never survive it. You will see once he returns." Lusweti said.

Far from Nuri, Khisa and his warriors rode through endless landscapes, training at every stop. He pushed them harder than they had ever been pushed before.

One evening, they sat around the fire, exhaustion clear on their faces.

"This training," Zuberi muttered, "is inhuman."

Khisa smirked. "Good. Because we are not training to be ordinary warriors. We are training to be the best." He stood, looking at each of them. "You are strong. But strength alone is not enough. You must be fast, silent, deadly. You must be able to think, to adapt, to survive. That is why we are here."

He turned to Naliaka. "You are fast, agile. You will learn to strike from the shadows, to take down enemies before they even see you."

To Ndengu, he said, "You are strong, unmovable. You will become a shield on the battlefield, the one who stands while others fall."

To each warrior, he assigned a role based on their strengths.

"We need a name," Naliaka said suddenly.

A silence settled over them.

Then Ndengu spoke. "We will be the Shadow Guard."

Khisa's gaze sharpened.

Ndengu continued, his voice steady. "We will be the shield that defends Nuri and the shadow that eliminates its enemies."

Khisa smiled. "The Shadow Guard it is."

From that moment on, their training intensified.

They hunted with nothing but knives, forced to rely on their instincts. They fought each other blindfolded, learning to react without sight. They ran for miles, their bodies pushed past their limits.

But it wasn't just combat.

Khisa made them read—history, strategy, warfare. He taught them different languages, how to negotiate, how to think like leaders.

"This is not just about fighting," he told them one night. "This is about creating warriors who can change the course of history."

Days turned into weeks.

Finally, they reached a mountain, its peak surrounded by dense forests.

Khisa dismounted. "This is where we stay."

The warriors exchanged glances.

"We will train here," he continued. "We will master every skill. And when we return…" He looked at them, his eyes filled with fire. "No one will be able to stop us."

As the meeting continued, a group of traders approached with grave expressions.

"My king," one of them said, "there are growing disputes over trade. Some refuse to honor fair prices, and arguments are turning violent."

Lusweti frowned. "Explain."

"Without set prices, merchants overcharge while others undersell. We need regulation, or trade will become chaotic."

The council murmured in agreement.

"We must introduce a fair tax system to stabilize our economy," one of the elders suggested.

Lusweti nodded. "We will establish standardized trade rates. Taxes will be collected fairly, and a portion will be reinvested into the kingdom—into roads, defenses, and food storage."

Another elder raised a concern. "And what of the increasing number of refugees? We must keep track of our population."

Lusweti agreed. "From this day forward, we will hold a yearly census to count our people. Every village must report its numbers, ensuring we can provide for them properly."

As the meeting ended, Lusweti stood before his council.

"Nuri is no longer just a village—it is a kingdom. It must be protected, structured, and built to last."

The elders nodded.

And with that, Nuri's next chapter truly began.