Chapter 78 - Port of Chains

Three teams left Shewa in the gray hush before dawn, when the sky was a deep blue bruise and the world was still asleep. The air was crisp, the silence sacred. Even the birds had yet to sing.

Naliaka, Ndengu, and two Abyssinian soldiers headed northward to Massawa. Akumu, Tiriki, and two more soldiers took the western route to Zeila. Zuberi, Simba, Biruk, Wasike, and three Abyssinian fighters rode southeast toward Assab.

Each team traveled under the guise of merchants, their wagons weighed down with cloth, spices, trinkets, and tools—all carefully selected to support their ruse. The true cargo, however, was far more valuable: sharp eyes, sharper minds, and the silent fire of vengeance.

The journey took days. They passed sleepy villages, winding rivers, and lonely hills under a burning sun. Every mile took them closer to danger.

Massawa Port