A Tale of Five Bandits - Episode 3

 

The soldiers searched high and low for Sewa, failing to find any trail that led to her escape. They dumped the body of the dead blacksmith into the river and returned to the barman that informed them of her location.

Angry and frustrated at their failure to catch such a highly wanted criminal, they burnt down the tavern along with its owner and took those present, at the time of her arrival, for questioning.

Durojaiye led Sewa deep into the forest away from the troop. After running for several minutes, Duro stopped and heaved a sigh, panting with his hands on his knees . He straightened up, flexed his muscles and turned to face Sewa with a grin on his face.

“I think we lost them. I saved you back there, you owe me”, he bragged.

“Wrong. I would have noticed had I not been busy with thinking of several ways to end you”, she shot back.

“Wow, is this how you treat your friends?”

“Friends? Who said we were friends?” she unsheathed her sword in a flash and pressed the tip against his throat, “Now, who are you and why were you following me?”. 

Duro raised his hands in surrender, his face taking on a smug look “Calm down, okay. Why don’t you put the sword down?”

“Wrong answer”, she pressed the tip further against his throat

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/a-tale-of-five-bandits

. A stream of blood drizzled from the little wound onto the blade.

His face turned grim and serious. Sewa smirked “not so vain now”.

She stared at him carefully now, taking in his features. Her stalker was indeed handsome. His crescent-of-moon eyebrows were thin and narrow. He carried an imperious nose well and his angular cheekbones carved down towards a flinty jaw. His black eyes were orb round and darted constantly, a gleam with delight and the vigour of youth. His hair was braided back just like hers but in two sections. He had broad shoulders and a ripped body beneath his attire. An earthly scent swirled around him and his voice resonated deeply when he spoke.
She squinted her eyes at him and leaned towards his familiar face, “Haven’t I seen you before?”

A smile formed on his face “Ah, you remember now? I used to be part of the Black Sheeps and our gangs clashed a couple of times. Let’s just say your splendid swordsmanship allured me and I became a big fan of yours”. 

She frowned and cocked her head “Not bad. So you people saw an advantage and planned on capturing me now that I am alone”, she pressed her blade further into his throat, opening the coagulated wound “Smart but if you think I will go down easily, I promise you will be disappointed”.

Duro heaved a sigh and croaked in discomfort “Now being so paranoid. I said I USED TO BE ONE OF THEM, NOT ANYMORE! I didn’t even know you would be at the tavern. It was simply chance or perhaps the gods willed it because we could really need someone like you”.

“We? You left one band for another? And I’m not interested in whatever you’re plotting”.

“Yes, a new one but a just one. We are not bandits. Our goal is honourable”.

Sewa’s gaze lingered on him for a few seconds and then she stepped back, dropping her sword from his throat and turned to walk away, “Like I said, I’m not interested. Leave me alone”.

“You will be”, Duro snapped, “when you hear what I have to say”.

Sewa bit her lower lip in frustration. Her fingers gripped her sword tightly, ready to knock out her persisted stalker with its pommel. Sewa turned sharply and yelped in surprise, completely startled to find him standing a few inches from her. How did she not hear him approaching? How had he caught her off guard? He had snuck up on her with the grace of a leopard. His childish antics aside, he was a dangerous man. Perhaps his comical character was just a deception.

He simpered as she backed away in surprise, stifling laughter at the sight of her confused face “Look, the people I work for are royalty and they can grant you a royal pardon. Your history with the law is not so good. Your face is plastered on the walls of so many villages. Most bandits have been caught and executed without trial.  Perhaps it’s a good thing you left when you did but you didn’t stay low, you went about murdering mercenaries for reasons I can’t comprehend and trust me when I say you’re high in the Kingdom’s most wanted list. It’s only a matter of time before you’re caught. They almost did back at the village.

Read " She Did It " by the same author ( Obinna Tony )

. Someone sold you out. Those soldiers were no regular warriors. They were the capital’s cavalry and footmen directly under the King’s command, it’s no longer safe. You need this pardon if you want to live your life without constantly looking over his shoulder”.

Duro watched her as she contemplated on his words. A smile soon broke out in triumph as she sheathed her sword and nodded. He held out his hand with a set of white teeth in display “My name is Durojaiye”.

She shook his hand and clutched it tightly, “I suspect you already know my name so let’s get down to business. Talk”.

“Of course. You know something? Your nickname fits you perfect. Wolverine- small but deadly”, His smile ceased and he looked up at the descending sun, “Enough chatter, we have to go now. All will be explained at our destination”.

Before she could utter a word of protest, he hurried into the forest. Sewa sizzled in frustration and ran after him.