The Conqueror Series

The Conqueror Rebirth 8

Dike was summoned to the hill by the priestesses that were brought from Itoho. He went up the hill to answer them. They clearly warned him not to raise a hand let alone striking any of the tigers coming to attack them.

"You mean I should fold my hands and watch my soldiers and my people die in the hands of the beasts?" Dike asked them.

"They are no beasts. They are you. Only you can stop them but this is not the right time. You must leave. You must leave this land and go beyond, in search of Nwanyi. She is the priestess that was banished years ago by the former king of Abiam. You must find this priestess. She will tell you what to do. You have brought this calamity upon humanity. You must also put an end to it" one of the priestesses said.

Dike looked down the hill to see his soldiers readied for battle. From there he looked at the position where the King of Abiam and his companions were standing and turned to the priestesses and said "And I'm going to abandon these people to die like this?"

"Their destiny has been decided. They will fight and die today. Use that opportunity and leave. Leave now!" One of the priestesses said.

Dike was worried and confused at the same time. She looked at the priestesses for some time and asked "And what about you. Will you also die today?"

"We will. You have brought this calamity but promise us that you will put an end to it by finding Nwanyi" the priestesses said in unison.

Dike was nearly in tears. He couldn't bear the fact that because of him thousands of innocent people have died. Loving Onwem had ruined a whole lot.

He cried for the first time. The priestesses smiled at him and encouraged him.

There was a strange noise and like lightning the beasts emerged from the tick forest in their streaks, advancing towards the great army. There was loss of confidence as the soldiers ran instead of standing their ground and facing the tigers. The numbers of the beasts had increased and their presence sent cold shivers down the soldier's spines.

But running was a bad idea as the beasts were determined not to loose any of them.

Dike cried. The priestesses urged him to go and he left the palace, riding on his horse through the back of the palace hut. The beasts that got sight of him started pursuing him. From the side of his eyes he could see the priestesses being torn apart by the savagery tigers.

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In Ndida Kingdom. News had circulated that an army of tigers were on the quest to wipe humans from the surface of the earth. The King of Ndida was worried. He knew that if Abiam and Icho could be destroyed by the Legendary Sacred Tiger then Ndida would be a breakfast for the Tigers.

His Queen tried to calm him down but he couldn't relax. He sent for his priestesses and they arrived within a short time. He tried to know his destiny. Nwanyi, the High Priestess of Ndida Kingdom told him plainly that Ndida could only stand a chance if the Sacred Tiger could find his way to Ndida Kingdom.

"How could you say such?!! The King of Ndida was in rage " How could you say that my Kingdom can only be saved if the Sacred Tiger could find her way to it? Is she not what the whole kingdoms are avoiding? The Sacred Tiger visited Abiam and Icho and now the two kingdoms are no more and you want her to pay me a visit also?!!!

"My lord, Nwanyi continued." I was a citizen of Abiam and you know my story. The Sacred Tiger is looking for me and you must send your men to go and save him and bring him to me. I will tell him what to do to stop this war. To stop the Sacred Tiger"

"You are confusing me. You just said that the Sacred Tiger is coming to see you. And you equally said that you will tell him how to defeat the Sacred Tiger? Are you with your senses? The King asked rudely.

"Do not insult or question the "All Seeing Eye" my lord. You must send your men to the boundary that separates Ndida and Icho. The young man who is looking for me is dying over there and he is the only one that can put an end to this disaster. If you don't save him, we are all doomed to die in the hands of the Sacred Tiger"

The King of Ndida knew that the Tiger's next target would be his Kingdom and he was not ready for that kind of war; a war where he would have to fight animals, animals that hardly fear death. He trusted in the priestesses and sent soldiers on a rescue mission.

The order from the King of Ndida to his soldiers going to rescue Dike was brutal.

"You must rescue whoever is at the boundary and bring him to Ndida alive or die trying"

The warriors bowed and left on their horses to the boundary.

Nearing the boundary was Dike, riding on his horse. He had received a bite from one of the tigers at Icho and he was loosing his strength. Shortly he fell out from his horse and the horse galloped away, leaving him at the mercy of death. He laid there for a long time but not long enough to change the mind of the beasts that were pursuing him. Four tigers were seen approaching him with their tongues out and their eyes filled with fire of hunger.