The Conqueror Series

THE MISSION 8

Adere and the soldier who had made the statement about remaining standing in the presence of the ancient beast remained standing while the rest were now seated. Adere kept looking at the face of the beast. "What a creature" said the one standing with Adere. His name was Shuru. Shuru had served the king of Aba all his life. His father served the King's father before the beast devoured him in the battle field and now in return Shuru is serving the present king of Aba. He kept looking at Adere as he imagined the heart he possessed. He held him by the shoulder and said, "I have never seen anyone so brave as you. if we happen not to leave here alive I want you to know that you are a great man and I'm happy to share this last moment with you".

"No one is dying" said Adere. Shuru looked at the rest before shifting his gaze back to Adere. "How do we look for what we came here for if the beast is going to stand here monitoring us?" he asked.

"There is nothing we can do now but there is something that has been in my mind; why can't the beast enter this compound. What is here where we stand that he is afraid of?" asked Adere and Shuru also thought about it. Adere asked the rest to stand up and they did. He removed his jacket and his hand gloves and went to work. He began to dig the ground where they were standing with his bare hands. The rest watched but Shuru joined him in the digging. After sometimes the rest joined in the digging. They dug for hours until they had no more strength left in them. Shuru angrily threw a stone he dug out of the ground at the beast and the stone returned and hit him on the forehead. He fell and Adere and the rest rushed to make sure he was alright. They helped him up and Shuru noticed that the beast was staring at him angrily.

"Do not do that again" said Adere.

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Inside the palace of the king of Aba he was seated and gnashing his teeth. "What is taking them so long. This is the second day and they are yet to return" he said. An elder standing near the throne cleared his throat.

"Have a little more patience. They have been delayed by something beyond their control" said the elder.

"Do you speak about the beast?" asked the king.

"Yes, the beast, many witnessed it pursue Adere and the men you gave to him outside the city walls. This must mean one thing; the beast must have gotten at them" said the elder.

"We will wait and I pray Adere returns with what he promised me else what I promised him will be delivered to him" said the king.

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