Queen of Zazzau by J.S. Emuakpor

Author:J.S. Emuakpor
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Afrocentric Books

We marched on Niyabo that night. From a distance that kept me out of the general melee while allowing me to bear witness to it, I sat astride. Jaruma, my prisoners, and nearly all of the Kuturun Mahayi remained with me. We watched the city go up in flames.

Fasau wouldn’t have condoned the destruction, but I was less inclined to care and wondered whether Dafaru had made me this way or if I’d always been devoid of compassion. Maybe the murders I had already committed had hardened me to the horrors of warfare. Whatever the case, no emotions surfaced in me, no pity for the people of Niyabo or for the demon warriors who had, admittedly, fought well. My battle rage continued to feed on the devastation.

By the time Niyabo was reduced to ashes, my prisoners were reduced to tears, shuddering in grief-stricken fury. Their arrogance had died along with their city.

“As Niyabo rises, it is quick to fall,” I said to the loud one.

All pride, all life had drained out of him when his city had burned. He didn’t respond. Or spit, for that matter. As flames shot into the sky, Gambo and Danladi came out of the city. Jaruma and I rode to meet them.

“The city was unguarded,” Danladi said when we drew close. “It’s done.”

The people of Niyabo had sent their warriors to cut us down in the night and had left the city vulnerable. Foolish.

“Survivors?” I asked.

“The streets are full of them,” Danladi replied. “But some perished in the flames. Should we round them up?”

“We have no use for them. Let them go.”

Jaruma gave me a sidelong look. “I thought you might like to execute them as well,” she said in a dry tone.

I wasn’t sure whether she was serious, but I saw no jest in the statement. “Do you take issue with my leadership?”

“No issue, Gimbiya.”

The flippant remark still nettled me. “Would you rather I execute them? The children as well?”

Jaruma glanced at the other two and motioned toward the city. They rode back to deliver my orders. She said, “It was no criticism, Amina.”

“What then?”

Other than the exasperation that briefly shadowed her features, she ignored my rancorous tone. “You surprise me, that’s all. You’ve never been a war leader, yet you do it now with certainty. As though you were born for this purpose.”

Her response dulled my anger. Indeed, I felt somewhat churlish for snapping at her in the first place.

“Is it not my destiny?” I looked up at the black smoke blotting out the stars. “Amina and War are one. For as long as it pleases him.”

We returned to the group. Part of me considered offering the prisoners some solace in their last moments and telling them their families yet lived. But that part of me was relegated to the background. The demon warriors of Niyabo would get no peace of mind before they looked into the eyes of Death. A petty triumph, I knew, but a triumph nonetheless.

“Execute the prisoners,” I said.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.