Tomorrow Would Come

Land by the fringes of the forest, soaked in blood and filled with rage, built on courage upon golden hills. Of will so strong. For long it bent the steel
Chapter 1
The sky was red. It would soon rain arrows and words. But then who would wait?
Eba odan (Ibadan) Early 1815/1820
Pre-colonial period
The cavalry came into the village driving wildly and furiously, accompanying the bearer of the message were escorts. Fierce looking men bearing arms, amulets and ammunitions as means of protections.
They had come from the land far away. The evidence of their journey in their worn out dusty clothes, but their faces were set with a strange strength. A strength that infused a weird fury in the way they drove.
The hooves of the horses sent dusts and curses into the air, the neighing of the beasts attracted much attention as men, women and kids looked out to catch a glimpse of the visitors, whose custom was to intimidate, for that gave them a sense of control and confidence in a town of seasoned soldiers. Eba-odan.

Eba-odan was full of ferocious warriors thirsty for blood, hungry for more territories. They picked up quarrel like new attire. They were great bullies. Territorial and thrived in all forms of aggression. The men of the town waited looked on as the Calvary drove in. Many could easily identity the leader of the entourage. He is the bearer of the message. He is also called the bearer of the horse reins.
The bearer was a respectable man who considered himself privileged but then, he was a slave, one of very high rank in the palace of Alafin of Oyo.

In the midst of the curious crowd that gathered was a maiden not of noble stock, but born a commoner,  Alari. Like every other of her age and breed, she had come to see men, and horses, with guns.

Horses were not a common beast around. Neither were guns. Somehow, with the passage of humans into slavery in a land beyond the sea, guns, metals, and all forms of objects that bring fears and tears find their way into the land. They were brought in exchange, as payment for humans' life.

Alari had once asked her mother why the men drove furiously every time they came into Eba-Odan. But she had no reply for her. She never had any reply concerning the matters of men. They were mystery and should be watched like she were a spectator, and be endured if she should ever lived with one.  The only thing you get from them were children and as long as there was a child to hold, then she could call the world a place she owned.
The Olokun Esin (bearer of the horse rein) alighted from the horse in regal manner. He cocked his head and adjusted his cloth proudly. The cloth looked heavy and expensive too. It was the type that Alari's papa wanted to buy from Iya Alaso and had been saving several cowries for. She began to wonder how long it had taken for Olokun Esin to buy those clothes. Must have been twenty market days, she thought wildly.

He moved with a gait that she knew had been practiced. He was vain and cocky. The kind of men she loathed. The escort followed him carrying guns and that gave him power. Wherever gun was carried, power followed swiftly. The white men came with guns and sweet talk. They gave power to such men that shouldn't carry it and guns to men who could hardly controlled their rage less than their riffles. Yet some of the white men came with comforting words and books. They talked about salvation and hope. Such were the ones that passed through the village two market days ago.
Everybody quivered at the sight of the guns except the warriors. Some of them owned arms also and were ready for a fight if provoked. Many slaves had been sold in exchanged for three guns and the men with no guns had charms they relied on to attack the enemies and protect themselves.
Eba-Odan also known as Ibadan was a war camp. Several warriors had come to settle down here and stubbornness alighted with them, dwelled among them and they carried it wherever they went. It was the trademark of the warriors. But today, they were calm. They wanted to hear the message Olokun Esin had brought from the Alafin of Oyo.
On a normal day, it was not the job description of Olokun Esin to bear such burden. He was left in charge of the stables. But, he had come, to earn Alafin's favour and now he was the bearer of today's message, an important message that would decide whether the sword would swerve, heads would roll and vultures called for repast.
As the favoured slave alighted from the horse, a praise singer in his escort started his eulogy. His voice was soft yet sonorous. He could be heard from afar. Yes, everyone should know that the Olokun Esin had come. This infuriated the warriors. Whoever gave such privilege to a slave?