Bomani, Farra and Pupa traveled further south toward the northern border of the Forbidden Expanse. Such a journey was quite unusual for anyone to make. Very few people had ventured far enough to bear witness to any part of it, and what was unknown was left to build fear into the speculation. It was rumored to smell of death. It was said that the inhabiting creatures were the dreadful kind that would suck the life right out of you – literally. Not to mention that everyone knew that an evil witch doctor named Hatari dwelled somewhere deep into the territory.
The brush from the savanna flourished less and less. As they walked, Farra did most of the talking and Bomani did most of the ignoring. He was busy contemplating a scheme to get past the guards' watchtowers that his father had posted along the border of The Forbidden Expanse. When they finally got near, he instructed Farra to help him gather as many dry leaves and branches as they could, and put them in a large pile.
“What’s this for?” asked Farra.
“We need to get the attention of the guards.” Bomani said. He reached into his pouch and grabbed two fire rocks, and then he paused. “Hey, can you start a fire with your staff?”
“What do you mean?” asked Farra.
“You know, magic stuff.”
“No, I can’t make fire. My powers still have to grow. Even then, I don’t think I will ever be able to make fire.”
“Humph, some sorcerer you are. I thought maybe you might be of some use.”
“Hey, I helped you make that pile, didn’t I? Without me, it would have taken you twice as long.”
“I suppose.”
“Well aren’t those guards from Ufalme? Why do we need to hide from them? They are on our side, aren’t they?”
“Yes,” Bomani replied. “But moving into The Forbidden Expanse isn’t normal. They will want to know what we are doing and why. It’s just better if we can get by them without them knowing.”
“Let me get this straight,” said Farra. “You are on a mission to save your kingdom. You are on this mission alone. You have to go into the Forbidden Expanse, find the Ifa Scepter, and bring it back. But no one knows you’re on this mission and you don’t want anyone to know?”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I’m just saying that something seems odd about this.”
“Look. Like I told you before, you don’t have to come with me. You shouldn’t even be here. Either you are coming or you are not. But the how’s and why’s are not up for discussion.”
“All I’m saying is that it would seem to me that if they were to send someone out alone, they would send your brother Mongo. He’s bigger, he’s stronger, he’s older, and he probably has more experience with this sort of thing. So why would they send you and not him?”
Bomani became enraged. He quickly positioned his face inches from hers, “Don’t you ever say that again. I am just as good as my brother, if not better. My kingdom doesn’t need him or anyone else to get the scepter. I can do it. Do you understand!”
Farra slowly backed away from him. “Yes. I think maybe I do understand.”
“Good,” Bomani said and began to strike the rocks together. “So are you staying or going?”
“Staying.”
“Okay, once the fire starts, we will run to the mountain side and wait for the guards to come out and take a look. The towers use one-to-three torches to communicate levels of suspected danger. The barracks nearby not only houses soldiers, but also a large stable where we trained our war-rhinos and battle-elephants. We have another barracks closer to the kingdom. That’s where I keep my rhino.
As long as only one torch goes up in the towers, concerns are at a low level and neither soldiers at the barracks nor the beasts of war will come into play. If we create a little smoke on the friendly side of the border, it should not cause too much of a threat. Do you get it?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
They ran southeastward toward the foothills of the Edge Mountains, and waited. The fire grew, and so did the smoke. The wind was calm, leaving the smoke to clump together, painting the sky with an easily visible trail of black.
Bomani’s scheme worked just as he had planned. A torch went up in one tower, then all the rest. They waited until they could see the guards climbing down from the tower and running off to investigate. Then, Bomani and Farra hurried along the mountainside as fast as they could. Bomani kept watching to see if another torch went up or if they were being followed.
“Hurry!” he said, “Before we are noticed!”
They ran as fast as their eight feet — (including Pupa’s four) could carry them. Once out of the view of the guards, they took a moment to catch their breath.
“Oh my goodness!” Farra shouted, suddenly.
Bomani was quick to respond. “Are they coming?”
“A twilka tree!”
“A twilka tree?”
“Yes, yes, and its got twilka berries!”
“Farra, you can’t just yell out like that. I thought something was wrong.”
“Oh, but there is. I don’t know much about the Forbidden Expanse, but I do know that you won’t find many twilka trees.”
“So?”
“So, we’d better stock up!” She ran over to the tree.
Twilka trees were thick with rows of vines twisting around them. Their branches grew outward and then down, and they bore twilka fruit. The twilka fruit grew from the trees in bunches and grew in a variation of colors and flavors. Each berry had a different color swirled into it, which moved across the surface when shaken.
Farra grabbed at the berries eagerly, taking handfuls of the stuff, shoving as much as she could into her mouth, with no regard to the juices that spilled from the fruit onto her face and hands. She closed her eyes, obviously savoring the delicious berries as sensations of fruity, tangy, and sweet shifted across her tongue —she looked to be in twilka heaven. Bomani stared at her until she opened her eyes.
“What?” she asked. Her mouth was still half full. “You don’t like twilka berries? I never met a person that didn’t like twilka berries.”
“No, I like them fine. I just don’t think that I like them as much as you do. I’ve never seen anyone eat them like that. You act as if you haven’t eaten in days.”
“Well, I haven’t eaten any since yesterday,” she began, “but it just occurred to me that I might not see another twilka berry for quite some time. Besides, you’re probably right; no one likes them quite like I do. Have some.”
Bomani joined her in the twilka berry feast. He actually thought that it was pretty funny the way Farra dove into the berries. He had never seen anything like it, but he did not laugh at her. He wanted to keep his composure and not seem childish. Far be it from him to act as if he was actually fifteen and laugh a little.
After they had their fill, Farra stocked some berries in her pouch and they continued on their journey. They walked an entire day, and nothing even remotely eventful happened. As usual, Farra did most of the talking and Bomani did most of the ignoring.
Chapter 5
END OF THE ROAD
The Ancient Lands: Warrior Quest, Search for the Ifa Scepter Page 7
