the preparation

When the day has come as announced by the King through the village town crier, everybody has assembled at the king's palace, the chief priest was the last to enter the palace as everyone was waiting for him to arrive.

It was a big gathering as it were a matter of life and death for the entire community, they were a loud murmuring from the crowd, but on siting the chief priest everywhere was calmed, I bring you greetings from the gods your highness said the chief priest, ah welcome eyes of the gods replied the King as he waved him to a sit.

my people I welcome you all to my palace said the King, am sure you all know the reason why we're all gathered here, it's no longer news that we can not sleep in peace in our various homes, we all know how the evil creature has been killing our people and has made us to be living in fear, we can't go to the bush to cultivate our farm land because of fear, we have asked the gods for solutions and they gave us an impossible solution to travel across the seven seas to the evil forest and get the hair of the human eater the giant African never die.

non of our warriors our able body men have agreed to embark on this journey, no volunteer has ever stepped forward to take up this task because of how deadly the evil forest is.

But.... he paused for a while and then continue, there's a young boy who has volunteered to go for this impossible journey signaling the young man, when the crowd saw him they all shouted....

But he's just a small boy how can he go to such an impossible journey man for men and warriors...

He's not even going to cross the first river said another person from the crowd...

The King raised his hands for calmness, I have heard all your murmuring, but at this point let me let him speak for himself.

Greetings to you my king, elders of our land sons and daughters of this great kingdom, I salute you all, I have taken this decision to go and bring the solution that will liberate our land, I was not forced by anyone it's a decision I have taken by myself and i will go and come back, I know the journey is a deadly one and if I do not return in the next 14 days then you know that am dead.

at this point everywhere was silent, some people from the crowd were already wiping for the boy because they know how evil the forest is and no one who goes into that forest has ever come back alive.

step forward my son said the chief priest

are sure you are ready to embark on this journey?,

yes eyes of the gods replied the boy,

do you know how dangerous this journey is and that you may never come back alive, are you willing to risk your life for the entire community?

yes eyes of the gods am willing even if I have to lay down my life for this community to be safe.

Then step forward into this circle let me begin to prepare you for the journey ahead, for the journey is full of evil and dangerous,

When he stepped into the circle the chief priest began his incantations calling on the gods of the land to protect the boy on his journey to evil forest and to guide him on the right way to follow when he begins his journey.

when he's done with the incantations he said to the boy... I have fortified you against the journey ahead may the gods of our land be with you in your going and coming .

Take this... he handed a bag to him inside this bag contains things that will help you in your journey ahead, this staff will give you directives to the dwelling of the giant African never die, and it will also protect you against evil spirit in the forest, don't be deceived by the spirit in the evil forest, for they will come inform of the people you know just to trick you in collecting the staff from you.... do not eat anything from anyone or talk to anybody while in your journey, be wise! Be wise!! Be wise!!!!!!!!

you shall begin your journey tomorrow before the rising of the sun, my king am done with the preparation said the chief priest,

Thank you very much eyes of the gods,

according to the chief priest we will escort the boy before sun rise tomorrow at the boundary between our village and the evil forest... I thank you my people for coming, as you retire back to your various homes don't forget to always pray for this young and brave boy who has volunteered to go on this dangerous mission in searched for the solution to this menace in our society , may the gods be with us and protect us while we wait for (if) he returns with the solution to our problem.

The King bid the crowd good-bye and they all departed to their various homes

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***