I had gone to my father’s farm to check out how things were going on there. There had been some disagreements between my father’s farmhands and some cattle rearers who had come to the kingdom to rear their cattle. These disagreements had been going on for quite some time and my father as the king of the land had been doing everything, he could to settle the dispute. Just as he was about to reach an agreement with the cattle rearers, that was when we heard that some of them had invaded the royal farms. My father had assigned me to it since I was the prince and also the heir to the throne.
I got there very early in the morning with four guards, two in front of me and two behind me. As the crowned prince, I was not allowed to walk around the kingdom without protection. Sometimes it annoyed me that I could not be allowed to walk around the kingdom freely like other young men. But I understood my father though. I had to be protected because of how royal disputes could be. They can be very messy. We got to his cocoa farm and found the laborers working like they usually did. As soon as they saw me, they stopped what they were doing and bowed down to me.
“Long live his royal highness. May your days be long,” Some said.
“May the royal household be given eternal life,” Others said.
I was not fazed by the greetings because if there was anything my father had thought me, was to be careful of the people who always greeted me with so many exaltations.
“They are the ones who will usually harm you,” He will always say.
“Please, get up,” I told them and they all stood.
They did as they were told and stood. “How is work? I hope you all haven’t had any issues with the cattle dwellers?” I asked them.
“We have not had any problems with the cattle dwellers after the king, your father reached an agreement with them. It is a surprise to us that you are asking us about this, though,” a young man, who had been chosen as the one to speak for the laborers said.
“Seriously? That is weird. We had several reports at the palace that my father’s farmland was under attack and that this place especially had been run over by cattle. That is why I had to come here today,” I replied.
“Young prince. I don’t know who sent you those reports but whoever did that might have had it wrong. The cattle dwellers have not been here ever since their agreement with your father. Please go and report to your father what you have seen here. We are happily working here for as long as we can remember. Nothing of such has happened here,” the young man said again.
“Okay. I will go and check on the other farms as well to make sure nothing of that sort has happened so that I can know what to report to my father. Thank you,” I said and turned around.
“Long live your highness,” the young man and the other laborers said and bowed one last time before I finally left the place.
On my way to the other farms, my mind kept wandering about all the reports we had been receiving at the palace. These cattle dwellers have been living amongst us for decades, long before I was born. Yet, we never had any issues with them. They have always been friendly toward my people as do my people are toward them. So, what could have changed? And what caused these disputes in the first place?
Bediako, my trusted guard and friend nudged me a little in the arm.
“Your highness, what are you thinking about?”
“I am confused, Bediako. I don’t understand anything right now. We have been having a lot of reports about how the cattle dwellers have been attacking people’s farms and the like. They always denied this and almost accused my father of wanting to cause division between them and us. That is why my father came to a reasonable agreement with them. After what I have heard today with my ears, I don’t think the cattle dwellers are the problem. Something else is wrong. I just can’t pinpoint exactly what it is,” I said in worry.
“You know, you are right. I had never trusted the reports either. I feel someone is trying to cause problems between us and the cattle dwellers. Because, think about it, they have been here for years, long before you and I were born. Even long before your father or grandfather was born. So, why would they suddenly turn against us for no reason? Somebody is trying to cause division between us,” he said, making what I was thinking right.
We continued to walk as my mind kept wandering. Who would want to cause such confusion? What would the person gain from this kind of conflict?
We had suddenly reached the place where the three footpaths meet when we were suddenly surrounded by several strong, tall, and well-built men. We were taken by surprise by the attack. My guards surrounded me and kept me in the middle. I was so confused and dazed by everything that was happening. I heard Bediako screaming at the other guards to protect me and make sure nothing happened to me as the men closed in on us. My heart started to race when I realized what was about to happen. These men here were either here to kidnap me or kill me. I had to stay put and trust my guards to protect me. Don’t get me wrong. I am not a coward, no. I am a trained warrior who is yet to go to his first battle. It’s just that I had never found myself in this situation before, and it kind of made me a bit afraid.
Then everything else just followed. The men attacked us with spears and daggers. My guards fought so hard to protect me. By the time I realized what was happening, two of them had been killed while Bediako and the other guards were bravely fighting. They were hurt, you could see blood on their bodies and the cuts on their skin. Even though they were hurt and exhausted, they managed to kill a few of the men. I decided I was not going to sit down and do nothing, so I picked up a dagger from the body of one of my guards and attacked the men. Somehow, we managed to get the upper hand and finish off the rest of the men.
I sustained wounds as well from their dagger that had pierced through my skin. I wasn’t worried about that though; I was more interested in making sure my guards were okay. I went to them and touched them, looking very worried for them.
“Are you guys, okay?”
“Yes, your highness. We are okay,” Bediako answered.
I went to check on the other guards on the ground and touched them as well. They were both dead. I went to one of the men from the other side who had attacked us and turned him over to check his features. He was dead as well. I bent down on my knees and watched his face with keen interest as Bediako and the other guard attended to their wounds.
“These men don’t look familiar at all. They don’t seem to be coming from any of the surrounding communities,” I said.
If that was the case, then where were they coming from? And why had they attacked us? Those questions kept bothering my mind as I continued to watch the dead man before me.
