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The Western Tribes IV
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Chibueze looked from an opening in a hut, scouring the savannah for any hint of movement, seeing nothing but the familiar bends of the acacia trees and the sun-dried glass, shifting slowly from the light breeze. He turned to Itume, “Do you think they will come?”

“I don’t think they have a say in that. Did you talk to the men on the road?”

“Those who are fleeing?

“Yes. They told stories of Kalau raiders overrunning villages in the south; leaving nothing but corpses and ruins. If they are already in Igo land, Iki Tawale would be a fool to stand up this confederation, we very well may be his last hope.”

Chibueze smirked, “Confederation? I think confederation is too mighty a name for what we have assembled here. We are no more than three villages with foreigners who might very well not come. Remember back east? During the invasion of the peninsula? Now that was a confederation.”

“But even back then”, Itume turned to his friend, “Even back then we thought it was not enough. We had forty bands of warriors, forty thousand men, yet no matter how many men that could have been raised, we would have thought the northern tribes to have twice as much. We may not number more than ten bands, and that's with the Igo, but we will make the most of it, as we did back then.”

From behind them a voice boomed, “The sun has made its way across the sky and yet they still have not arrived! How much longer should we wait here?!”

Chibueze scowled and turned. The leader of Igatau, or at least the delegate sent, was hardly a likeable man. Brash and impatient, demanding and dense. How the village could stand him was a secret only the spirits knew. Chibueze opened his mouth, his patience with the man finally breaking. He had had to endure such jeers for the since mid-day. Just before he spoke however, Itume grabbed him by the shoulder, a stern look crossing his face.

Itume then turned to the man, “Iha, my brother. On my horses I promise you that they will come. The shamans declared that the events of this day will secure victory, I have faith in their guidance.”

Iha, the delegate, snickered, “The shamans speak in tongues Itume, you know this. If the spirit’s communicated clearly then one could go to the shamans for everything. For all we know they could have been talking about victory for the Kalau! The result of us, frozen like antelopes at the first sight of a hunter, waiting for an ally that will never come while the hordes draw closer!”

“Or maybe this discord breaks the alliance efore the Igo do, or do not, arrive.”, the delegate from Lunduwu spoke up, “Either way we do not stand a chance against the Kalau. It would be best if we returned, and rode east.”
Itume, exasperated, looked to the man, “And will the Kalau just stop after they have driven us from our land? They will continue to push east if we do not make our stand here!”

“Better on the run then dead.”

“Brothers!”, Chibueze shouted, “They are here!”