LONE WARRIOR

A group of boys taken far away from home and bought as slaves journeyed with strange men to unknown destinations and with a temporary absence of a future.

They had travelled under scorching sun heat and right through heavy rainfalls they seem never to get closer to a stop.

The slave buyers rode faster as they approached a city popularly known as Cyprus.

Whatever you see you take, hardship of this group of boys should be considered part of their genetics, they are not from same family and neither do they have the same bounded fate.

The Cyprus city has existed for a long time and has become home to vicious brave hearts that makes other kingdoms fear and not wanting to battle with them.

Some say they might be cannibals but others say they got gods in their midst.

But all not far from true for their strength was quite unique they assumed the name terror to themselves. An ordinary man in Cyprus can fight three soldiers in other city.

Trading is one of the important things of this great city and slave trading is so common, slaves are sold every day in the city.

You're to be blame for being a weakling after all.

The slave traders settled down and stood still in no time business was open to all who wanted to buy the boys, a total of nine boys sold into different hands of fate but standing there on the platform remained the 10th boy.

The boy stood with his hair dangling and covering his face, he looked dirty and unkempt, the slave traders tried selling him at a cheaper price than the rest so they could go on with their way but nobody seemed interested at all in buying him. He was simply too weak.

The wind blew violently as his hair moved away from his face and one could see clearly what he truly was like but only for just two seconds before the hair covered his face.

No one saw his face due to the dust but one single man in black cloak whose hood covered his face, the man's eyes widen and he immediately signaled he wanted to buy the boy and the traders immediately agreed selling the boy off. The man was happy inwardly.

He took the boy to his home without even saying a word, getting home and closing the wooden doors plated with brass designs.

“Clean yourself up Jake”, he said throwing a towel to the boy.

The boy eyes widened, looking up totally stunned on how his name was known.

“How do you know my name?” he asked, letting his hair fall behind him revealing his unique eyes. The right one was deep blue with a black pupil and the other eye was just pitched black like a black hole.

“Surprised I knew huh”, the man said with a smile and removed his cloak and hood revealing his own unique eyes with same pattern as the boy's.

“Am your uncle Tim” the man said to the boy smiling.

“Uncle Tim “, Jake shouted, standing up and rushing to give a big hug to the man.

“Alright that’s enough”, the man said releasing himself.

“Why were you sold into slavery”, he asked with great curiosity

“Well there was no money and I willingly allowed myself to be sold so as to help the family", Jake said nonchalantly.

“Very risky but luckily you were sold to the right person”, Uncle Tim said with a smile.

“So what is this place? “, Jake asked curiously.

“City of Cyprus boy this is one of the strongest cities of all time”, Uncle Tim said solemnly.

“So what is your occupation?” the little boy asked.

“I just stay here to fight and earn”, Uncle Tim replied

“You fight to earn money”, said a surprised boy.

“Of course that is the easiest thing here”, he replied letting out a bash laugh

“Oh I see”, Jake said

“So why don’t you get prepared am taking you for a tour”, Uncle Tim said

“Now that’s great”, Jake said as he went to take his bath, cleaning himself up and appearing with a new look.

“And he is just 14 years old”, Tim said with a smile but it turned to a frown once he remembered something, he shook his head and resumed his doing.

20 minutes later

Jake was out and his long hair looked shiny, he was dressed up and looked completely different.

“Hmm looking like a prince”, Tim said, praising the little one.

“Pray you don’t draw the attention of the princesses of this kingdom”, Tim said jokingly.

“Really there are princesses”, Jake said not believing his ears. He was eager to see the princesses.

“And he talks like him too”, Tim thought. “Young man if you want to come along with me, you got to do it undercover with a hood”, Tim said, throwing a hood at the boy.

“Why should I “, Jake asked, looking vex.

“your eyes is a little too eye catching“, he replied.

“Alright”, Jake replied taking the black hood and putting it over his head.

“Perfect now you are ready”, Tim said as he took his sword placing it on his back

“Why don’t I get a sword or maybe at least a dagger”, Jake said, looking at tim in anticipation.

“You can’t handle a sword but I will give you my smallest dagger”, Tim said bringing out a golden dagger out of his sleeve.

“So where are we going now? “, Jake asked, tucking the dagger into his sleeve.

“Just around the city”, he said

“Let us move then”, Jake said, hurrying Tim.

They moved out of the house and were strolling through the crowds, when suddenly a loud city trumpet was blown and the crowd came to a standstill as a chariot rode past the people, charging to the middle before stopping.

“Listen all people of Cyprus the king as ordered that the Cyprus star celebration should commence, for the next three days”, the man on the chariot said as he rode away giving in to repetition.

The look on Jake face resembled someone who got cold water poured on him without his notice, he looked at his uncle who signaled that they have to returned back to their home.

“Why are we going back”, asked Jake.

“To prepare for the celebration”, Tim said. “This is one of the biggest celebration in the city”

“Woah, I really came on time”, Jake exploded with a wide smile.

They got home and soon Tim began preparing for the festival.

They eat their dinner and slept off.

_________

Tim wake Jake up early in the next day as he dressed up like he was heading for battle.

“I thought this was a celebration time, why the warrior outfit”, the little boy asked curiously.

“Well every celebration ends with a battle, fight and earn, so I must prepare myself, we have to eat and pay our bills after all”, uncle Tim replied strapping his long sword to his back.

“So you want to get in a fight today”, a surprised Jake said

“If possible”, replied Tim without looking.

The house was closed and the celebration commenced, with people dancing and others displaying several art crafts. Tim and Jake were on hood covering themselves as they waited for the main event.

Waiting and watching, the noise increased and could be heard several kilometers away from the city, chariots came out of the blues and on it were the king and queen.

The guards marched creating space for the king horses to pass, such beauty, such Muscularity, such diversity and culture. The king was like a gallant god who had just descended from the skies, his queen looked amazing like the rainbows of the sky.

Following the chariots one could see the four princesses of the land and just one prince, the prince looked cold and alof, he seems to consider everything to be beneath him.

The royal family arrived graciously ascending to their high platform seats why the guards took formation, giving ultimate protection.

“Begin”, the king said hitting his spear of authority, stroking his moustache with the other hand.

A group of performers came out and began performing dare devil stunts that one would rather dream of than do.

“So boring”, Jake said looking around, his uncle who was patiently waiting for the duel time to start was focused and refuse to answer the boy's whining.

“Got to get the hell out of here”, jake said sneaking away through the crowds and out of crowds, he decided to explore the city but not failing to put on his hood.

Jake walked around for a while nothing seemed to impress the little boy at all not until the city bell began ringing loudly.

It seems the war had approached, the bravest when they celebrate this time.