Mikumbi checked his canvas rucksack outside the mansion's gates for the final time to make sure he had everything he needed for his mission. Broken Ankole horn, dried goat meat, fruit, a small gourd of fresh water and a few small glass bottles containing different magic potions. Before Mikumbi left the mansion, he and the sultan discussed the payment for the wizard's services and the Sultan tried to recommend that a few of his personal guards accompany Mikumbi on his journey. The sorcerer refused the extra men. Not out of pride or guilt if they were killed in action. On his many adventures and battles against demons, the supernatural, demigods, sorcerers and whatnot, he has been aided by some of the finest warriors and mages of Ikwubara. Some of them were generals, princes and even monarchs, while some had a common background with extraordinary talent. Udanganyifu's guards were capable fighters in their own right but this was a fight they weren't prepared for and Mikumbi had neither the time or the patience to give them proper training.
Mikumbi took out the broken cow horn from his rucksack. His eyes and the hand he was holding the horn glowed his signature bright neon yellowy green energy.
“Show me the way!” he said in a calm and commanding voice.
The horn shone with bright blue energy, then the energy blazed a trail through the streets of Mzizima and kept travelling out of the city.
With his spear in one hand, his rucksack on his back and the horn in the other hand, Mikumbi started to follow the magical trail. Walking at a normal pace through open grassy plains and a small tropical forest, only stopping to check his bearings and to eat and drink. He followed the energy trail towards a cliff overlooking the Vipan Ocean.
The trail seemed to drop into the sea. Was this where the Rirundi was hiding? Mikumbi checked again.
“Show me the way,” Mikumbi commanded the cow horn in his sorcery state.
Once again, the blue energy trail dropped into the sea. He looked down at the cliff's edge to see the waves of the ocean crashing into the rock. He couldn't just jump into the sea from this height, the fall and waves crashing into the rock would break him apart. He could just teleport into the sea but his teleportation skills needed a lot of work. He'd have to find another way to get there.
Mikumbi kept walking along the coast. He spotted something in the distance. A few mud huts by the coast.
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“I hope they have a decent boat,” thought Mikumbi. “If not, it's going to be a long swim.”
As the wizard warrior got to the village, he noticed something was amiss. No children at play. No women doing their daily chores. No men welcoming him at spearpoint and questioning words. All he could see were a few fishing boats but no signs of life.
“Hello?” the warrior shouted, only to be greeted by the sound of the ocean. “Is anybody here?”
He heard some muffled sounds coming from huts
“Come on out, I'm just a cute lost little boy in need of help!” Mikumbi said half jokingly.
One by one, the men of the village came out of their homes, brandishing assegais with leaf-shaped points. The men of the village looked typical for this area of East Ikwubara. A mix of Aethiotic and 'Buntu' blood flowed through their veins. Round bulging foreheads, wide noses, some had prominent cheekbones, some were golden brown in hue while others were dark chocolate brown. They ran from medium height to tall. They all towered over Mikumbi.
They assembled close together with spears in hand.
“Who are you and what do you want?” asked one of the villagers.
“Finally, the welcoming party shows,” the wizard replied in a sarcastic tone. “Have to say, it's a little bit too much with spears.”
His wit did little to ease the tension that was built up by his presence. However, Mikumbi sensed that his arrival alone was not the only cause of the village's tension.
The lead villager's face turned angry then he demanded in a low and serious tone. “I won't ask this question again. Who are you and what do you want?”
“I am here on a mission, I come in peace and I need your help,” replied Mikumbi.
“You come in peace!?” the villager scoffed. “Yet you wield a spear?”
“Haven't you heard, there's a war going on and people need to be prepared.”
Mikumbi thought his witty reply would ease the tension. He really doesn't know when to quit.
“Drop your weapon,” commanded the villager.
“I will do no such thing.”
Mikumbi knew where this situation was going but there was nothing he could do about it apart from 'convincing' them!
The Villager looked at and nodded to two men, one on each side of him. “You two, dispose of the halfling.”
