Osa and the Orangemen
Copyright© 2025 by Osa Oladapo
Chapter 22
the Magic War, Part 9: The Calm Before the Storm
While John is getting their people organized and ready to march out from the castle, on the top of the castle, Adunbi, Quivina, and Amy are with Osa and Ekian to wish them a safe voyage.
Adunbi gives them each a stone skin amulet and a kiss on their forehead. “I’ll see you at the royal palace.”
Osa says, “If the plan works out, we should be there around the same time as you.”
Quivina hugs them both and kisses them on the cheek, “Be safe, my sisters.”
Ekina replies, “Be safe also, sister.”
Ame gives Ekina a dose of each of her pollens (sleep, dizziness, blindness, numbness, hot, cold, and pain) and Osa a dose of each of her saps (joy, lust, fear, and rage), then kisses each of them on the lips, “Don’t make me have to come look for you, because I will be very upset if you don’t make it.”
Osa looks and tells Amy, “We have so much more to teach each other. I look forward to all the time we will spend together.”
Osa and Ekina climb on the back of the dragon and hold tight as it launches them into the air. Adunbi, Quivina, and Amy watch Osa and Ekina fly off before heading down to the main courtyard, where they meet up with John and Becka.
While Adunbi and Quivina mount up on their horses, they are joined by John on his horse and Amy in her tree. John says, “I know the way, so I’ll lead the way with my medium infantry, then Quivina and her archers in case we need support on the road, then Adunbi and his light infantry, and finally following last. She also knows the way, so if anything happens, she can keep people on track. Becka and camp followers will follow us in one day. The wounded will accompany Becka as guards for the supply train.”
John rides to the front of the main body of warriors, gives the command to get ready, and then to start marching. As soon as the last of John’s men is moving, Quivina gives the archers the command to start moving, followed by Adunbi and his men, and Amy in her tree with the beast man resting high up near the top. Becka and the camp followers collect as much water, food, and coins as they can carry on their wagons.
The road is a long three days’ travel on foot, four days for the wagon train following, but it takes them through several small towns and villages where they are able to purchase food, water, and equipment, as well as recruit a few more people to replace some men who fell at the castle. Each little town they pass through, they kill a dozen Orangemen and one Redman.
When they get near to the designated meeting place, a three-hour march from the city that surrounds Prince Rindeel’s palace, John and Adunbi scout ahead, only to find Captain Vulkarias is already there along with his crew and several hundred sailors and soldiers that he recruited along the way. As they are having a friendly reunion, Quivina comes around the bend leading their troops. The order is given to set camp, eat, drink, and rest.
Once the command tent is set up and all the leaders are inside, Vulkarias asks, “Where are Osa and Ekina? I had expected them to be traveling with the druid in her walking tree.”
John says, “They took the dragon and flew to the southern part of the continent, to the encampment where the giant commands the Orangeman army. Three days to get there, and three and a half to get back.”
Vulkarias says to himself, “So, they won’t make it back in time for the start.”
Adunbi replies, “If Osa’s plan works out, she and Ekina should be here sometime tonight.”
Everybody looks at Adunbi. Vulkarias asks, “How is that possible?” and John says, “Yes, explain.”
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.