Hi....
Please, this story is intended for young adults. Can you act as a Beta reader?

Thanks a lot.

You only need to look out for this at the end of the story:

Which parts resonated with you and/or moved you emotionally?
– Are there parts where you wanted to skip ahead or put the book down?
– Which parts should be condensed or even deleted?
– Which parts should be elaborated on or brought more to life?
– Which characters did you really connect to? (None is acceptable)
- What do you like?
- What do you want more of?
- What’s missing?
- Where do you get bored?
- Where do you get confused?
- Any feedback on the structure or way it’s organized?
-Anything else you want me to know?

Don't worry, I'll ask later again.

Prologue
From time immemorial, men and women have always excelled in the paths they chose for themselves. They are even lucky if it is what they are destined to do. For destiny can amount to nothing until a man picks himself up to do what he likes or something worthwhile. Even when he is wrong, but he is doing something, his journey will lead him to the place he ought to be. Our story begins in the land called Fortune City when it was still called Ilu Oro and was ruled by Queen Ademiposi Ademola. In Ilu-Oro, there was a village called Imoye.
Imoye was a village at the border at the edge of Ilu-Oro and the rest of the world that many people haven’t explored. Imoye faced torture from some thieves called Ogara, whose faces were always covered. Even, their clothes are always on fire. Although no one knew where they came from, it was general knowledge that they looted Imoye.

On that sunny day, Chief Ibikunle was in the house of Baba Oje at the edge of the town that led to other parts of Ilu Oro. Baba Oje was the only man that saw the future of Ilu-Oro. Queen Ademiposi have always wanted him near her, but he said he had a mission in Ile-Nla. That day, Ibikunle wanted to know how they would win the war against the Ogaras. Baba Oje was explaining something to Chief Ibikunle, who didn’t wait to listen.
‘That’s it...’ Chief Ibikunle shouted and hurried out of Baba Oje’s presence. He was barely 19 years old when he was made the chief of Ila-Nla land following his father’s death.
‘There’s more...’ Baba Oje shouted after him.
‘What’s more?’ Chief Ibikunle turned angrily. He had been warned about Baba Oje’s ploy to extort him.
‘We have to make some sacrifices and prayers. Talk to some elders in other parts of Ilu-Oro. There are more things that will be revealed to us”, Baba Oje said.
Chief Ibikunle came nearer. ‘Tell your gods we do one-time payment only. How much will we have left in the reserves. At least, the gods are aware of the way we suffer from scarcity as a result of the constant invasion from our archenemies”.

Baba Oje’s eyes were now red. “Do you call think we’re hungry? What insolence?”
“Shut up, old man... I have heard of your plot to make money off us. We only want to survive...’
“Keep quiet...” Baba Oje shouted.
“I have nothing else to say...” Chief Ibikunle marched out of the hut and beckoned on the only servant he brought along. "Ajasa, run to the town crier. Tell him to call everyone to the village centre now. Anybody not there will suffer a great deal".
As soon as the sun got to the middle of the day, Chief Ibikunle stood on a tall mountain and proclaimed, “henceforth, every boy child will be trained in the art of war”. People murmured until he raised his hands. ‘Baba Oje said... Two of our boys would be the downfall of our enemies. They will also represent us in the seven lands’.

Chapter 1

Adio eagerly watched each dancer's steps and turned to the musicians. Terrible, he thought. There should be dynamism to these things. People should only be allowed to play these instruments if they know how to play them skillfully.
Even as horrible as it sounded, people loved and shook with joy. All the music he heard from them wasn't what he wanted. They were fairly good. Moreover, these weren't the same people he saw in his village. But their sound was monotonous. Even at 17, he had soaked in all seven land musicians' tunes. He could tell who was playing a tune and the group surrounding the player.

"Horrible! Horrible!" He said to his only friend, Ojo. They have been called "Birds of a feather" because they always ran away from training.
Adio would have been a part of them, but only people who killed about 50 big animals or fought many battles were allowed to play.
"Move aside, young man", a lady said as she pushed her way to the front, almost falling him.
Quickly, he grabbed his hat in place. No one must see his face. Queen Ademiposi had set soldiers around Imoye and the rest of Ilu Oro to ensure that the Ogaras didn't come to the rest of Ilu Oro. Only Chiefs could enter through a secret passage. Adio gritted. It took him a whole lot of work to get to Kukoro unscathed. He murmured his dissatisfaction, and she bared her teeth at him. That was when he saw her face. Adio frowned.

"Irede!" He murmured and turned away quickly. Ojo did the same but peered over his shoulder.
"I see her", Ojo said.
"Don't let her see you", Adio grunted.
Irede was the loudest girl in Imoye, who spent most of her time doing what men do. Other women in Imoye farmed and cooked for the men while the men trained to fight, but Irede wouldn't want to join the women. She wanted the exact training they gave the men and boys.
Very soon, the cheers of the people of Kukoro faded as the celebration ended. Adio watched the tired and weak instrumentalists return to their practice arena. That was where Adio wanted to be at all costs. Since the instruments were just for music, the people of Kukoro barely had reasons to guard them. Kukoro was a land of farmers, warriors, and a handful of musicians.
Adio entered the compound while Ojo was watching out for people. Adio hurried through the compound until he found what he was there for. The instruments were laid in different sizes.
If one went missing, they wouldn't know, he thought and picked one.

Adio sighed. He was sneaky but didn't worry much about being caught because they were drunk with the wine the community had given them to enhance their festival. That was the best time his own village, Imoye, should have sought a way to invade these people, but no, they were always preparing for war from the people beyond the sea.
'Adio!!!' Irede said and jumped in front of him from nowhere.
Adio threw down the stone instrument. Irede was quick on her feet. "You!"
"Yes, me! Where's your friend, Ojo!" She said.
Adio looked around and was about to pretend he was there alone when Ojo came towards him.
"Adio! Adio!" Ojo was saying and stopped the moment he saw Irede. "Irede…"
'I know that smell', Irede said and came nearer again.
'What smell?' Adio replied and smelt his armpit.
'You passed the forest. You rubbed your body with... No. That's not it", she tilted her head as if she smelt something. "You entered the marchy water of Iwuoye'.
'No...' He said and stuttered.

'I never knew there was a road there', she said.
"Of course", Adio swallowed hard as he tried to avoid her eyes. "Ojo, tell her."
Irede shook her hand to stop Ojo from talking. 'You lie. I know that smell... You passed the river...'
'Lie!'
"What are you two doing here?" She asked and looked from one person to another. "Are you not supposed to be in training. Ojo, tell me".
After a few anxious stares, Ojo replied, "Irede, we came for the rock, and I came because I think we can learn how to guard Imoye the way Kukoro does".
She stared at him for a while and shook her head. "Ojo, you are in the wrong place. Kukoro has never had reasons to defend their people against Ogaras".
"You're talking from what you know".Ojo backed away and glanced at several places behind her.
She came towards Adio, who looked about for help. "I'm sorry I'm about to do this!"

Let me call people

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This will be interesting

KhalifaDam:
This will be interesting

It sure will. Thanks for dropping your comments oooo.

This should thrill...
#BRINGITON.

Solly1:
This should thrill...

#BRINGITON.

It surely would

Chapter 2
Passion
"What?" Adio asked as he looked about.
"This…" Irede stepped back and raised her hands with a smile."Ah! Thief! Thief!"
Adio's eyes widened as he spun from place to place. Ojo ran off fearfully.
"You better run," Irede said with a mischievous smile lurking on her face as she saw Adio's scared face. "Follow him".
The boys heeded and dashed off. She hoped that no one caught them because she might have to let people know that she wasn't from Kukoro.
The leaves through which they stumbled away stopped shaking at the same time two lanky men ran to meet her. One of them was holding drumsticks for beating drums while the other raised a chicken drumstick with oil lingering on his cheek. Irede wasn't a fan of people that loved frivolities, but she had to use them to achieve her goals.
"Where is he?" The darker of the two said.
"There!" She pointed and gagged as if she was too scared. "He stole a drum!"
"Drum?" The fairer of the two, whose face had a long tribal mark, turned frantically and hurried towards the drum stores. After a few hesitant seconds, the other one followed him. They screamed a while later.
The two jolly friends would be gone by now, she thought.
The two men raced out of the store angrily, eager to bring the perpetrator to justice.
"Where" The darker one said.
"There!" She pointed in a different direction that led straight to the end of the Imoye river. Following that path meant they would spend the rest of the day chasing nobody. Seeing no other person was there, she hurried through their compound. Her initial plan was to look for a way to sneak over their fence.
As soon as she climbed the fence, she saw Ajanaku on the side of the fence, riding his horse confidently.
She had always wanted a glimpse of how he trained, how he ate, what he ate because he was the best horseman in the Ile Oro. Everyone that tried outmatching him either became his understudy or ended up wounded. She wondered what it would be like to fight him or alongside him. A big smile appeared on her face at the thought of that.
"One push and you're dead", a voice said
Irede gasped as she realized that Ajanaku was standing in front of her, his dark, sweating body heaving from the ride.
"How?" She was surprised.
"I'm not Ajanaku for nothing", he shouted and raised his machete swiftly till she could feel the slight sharpness of the blade on her neck. "Who sent you?"
"Sent me?" Irede frowned.
"Yes! Someone wants you to know my secret!"
Irede stood erect on the fence. "No one can send me anything! I do what I like and what I like it to watch you fight and learn from the best".
Ajanaku's eyes darted left and right. "What do you want?"
Irede was ready to seize the opportunity. She jumped down from the fence, hoping to jump down like a cat. But she missed her steps. "Argh!"
His hand held her in place. She smiled at him.
"Teach me! I want to be as good as you!"
"You're a girl!" Ajanaku said disgustedly. "Even boys can't meet up with my training, and I can't teach a girl from Imoye".
Irede swallowed hard. "Who is from Imo-"
"-I know how you lot are rash! No girl in Kukoro here can be this…" His cutlass moved around her. "I can't explain, but I know…"
"You're mistaken!"
"Am I?" He said and touched her hair to bring out a tiny flower.
"Here's the flower found only there!"
She had to keep her identity. "Teach me! Anything! At all. What does it matter where I'm from?"
"It matters!"
"You can go out of your way!"
Ajanaku licked his lower lips. "Okay! Okay! This! You'll take a message to Feyisara for me!"
She almost choked on her surprise. "Same Feyisara, the um… Chief's daughter".
"Yes! If you can be the go-between. Then, I'd teach you whatever you want…"
"And all I need to do is to take messages back and forth?" She replied.
Ajanaku climbed his horse and began galloping away. "I believe that's what it means to be a go-between."
"Yes! Okay! Yes!" She shouted after him. He galloped away and back swiftly.
"Good! Tell her that. The full moon at our place".

Chapter 3
Parents at Their Best

Even two days after escaping the wiles of Irede at Kukoro, Adio couldn't take his mind off the fine tune that came to his mind as he and Ojo travelled through the forest. That was the best tune he had ever thought of and the best he must have heard from anyone in the world.
This same tune had been on his mind as he fought the pounded yam his mother had made. Now that he was done eating, he wondered if hurrying off to clean his hand wouldn't also wash away the eager tune that wanted to play through his lips.
"A man dies once", he mumbled as he climbed out of his sleeping mat. His first instinct was to go for what his heart desired, but he knew it was a wrong choice. Quietly, he locked the door and hurried back to his mat. This time, however, he didn't intend to sit on it.
He pulled the mat off the earth floor, and there in the middle of the floor was a bamboo-made flute. His eyes shone at the realization of what would come to him.
Like one that had stumbled on money, Adio's hands quacked with each second of the flute in his mouth. He brought it to his mouth and immersed all his energy in ensuring the flute was as low as possible. The tunes flowed for a while, but soon enough, one note was wrong.
"Ah!" He grunted and tried again. Even after several trials, he couldn't bring himself to produce the tune. "I need freedom! Space!"
That was the best option. If he got to somewhere like the mountains by the Olude stream. There, he would be able to do what he loved. He would be far from the army training ground, his most detested place in the world.
Grabbing a buba for his cloth, he tied the ropes of his trousers well while his flute was under his armpit. When he was done, he unlocked the door and began to open it as quietly as possible. That worked. He poked his head into the passage. It was empty. Lucky, he thought as he proceeded into the passage.
Everything seemed fine until his mother barged into the passage holding a bowl of water, singing loudly from outside.
"Adio…" She said and paused. They didn't need much talk before he knew she knew where he was going.
"Ah! My husband o", she shouted and dropped the bowl in her hand. Instead, she spread her apart and her body to ensure that Adio couldn't go outside. "My husband. Adio is going again!"
Adio's father came out of his room. His big belly was the first thing that announced his presence, then the sweat on his skin from eating such hot food.
"Where are you going?" Adio's father shouted.
"Nowhere!" Adio replied.
"Ah! Ige! Ige!" Adio's father shouted. "Ige! Come! Come!"
In no time, his father had instructed Ige to hurry to Balogun Deinde to send his men for Adio. Ige was also too excited to hurry away.
"Your room!" Adio's father commanded.
"It's not what you think!" Adio protested. "I just want to go outside for breeze."
"Enter the house!" Adio's mother shouted. He could hear her voice's frustration, which pained him because that was the same frustration he had when he couldn't join the army's instrumentalists.
"The room! The room!" His father shouted.
After several back and forths, Adio entered the room, angry. His mother didn't hesitate to place a small stool in front of his room. "I want to see what you will do".
Adio sighed as he looked around until he saw the roof. The last time he climbed through that side of the house, he fell. He had to give it a trial, and eventually, he succeeded. And off he went to the mountain.

Adio the problem child. front row seat secured.

germaphobe:
Adio the problem child. front row seat secured.

Oh! Oh! It's so nice to see you here with us.

Chapter 4
The Disguise
Irede frowned the moment she saw her reflection in the streams. Her cloth did well in disguising her, but she could still see herself in the river's reflection. She wondered why it was hard to look like a man. Since she started acting as the messengers of both Feyisara and Ajanaku, she had mixed feelings about their plan.
On the one hand, she was getting closer to Feyisara, whom everyone regarded snub because of her beauty. Many other young maidens tried to compete against her, and different Chiefs wooed her hand in marriage for themselves and their sons, but she told them that she wasn't ready. Being an only child, her father agreed to her choice. On the other hand, she became aware that she couldn't get close to Ajanaku the way she wanted.
Another good thing about playing this role was the chance to see Ajanaku. Most times, blood rushed from her head at the sight of him. The best part of seeing him was that she learned from him. And only that. Her plan for him to train her still needed to yield results.
"You're like the worse person I've seen hold a sword", Ajanaku growled after too many attempts to attack him. He showed her several fighting techniques, but she could only visualize them. Immediately, she tried recreating the skill. It felt like she was doomed to fail.
"Please, it's because I'm a girl", Irede claimed.
"Foolish talk", Ajanaku spat on the ground. "We have girls in this village and everywhere in Ilu Oro all. Women are trained and they fight. I'm not teaching you any more".
Irede pouted. Fighting back tears, she sighed. "You don't understand. No woman is allowed to train in Imoye".
"Why?"
"They said- I heard that because one prophesy said that two boys will help us win those masked men that win us all the time, Ogara".
Ajanaku's eyes lightened like she had revealed something more than what she said. "Wow! You're making me angry."
"Please, I will try, Ajanaku", she knelt. "Whatever you say, I will do it".
Ajanaku stared at her. "I will bring some of my friends from other clans and see if they can train you better. Not that you can use it to save your land".
"It's for myself. I want to be better", she told him, but deep down in her mind, she believed that she could help the people that would win.
The training hadn't worked, but she was sure she would do well with a group of training soldiers. Thus, she intended to sneak into the training ground of the warriors. When she got near the soldiers, her head pounded excitedly. Men were hurrying through a small door.
"You!" One hefty guard shouted at her just as she crouched to pass through the door. She turned and frowned. "Yes! You! Come here!"
The man was standing at the far end of the forest. She glanced at the distance to the nearest tree and wondered if she should make a run for it.
"Yes!" She said with a gruff voice.
"Who are you?"
By now, others had stopped in their tracks and were watching the event unfold. Irede knew she must do everything to sell herself for them to allow her. Even the boy she hated the most, Suberu Oje, was there.
"I'm here to fight for my land".
"I said who are you?" He said again. This time, his hands were tightened on his cutlass.
"I'm a child of this land".
"And not a warrior here! You're a girl!" The man said.
"Ah! I know her! It's that Irede girl that always wants to learn how to be a warrior", Suberu Oje said. "And I thought I was the most foolish person here!"
"A girl wants to learn how to fight!" The first man shouted and burst into heartfelt laughter.
"I can fight!" She said and wielded her cutlass.
"How!" The man shouted and slapped her cutlass away with the back of his huge rough hand. The cutlass fell and clattered on the ground. This elicited more laughter, making her eyes teary.
"You don't know what you're missing!" She cried.
"Get out of here!"
"I'm going nowhere!"
"Anyone that can catch her before she reaches that tree has my profound respect and will be elevated above others!" Suberu and his goons, Olu and Yomi, chased her.
Irede sped off towards the mountain. The boys were still on her heel. Although she could hear someone calling them to return to base, she didn't stop to see if they obeyed.
She would go to the other side of the forest to see if there was any way she could watch them.

prophecy said "two boys" and immediately my mind went to yeye adio and ojo. lol. waiting to see how it unfolds. i too like stuborn characters too much shaa. bring the fun!!! Dear Mr divepen

germaphobe:
prophecy said "two boys" and immediately my mind went to yeye adio and ojo. lol. waiting to see how it unfolds. i too like stuborn characters too much shaa. bring the fun!!! Dear Mr divepen

Who doesn't like stubborn people. Na dem we dey root for pass

Nice one here OP and there's nothing to complain of yet as this write up is just up there with the very best I have read in the past and recently.

Thumbs Up Man!

AmaPaulOma:
Nice one here OP and there's nothing to complain of yet as this write up is just up there with the very best I have read in the past and recently.

Thumbs Up Man!

Thanks a lot....

Chapter 5
For Love and War
Adio’s caressed his perfectly shaped flute in perfect shape aligned with his mouth. After several days of practice, he was sure that his tune would be better this time. All he needed to do now was to wait for the warriors to start their training, and then the perfect tune would flow from him. Luckily, the warrior looked ready.
A lady in white had just finished hailing the top drummers. Adio didn’t see the essence of tradition, which he intended to stop the moment he became the head of drummers. The lady would instead be given a chance to sing alongside the drums if she wished.
Adio always claimed that his system was not right, but he hoped to play tunes to Kings and Queens some days because of his love for Feyisara, the Chief’s daughter.
He knew she had eyes for Ajanaku, but he would wait his turn. People make mistakes. Anytime they crossed paths, Feyisara sometimes looked at him and hid her love for him with a frown. What her face concealed, her eyes revealed. And that was all he needed to keep waiting for her to show her love for him.
The singing lady finished off by fading off. Her perfect voice made his ears tingle. She heeded his advice from the last time.
“Who are you to tell me what to do?” She shouted at him the day he explained how fading off would make her sound nice just after she had received an ovation for her rendition at the village square. Now, she enjoyed the benefit.
“Oya!” The head warrior bellowed. Despite the distance, the noise rocked the forest. At the same time, Adio saw a familiar girl on the other end of the mountain, who held dearly to her machete as she stared at the soldiers and was poised to do just as they. Adio’s position gave him the advantage of remaining in hiding. Now, he had to make the best of the time, become better, concern himself less about Irede, and focus on the task ahead.
Adio inhaled and blew his flute passionately.

Chapter 6
A Big Win
Irede stared at the warriors and closed her eyes. If only she took her training to heart, she would win anyone. Raising her rusted machete, she wished she had begged her father for something better. But he was a pauper and always loved her. Most people believed he had spoilt her because she was his only child and the only one left after his wife’s death. And he didn’t mind. Most times, whenever she felt like she didn’t need to act like a man, he would shake his head.
“No. Baba Suberu told me that you will be in the palace….”
Irede would shrug. “Baba, Yes! I know as a queen….”
“No. No”, Baba responded. “Although he didn’t say it, I think it’s something else. Something bigger. Do everything. Do anything you like. One day, the right one will hit it for you”.
So, as she stood on the mountain and watched them on the edge of the mountain, she knew this was what she liked.
Very faintly, a tune came from nowhere. She looked around frantically to see if it was from the forest. Then, she looked at the training ground and saw the musicians. Her ears were probably catching the faint sound of the flutes. The sound was so beautiful that she felt it rock her whole body, and the machete fell.
“Whoo! I’m good!” She shouted as she snatched her machete off the ground. “Let’s see… You’ll see that I’m that good”.
Immediately, she started making the gesture of the same training she had been failing at for weeks. Each stroke came just as she had imagined them. The deft was so silky and made her heart lurch with happiness. As she practised each stroke, she heard hurrying footsteps, prompting her to stay in a defensive position.
“Ah! I found you!” Suberu said.
“You found who?” Irede backed away from him.
“See! I had to bring you. Nobody respect me. I’m just a useless fool to all of them. If I catch you for my boss, then I’d gain respect and gifts”, Suberu replied.
“How does that concern me”,
“And give you!” Suberu pleaded.
“Suberu, don’t come near me. Don’t try it at all”. She said as she stopped withdrawing.
“I’ll just catch you and we will soon forget all this. I will share anything they give me!”
Then, more footsteps.
“Elder Suberu!” Olu shouted as he bounded towards them. His ribs bulged under his skin. Yomi also came towards them, hitting the ground like a mule.
“Fool! You’re calling someone you can give birth to Elder”. Irede scoffed. Olu, calling Suberu an elder, would be the same age as he.
Olu frowned. “The son of a whole Oracle’s lineage!”
“It’s his grand uncle that’s the oracle’s mouthpiece. Not even his father or uncle. Not even anyone he’s close to. Moreover, they have broken contact with the man”, Irede shouted.
“Shut up! You’re a foul mouthed girl!” Suberu frowned.
“Me?” Irede laughed. “If not that I’m not ready, I would be playing with my third child!”
“What of me? I could have married you and we will be having that third child”, Suberu said and burst into laughter. His goons also laughed.
“Guys, catch her. I’ve been called the fool for too long. We need her to win a spot with the top people and get the preferential treatment we deserve”.
The young men hurried to her, but she slapped them with the side of the cutlass in a few minutes as if she was playing with some children.
“Who thought you that?” Suberu said from afar.
Irede paused. “I’m really good!”
“Yes, I can see that!” Suberu nodded repeatedly. “Guys, stop! Stop! We don’t need to fight her anymore! You see that training is what all the soldiers have been trying to get. And she got it. Balogun will be happy. I must run to tell him immediately”.
“But she’s a girl”, Yomi replied. He looked about frantically.
“And so….?
Suberu rushed off and shouted from the midst of the forest. “Stay with her!”
In no time, he was back. “The head is calling you”.

so technically adio's beautiful tune helped in making her master the training, Adio the hero. lol. still looking forward to seeing what his friend have to offer. so far adio is who i connect with most.

germaphobe:
so technically adio's beautiful tune helped in making her master the training, Adio the hero. lol. still looking forward to seeing what his friend have to offer. so far adio is who i connect with most.

We can say that the tune helped her. Lol. Ojo's role will still be seen.

Chapter 7
Run
Adio wanted to stop playing to enjoy Irede's fight with the boys, but he had to finish the tune. Moreover, going over to meet her will see her or Suberu taunting him again, and he wasn't down for such. All he needed at that point was to get everything right in this tune. Some people would have called this tune the best thing they had heard, but to Adio, it wasn't very unusual. Some notes were off, and until he got it right, he would keep trying it.
His fingers played frantically because watching Irede fight like Ajanaku, Ajedola, and Majekodunmi all together was fun. He knew these people and how they fought because young boys had repeated their valiant stories around Imoye.
In Imoye, elders told the stories of war instead of folklore. Every boy and man ate with their weapon by their side. Every one of them grew to be a fighter. The women and girls did everything like farming, cooking, and everything. The boys only need to wake, head over to the training ground from morning to night until they die or get injured like Adio's father, and return home to eat again.
Adio returned to the present. Some strange noise wheezed in and out amidst his tune. At first, he dismissed it as some random sound. With much focus on each aspect again, he frantically played on. And that tune came again.
"Can it be the bird?" Adio's eyes opened.
He knew the sounds of birds. The sounds of metals. The sounds of creeping birds. All these were stored in his brain. He only needed some level of concentration to identify each sound. As soon as he started concentrating on the sound, everything would fall into place, and he would note the odd one. And true to his hope, he caught the odd sound.
"Odd!" Adio murmured as he realized it was a whistle. A known one. He moved his head in a different direction, hoping to understand what the whistling meant. "Ah! Ojo! Ojo"
Adio sat up as he tried to understand what the message could be.
"I'm bringing your father to you", Adio mouthed as he tried to decode the whistle.
With his eyes widened, Adio scrambled off the rock. Picking his flute and drums, he scampered towards the only path away from the mountain. As he got near the edge, he met his father and Suberu's father.
"That's him!" Adio's father shouted as he led the way. Baba Suberu too quickly blocked the path with his arms spread. After much struggle, they were able to overpower Adio. And off to the house, they went.
Baba Suberu urged them. "He said I should bring him tomorrow. Balogun has gone out and without him, this boy wouldn't understand the severity of our problem".
They locked him in the house. He couldn't escape through the window because his father had created a lock that could only be opened outside. Adio remained here till the night came when he heard the door creak. Adio was stunned.
Ojo was at the door. "I feel bad for leading them to you. I should have taken them somewhere else".
"At least you've done something!" Adio said they sprinted away from the house.

Chapter 8
In the Dark
The full moon should be exciting to watch, but Irede refused to be distracted by its magnificence. All she wanted at that point was another chance to know what helped her get herself right when those boys were coming during the day. After Suberu ran off to tell Balogun about her, he told Suberu that he would meet with Irede when the moon was well in the middle of the sky.
“Why?” Irede was surprised when he asked told that.
“What do you mean why?” Suberu wondered and turned to Olu and Yomi. “She’s asking me why?”
“Yes, why?” Irede said.
“She’s still asking me the foolish question.” Suberu came up to her. “Nobody must be seen training a girl. It’s a waste of effort. Then, this is Balogun. A whole Balogun. When I told him at first, he told me to get out of his sight. Then, later, he called me”.
Irede rolled because whenever Suberu wanted to tell his story, one must allow them.
“I thought he wanted punish Suberu. Like he should go and fetch water from the river maybe ten times”, Olu said
Yomi’s eyes are shown. “Like that time when-“
“Shut up! I’m talking you’re talking! Shut your nasty mouth! Shut it up!” Suberu yelled.
“Don’t stop”, Irede said. “Oh! Yes, Suberu, continue. Tell me what Balogun said.”
“He said, you meet him here in the night”.
And she had been waiting so long that she was losing count of time. Soon, footsteps hurried towards the mountain. She held her cutlass, ready to prance on the next person that came out looking ominous. Under the moon, she saw the frame of Suberu, Olu, Yomi, Balogun, and Segilola, his daughter.
“There she is!” Suberu said.
“Baba o”, she gestured to greet the Balogun. He waved at her curtly.
“Sube told me you beat he and his boys. How’s that possible?”
Irede thought she was prepared for him, but the question still shocked her. “I don’t know. I was training and they wanted to attack me!”
Balogun looked at her. “Do you have any charm?”
She shook her head. “No, baba”.
“To make you stronger?”
“No!”
“To make your enemy tired!”
“No”
Balogun must be staring at her, lost in thought. She wished the moon was bright enough to see his eyes. “You will fight my boys. If you beat them, then you’ll need to fight my daughter over there”.
Irede braced herself, ready to beat the boys like before. Before thinking of her next step, she found herself flat on the floor.
“It’s the darkness”, she said
“What do you mean?” Balogun growled. “You can see me. I can see you. Wars happen in the middle of the night. The Ogaras come in the night and are violent. My daughter can fight but I don’t let her… I thought maybe two girls can….”
“Let me try again”,
“I made a mistake. Segilola, let’s go!”
Balogun walked away. Segilola remained rooted in her position. Irede was too stunned even to talk. She didn’t expect such a disgraceful act.
“My lord”, Suberu called. “I know what I saw”.
“You’re a fool, like always. Everyone already calls you that!” Balogun said angrily. “If you want to fight, I can make my daughter teach you everything she knows, but in secret. But you can’t join the army Boys! Let’s go!”
“Yes, sir”
“Suberu stay with her and follow her home!”
When they’d gone, Suberu ran to her angrily. “You’re useless”.
“Suberu, please let me be. I’ve been disgraced.”
“Stand up! Fight me! I saw you fight. Beat me!”Suberu shouted.
“I don’t know what happened to me before”, Irede asked no one in particular. She was so sure that something was good and was helping her. She couldn’t see the reason everything could suddenly change.
“I’m a disgrace!” Irede rose and hurried away!
She kept running away from the forest. She ran past the Townsquare and past Baba Oje’s house. She kept running. She just wanted to go to a town where women were trained and not forced to show their skills in the dark.

Poor Irede, I feel for her.
I have a feeling they'd make a great team, herself and Adio.

Solly1:
Poor Irede, I feel for her.

I have a feeling they'd make a great team, herself and Adio.

One hopes oo

Chapter 9
Until You’re Ready!
Adio was still in the forest when mayhem happened. He had been hiding not very far from Baba Oje’s house, which surprisingly could see almost every part of the village. The first thing he saw was Irede hurrying through the forest. It was strange that he could tell the sound of every girl in the village when they were sad or angry. The only person whose voice always eluded him was Irede. Despite being distinct, he felt a different urge whenever he saw her.
The next thing he saw was Suberu running and shouting, “Irede, Irede…”
He didn’t have time to process it before he saw the light popping up from different parts of the forest. Soon enough, the bigger mayhem happened. People were yelling and running in disharmony. It could only be one thing- the Ogaras chose this time to attack.
“I must help!” Adio muttered under his breath. He rose and ran out of the forest.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Baba Oje said from the front of his house.
Adio was too surprised that he slipped. “Baba...”
“Yes. I know you were there all these while. I’ve heard you rehearse horribly. The truth is that you can do nothing here. At least, not now!” Baba Oje explained.
“Let me go and help them fight”, Adio replied.
“Fight?” Baba Oje said and burst into laughter. A lamp appeared in his hand out of nowhere. For the first time, he saw the old man clearly. “You can’t fight. At least, not the way you want!”
“I need to help them do something. And how did you know?” Adio said.
“I know many things. Only God knows everything. But some of the things about this town, many people do not listen and it causes problem at last. Will you listen to me or run towards war and death?”
Adio knew his only choice was to listen. After all, his parents always warned against not listening to his elders.
“Stay with me here. Our people will soon be here”, Baba Oje said.
They sat outside. Adio was so scared for his family and everyone he loved, but Baba Oje was right. He couldn’t really do much than watch or cower behind something. In no time, lamps appeared on the path that led to Baba Oje’s house. Then, he saw a few people hurrying towards the house.
“Stay out of sight!” Baba Oje said.
Adio hurried towards the hut.
“No! No! Hide in the forest-!” Baba Oje said. “They may want to enter the house”.
The men were not much, but Irede could see Chief Ibikunle himself as he hid behind a rock near Baba Oje’s house.
“Baba! What is happening” the chief asked after he had settled down. “You told us to train boys that two boys will win”.
Baba Oje stared at him for a long while. “You didn’t want to listen to me!”
“Please, we need to listen now!”
“They’re two children. I told you they were two children. You shouted boys. I told you I wanted to learn more, you didn’t give me room to do more prayers”.
“To be clear, it can either be a boy and a girl”, Chief Ibikunle said.
“Yes. It can be a boy and boy. It can be girl and girl. But you need to check out for this. The two of them work best together”.
Chief was distraught! “That’s a wild goose chase!
Baba Oje looked into the sky and back at him. “But…”
Chief Ibikunle rose. “Go back to the village and tell them that I said all the boys and girls will be trained from tomorrow. Only the aged ones will not go to war. We will no longer lose our properties to Ogaras”.
Adio came out when they were all gone and faced Baba Oje. “Someone like me will not do well”.
Baba Oje looked at him and smiled. “Your craft is the best in the world. When everything is over, they will need you. If all the warriors are dead, they will need a new generation of players”.
“That’s far!”
“Yes! It only needs training. Opportunity comes soon. I want you to overlook the war and master your craft. Your ori needs you to practice this thing that you love doing”.
Adio stared as the torches held trailed away. He wanted to be in the company of the army, but not the way they wanted.

Chapter 10
Starting All Over
Irede noticed that Suberu was following her, and she had deceived him into thinking she was going to Kukoro when she was actually going to Eti Osumare. In this village, everyone can be anything. Although Majekodunmi, her tutor from Eti Osumare, believed she was a basket whose brain couldn’t retain what she was teaching her. Majekodunmi believed Irede’s mind needed to keep preparing for the day she could quickly become the next most prominent warrior.
“It’s all in your heart!” Majekodunmi told her the moment she eventually reached the village two days later.
Irede shook her head. “But I fought earlier, two days ago when the sun was still high in the sky. I fought and I won the boys. Now, I can’t fight even one of them successfully”.
“That’s really strange. If you fought one boy, I could have sworn it was sheer luck. But for you to win three boys and lose to one, then something is wrong”.
“What?”
“That, I don’t know”, Majekodunmi said. “But this is what I know. You have to keep trying. People fail. You too can fail. When you fail, it means you have missed something and can do better”.
“Or maybe if I get a charm!”
Majekodunmi held her machete in her left hand and placed the other on Irede’s shoulder. “Charm can get lost. Some people can find the antidote to charm”.
Irede’s section with her tutor took many hours, but soon she was on her way home after eating and sleeping. Despite two more days’ journey, she still wouldn’t stop wondering what was wrong with her. She didn’t use to be like this. She knew she failed at the fight, and even if anyone mocked her, she still found herself ready to fight. However, this time, she just felt utterly useless.
“God of mercy”, she shouted when she saw the state of things in the village.
Luckily, her father was still alive. She couldn’t say the same thing to others. The Ogaras didn’t destroy much. Some boys suffered. Only a few boys died from the incident. She walked about in shock. That was when she noticed Adio hurrying through a path she knew led to only one place- the path she always met, Princess Feyisara.
Adio hurried and sneaked towards the path until he got to a spot behind some trees. Irede sneaked up to him and traced what he was watching. On the other side of the road were three people, Feyisara, Chief Ibikunle’s daughter; Segilola, Balogun’s daughter; and a guard.
After several minutes, she came near Adio’s ear. “Which of them do you like?”

Chapter 11
Do Something
Adio jumped up in fear. He turned to see Irede behind him. Quickly, he glanced at the place the ladies were talking. Irede did the same. He was relieved that the girls were still talking nonchalantly in the forest, laughing hard.
"Who?" Irede said.
"Who what?" Adio said, still rattled.
Irede smirked at him. "Who do you like?"
Adio swallowed hard at revealing his thought to this girl who always intimidated him. It was high time he stood up to her. "Feyisara!"
Irede blinked repeatedly. And she opened her mouth to talk but closed it again. Her eyes glazed over him up and down, and then she burst into laughter. "You?"
"Yes, me! I believe when I have built my own land, we can be together". Adio stood erect.
Irede scoffed. "That wishful dreams might just kill you. She likes Ajanaku and Ajanaku likes her".
Adio's eyes widened in fear as he moved away from her. "How do you know?"
"How do I know", Irede looked genuinely angry this time. "Me that talks to Feyisara and Ajanaku. For asking me such a foolish question, I'm telling Ajanaku about you".
Adio dropped his flutes and clasped his hands together. "Ah! Ah! You want to kill me! Please o. Please. I beg you in the name of our creator".
"Then, you will do as I say", Irede said.
"What?"
"Follow me!" Irede nudged him towards the village. Every step looked like the last for Adio as he thought of himself fighting Ajanaku for a woman. He didn't stand a chance. And to worsen the case, Feyisara also loved Ajanaku. He would have found a way to talk to her and convince her that he was the better option if she didn't.
Irede stopped him when they got to the path that led to the training arena. "This is what you will do… You will get me to join the fighters".
"Me! Why?" Adio was stunned.
"They don't allow girls. You will help me or I tell Ajanaku". Irede pulled Ajanaku's hand.
"Why? There's no need for me to make you join them. The Chief already announced that both boys and girls will join their training".
Irede paused and looked at him. "Why?"
Adio told her everything he had learnt from his hiding. She was stunned but excited at the same time.
"But I still need you", Irede said and grabbed his hand.
"Why me? We have some other people there!" Adio wondered but didn't want to tell her why he didn't want to go near them again.
"Because if they see someone like you they will overlook everything that have ever happened and I won't be the focus of their attention. It will be you!"
"When you say me what do you mean?"
"I mean you… Everyone in the town knows that you always want to run from the war thing. So, you will be the centre of discussion," She said.
Adio frowned and snatched his hands from her. "I don't run from war. I'm just not built for it. It's music I like".
"Music! Then, join those drummers".
"I can't. They said…"
Irede faced him. "Excuses! It's only failures that refuse to opt for a thing they claim they so wish with all their lives".
Adio wished she understood how he felt at that point, but she didn't seem to care for his feelings. "If that's how you see it, then fine. I have cajoled them many times and failed. The day they eventually decided to give me a chance, I failed woefully…."
"Just like Irede here!" Suberu said and came to face them.

Chapter 12
Suberu’s Dose of Confidence
The two of them looked at Suberu in astonishment. Irede was more surprised that she hadn’t been mindful of her environment because of her need to go to the training ground.
“What do you mean?” Adio asked.
“Where did you come from?” Irede asked.
Suberu explained that he followed her the day she was crying as she ran out of the village. Then, he lost her. Instead of coming back for her, he saw the prince of Ilu-Oro, Prince Adedimeji, and his servant sneaking into Kukoro. They were disguised as commoners. He spoke to them, and after several denial, the prince revealed his identity to Suberu but wanted to see how life was in different villages without people knowing he was in their land. Since Suberu toured other lands, he took them to different places. He couldn’t come to Imoye because Suberu refused to show him the secret roads.
“We enjoyed ourselves and he told me to visit him in the palace some days. I would have followed him today, but I decided to come here first because I want to go there with honour”. Suberu explained the last part as if he were talking to himself, not them. He was returning home when he saw Adio and Irede.
“But you can’t help us”, Irede said.
“What I mean is that I have the means of helping you, but it will take some things from you”, Suberu said.
Even when she tried to hide her eagerness, Irede couldn’t help being pricked by the opportunity she sensed there. She couldn’t believe that she was listening to Suberu, the village’s fool or was still in the company of the laziest person, Adio.
“We need to go!” Irede said.
“And do what?” Suberu said and hurried to their front. “I have followed the two of you. I used to be your friends when we were small. I know you can fight, Irede. I remember when we were small in our corner. Me, you, Adio, Ojo, Yomi, and Olu. You could fight. You beat everyone”.
Irede smiled and closed her eyes briefly as she tried to push back her smile.
Adio nodded. “Truly, she was really the finest fighter among us”.
“And you Adio, you used to sing whenever she was fighting. What’s that song? Yes! Yes! Akiti lo le ja”.
Adio burst into laughter and murmured the song.
Suberu looked into their eyes. “You both are good! All you need is confidence and I can get something for you from Baba Oje for a low price”.
“I can meet Baba Oje myself”, Adio replied. “I was in his place when the war was happening.”
“He is my uncle. The money you will spend for all these will be too much! But with me you only need to pay only a little. If not that I want you to understand the value of what I’m bringing! What’s in giving you freely?”
Irede wasn’t even sure that she wanted this opportunity to pass before Suberu changed his mind. She remembered what Majekodunmi told her, but she just couldn’t help wondering if she didn’t truly need it.
“I’ll pay!” Adio replied.
“Good!” Suberu turned to Irede. “What about you, fighter!”
“He will pay”, Irede said as she stared at Adio.
Adio didn’t like that he would pay for two people. “Me! I don’t even know what he wants, how will I say I’ll pay for two?”
“Then, be ready to fight Ajanaku”, Irede said.
Adio was scared. “Ah! Ah! I’ll pay, but this isn’t fair”.
Suberu looked from one person to another in confusion. “Don’t worry. If you use what I give you, you will find what you want!”
“I think we’re good to go!” Irede said.
“Really?” Adio said but didn’t get any response as he moved forward.
“Trust me! When you get my charm, your confidence will skyrocket!”
Adio burst into song. At that instant, a housefly perched on the nearest leave. Absentmindedly, Irede used her machete to slap the fly off, which accurately hit the fly. Suberu saw that.
“Did you see that?” Suberu said. “I gave you a little dose of confidence by just talking, you did something impossible”.
“What did she do?” Adio asked, turning to look at them.
“You won’t understand!”
Irede, too, didn’t understand how it happened, but she was sure her machete caught the fly because she saw it in the sand, wriggling and trying to fly off.

Nice update

Calenikan:
Nice update

Thanks

Chapter 13
The Oto Band
Suberu kept postponing the day he would give them the confidence charm. He said he had soaked it in mysterious water that would need them to wait 21 days.
“21 Days?” Irede shouted in disbelief.
“Do you want to go and fight with a half-prepared item”, Suberu said as he played with some kola nuts.
“Or is it that what we gave you isn’t enough!” Adio wondered.

Suberu looked at him. If they were in the night, Adio would have said what he saw in Suberu’s eyes were stars. While everyone went to war, Adio had been sneaking off to practice his different musical crafts. He hated that he could play beautifully whenever he was alone, but not when he needed it to impress others.
He hated that everyone in Imoye couldn’t do what they loved.
The Ogaras have made everyone from what was known in every other village. Young boys and girls in their teens were now going to practice for war instead of going to the farms alongside their parents. Although Baba Oje specifically told Chief Ibikunle that it was a teenager, the chief felt Baba Oje must have missed something, and it was proper he trained children too.

It took Irede and Adio several days to finally accept that they would have to miss the training sections entirely. Irede still sneaked somewhere to watch the soldiers. More and more soldiers kept coming for each person, and she was always eager to join them, but Suberu told her to go at her own peril.
“I can’t take this anymore”, she said on the 15th day.
She was soon seen in the middle of the pitch, trying her hands at the different training they gave them. Her level was gone past all these, but nobody could see the result. She wished she could do better than she was doing right now.

“On the next Aje day”, Balogun shouted from the top of his huge horse. “Everyone will be paired against different people to fight”.
“On Aiku, your medicine will be prepared”, Suberu said as he brushed down his chest to tell them to calm down. Each day felt like forever. Adio frantically improved everything he could play. He would hide away in the deepest part of the forest, fearing that his parents would come for him again.
On Aiku day, Suberu was by the river as he had told them. Irede came out from the second path that led to the river.

“This water will make you bold”, he said and brought out a little gourd. “Due to my training with Baba, I got this. Kneel!”
He poured it on their head and told them to repeat, “Nothing can hold me down” ten times.
The two of them did that.
Suberu urged. “Now! Hurry! Wash your head and keep saying ‘I’m the head!’ Go! Go!”
The two of them acted accordingly.

“Good!” He tapped Adio’s chest and grunted. “Yes!”
Adio took that as a cue to yell, “yes!”
He tapped Irede’s back despite the disdainful look she had. “Yes!”
“Yes!” She shouted.
“Go!” He told them.

Assured of their success, they went to the training ground. Irede was beaten by a young girl whom Balogun found intriguing and praised openly to Irede’s despair.
The musicians had another training ground. Adio couldn’t string five notes together clearly. They sent him back to the army, and he was beaten with one clean sweep.
Balogun looked disappointed, but he climbed his horse and rode to the top of a mountain. Then, he shouted, “Now, you all need to be in a group of seven”.

Adio wished no one would choose him because of how poor he was at everything, and luckily his wish came true. People hurried to team up with people they felt were the best. However, when he saw those left, he wished he didn’t make that initial wish. On the other side of the training ground was Irede, heads down from the shame of being beaten by a small girl. On another side, he could see Suberu, Olu, and Yomi, trying desperately to recruit others, but no one agreed to join them. And the last person he could see was Segilola, looking sullen, seated near an Iroko tree. Her sullen look and the fact that she was excused from the pairing fight made no one pick her. And the last person was Ojo.

Adio should have been excited that he would be there with his friend, but most people didn’t always have the patience to deal with Ojo because he talked about things no one knew or liked talking about.
“I’ll beat Suberu”, Irede said as she came near Adio. She turned to Adio and pointed at him angrily. “Don’t beg me. He cheated me and my eleda!”
Adio was eager to join them. “We will do it together!”
The two of them bounded towards him.
“You liar!” Irede shouted.

“What will you do to me? You Irede that even if a child could win,” Suberu said as he pushed Olu and Yomi aside.
“Not only her!” Adio said and could feel the anger boiling him up.
“You?” Suberu said and howled. “You want to beat me!”
“Try me!” Adio hurried towards him.
“Halt!”

They turned to see Balogun coming towards them with Segilola by their side. Despite their anger, they watched with trepidation as he came nearer. Balogun paused and stared at them disdainfully.
“Good! This is a right group for you”, Balogun said and pointed at them.
“But these ones won’t see any battle actions or will be killed early”, Segilola growled. “I’m too good for this group. Why do I undergo rigorous training if you didn’t want me to use it”.
“Well, just play around with them”. Balogun turned away. “You can practice your training on them.”
“They’re all like misfits”, Segilola shouted after them.
“Then…” Balogun turned towards her. “Call it Oto…to make it look like you’re important”.
“Yeah!” Suberu felt impressed. “We’re different in the way we approach things. I like that”.
“They’re misfits!” Segilola rolled her eyes. Tears filled her eyes.

Balogun turned away. “I’ve tried to make it feel special. I’ll call you people Oto….”
“Maybe, we can use it” Suberu slapped his machete on his palm. “Oto: a band of misfit”.
“Shut up!” Segilola shouted and walked away.

Aiku- Sunday
Aje- Monday
Isegun- Tuesday
Ojoru- Wednesday
Ojobo- Thursday
Eti- Friday
Abameta- Saturday