The Wrath of the Unchained-Chapter 151 - Silence before War

The truth had been exposed, but the roots of treachery were yet to be fully unearthed. Kabaka Nakibinge, ruler of Buganda, now knew the faces behind the rot in his court—three clan heads, once trusted allies, now revealed to be conspirators. But a deeper fear gripped him. What if there were more?

He needed help. Discreetly. Swiftly. And so, he summoned Musoke, his most loyal messenger, and whispered a task that had never been uttered in Buganda’s long, proud history:

"Go to Nuri. Speak only to Prince Khisa."

The weight of those words lingered as Musoke rode out, days weaving past as he crossed borders and terrains, the breath of diplomacy heavy on his neck.

In the lush valley of Lusimba, Khisa stood knee-deep in the earth, sleeves rolled, his hands coated in soil as he directed irrigation lines with the local farmers. The sun beat down from a cloudless sky. The air smelled of damp earth, sugarcane, and sweat. He loved this work—simple, honest, vital.

A rider approached fast. Hooves thundered down the slope, kicking dust in the golden morning light. Khisa squinted, shading his eyes.

"Musoke?" he said, surprised.

The man dismounted and bowed slightly. "Forgive me, Prince Khisa, for arriving without warning. But I carry an urgent message from Kabaka Nakibinge."

Khisa’s face tightened. Without a word, he gestured for Musoke to follow him to the small palace, a modest stone structure with wide verandas and open halls, still under quiet construction.

Inside his office, Khisa shut the door and turned. frёewebnoѵēl.com

Musoke’s voice dropped. "You were right. It was sabotage. We followed the trail from where you left off. Three clan heads are involved. They’re in contact with a noble from the Kongo Kingdom. He offered them support to overthrow Kabaka Nakibinge and divide Buganda among themselves."

Khisa clenched his jaw. "Innocent people will die because of their ambitions."

"The Kabaka requests your help," Musoke continued. "He hesitated to involve a foreign leader—but he cannot trust his own court right now. He asks for Nuri’s assistance in uncovering what the Kongo truly wants. He will offer whatever compensation necessary."

Khisa leaned back slowly. "And what of the people? They may see it as a betrayal—their king calling in foreign power."

Musoke straightened. "He told me to tell you this: ’As Kabaka, it is my duty to protect my people no matter what. If that costs me my throne and my life, then I have done my duty.’"

Khisa chuckled softly, admiration flickering in his eyes. "Then I cannot disappoint your Kabaka. You may return to him with this: Nuri will back you with everything we have."

He paused, eyes narrowing. "Anything else?"

"Yes. I overheard talk—they’re sending spies to Nuri. I don’t know how many or who. But they’re coming."

Khisa nodded. "Thank you, Musoke. Rest here for the night. You return at dawn."

That night, Khisa sat at his desk, the scent of burning cedar wafting through the palace. Candlelight danced across scrolls and maps. He pulled out parchment and dipped his quill.

To His Majesty, King Lusweti,

Greetings from your son, Khisa. I write to inform you of a delicate situation unfolding in Buganda. Kabaka Nakibinge has confirmed a plot against his throne, involving three clan heads and a noble of the Kongo Kingdom. He has requested Nuri’s help in uncovering the Kongo’s motives. I believe this is no longer a local affair. The implications reach far, possibly toward us.

Prepare to convene your council. We may be called to act. I will brief the Shadow Guard in the mountains personally and organize an internal security sweep. I suspect spies have already been planted.

I intend to send the Mkono wa giza on their first infiltration in a different kingdom. I ask for permission and the full authority to command them.

Helping Buganda is in our best interest, they have farmland and valuable minerals and materials we can trade with. Besides, Nuri does not turn its back on the innocent.

As always, I will keep the light of Nuri unclouded.

Your son and shield,

Khisa Lusweti

He then turned to another parchment.

To Captain Shikuku of the Watchers,

Increase surveillance in all border towns and trade hubs. Do not alert the public. The enemy sends spies, though we do not yet know who or how many. Be vigilant. Trust no face too familiar.

Nuri has always opened its doors to those in need and that will never change. Dedicate a task force to oversee this. We need to root out spies before our people fall into danger.

The Shadow guard and Mkono wa giza will help you in this. We have multiple recruits in need of field training. This will be an opportunity to challenge their skills.

I will report to you again once the Shadow Guard is in motion.

Last, Khisa folded a black scroll stamped with the symbol of an eclipse.

To Commander Ndengu of the Shadow Guard,

The time has come. Prepare the Shadows and Mkono wa Giza for their first mission. I ride to the mountains at dawn to give you your Misson. Let the wind whisper no word of this to outsiders.

Silence is our ally now.

Before he retired, Khisa sat quietly, his eyes closed.

"Ayaan, what are the risks if Buganda falls?"

[Risk Assessment: 62% probability of regional destabilization if Buganda falls.

Recommended Actions:

Immediate deployment of Shadow Guard.

Establish covert surveillance within Kongo court.

Expand medical and trade diplomacy as soft power deterrents.

If Buganda falls, we lose out on access to central Africa. This will completely derail our efforts to unify Africa.]

"What do you think about the Kongo involvement?"

[There is a 50% chance that another foreign power is involved. If we delve deeper we might find our more. Using the plague to attempt control over Buganda was well planned, if we did not step in who do you think had the most to gain?]

"Kongo would establish itself as saviour, taking over Buganda’s minerals and trade routes, and have access to a weakened people."

[This suggests a bigger plot.]

"The slave trade again? We cannot allow it to fall."

[Well said Prince Khisa.]

Khisa breathed out.

"Then we prepare. Not for war... but for the silence before it."

At dawn, Khisa mounted his steed and rode north.

He crossed rivers and forests, through a fog-laced ridge path only the trained would know. As the air thinned, so did the noise of the world, until only the wind and hooves remained.

Then, the mountain base revealed itself: carved into rock, masked by brush, guarded by silence.

The Shadow Guard.

Twenty-one men and women, faces half-hidden, some crouched on ledges, others at attention by the gate. Behind them, scattered through the mountain forests, were the 300 operatives of Mkono wa Giza—the hand of darkness.

Khisa entered the main chamber, dimly lit with oil lamps and lined with old maps and blades. A silence fell over the room. He stood in the center.

"Our time has come," he began. "Buganda is under threat. Three clan heads plan to overthrow their Kabaka with the help of a Kongo noble. Our mission begins now. Nuri does not turn its back on those in need. We saw Buganda fall to devastating man made plague.

All those deaths," he sighed, "We might not be under the same banner, but we will betray what we stand for if we don’t step in and stop those who see people as disposable pawns. If Buganda falls, it leaves us open, the borders become corridors for smugglers and slavers."

He pointed to the large map of the region, rolled out on a stone table.

"We are splitting into two tasks."

"Task One – Internal Sweep:" "Fifteen Shadow Guard and 250 Mkono will fan out across Nuri. You will comb the ports, the merchant roads, the courts. You will look for whispers, coded letters, unfamiliar faces—spies. Root them out. Quietly. Swiftly. We have made powerful enemies with our success, interrogate and find out who dare bare their fangs at Nuri. "

"Task Two – Kongo Infiltration:" "This mission is delicate. No maps. No local support. No room for error."

He turned to three individuals who stepped forward.

Faizah, the tall Amharic woman with a memory for language and a heart of ice. They had saved her years ago in Abyssinia, and she had repaid them a hundred times over.

Zara, short-haired, alert-eyed, known for disappearing in a blink. A blade in the dark.

Kiprop, the Kalenjin runner and close-combat fighter, known for surviving in the wild with nothing but rope and instinct.

"You three will infiltrate the Kongo Kingdom. You’ll be joined by three elite Mkono—silent, loyal, nameless. You know them best so pick only the most promising. Your only lead is this name: Lumingu Mbemba. Find out what he’s planning. Learn who supports him. Discover how deep this plot runs."

He unrolled another smaller map.

"We’ll set up a forward command post here—on the Buganda-Kongo border. A forest clearing. The terrain is rugged, the language barrier will be a challenge. Learn it if you can. Blend in. Do not draw attention."

Khisa’s voice dropped.

"This is not just about Buganda. If Kongo is making moves here, they may try to turn others. We cannot allow it."