The war was over—but peace had not yet arrived.
From the still-burning coastlines of Kilwa, General Malik and General Simiyu stood over the broken remains of a war neither of them had truly wanted.
Kilwa would heal from this. The Kilwan men, women, and children worked slowly—doing anything to lift the scars in their hearts.
They sent out two messengers—one from Nuri, another from Kilwa—to carry the truth of what had transpired.
One messenger would ride to the Nuri camp and deliver word of victory and new burdens. The other would face a far more delicate task: informing the Kilwan army that their homeland no longer belonged to the Sultan, and that their brothers and sisters on the coast… were gone.
The Kilwan messenger rode without rest. Dust clung to his skin. His eyes stung from the memories he tried to suppress—blood still coating several buildings, rubble and bodies still laying in the streets.
