The Ancient Lands: Warrior Quest, Search for the Ifa Scepter (33 page)

The pastures of the kingdom showed growth in
the land that had been long since forgotten. The people marveled at
the flourishing green grass, which in turn made for happy healthy
game, they listened as the wind whooshed through the trees and the
harmonious sound the river made against its banks.

Bomani’s habitual ride on his war-rhino
Naasir now took on new meaning. It was as if each day that he
ventured out, he was discovering new growth and new life.

Naasir felt a comfort from his master’s hand
as Bomani patted him on the neck. He too looked forward to the
rides. He was always ready to unleash the power within himself.

Bomani mounted him and began walking Naasir
out of the gate of the stables. “You ready boy?” Naasir grunted
with every breath in anticipation of the run; just waiting for the
sign from Bomani to take off at full speed. “I’m just glad no one
had to chop you up for meat.”

The beast gave a louder grunt and shook his
head, as if he understood.

“Bomani,” he heard a familiar voice call
from behind him. He slowly turned his head around to see his
childhood foe approaching from behind him. He pulled the reins to
bring Naasir to a halt and sighed.

“What is it Anan,” he asked reluctantly.

“You’ve been avoiding me since you got
back,”

“We’ve never had much to discuss, and I
didn’t want any trouble.”

“Well, I was the one that gave you the idea
to fetch the scepter. I think you owe me.”

“Is it a fight you want Anan?”

“Ha, no. We have gone that route far too
many times Bomani. I’m done with fighting. The boys and I wanted to
invite you to a game of liddet.”

“Really?” Bomani asked, not sure if there
was an angle, but from the look on Anan’s face, there was none.

“Yeah, in fact, we’d like for you to play
with us more often.”

“I’ve seen you play Anan. You’re quite good.
It would be an honor.”

“Good, from now on we will settle our
differences on the field.”

The boys nodded at each other. Bomani knew
Anan well, and this was his way of offering some sort of peace
between them, and Bomani was happy to take him up on his offer.
There were many enemies out there in the world, Bomani didn’t want
to have any in his own home. Besides, he wanted to try out this new
skill called
friendship
.

“So, it’s settled then?” Bomani asked.

“Yea Bomani, it’s settled.”

“I’ll see you when I return from my
ride.”

“Oh,” Anan, replied. “Perhaps, one day you
could teach me how to ride a rhino the way you do.”

“I could do that.”

“Okay, then. I guess it
is
settled,”
Anan said. “Yaaaaah!” He yelled out and smacked Naasir on the
backside.

The beast took off running and Bomani
quickly leaned into the wind for the ride across the countryside.
He rode for an hour before settling down next to the river. In the
past, it had been more of a muddy stream, and it had been barely a
half foot, but now it was easily coursing at five feet. It was now
complete with fish, birds and game that came to drink there.

As he sat, his mind wondered to his one and
only true friend, Farra. He hadn’t seen her since they had been
back. He missed her innocent smile and the annoying way she talked
when she was scared or nervous. He figured that soon, he would take
her mother up on that offer of a meal and visit their village.

Soon a small wolf interrupted his thoughts,
little Pupa had jumped into his lap and began making his way to
Bomani’s face, licking with his tongue. This was the small cute
version, without the long claws and teeth.

“Pupa!” he shouted, wrestling with the pup
and laughing. Then he looked over to see Farra standing above him.
He jumped to his feet and embraced her with a hug, “Farra!”

“Oh, Bomani!” She said back to him. “You’ve
really got this hugging thing down.”

“I wanted to come see you, my friend, but
with the Ifa Scepter in place and all that has been going on in
Ufalme, my father has been keeping me up to scope on all that has
been happening with the new growth. The entire kingdom is changing
every day. What brings you
out here?”

Farra pulled back a little and her smiling
face turned a bit more serious for a moment. “There is something I
must do Bomani,” she said and then gave a smile again. “You wanna
tag along?”

Let your youngest of readers enjoy, “The
Ancient Lands,” with, “The Adventures of Farra and Bomani.”

Coming soon in 2010.

www.theancientlands.com

By this book in paperback at
www.amazon.com

Follow us on twitter for updates on our
on-going Ancient Lands Projects

@

http://www.twitter.com/theancientlands

Join us on facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=181221322207&ref=ts

Please write comments and reviews of this
book in the following places and more:

Amazon.com

Facebook.com

Goodreads.com