He stayed a day extra in the capital because of the feast he attended with his men. His envoy escorted him, along with his general named Adu and his Tikpapa, to a private chamber. Before he sat down, he started giving his general orders. “Appoint Omees at all the boundaries of the province. Recruit as many commoners as possible. Get rid of anyone who has contact with Ekpona Hills. I especially want you to find as many people who know the Ekpona Hills. All the slaves we have should be made Omees.” “Why?” his Tikpapa asked. “What do you mean why? Do you intend to be at the battlefront?” “Sorry.” “How about the elders?” the envoy asked. “Yes, how about the elders?” “I mean, what do I tell them?” “Those old men have been on my back since I became chief. Go and ask them if there are any volunteers to go to battle.”
