The Wrath of the Unchained-Chapter 129- Calm Before the Storm

Quiet months passed like a dream wrapped in mist. The port city of Assab had become a beacon of life and renewal. Khisa, ever tireless, found himself lost in the rhythm of duty—training sailors at dawn, overseeing the construction of ships by midday, reviewing maps and blueprints by sunset. But even amidst the grind of war preparation, something softer had taken root in his life.

Azenet.

Every morning after his drills and every evening before the sun dipped too low, she would find him. Sometimes with tea, other times with honey bread and sweet words. They’d walk along the length of the port together, past former slaves now apprenticed as carpenters, smiths, and sailors—men and women learning freedom one task at a time.

Assab had transformed. What was once a rough outpost had grown into a thriving hub. The shipyards now stretched further than they ever had, with nearly twenty massive warships completed and more in progress. The checkpoint system had expanded deeper inland, reaching Gondar, turning slave rescue routes into secured lifelines. And everywhere, voices hummed with cautious hope.

On one cool morning, Khisa sat with Tesfaye beneath the canvas shade of the naval command post. The scent of brine hung in the air, and the rhythmic clanging of hammers against hulls echoed in the background.

"We need to accelerate our plans," Khisa said, eyes narrowed on a map pinned to the table between them. "Right now, things have been calm. A bit too calm. We have to strike first. The campaigns in the kingdom are over, and the army has rested. It’s time."

Tesfaye folded his arms. "You think they’re plotting something?"

"I know they are. We haven’t seen Ottoman ships for months. That’s not a sign of retreat—it’s a sign of preparation. They’re mobilizing, and we can’t wait until they bring the fight to our shores."

Tesfaye frowned. "Things have been going smoothly. Do we really need to disrupt that?"

"Yes, Tesfaye," Khisa said firmly, "we must burn their ships in Massawa and Zeila. Trap them in their ports, cut their supply chains, sabotage their medicines and weapon stashes. Civilian casualties must be avoided at all costs, but the military must be crippled."

Tesfaye studied him, seeing not just a strategist but a man weighed down by years of war. "Will that really work?"

Khisa gave a short nod. "It has to. If the main army continues pressure inland while we starve and strangle them at sea... Abyssinia could finally be free."

Tesfaye exhaled slowly, the weight of the statement settling between them. "Will we really see the day this war ends?"

Khisa looked past him, eyes distant. "It may not end completely. Maybe not in our time. We might reach a stalemate, but even that is better than bleeding endlessly. Peace between Adal and Abyssinia isn’t possible now. Too much pain. Too much loss. Perhaps our children will live to see it."

Tesfaye gave a sad chuckle. "If you even mention peace now, the people might riot."

"Exactly," Khisa muttered. "For now, we heal. One day at a time."

"Will you recall the Shadows?" Tesfaye asked.

Khisa shook his head. "They’ve earned their rest. As for the Drift Squad, they’ve each delivered over three ships apiece. I’ll send word to Nuri to let them recover too. I’ve trained the navy to the best of my ability. Now, the rest is yours—and the Emperor’s."

Tesfaye stiffened. "What do you mean?"

Khisa looked him squarely in the eye. "It’s time for me to go home."

"What?"

"I’ve done what I came to do here. Your navy is strong, your people are united, your strategies are solid. You have everything you need to succeed. I need to return to Nuri. The Portuguese retaliation is coming, and I must prepare."

Tesfaye’s voice cracked. "What about us? Can we really hold them off without you?"

Khisa smiled faintly. "You’re not alone. We have an alliance. I’ll still support you. But I serve better by strengthening Nuri now. We’re rolling out our currency. That transition will take time and guidance. I have to be there. I’ve earned that much."

Tesfaye stood, then offered his hand. "I’ll send word to our people in Massawa to begin the operations."

Khisa took it. "Good. May fortune favor you, brother."

That evening, Azenet found him at the edge of the docks, standing on a raised platform where the wind whipped against his clothes. He was gazing at the horizon, eyes fixed on the golden trail the sun left on the sea.

She approached quietly, stopping beside him. "Tesfaye told me you’re leaving soon."

"Yes," Khisa said softly. "I’ve been gone from Nuri too long. My people have worked hard in my absence. I don’t want to press my luck. It’s time I return and do my part there."

Azenet looked at him. "Isn’t Nuri already strong enough?"

Khisa turned to her. "Even the greatest kingdoms can fall. Powerful conquerors can be killed. Nuri must be more than a kingdom. It must be an idea. Something eternal. If we build it right, when we are gone... the next generation will carry the torch."

"You’re always so philosophical," she said with a chuckle. "You need to relax more."

"I know," he smiled. "I plan to, once I get home."

Azenet hesitated. "What about us? We’ve spent so much time together these past months. You know I care about you. Are you ever going to tell me what you want from this?"

Khisa blinked, caught off guard. His ears flushed red. "That was bold of you, Princess."

She raised an eyebrow playfully. "I am bold."

Khisa reached out and gently took her hand. "Would you come with me? To Nuri?" freēnovelkiss.com

She tilted her head. "I’m not in the habit of crossing borders for random men."

He laughed, heart hammering. "Princess Azenet of Abyssinia, would you do me the honor of following me to Nuri... as your husband?"

She blinked, clearly taken aback, then smiled, a faint blush tinting her cheeks. "You’ll have to ask my father first."

Khisa let out a relieved laugh. "Of course. How could I forget? My apologies for being presumptuous."

"You better ask him properly," she said, nudging him with her shoulder.

They sat down side by side, legs dangling from the platform above the water. A breeze rolled in, carrying the scent of cedarwood from the ships and citrus from nearby markets. The lights of Assab twinkled behind them—children’s laughter, forge fires, and sailor songs blending into a symphony of life.

Khisa let the moment settle. His thoughts flickered to the long road ahead—the currency, the expansion, the politics—but for now, with her hand in his and the ocean stretching endlessly before them, it all felt bearable.

Azenet leaned her head gently against his shoulder. "Don’t forget me when you become a legend."

He turned and kissed the top of her head. "Only if you promise to be part of the story."

They stayed like that as the stars began to rise.