As a man and the head of the house, Nwu Windo had to wake up early in the morning to milk the cattles. His wife Sella Bondo Windo had already lit the fire in the kitchen as she was busy preparing for breakfast for the family.
The family consisted of a son Eri Windo and their four years old daughter Hawa windo who was turning five this season. Eri was turning twelve this season, had dark blue irises that radiated with such sharpness that made it hard for many to gaze at him directly.
His eyes weren't sinister, they just made you feel inferior looking at them. Despite of this his eyes had become a source of his suffering since older or stronger boys his age just hated it when he looked at them. In the Windo clan, Eri was the weakest among his age group. At such an age in Windo clan boys his age had already shown signs of maturity. They were tall and due to hard labour and toiling all day ploughing with an Ox -drawn plough their muscles had started blooming.
Eri wasn't tall nor short, not strong nor weak, he was just average. The only thing that stood out among his peers was his fair complexion and soft hair that rolled like that of a baby. All male in Windo clan were dark skinned with rough or brutish look that emphasized on their masculinity. With this combination Eri stood out as a sour thumb since he was more handsome which envied most men but left the girls with giggles every time he passed near them.
His looks put a lot of strain to Eri's life and geowth since he was susceptible to bullying when playing or looking after his father's herd.
Although Nwu Windo, Eri's father , wasn't the strongest in the village when he was Eri's age but he was at least ranked second and respected among his peers. Ironically, his only son could not even defend himself. Yesterday he came home with a bruised face and an almost mangled nose a consequence of a beating he had received in the valley where he had grazed the cattles.
Nwu Windo could only shake his head in disappointment .
Although it hurt his ego,he had to stand up for his son before things got out of hand. He had gone to face the father of one of the bullies to at least discipline his son for maiming his son.
"Nwu my friend", father to Jeri Windo one of the bullies father said in a mocking smile plastered on his crooked face.
" You of all people know our tradition more than anyone else since you come from the rulling lineage in our clan".
" How can we interfere when children spar?dont you know this is how we create warriors?dont tell me you forget that you passed through the same system."
he continued "i remember you were more talented and strong during our time and am also a victim of your bullying once. hahaa.. that.. that's what molded us to be who we are today. Gold to have value must first be passed through the trials of fire for it to have value. Don't you agree?"
Nwu could only shake his head. how could he refute that?.it was a way that had become the norm.He wanted his son to be strong enough faster so that he could withstand the coming inter-clan fighting competition known as 'Dambe' when the time comes.
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Eri who was on the ant hill overlooking the village was not aware of his father's thoughts. He was busy listening to the chirping of the birds, the mowing of the village cattles and far he could hear the cry of a baby. If he strains his ears he could hear Bie river mumbling softly as it snaked across Bie Valley.
Behind their hut he could hear Nyundo, their bull bellowing to the young bulls to take down a notch in their testosterone and acknowledge him as the King of the shed. He alone had the mating rights and he alone could allow it to happen. Eri knew that the young males who went against this would suffer the consequences.
Eri can't recall how old Nyundo was.he had grown up finding Nyundo was already there at his youthfulness. He can't even recall how many calves Nyundo had fathered at their home and the village.
Nyundo was very passive when handled by his father or him, at some length, depending on his mood he could compromise abit with the other boys handling him after a beating or two. Worst cases on Nyundo were females whether young or old, Nyundo disliked this gender. As soon as a woman passed near him you will hear Nyundo huffing and starts to scratch the floor raising earth as a way of marking his territory and also as a warning for them to pass far. Many women and children have scars as proof of Nyundo's aggression.
Surpringly, Hawa, Eri's younger sister once doodled her way into the shed when she was two or three, Eri cannot remember exactly but that nobody had seen Hawa entering the shed but soon the huffs and grunts of dissatisfaction from Nyundo pulled everyone's attention to the shed. Eri's parents nearly fainted when they saw their little girl giggling her way towards the gigantic bull which by now ,steam could be seen coming out of it's nostrils.