Part 4 (6)

The night went on. Babida the lumberjack had returned to his tent in Okunde's garden and was dozing on the ground along with other warriors.
However, contrary to his comrades he wasn't having a peaceful sleep as he was diving into a dream in which the young maiden Suzie and uncle Bibi were crying out for help.
The woodsman was tormented and began to shake his head from one side to the other. The acute cries of Suzie in particular were so strong that ultimately he woke up in a panic.
Babida was breathing at a fast pace. He looked around to see if he was disturbing the sleep of his fellow warriors but none of them seemed to be aware of his nightmare. They were all imperturbably resting.
"I must go out and look for the young miss and her uncle. They are in great danger. May the ancestors guide me to them!" The lumberjack whispered to himself.
He then got up, grabbed his axe, and left his tent in the middle of the night. The woodsman walked back to Governor's headquarters' esplanade where he saw Suzie and uncle Bibi for the last time.
From there, he took the same path his two endangered companions had taken to exit the administrative area.
The lumberjack trekked till he reached the center of Okunde. There was no one in the streets opposed to normal days, for people were still mystified by last night's bats' attack. Just the neighborhood's cats were busy going up and down the slightly lit ways.
Babida stood in the middle of the sandy road and screened with his eyes every corner, building, and house, hoping to perceive his crush Suzie and her uncle.
To his great disappointment, the logger couldn't find their trace. He was nevertheless convinced that they were somewhere in the downtown area and thought they had gone to spend the night in a hostel.
"They must be in an auberge." The lumberjack declared.
"They are not from this village and therefore have no house here. Commander Bibi could have simply decided that they stayed at the military camp, but I believe he chose to go to a hostel for his young niece Suzie to have a comfortable bed." Babida added.
"I should check after them in all the auberges around." He stated.
The lumberjack glared in front of him and remarked on a guest house.
"There is an auberge !" He exclaimed.
He then headed toward the location and pressed the knob of the door to enter but by the late time, it was already shut. So he knocked and the keeper, an old lady, came to open the entry.
"Oh, oh! It's the lumberjack in flesh and bone." She said delightedly.
Thereupon she inquired about his needs: "What can I do for you, brave warrior ?"
"Pardon me, Ma'am, I am on the lookout for my companions, a middle-aged man accompanied by a beautiful young maiden. I was wondering if they didn't come over here earlier in the night." Babida replied to the keeper.
The woodsman then went on and told the old lady: "In fact, the two folks I am seeking are visitors from the imperial city, Ekule."
"I hope your friends are not in trouble." The keeper of the auberge said to him.
The logger hence provided the old lady with much detail. He explained to her that the two individuals were his adventure companions and that they parted ways in Okunde's garden some hours ago.
He regretted that his associates didn't tell him where they were going. Nonetheless, for it was late, he guessed they went to seek a place where they could rest.
He related that as soon as his companions departed, he too went to his tent to slumber but during his sleep, he was disturbed by a vision in which they called him for assistance, for they were facing danger.
The auberge keeper listened carefully to the killer of the Monster of the forbidden mountain and told him: "Imperial hero, I wished I had answers to the whereabouts of your companions. Regardless, the least I can do is to implore the ancestors to preserve them from harm."
Babida was downhearted and excused himself before the old keeper for his late-night visit. He was about to leave when she said to him: "Maybe you would like to come in so I can consult with the Oracles about your companions."
The lumberjack heard the aged lady's words and a great joy took him over.
"With great pleasure Ma'am!" He said, then stepped inside the auberge.
As he set his foot in, his attention was drawn to a blue wax-made scarf lying on the ground on the left side of the hall. His curiosity was immediately aroused, for Suzie had been tucking her head with a fabric of the same color and material.
So he asked the old lady: "Pardon Ma'am, are you sure you didn't host here a man of around forty-five years of age and a pretty young adult maiden?"
"Indeed I did. And you will go join them right away in room three." She responded and transformed herself into the lady wizard with long and thick braids.