Part 8 (3)

The imperial sentinel took the lumberjack and his henchman Baba to the doorstep of the palace's main building where two servants were waiting for them.
The maids collected the guests' baggage from the imperial sentinel and invited the Commander of the imperial forces Babida to come in along with his aide-de-camp.
As for the camel, it was taken to the backside of the imperial palace by the guard.
The servants that were radiant young maidens conducted the visitors to their apartment. It was the most luminous and spacious room of the palace after that of His Majesty Batang V, the lunar chamber.
The guests marveled and thanked the maids for their kindness as the hosts were leaving them.
"Comrade, let's take a shower fast, for I guess soon we might be called for supper and we better be ready now." Babida suggested to his henchman Baba.
"Correct, My Commander! I am going right away to the bathroom." said the youngster Baba.
The aide-de-camp thereupon rushed to bathe and was done very quickly.
The Commander in chief Babida went after him to shower as well and finish pretty fast too.
Within half an hour, the two men were cleaned and dressed in sparkling military uniforms.
Toc, toc!
Someone knocked at the room's door. Baba hurried to open and saw the two beautiful young servants who invented them to follow them to one of the palace salle a manger.
"Right away, Miss!" replied the henchman with a seductive voice.
Baba informed his superior Commander Babida who thus exited the room.
Both men then began to walk at a slow pace behind the two gracious maids who showed them the way to the eating room.
After snaking the endless corridors of the imperial palace, the guests finally reached the venue.
As they entered the place, they were dazzled by the long table at the left corner filled abundantly with the finest delicacies of the empire and surrounded by ten other gorgeous servants.
Crabs, chicken, goat, mutton, fish, snails, gorilla, snake, vegetables, plantain, cassava, fruit, and all sorts of desserts were aligned from one end of the fitting to the other.
"Wow! What an imperial welcome this is!" exclaimed the woodsman as they were being guided to their seats by a maid.
However, given the circumstances, they had to display good manners and refrain from their gluttonous habits.
So Babida and his henchman Baba ate what was just enough for their stomachs and in a very civilized way.
The guests were also served the most delicious palm wine their papillae had ever tasted, which they managed to drink responsibly since they were also making sure to appear sober the next day at the lumberjack's elevation ceremony as the new Governor of the province of Okunde.
Full and very satisfied with the special treatment provided to them by the gracious servants of His Majesty Batang V, Babida the lumberjack and his henchman Baba left the eating room and returned to their apartment so they could rest after their tiring voyage from Okunde to the imperial city Ekule.
They shared the same bed and slumbered profoundly till daybreak.
The logger was the first to wake up and geared up in a brand-new magnificent military outfit.
He then waited patiently for the signal of the servants or the imperial sentinels of the palace.
The henchman Baba finally woke up and was surprised to notice that the Commander in chief was already set for the elevation ceremony.
A bit embarrassed that he overslept, he asked the woodsman to forgive him and rushed to the bathroom.
But for the logger, his henchman's lateness wasn't a big deal.
"Take your time, Comrade!" Babida told to him as he stood up and opened the window.
He saw the imperial sentinels receiving visitors who were coming to his nomination as the new Governor of the province of Okunde.
He then looked amazed at a squad of imperial sentinels that were parading at the left corner of the palace's main yard.
And unexpectedly a pigeon came up to the window and landed on the sill, making the lumberjack smile.
The latter extended his hand to pat the bird but it flew away under the powerless eyes of the woodsman.
Toc, toc!
Someone suddenly slightly banged the door and caught Babida's attention. He walked up to it and pulled the handle.
The two beautiful young maids of the past evening were standing in front in different clothes, even more shining than those they were wearing at the guests' arrival at the imperial palace.
"Greetings, My Commander! You may come with us, please." One of the servants said to the Commander of the imperial forces.
"Right away, young Miss!" Babida replied to her.
He then inclined backward and looked to the right side of the room and saw his henchman Baba who was at last ready, walking up to him.
"Come, it's time for the big moment!" Babida told his aide-de-camp.
"Yes, My Commander!" The youngster replied.
They thereafter left the apartment and followed His Majesty's servants.