Journal of Polo (D1)

Journal of the witness Polo - after marriage (Day 1)
Today I had the honor to stand by the right side of Governor Babida not as his henchman but as his witness for his marriage with the beautiful young maiden Suzie.
The event was held on the coast of Okunde's river in the afternoon. Although the weather was hot everywhere else in the village, the ceremony's venue seemed to be cooled down by the freshness of the fountain of Ebuka, the god of purity.
The wind was mild and leaves bowed before us as we reached the edge of the way that led to the riverside.
General Dipi was the occasional priest. He was asked by His Highness Babida to take the role just a few hours before the wedding ceremony.
The Superior officer Dipi was just coming from the imperial city of Ekule with a thousand-men battalion entrusted to him by His Majesty Batang V.
The new forces have arrived at a dire moment to back up our depleted troops that had sustained a sizable loss of soldiers during the walking tornado attack.
General Dipi, like a regular priest, amazingly celebrated the marriage. And as soon as he declared the groom Babida and the bride Suzie henceforth husband and wife, the two newlyweds without wasting a single second bumped into each other and passionately exchanged kisses.
The intimate moment made me feel uncomfortable at some point. Not that the Governor and his wife were doing something wrong as per the tradition but it was just that embarrassed voice inside oneself that says "hum hum, I'm here lovebirds. Wait till when you'll be just the two of you!".
The truth is the couple reminded me of my young age when I got married to my late first wife. We loved each other as intensely as the two youngsters of today.
Governor Babida is certainly the Superior Commander in the region but given my age, I'm like a father to him. I thus have more life experience.
From what I have witnessed today, I can assert that the couple is under the protection of the ancestors and will live happily with a lot of children.
As for me, I'm an old man now and I have been working for close to two decades for the imperial army. Now it's time that I retire and return to my hometown Ekule where my lovely wife and my three children are impatiently waiting for me.
I have first to inform Governor Babida about my intent before sending a formal resignation letter to the Emperor.
But right now, the ruler of Okunde Babida is on honeymoon with his wife Suzie and I don't want to distract him with my matters in this important part of the nuptials.
I shall do this maybe in the next two weeks. So in the meantime, I will train the young aide-de-camp Baba and pass him on all my knowledge.
My goodness, the youngster is very talented. I don't know how Governor Babida came up with the idea to pick him as the interim henchman while I was out of the province but anyway that was an excellent choice.
I guess it's another gift of Governor Babida who can detect and surround himself with tremendously skilled workers.
I will hence leave the office knowing thar the henchmanship is in good hands.
I'm thinking about going abroad with my loved ones and immersing ourselves in other cultures. The Damba empire could be a great destination.
I have heard so many good testimonies about that land but because of my army responsibilities, it has always been difficult for me to find the time to travel there.
There was frequently a situation or an emergency that scattered all my journey plans. And yes, as a devoted servant of the empire, I always had to put forth the supreme interest of the nation at the expense of my desire.
The last time I had scheduled a holiday trip abroad with my family, the newborn Monster of the forbidden arose and threatened our land, and then it was the wicked bats that ultimately killed my Master, Governor Kola Il.
I was fortunate to escape death. The terrifying flying mammals almost got me too but I was able to avoid their pointed fangs by penetrating just in time into the magical bunker that Governor Kola II had built in his office.
I miss the great war architect he was. May his soul rest in peace!
Okunde, September 22, 502.