AMINA: THE LIONESS OF ZAZZAU

Guru the writer Action

Episode One: Before the LionessThe Kingdom of Zazzau was already alive before sunrise. Markets buzzed, traders shouted, blacksmiths struck iron, and children ran through dusty paths chasing goats that refused to be caught. Life never stayed still here.Neither did Princess Amina.Inside the royal palace, panic had already started.“Amina is missing again,” a servant said.General Dantala didn’t even look surprised. “Check the walls.”And he was right.Amina sat on the highest palace wall, barefoot, watching the entire kingdom like it belonged to her thoughts. The wind played with her hair as she smiled at the chaos below.“Amina,” Dantala called.“Good morning, General.”“Come down.”“I am already up.”“That is the problem.”She jumped down easily, landing like she had done it a thousand times. Dantala sighed.“You will break your neck one day.”“I won’t.”“You always say that.”“And I’m still alive.”Before they could continue, the mood shifted. Guards tightened their stance. Something serious was happening.Inside the palace, Queen Bakwa waited.“Amina,” her mother said firmly.The princess immediately knew this was not about small trouble.“Attacks have begun,” the Queen said.Amina stepped closer. “Where?”“Five villages,” Dantala replied. “Trade routes. Border areas.”“Bandits?” she asked.“No,” the Queen said.“Rebels?”“No one knows.”Silence fell.Amina looked at the map. The pattern was wrong. Too clean. Too planned.“This is not random,” she said quietly.Dantala looked at her. “Explain.”“They are testing the kingdom,” Amina said. “Watching reactions.”The Queen studied her carefully.Then Dantala placed a burnt symbol on the table. A broken circle.Amina stared at it.They left it on purpose.“To be seen,” she said.The Queen nodded. “And that is why you stay here.”Amina looked up sharply. “No.”Her mother’s voice was firm. “This is not your battle.”Amina didn’t argue again.But something inside her had already changed.Because for the first time, Zazzau no longer felt safe.And Amina could feel itsomething was coming closer.End of episode one

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