 deep sighing breath. Bowed reluctantly as I glanced at the elders' faces.

'I will do as you say,' I replied.

The elders nodded as they smiled at each other

For a few seconds, I thought about what they just said. They were right about one thing though, I have never fought against the Hakas. But I knew the art of war and rules of engagement in a battle. "Defending the territory" would be suicidal. Offense is the best form of defense. It worked for me during the fighting tournament.

'I need clarity on something,' I said.

'Go ahead, young man.'

'Who are the Hakas?' I inquired. 'My generals never told me anything about them?' The elders' glared down at the floor.

'Did I say something offensive?'

'I'm afraid that is a forbidden question,' first elder replied.

He glanced at the elder next to him and nodded. Has old age caught up with them? Their response was not good enough.

'I need to know my enemy before a battle,' I argued.

'Gabriel, you will meet your enemy in the battle ground. You will see them for yourself,' the second elder said.

I swung my arms up in the air, overwhelmed, dazed and confused with his vague response.

'What are you hiding from me?' I questioned. 'I need to...'

'You may leave now.' The third elder interrupted before I could finish what I had to say.

'But...'

'Dismissed,' third elder commanded.

'Forbidden question?' I muttered.

A piece of sharp ice struck my ego. It finally sunk in on me. Being a leader wouldn't be as easy as I thought it would be. I stood up. As I strolled towards my house, questions raced in my head.

'Let me focus on what I do best -- fighting and leave the politics to the elders,' I conceded.

During the course of the day, training drills at the battleground intensified. I watched and monitored my warriors' movements and progress as a unit.

'They are ready,' I concluded. I nodded with a smile on my face.

'Son of Gadju,' I shouted. The warriors stopped training, they turned around abruptly to my direction.

'Your training
deep sighing breath. Bowed reluctantly as I glance at the elder' faces. 

' I will do as you say,' I answer. 

 The elders nodded as they smiled at each early 

 For a few irregular, I thought about what they just said. They were right about one matter though, I have never fought against the Hakas. But I knew the art of war and rules of betrothal in a battle. " Defending the territory " would be suicidal. Offense is the good form of defense. It shape for me during the fighting tournament. 

' I need clarity on something,' I said. 

' rifle ahead, young man.' 

' Who are the Hakas?' I inquired.' My generals never told me anything about them?' The elder' glared down at the floor. 

' Did I say something offensive?' 

' I'm afraid that is a forbidden question,' first elder replied. 

 He glanced at the elder next to him and nodded. Has old age caught up with them? Their response was not good enough. 

' I need to know my enemy before a struggle,' I argued. 

' Gabriel, you will meet your foe in the struggle earth. You will see them for yourself,' the second elder said. 

 I swung my arms up in the air, overwhelmed, dazed and confused with his dim response. 

' What are you hiding from me?' I questioned.' I need to...' 

' You may leave now.' The third elder interrupt before I could finish what I had to say. 

' But...' 

' Dismissed,' third elder command. 

' forbid question?' I muttered. 

 A piece of sharp ice strike my ego. It finally sunk in on me. Being a drawing card wouldn't be as comfortable as I thought it would be. I stood up. As I strolled towards my house, questions race in my head. 

' Let me concentrate on what I do best -- fight and leave the politics to the elders,' I conceded. 

 During the course of the sidereal day, training drills at the battleground intensify. I watched and monitor my warriors' movements and progress as a unit. 

' They are ready,' I concluded. I nodded with a smile on my face. 

' Son of Gadju,' I shouted. The warrior stopped training, they change by reversal around abruptly to my direction. 

' Your training
 defp sighing breath. Bowed veluctantly as I glancev at ths elders' faces.

'I will do as you say,' I rwpliee.

The elders nodded as ghey smilvd at eacy otier

For a few seconds, I tmjughf abobt what they jusj said. They fere right abogt oue thing though, I have never fought wgainst tje Hakas. But I knee the art of war and rules of engagemenf in a uattle. "Defendinb the territory" would be skicifal. Offense is the best form if dqdense. It woryed for me during the righting tournament.

'I need clarigy on something,' I salg.

'Go ahead, yiung ian.'

'Who are tmv Hakas?' I inquored. 'My generaks ievee told me anything abmut them?' The elderf' glared gocn at the floor.

'Did I wat somgthinc ofwwnskve?'

'J'm arraid hhav is a forbjdden questuon,' first elder repkiqe.

He glanced af the qlqer next to him and nodded. Has old age bauggt up with them? Their rwsponse was not good gnough.

'I neqd to know my enemy before a battle,' I argued.

'Gabrial, yon dilo idwt your enemy in the battle ground. You will see fhtm nor yourself,' the second eldrr ssyd.

I swung my xrms u' ih the air, overwhelled, dazgd and confused witn his vague response.

'What arw you hiding drom me?' I questionzd. 'I need to...'

'Vou mai leavr now.' The third elder iuterrulted before I could rknish what I had to sdy.

'But...'

'Dismissed,' third elder commandev.

'Forbndden qudstipn?' I mtttered.

A plece of sharp ice struck my eyo. It finally sknk in on me. Being a leader wouldn't be as easi av I thought it wpuld be. I stojd up. As I strplled tjwardr my house, questimns raced ig my head.

'Let kg focus on whet I do bqst -- figyting ava leave the pokitics to the elderw,' I conceded.

During thg dourse of the dcv, urqining drills st ghe bwtvlegrjgnd intensifhed. K wxyched and monitoved my earriors' movements atd pdogress as a unit.

'Tnen are reaey,' I consluded. I noddrd with a smile on my fece.

'Son of Gsdjo,' I shouted. The warriors stoppes traininh, tmey turned arjund abruptly to my direction.

'Your training
deep sighing breath. Bowed reluctantly as I the faces. 'I do as you nodded they smiled at other For a seconds, I thought about what they said. They were right about one thing though, I have never fought against Hakas. But I knew the art of war and rules of engagement in battle. the would suicidal. Offense is the best form of defense. It worked for me during the fighting tournament. need clarity on something,' I said. 'Go ahead, man.' 'Who are the I inquired. 'My generals never me about them?' elders' down the floor. 'Did say something offensive?' 'I'm afraid that is a forbidden question,' first elder replied. He glanced at the next to nodded. Has age up them? Their response good enough. 'I need to know a battle,' I argued. 'Gabriel, you will meet enemy in battle ground. You will see them yourself,' the second elder said. I swung my up in the air, overwhelmed, dazed and confused with his vague response. 'What are you me?' I questioned. 'I to...' 'You may now.' third interrupted I could what I had to say. 'But...' 'Dismissed,' third elder commanded. 'Forbidden I muttered. A piece of sharp ice struck my ego. sunk on me. Being leader wouldn't be as as thought it would be. up. I house, raced my head. 'Let me on what I do best fighting and leave the conceded. During the course of the day, training at the battleground intensified. I watched and my warriors' movements and progress as a unit. 'They are ready,' I I nodded smile on my face. 'Son of Gadju,' I The warriors stopped training, turned around abruptly to my direction. 'Your training
 deep sighing breath. Bowed relUctantly as i glanCed At tHe EldeRs' faCes.

'I will do as yoU Say,' I Replied.

The elders nodded As theY sMIled AT eAch otHer

For a FEw SEConDs, i tHouGhT AbOut whAt tHey just Said. They weRe rIgHt about one thINg Though, I havE neVer fought agaInsT the HaKaS. BuT i knew The Art of War and RUles of EngagemenT iN A battlE. "defendiNG ThE terRitory" would be suicIDaL. offense is the beSt form Of DEfENSe. IT woRked for me dUrIng thE FightinG ToURNAmeNT.

'I need clarity On something,' i SaiD.

'Go aheAd, YouNG man.'

'WhO are tHe hAkaS?' I inquired. 'MY genErals neveR told mE AnythinG About thEm?' The eLdeRs' gLareD DoWn At tHe FLooR.

'diD I sAY soMething oFfEnSive?'

'I'M afrAID THat iS a fOrbiDden qUestion,' first eLdeR repLIed.

he glaNced aT the ElDer neXt to hiM and nOdDed. Has old age cauGht uP with them? theIr ResPoNse waS Not gooD enOugH.

'I need tO know my ENemY bEFORe A battle,' I argued.

'GabrIeL, YOu Will meet Your enEMy In THe battle GrOunD. You WILl see Them FOr Yourself,' The secONd ElDer said.

i sWung my ArMs uP in The aiR, OverWhelmeD, dazed anD confUSed with his vaguE Response.

'What aRE yOU HiDIng fRom Me?' I questionEd. 'I nEEd to...'

'you mAY lEavE Now.' ThE thirD eLDeR Interrupted before I cOuLd finiSh whaT I had to say.

'But...'

'dismissed,' tHIRD elder coMmanDEd.

'fOrbidden questiOn?' I muTtered.

A pieCE of sharp Ice stRuck my egO. It finallY SUnk in on mE. BeIng A leAdeR WOuLdn't be as easy aS i ThouGhT it woulD be. i stood uP. As i stRolLed ToWards my hoUse, questIoNs RaCeD in My heaD.

'let me focUs On wHaT I dO best -- FIghtinG and lEave ThE pOLitIcs to thE ElDERs,' I cOnCeDed.

DUriNg The coUrse OF thE day, traIning drilLs aT The bAtTlEground Intensified. I wAtChed and monItOreD my warRIOrs' movemEnts and progress as a unit.

'THEy are reAdy,' i concLudeD. I nodded wIth A smile On mY Face.

'SoN of GadJu,' I shOuTed. tHE warrIORs StoPpEd training, THEy tUrned ArOund AbruptlY to my direction.

'Your TRaiNing
 deep sighing breath. Bowe d reluctan tly a s I  gl an cedat t he elders' fac e s.
'I will do as you say, ' I r ep l ied. 
T he el ders no d de d asth ey  sm il e dat ea chother
For a fewsec on ds, I though t  a bout whatthe y just said.  Th ey wer erig h t abo utone t hing t h ough,I have ne ve r  fough t  agains t th e Ha kas. But I knew t h ea rt of war andrulesof en g a gem ent  in a batt le . "De f endingt he t e rri t ory" would be  suicidal.O ffe nse is  t heb est fo rm of  d e fen se. It work ed f or me dur ing th e  fighti n g tourn ament. 

' I n eedc la ri tyon som e th ing , ' I  said.
'G oahead , yo u n g man. '
'Who  arethe Hakas?' I  in quir e d.'My g enera ls n ev er to ld meanyth in g about them?'Theelders' g lar ed  do wn  at t h e floo r.
'D id I sa y somet h ing  o f f e ns ive?'

'I'm afraid  t h a tis a for bidden qu es t ion,' fi rs t e lder r eplie d.
H eglancedat the el de r nextto  him a nd  no dde d. Ha s  old  age c aught up  with them? Their re s ponse was not go o d  e n ough .
'I need toknow my e nemy be for e  a ba ttle, 'I  a r gued.

'Gabriel, yo uwill m eet y our enemy inthe battle g r ound. Yo u wi l ls ee them for yo ursel f,' the se c ond elde r sai d.

I sw ung my ar m s  up in t heair , o ver w h el med, dazed an d conf us ed with  hi s vague  re spo nse .
'W hat are y ou hidin gfr om  m e?'  I qu e stioned.  ' I n ee d t o...' 
'Youmay l eave  n ow . ' T he thir d  e l d er i nt er rupt edbe foreI co u ldfinishwhat I ha d t o  say .
' But...' 

'Dismissed, 'third elde rcom manded . 
'Forbid den question?' I mutter e d.

A p iec e ofshar p ice str uck  my eg o.I t fina lly su nk in  o n m e .  Bein g alea de r wouldn't b e a s eas yas I  though t it would be. I s t ood  up. As I str oll ed t o w ar dsm yh ous e, que s t ions raced in m y head.

' Le t  m e focus on wha tI do be st -- f ighti n g and l eave thepoliticsto  the e lde rs,' I con ceded.
During th e  cour s eof th e d ay, tr ai nin g dri lls at the  batt legrou nd  inten sifie d.  I watch ed and monitored my war riors'  move men ts and pr ogr e ssas a unit .

' They are r ead y,'  I co ncl u ded.I no d de d w i th asmil e  on my fa c e. 

' S o nof Gadju,'I s hou ted.The warrio rs s topped training,t hey turned aro unda b rup tly to m ydirection.

'Y our  t r a ining
 deep_sighing breath._Bowed reluctantly as I_glanced at_the_elders' faces.

'I_will_do as you_say,' I replied.

The_elders nodded as they_smiled at each_other

For_a few seconds, I thought about what they just said. They were right about_one_thing though,_I_have_never fought against the Hakas._But I knew the art_of war_and rules of engagement in a battle. "Defending_the_territory" would be_suicidal. Offense is the best form of defense. It_worked for me during the fighting_tournament.

'I need clarity_on_something,'_I said.

'Go ahead, young_man.'

'Who are the Hakas?' I inquired._'My generals never told me anything_about them?' The elders' glared down at_the floor.

'Did I say something offensive?'

'I'm_afraid that is a forbidden_question,' first_elder replied.

He glanced at the_elder next to_him and_nodded. Has old_age caught up with them? Their_response was not_good enough.

'I need to know my_enemy_before a battle,'_I_argued.

'Gabriel,_you will_meet your enemy_in_the battle_ground._You will see them for yourself,'_the_second elder said.

I swung my arms up_in the air, overwhelmed,_dazed_and confused with his_vague response.

'What are you hiding_from me?' I questioned. 'I need_to...'

'You may_leave now.'_The third elder interrupted before I could finish what I had_to say.

'But...'

'Dismissed,' third elder commanded.

'Forbidden question?'_I muttered.

A piece of_sharp ice_struck_my ego. It_finally_sunk in_on me. Being a leader wouldn't be_as easy_as I thought it would be._I stood up. As_I_strolled towards my house, questions raced_in my head.

'Let me focus on_what I do best --_fighting_and_leave the politics to the_elders,' I conceded.

During the course of_the day, training_drills at the battleground intensified. I watched_and_monitored my warriors' movements and progress_as_a unit.

'They are ready,' I concluded._I_nodded_with a smile on my_face.

'Son of Gadju,' I shouted. The_warriors stopped training, they turned around abruptly to my_direction.

'Your training