Dawn broke in hues of gold and rose over Lusimba. The air carried the scent of damp earth and smoke from cooking fires, mingling with the faint tang of iron from the soldiers' polished weapons. Birds stirred in the trees above the palace courtyard, their songs blending with the rhythmic beating of drums that signaled the beginning of a new journey.
The delegation to Buganda stood assembled in neat formation before the royal dais, banners of deep blue and white fluttering in the cool morning breeze. Camels, horses and oxen shifted restlessly beside a long line of wagons heavy with goods: bales of finely woven cloth, jars of scented oils, carved figurines, medicinal herbs, and baskets of dried fruit. Each gift had been carefully chosen, tokens of peace, strength, and trade.
