Central-western Algiers, Akelm Tribe.
Tribal chief Razzaz loudly urged his people to load sack after sack of valuables onto the camels' backs. Not far behind him, a caravan driving more than a hundred camels was slowly making its way toward the mountains in the west.
Just then, Razzaz's son came galloping over on horseback, pointing north in panic. "Father, th-they're here!"
Razzaz's body instantly stiffened. He knew his son meant Hadid's men.
He looked toward the chaotic tribe. At least half the tribespeople had yet to leave, and anxiety clawed at his heart.
Yes, although the messenger he had sent back had arrived two days earlier, in this era of woefully poor organization and mobilization, more than eight thousand tribespeople simply could not all evacuate within two days.
Especially since quite a few still harbored hopes of luck and were unwilling to abandon the few belongings in their homes.
It was only after Razzaz himself returned to the tribe that the tribespeople finally quickened their evacuation.
Yet only half a day had passed before those damned naval bandits arrived.
Razzaz knew very well that these men had all begun as pirates. Even during the Dayi's rule, they had dared to plunder smaller tribes. Now that the French Governor was ignoring matters, they would surely be even more unrestrained. After looting them, they might very well sell the Akelm Tribe's people directly into slavery.
Razzaz hurriedly shouted to several elders beside him, "Tell everyone to flee at once! Leave everything behind!"
Then he instructed his son to gather the tribe's warriors and resist the enemy north of the tribe.
An hour later, the flag of the Algiers Navy appeared in Razzaz's sight.
When he vaguely made out the black cannons and heard the scouts report that there were more than four