Pagans' medals

"A male child is born into the family of a traditionalist in the backwoods of Umunta. The third child of the family, first son of his father and first and only child of his mother is kidnapped and whisked off to a notorious slave baron a day's journey away from home. Intervention by the baron's wife borne out of reminiscences of her earlier lost sons saves the young victim from the jaws of slavery and possible death. Returned to his pagan parents the child grows up and satisfies the simple test of maturity (satisfied by the child reaching his or her left ear with the tip of the right middle finger from across the head) for enrollment into school in a society where birth certificates and registry of births and deaths are non-existent. At school the child decides to embrace a religious life which is not approved of by his parents. The ensuing conflict borne out of differences between religion and traditional beliefs as well as a father's resolve to uphold the dignity and traditions of his ancestors lands the father into detention after he physically attacks school teachers to avenge the reported bullying of his son and mockery of his ancestors."--Author.