10 - Beware the betroth

Chapter 10 (Beware the betroth)

All this passed while Mama Erusa blew her flute, eyes shut. The thumping of the little drum neither stopped. And when the forms faded and the smoke turned to nothing, she spoke… 

“Was that the king…?”

“The king… yes. Those were memories kept by the winds of time.” She told them adding slowly.`

‘The moment the priestess disappeared, the rumor reached the other tribes faster than we expected. This gave the Tzavoku and Jakewa new hope and a chance to rise again giving way to another phase of internal war. The Home seekers got time to rebuild their fortress Saloma awakening hope among the other tribes once again. Meanwhile Thalko and the elder discussed on how to save the king from his sickness. The king declined from public appearance and made it his habit to rule through his commander in chief Thalko.”

All of a sudden, the king disappears for one full season and Thalko made it known to the royal elders that the King went in search for healing but left a decree he was to put into place. Later he was reported sighted coming down the Olko hill on which the ancient Untu tree stood.’

‘The king’s decree stated that all Kurotandi boys would end their training around the age of fifteen rather than eighteen to join the warrior class and that female babies born with the Kurota gift must no longer be murdered at birth as the custom was. He needed them raised, trained to control their gift and recruited into the Yakunko army to defend their king, families and empire. This when the royal elder came to believe the King was mad. They would accept the first decree but not the second, unless.’

 “Why did they take my Kurota then?” Some girl asked.

“Because the elders did not let the second of King O’mondo’s decree pass against the traditions until the king passed the Inka challenge and bonded with his ancestors.” Mama Erusa replied.

Tsote thought hard! The first part of the king’s decree was as old as he was. Then he remembered that he would be making Fifteen years on the third day of this new season and yet his Kurota had not manifested even once! He however was a son to the king. An illegitimate son he was! However, would he survive the Kurotandi games when they began same day he was born? Wasn’t he going to be numbered among this year’s K’Unko for exile?

‘Nevertheless, what took the king to the peak of the Olko hill at the end of every season remained a secret. Thalko told the elders, the king went there in search for the Shorango woman that caused him the plague he was suffering from. What he never reveals is whether he found her or not. And no one had the rights to determine where the king went. However, he got worse the first day he visited the Olko hill. Something else was bothering him and many call it the Royal Haunt.

“We hear the hooting of the legendary owl from here every night of the full moon…” A friend of M’boguku stated adding.

“The last of the Kuoka species… yes. But we don’t know for sure because no one has seen him.”

“What is Kuoka…?” A seven-year-old child next to M’boguku asked and M’boguku hit him in the back of her heads mockingly. 

“The Kuoka were intelligent animal species that roamed these lands in the legends before way before men got here got here. Nevertheless, you will learn more as you grow child. Learning takes time and it never ends.” Mama Erusa replied adding. “Knowledge is as vast the great seas and older than the eldest of men could ever grow!”

“He might have found friendship with the bird...” Makita sweetly told the girl in a singsong tone.

“Who knows…” came Mama Erusa. 

“But the fog around the hill is enchanted and impassable for the Yakunko in possession of a Kurota… how does he get up there?” M’boguku asked.

“Good question child. You have a friendship with the Prince of Sambura. He may be able to reveal.” Mama Erusa responded with a little smile.

“Have you met the great owl…” A boy closest to Mama Erusa’s right asked blankly.

“Almost…” Mama Erusa replied. “But never got to. But the tales say the Shorango might have.”

“Will the king get well again…?” Makita asked the very question Tsote had in his head but was not allowed to get close to Mama Erusa. 

“You must only pray he gets better…” Mama Erusa replied sorrowfully shutting her eyes as if to mean there was no hope.

“If the king fails, what happens to the rest of us the Yakunko…?” M’boguku’s friend Sosoi asked again.

There was a moment of silence this time… 

“The melody of ancient will then begin...”

“What do you mean…?” Makita asked. Mama Erusa looked in her direction.

“The, then the Yakunko reign might end. giving way to the rise of Home seeker…”

“But what do they want from us…” M’boguku asked quickly. 

“We can’t be certain but...” Mama Erusa replied. “-a friend of mine once told me, there will come a new era, one we must all embrace, a dangerous path we all must embrace… down this path lies the light, the truth and hope for all.”

All this while, mothers fetched their children to bed. But before they left for their shelters, each child walked up to Mama Erusa so as to wish her a good night. She would sense every child when they approach her, she would hold out her palm. The child would place both their little hands in her palm facing up. She would smile at the child the moment their hands came in contact. She would place her other hand on top the child’s hand running two fingers through her palm and tapping the wrist twice before she let the child pass with a smile.

An hour past midnight only four children still listened to Mama Erusa’s tales. Of the four, two were dozing off but Makita and Tsote were as sober as the legendary Olko Owl. The fire’s glow was beginning to die down. Unfortunately, Tsote glanced a side only to see Makita dozing off too just when the Owl hooted again. Her mouth hang open and her head was falling this and that way. Tsote was rather awake as though the night was just beginning. Mama Erusa heard the crying of the owl when she all of a sudden stopped talking. 

“I guess it’s high time you all went to bed children…” Tsote took Makita’s hand and she woke up. She saw Mama Erusa holding out her hands to them. Makita got to her feet and walked up to her. Took her hand wishing her a good night. When Tsote stepped forwards and other Erusa took hold of his hand, her face changed and her eyes solidified. 

She froze slowly feeling through his hands. Her lips parted in surprise. 

“You…” she uttered as though to herself.

“I?” came Tsote in confusion while she felt through his palms with flashes of smiles. She looked like she has waited for years to meet. Tsote asked her puzzled by the way she began.

“Come closer child, come!” she interrupted while her hands felt him higher up his arms to his marked shoulders and up to meet his face. Its like she read his body markings. But there were marks he lacked! Those he never earn from training. 

“…your name child.”

“I am, I’m Tsote…”Tsote responded. 

“Yes… yes you are boy.” She said smiling and feeling his face with a smile across her face. She quickly reached into her little bag and retrieved something the likes of Olko beads with three owl feathers. She held it over his head saying.

“The melody of the ascendants begins with you…”

“The melody?” Tsote asked glancing aside at Makita. “What is that Mama Erusa…?”

“I have traveled the empire for the last thirteen years like a story teller but in search for the owner of this…,” she said tagging lightly at two red beads she had around his neck.

“These will not be yours…” 

“-mine?” Came Tsote in surprise,

“Yes son of King Zakeyo.” Mama Erusa replied with a smile without never seeing his face.

Makita’s mouth dropped again except she wasn’t asleep this time. 

“You…!” Makita began. “What did you just say…?” 

There was a moment of silence just when Mama Erusa spoke.

“You haven’t told her…?”

“Tsote?” Makita asked Mama Erusa but then ended up looking Tsote in the face strangely.

Another moment of silence followed just when Mama Erusa told him. “She is worth the truth Tsote. She cares for you more than anyone else….”

“But I just got to know and…!”

“Are you…?” Makita asked with such surprise across her face. Rubbing her sleepy eyes hard.

“Yes, but I was going to tell you…”

“True, now listen to me child…” Mama Erusa interrupted taking hold of his shoulders and feeling the marks again. Your marks suppose you are weak.”

Tsote breathed in hard. Just when she added. “Well, before the moon fades, you will get to understand.” Her face was as serious forcing Tsote to node his head.

He and Makita glanced aside at each other again! Mama Erusa slide her hands back down to hold his hands. She ran her fingers through his palms again, great focus showing across her brow and grey moon light eyes. He saw the glow of fire in her eyes. It was a reflection. Just then, she spoke again.

“You will be turning fifteen when the full moon departs.” She told him.

“Yes… on the Kurotandi day but…”

 “But you are afraid.” she said adding. “Afraid that you hollow. Your Kurota fails to manifest, but you need not worry yet because you’re the melody begins with you.”

“What melody? I do not understand you Mama Erusa…” Tsote told her looking into her cataract eyes.

“You shall…”

“How? When exactly?” Tsote stammers getting angry and embarrassed at the same time. Impatiently, he steps back from her. However, she quickly holds him back by the tips of his band adding. “Just keep the two beads around your neck and you will learn...” 

Tsote felt the necklace she put around his neck and asked. Tsote pauses for another second slightly turning to listen to her conclusion. “The necklace will guide you, to secrets, mysteries about yourself. Everything there is to know…, and Makita?” she concluded by calling Makita’s name. She let go of Tsote’s hand felt for hers.

“Mama Erusa?”

“Beware,” she tells her almost in a whisper. “Beware the betroth!”

This statement surprised Makita but it never left her mind for all time to come. 

“Beware child…” Mama Erusa repeated a little more quietly. Makita wanted to ask why just when they heard someone approaching from behind. They both turned only to see Renso! Tsote’s heart thumped hard! They had to leave at once before he could utter anything! Makita gave Tsote a quire look, which was to mean she wasn’t satisfied with whatever she just heard! She had so many questions for him but no less those she had for Mama Erusa after what she just uttered! Nevertheless, Tsote too needed to know more about Mama Erusa’s warning to Makita.

“Thank you Mama Erusa?” Tsote said as he turned to follow Makita past Renso. As they left, Mama Erusa reached for her flute as though this was a moment deserving some sort of rejoicing. 

The moment they turned their backs on Mama Erusa, she started blowing through her flute made out of a strange elongated snail’s shell. The sound rose to the night winds again. Beautiful music it was.

*******  

 “To understand the origin and meaning of your greatest fear, weakness and limitation, you need to discover and understand the center of your strength.” She began with such a calm tone without looking up at him. Tsote looked confused. He glanced back but Sakitha N’meru wasn’t there no longer. Where had she gone!

“Mama Erusa?” Tsote uttered. The storyteller stood up and walked towards him with the heart still in her hand.

“The Kurota…?” he stammered. 

“What are you asking child…” Mama Erusa replied.

“Sakitha told me about your gift…”

“She did…What gift. I have lots of talents child…”

“The Kurota?” Tsote stated in a whisper. Mama Erusa Froze for a second or so. This was her secret and she has kept it from everyone for the past twenty three years. 

“The Kurota…” she replied after him. “Why…?”

“But you are not supposed to possess your Kurota as a woman…!”

“I know…” the story teller replied. “But my story is long and heart breaking Child…”

“What happened...? Does Thalko know?”

“Everything. But it’s a very sad Story child…”

 “The Kurota is known to kill the girls before they even turned ten… “

“Best you ask the chief, your god father.” The storyteller said adding. “Because he loves you. Just like his own. And…”

 “Dark and sad…” Tsote repeated after her “-If the Kurota was our strength, a gift from the Klode, why then the bitterness and hatred others have for our kind.”

“We were fooled child…” she tells him. “Trapped with an ability beyond mortal understanding.”

“-trapped?”