25 - The queen to-be

Chapter 25 (The Queen-to-be.)

Tsote found an elk-like animal taking water from the stream where he had collected water for Renso.

“You will need to be able to reach Marakusha in time…” the beads told him and at once melted down onto his chest in a patter. He did not urge about this. He sneaked at the animal like a carnivorous animal. He chased after it at as it leaped away he took it by the horns. Still running alongside, he tried calming and once it started resisting, he leaped up ono its back. He patted its sides and it sped off down a path they could see now.

He was keen enough not to be seen by Renso’s night watchmen. When he exited the forest, the road leading to the bridge was empty but he could make out several dark silhouettes across the edges of the village made visible by a number of homestead and campfires.

He patted the animal, which came to a halt, and he jumped off. The animal responded to the voice made possible by the rune-like patterns he had across his body made of the molten beads. He hoped off and tapped on the animal to leave.  There were watchmen on the Bridge. These guards were always positioned there in case the king would arrive in Marakusha for the games finals. 

He got to the bridge leading into Marakusha across river Ulewo. There were around two hours before dawn.

“Who do you trust...?”

“No one but Makita, Chief Thalko’s elder daughter.…” Tsote responded to the beads’ question as he started towards the bridge.

“The most admirable from Sambura to Marakusha…?” Came the beads

“Who says so?”

“We have heard whispers… even though its general knowledge she is betrothed to Prince Mozia O’mondo of Sambura.” came the beads. “And you like her too. Hha! Don’t you master?”

“She is my best friend just and that’s all…”

“Mmm! But your heart beats differently whenever you get near her.” came the beads. “From experience I know what that is…”

“Come on! Is that necessary right now?” He asked the beads feeling embarrassed already. “Cause I need to cross the bridge and I see no other way without using the bridge.”

Just then a caravan of camels and elephants started towards out from the western road. The same Mama Erusa used back to Marakusha before she died. These comprised of the king’s generals from the western jungle territories and as they entered, he joined.

He needed to find Makita before the sun could rise. He went passed the five tents composed of the different five teams all from different training villages. The fires still burned and there was a guard in front of each tent. He had to sneak through unseen. The wind whistled through and the different leather painted banners in front the tents wavered nonstop. 

He needed to get to Renso’s shelter but this required him going passed Thalko’s tent. Thalko was inside and the guards here were twice the usual for paramount security during the games. The beads had him moving twice faster than usual. Past Thalko’s tent would have been dangerous had not he made up his mind and going around the rest of the homesteads. Reaching the back end past Thalko’s wives, he saw the owls flapping up and perching on top Renso’s shelter. He whispered out tot eh bird and it understood what he meant. The bird flew off towards Makita’s tent where it perched and began to hoot. 

Tsote stood somewhere watching. And after a few minutes, he saw Makita peeping. He took a little stone and threw it across the opening. She saw it and drew back in slightly. She glanced towards where the stone came from but the light from the fire did not laminate the back end of the huts on the other side of the homestead. She came out from her mother’s shelter slowly. The owl flew off from her mother’s shelter and went to land on Renso’s shelter as a sign.

“Makita…” Came Tsote whispering loudly. “This way…”

He saw her squinting and then looking up at the owl. The moment the owl landed on Renso’s shelter, she seemingly picked up pace with a few glances this and that way to be sure no one watched her. She came to Renso’s shelter but hardly had he touched the door when Tsote popped around the shelter.

“Makita.”

“Tsote…?”

“I, I returned…” Tsote told her.

“Oh Tsote… am so glad to see you.” she said reaching out to him and taking his hand. They stepped out from the light. The moment they did, the owl hooted once a good bye and started into the sky. Makita saw the owl and took his face into her hands.

“What happened? Is the owl with you…?” she asked him critically.

The owl…” Tsote began. “Well it’s a long story but good am back and…” Tsote spoke stealthy peeking around the corner to be sure the guards did not come this way.

“I thought I would not see you again… I Prayed Klode kept you safe and…”

“He did. But I need your help…” Tsote said.

“What help? It is dark. Too dark for anything. And the guards were doubled.”

“Is the king in Marakusha yet…?” He asked Makita

“He arrives at dawn today…. Mother said.” Replied Makita feeling his hands as though to be sure it were the real him when she did not expect to see him again!

“Well…” Came Tsote.

“Tell her quickly…. you need to join the games…” Came the beads in his head.

“Okay. Okay silence…” Came Tsote irritated.

Makita frowned. Why did he look agitated? What for!

“Oh. Sorry…” Came Tsote.

“What are you saying…?” She asked him.

“The beads…” Came Tsote. “The beads talk. They talk to me. To my mind and they….” He came to a halt unsure whether he had to say it all at this point.

“Come…” came Makita pulling him through towards the travel animal shed. There were elephants and wilder beasts. They got behind one of the largest elephants and they talked.

They agreed on something but Makita looked worried about what favor Tsote required of her. The stars in the sky were fading and the sky starting to reflect the rising sun away in the east. Though the, glow had not touched the horizon yet. The games would begin in a few hours and whatever they had to do, they had to now before the teams woke up to prepare themselves. Once Makita agreed to help, Tsote slunk back into the shadows. The guards had seen shadows and they were coming around the corner.

Makita went over to the five tents. The guards stopped her cause they did not know her. 

“I need to talk to my love and future king, Prince Mozia O’mondo.” She told the guards.

“Who are you…” came the first guard holding a spear in front of her.

“I’m Makita, your chief commander’s first daughter. And I’m betrothed to Prince Mozia O’mondo of Sambura.” She responded. The guard frowns and leans close to be sure. Truth is none of them knew her and it was risky incase the Prince got a Problem. The guard stood up and responded…

“He doesn’t need any disturbance right now madam. You will have to see him when the game s are done.”

“He needs to be warned and so that he takes caution, and you can’t stop me from ensuring my future king is safe lest you both wish him the worst when the system changes…”

She did not have to complete for him to turn away towards the shelter. He whispered to the other who shook his head and they both returned.

“What shows you’re his betrothed?” She turned around and lifted her dreads for them to see. The second guard held a lamp close to her back and where the hair stopped on her neck there was a mark. The likes of what they knew Mozia O’mondo had on his back. They turned away and spoke in whispers. Then one of them entered the team’s tent. 

“What is it…!” came a young male voice in a very sleepy manner.

“Makita, Do you know recognize the name your highness?”

“Who? Why?” came the Prince’s voice arrogantly. “Don’t bother me now… go away!”

“Makita is the name. The young woman wants to see you and claims to be betrothed to you my prince. Is she?”

“My betrothed?” Came the prince sounding surprised and more awake than he sounded before!  

“Chief Thalko’s first daughter… She is here to see you and won’t leave my prince!”

There was silence until the voice came again. “Show her in…”

At once the guard returned and motioned her in. she was led through the center of the tent which was elongated for around twenty feet deep. And unlike the other team tents, the Prince's was elongated and cut into a quarter of a section by some desert tribe curtains. 

His tent quarters were set apart from the rest of the teammates’ sleeping area. The rest had simple short beds supported by a network of reeds and cotton-like beddings for covers and pillows. Their Uniforms hung off some cross beams. These beads hung from the tent’s roof from cloves threads. Another wooden pole stood out from the ground on the foot end of each bedding. And on each of these poles hung every team member’s weapon.

The guard led her in and asking her to wait in the middle of the first section of the tent, he continued to call for the prince! 

“Let my Queen in…”

The guard nodded to Makita who entered. The prince stood up from his bed. His chest was bare and he had a little cloth around his lower body. He wore some strange desert traveler beads made out of Gold and strange cat teeth. His body was young like that of M’boguku her brother. His body was broad, tough and seemingly strong. His muscles flinched around his back when he walked over to the lamps and lit the remainders to be able to see her well enough!

Makita came through to the center of the room where she stood and looked at his chest. He was the strongest of his team after so many days and nights o training. “What brings you to me in the middle of the night…?” came the Prince. Taking a cloth from the side of his bed and dipping it in some water filling a clay source on top of wooden stand at the center of the room. Makita watched him closely light the torches and washing a cloth in the water.

“I had a strange nightmare, a terrible dream and about you and the games… shouldn’t this be bad omen!”

“Bad Omen!” came the prince in great shock and adding almost immediately “What was it... tell me my beloved queen?”

“You need to see. For yourself…”

“To see what? And where exactly?” Came Mozia O’mondo and drawing towards her again. 

“My shelter…”

“I?” came Prince blankly. “Not now! The night has never been fair and friendly to everyone. Tell me.”

She walked up to him in such a fearful manner showing that she was totally afraid and he alone could comfort or help her with her problem. 

“I’m experiencing a dark haunt…. The shadow of a past king, the sleeplessness, the fear.”

“Impossible…!” Came Mozia O’mondo in such a dumb manner. “That’s my father’s sickness! Its got nothing to do with a none royal. You…!” Nevertheless, she said she was experiencing it. What did it want with her? A girl without her Kurota?

“Okay….” Came the Prince. “I could give you y personal guardsmen to watch you until sunrise… cause. We both know how improper this moment is until we are rightfully bonded.”

“I understand but what can the guards do possibly when my even mother and sisters won’t wake up at the sound of my scream for help whenever the shadow comes crawling like many spiders across the shelter’s ceiling!” Came Makita. 

Mozia O’mondo looked dumb and confused.

“I cannot sleep my King. I have confidence our betroth could be the cause of this and…”

“Never!” the prince spoke in total surprise. This was despise for him and he hated such kinds of approaches most especially from women.

“How can I help then when our hands are bound by norms and customs?” Mozia O’mondo spoke taking hold of her hands and then up to her cheek in one hand. Just then drawing them back quickly in respect for their customs. He knew what his father was going through and he feared the outcomes even though Makita was not a Kobewa girl.

Truth is, Makita fancied the pleasure of growing up into a queen of a mighty Yakunko empire even though he knew Mozia O’mondo so little and was always afraid of the day when she would be dragged apart from her family and friends to live in Sambura forever. She was confused and what to do at the point she knew not. Just then, Mozia O’mondo added.

“My father made mistakes I cannot dare to make too.”

“You don’t need to stay long. Just until I fall asleep. Only shall I be glad I had spent a peaceful night. This night… Please my Prince.”

Mozia O’mondo saw her eyes turn watery. He steps back and looks away embarrassed. A year back, Makita received a maiden from Sambura to train her in the ways of a queen to be. She hated every lesson of it. Whatever the maiden taught her matched years of boredom and rules.

“No… not this way my queen!” Mozia O’mondo began just when Makita shed real tears. “But I, I can at least…”

“Please…” Came Makita leaning forwards on his broad shoulders. He did not resist her this time. He lifted his hands slowly and held her close but the moment his hands met her back, she pulled away… She broke down bitterly covering her eyes and turning to rush out. Mozia O’mondo looked blank and embarrassed!

He was a very careful young man. Moreover, the path his father took leading to consequences no one could ever handle, he did not wish to walk the same! She cried on his should quietly but when she was done he was open to her. He said to her aloud as she rushed past the guards. 

“The customs must be honored no matter what...”

Next second, the prince rushed out toward the entrance but reaching the guards, he remembered his weapon. He turned back for it. As he took it, he realized he needed all his game gears just in case! The guards looked puzzled when he returned dressed fully in his game attires as though the games were on.