Reunited

…when he and his father had come home from a hunt. He would throw all his cares away and flutter into her arms. He felt so safe in her embrace. She had always been his source of comfort.

Chief Mbada had what looked like an uncomfortable frown on his face. Nothing had changed about him whatsoever, besides a few wrinkles of age. From his threatening physique to that same smell of arrogance that would sting anyone's nose when they were in his presence, all were still intact. Behind him were Ngoni and Bhonzo, his bodyguards. As a child, Brahmuhn had seen them as gigantic deities, but all he saw now were two jokes with different complexions.

'Well, well, well. If it isn't the "Great And Mighty Brahmuhn",' Chief Mbada chuckled. Even with age, his voice had not changed either but gained more boldness. 'Brahmuhn, the "mermaid slayer", the "nightmare of zvidhoma",' he chuckled some more. 'Let me not bore you with my inferior compliments. Please, come in.'

He could detect a hint of envy in Chief Mbada's praises but nevertheless, he did not turn the invitation down.

There was not much of a difference between Chief Mbada's and his throne room. From the position of the throne to the royal mat below it, everything was almost identical.

'Ngoni, get our visitors some seats,' Chief Mbada instructed one of his bodyguards.

'Thank you but that won't be necessary,' Brahmuhn declined the gesture politely.

As he and Cheetah sat before the elevated figure of Chief Mbada, he fought the urge to shoot an arrow of saliva at his face. Tsitsi on the other hand humbly sat beside the chief's feet but her eyes were on the floor. Brahmuhn could not begin to think of what was going through her mind.

'So…what brings the "Great Brahmuhn" to Matanda Village?' asked Chief Mbada.

'I was just passing by, but…along my journey I heard rumors of a Shona chief who has turned his back on his people. A chief who has resorted to employing witches and goblins to terrorize innocent commoners. A chief who is so hungry for power that he is willing to take food from the mouths of widows and orphans.'

Mbada leaned back and began scratching his beard. His eyes were looking slyly at Brahmuhn. 'Does this chief have a name?'

'They say that he commands demonic forces at will and no other chief is suicidal enough to challenge him.'

'Perhaps this…chief has reasonable motive.'

'Besides greed?'

'Greed is just a necessity for those with power.'

'But a heavy yoke for those under it.'

Chief Mbada chuckled. 'You know, as a powerful chief yourself I thought you would be knowledgeable and appreciative of the measures that have to be put in place in order for progress to take place.'

'Where there is pain, there is no progress.'

The watching villagers and those in the room could feel the tension between the two chiefs. Silence brought a break to their conversation and looks of what looked like intrigue were held by both parties. Brahmuhn's expression however, was on a scale between intrigue and loathing but weighed more towards the latter.

Mbada broke the silence with a deep laugh. The laugh dragged on for about twelve seconds. 'You are a strange one, Brahmuhn! Different views or rather…radical views to mine but perhaps our differences are what make us similar.'

Brahmuhn forced a smile, 'Perhaps.'

'Tsitsi, prepare a place for the night for our two guests here.'

She obediently nodded at her husband before she got up.

Brahmuhn longed so deeply to talk to his mother. 'Maybe I should help her,' he suggested to Mbada.

Chief Mbada looked rather baffled.

Brahmuhn quickly said, 'I mean, you have welcomed me into your home, oh "Courageous One", I can't just stand by and let you do everything for me. '

'It's just clearing a few things and laying a mat on the floor, how hard could it possibly be?' Mbada said looking a bit surprised.

'It's not, I know. It's just a polite gesture.'

He looked baffled all the more. Without warning he let out another roar of laughter deeper than the first, 'You really are a strange one, Brahmuhn!' He waved his hand towards Tsitsi, 'Go ahead and help her, be my guest!' he continued to laugh as he made his way out of the throne room.

Cheetah followed closely behind Mbada and nodded at Brahmuhn before he left.

The villagers quickly began to disperse before Chief Mbada even reached the exit.

When Tsitsi and Brahmuhn walked towards the guest hut, he kept a respective distance behind her. Had she recognized him? If she had then why did she not say anything to him? His uncontrollable emotions were threatening to expose themselves when they entered the hut.

'It's going to be a cold night,' Tsitsi informed him before she laid down his sleeping mat.

He could see the nervousness her body was displaying. A teardrop to the floor sold her out. 'Mother…'

She paused briefly. She ignored him and then continued adjusting the mat.

'Mother, where is father?'

She could no longer contain herself. With a waterfall gushing from her eyes, she ran towards her son and fell into his arms.