chapter 14
It was the day, we where going to be introduced to the whole kingdom as women at the coming of age ceremony. We have been in seclusion for three months, not going outside just sitting on the reed mats as old women taught us the the customs and traditions of our kingdom and our bodies. My skin had become lighter and pale from not feeding on any sunshine. I was with six other girls.
Just like my engagement day, people come for the celebration in numbers, both for the food, the alcohol and for some it was to just see the princess dance bare chested at the ceremony.
I had not eaten the whole day. This was our custom on such occasions. The smell of cooked milk - rice, chicken, roasted meat, lamb, goats and the pungent odour of cooked sweet potatoes emerged into the audience ground. Like always the king sat under a screen, on his couch next to the queen and below them sat my brothers.
My eldest brother Wina sat on his own little bench being the heir to the throne.
Two older women who had been teaching us started beating the drums, we entered the ground in a single file dancing our shoulders to oblivion, it was sunny and before long we where covered in dust and sweat... People cheered and clapped, some danced too. We were presented with ivory bangles. I now had two bangle symbolising the stage I was at in life.
One would die with at least nine bangles on their arm, the more meant a good woman or a loved wife...I had three.
It was getting dark and I hadn't eaten anything, I was tired and my legs where wobbly from the dancing. Nanny helped me to my quarters and prepared me a bath. After bathing, I went to the king and queen's chambers as they had sent word for me to have an audience with them. The celebration was still going on but they had retreated to rest. I paid obeisance to my parents and sat on the reed mat. My father even in the dimly lit room looked exusted...
"Congratulations on becoming a woman, my child" my father said gently with a smile and went straight to the point.
"You do know this means, you will be married off to prince sepo soon right?"
"How soon" I asked.
"We had sent them a message when you where in seclusion, it's less than 12 nights".
He lied to me, I thought he was different, I thought he valued my opinion.
"Yes, my king"I replied with distorted feelings.
"My father stood up to get me the present he had prepared for me in his inner chamber and came out with gold arm band.
"This comes from a far away place, it was traded with a merchant from a place called Egypt, they say it is a nice kingdom.
"Thank, you my king" I said getting the arm band...He was about to sit when he staggered backwards in pain. I quickly stood up to go to him.
"It's ok Zae, he just has a bad back"
"I can heal him mother"
"Go to your room, right now" mother said pushing me away from the king".
"I am not leaving, I said, I can heal him".
My mother, making it a habit, was about to thwacked my face when I held her hand and fiercely pushed her out of my way sending her staggering to the floor.
"Woman you have no right to stay in the way of Nyambe's will." Words came of of my mouth with depth and conviction...My eyes unblinking...
Queen mother's face was full of horror, looked at me with tears in her eyes...her mouth was open but words wouldn't come out.
"Zae" she finally managed to say.
"I am no longer your child, you can't shield me from any thing"My words echoed, complimenting the horror of the whole situation for my parents.
"My princess" the king's voice was shrill, he was still in pain as he tried to sit erectly.
That one look was all it took, Only that was all I remembered...That look will stay with me forever, reluctant to leave me any peace.
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When I work up four days later I was struck by a blinding sun, I was moving, how is that possible, am on my bed and moving. I covered my eyes from the blinding sun and saw Lobe, Thabo and little Lugi ...I was on a cart that moved with two calfs moving it. Everyone sat solemly on it, they all wore animal skin clothing inside out.
" What am I doing here?" I asked them
"Is this sort of vivid dream connected to the oracle mess I found myself in?"
"What is this? Lobe, where are we going?"
No-one seemed to want to say it, they all kept their eyes on the floor of the cart. Will someone please say something, it's an order...
"Princess Zae, we are going to Kele"
"Why, have I been married off already?"
"No, Lobe started, it's the Letuyako, my Princess, they attacked our kingdom, they killed."...he hesitated
"They killed all the royal members, you father's last order was for me to take you to Kele".
"The Rapo worriors are the most brave and strongest worriors in this kingdom, not to talk of the neighbouring kingdoms... Don't joke with me and take me back right now" I told Lobe between clenched teeth.
"Many soldiers where at your coming of age ceremony, they where drunk and couldn't fight the Letuyako worriors...They where clever enough to attack on a day they knew the worriors will be off guard, many where killed, some are taken hostage in our own kingdom. We barely managed to escape.
"We are going back"
"Princess Zae..."
"You can stay here but am going back".
"Ok, Lobe finally gave in, we can leave them here, let's go the two of us, if it's ok with you we can come back for them later".
We walked back to Seke palace, since we hadn't covered that much distance, we could see Seke palace. I was walking really fast looking ahead and no where else when Lobe called out to me.
"Princess look"pointing to our side just a distance away from the Seke palace main gate.
Yes, I admit, I shouldn't have come back here. I should have gone to Kele and never look back, there was nothing here for me.They where right...The horror, the brutality, no one should see the scene that lay in front of my eyes. The mighty king Yanga reduced to a shell of a king.