Chapter 11 Framed
For how long are we going to stand here?" I asked Mbaku.
"Until the King finds the golden sceptre" Mbaku replied.
"Why? I can't keep standing here doing nothing. Mother just…." I said and suddenly realize I saw a man walk past Ndaka with the golden sceptre and Ndaka turned to follow him.
"Wait I saw him!" I exclaimed but hopefully only Mbaku could hear me.
"Who?" Mbaku asked.
"The one who took the golden sceptre" I replied more calmly now. "I think I saw Ndaka followed him".
"Are you sure you saw that?" Mbaku asked.
"Yes, I did"
"What is he up to?" Mbaku asked a rhetorical question. He wasn't expecting an answer from and wasn't bothered when I didn't answer.
After a period of silence between us, Mbaku finally began to lecture me;
"You should know how to control your tongue in order to live a peaceful life in the palace. Everybody here is a friend and a foul. You can't afford to lose control of your tongue. Should anyone here hear what you just said, Ndaka would be in trouble. But he might be innocent. No matter what you see, pretend you're blind and don't look at it twice. Don't trust anyone here in the palace, not even my mother. Do you understand me?"
"mmm" I nodded in agreement because Buka had already told me the same thing a few days ago.
We stood there, in silence for three hours and I began to feel tired.
"I want to sit," I said turning to look at Mbaku.
"Do you know why we are still up here?" Mbaku asked.
"No, I don't" I replied.
"When we live this platform, we might not get a chance like this again. Besides, the King didn't order us to come down"
"Ok, but my knees hurt"
"Lean on me".
"Huh! Did you just ask me to lean…" before I could complete, Mbaku drew me closer to himself and held my waist. I was speechless! I tried to free myself from his grip but he was too strong, so I gave up in the end.
Eyeki, who stood a few meters away from us, smiled as she watched us.
"Are you ok now?" Mbaku asked.
"No, my back hurts too"
"Do you want me to carry you on my back?"
"No!" I answered quickly.
Mbaku turned to look at me and asked; "why? Aren't you tired already?"
"I am but, I can't let you carry me in front of all these people"
"Really? You will give in soon"
"Why do you think I will give in soon?"
"Because you're a woman"
"I am not weak like the other women!" I exclaimed.
"Let's see then" he replied coldly.
A few minutes later, I began to tremble and he could feel my body shake. He bent down and said;
"Get on my back before it's too late"
Mbaku wasn't ready to argue this time. He was expecting to do as he had said and I did.
He rose to his feet and stood still. Even though he looked like a ten thousand years block of ice, his body was warm. I rested my hands on his shoulder and my head on his back. Who has ever thought Mbaku could be caring as such? I felt like I was the luckiest woman in Wailand. Just then, Jabari entered and nodded at Mbaku, with a look of suspicion and surprise. A few minutes later Buka arrived with the golden sceptre. The King took and turned to look at us, he smiled when he saw Mbaku carrying me. The little crowd looked surprised too when they saw us.
"Your Highness, I want to get down," I said. Mbaku bent down slightly and allowed me to get off his back. Buka and the head of the Royal family climbed the platform again.
Mbaku turned his hand down again, with his palm facing up, I placed my palm in his, Buka placed his palm under Mbaku's hand and the head of the Royal family placed his palm on my hand. The King raised the golden sceptre and the priest announced us, husband and wife. It was left with the last rite, I had to hand a wine over to Mbaku and was supposed to do the same. The wine which had been prepared for the occasion was suddenly changed. The Queen got scared when she saw the wine being changed. She turned to look at the King and realized the King was looking at her unfathomably. The wine was brought to us and we exchanged wines and finally, the rites were over. Buka and the head of the Royal family left us on the platform. Mbaku took my hand and walked me down the platform and we sat down together this time. The King and the Queen left the premise immediately after congratulating us. Buka congratulated us and left hurriedly to follow the King. The rest of the crowd walked to us, congratulated us, and gave us gifts as well. I kept smiling but not Mbaku. His block face even scared some of the people away. I couldn't help but feel hurt deep inside. Feya finally walked to us and said;
"Congratulation!"
"Thank you, Feya" I replied.
"Has he told you, you look like a goddess of beauty today?" Feya said pointing at Mbaku.
"Feya!" I exclaimed as Mbaku stared at her with dark scary steady eyes.
"Your Highness! If you hurt my friend, I won't let it go. Make sure to treat her well" Feya said unfriendly.
Mbaku looked away when Feya finished talking. Feya and I chatted happily and didn't notice Mbaku was talking to Jabari all this while. Nana, my stepsisters, and stepmothers came to congratulate us. After a while, I turned to Mbaku and asked;
"Any news about mother?"
"She's fine now" Mbaku replied with a stony look.
"Ok. Why didn't she sit beside you back then?"
"The Queen is the mother of all the sons of the King, irrespective of who gave birth to them"
"Why didn't she sit anywhere near you?"
"Do you want to know why?"
"Yes"
"That's your first assignment, find out on your own"
"Really?" I said and when he turned to look at me, I looked down, shyly and said; "Ok".
A carriage arrived and Mbaku told me, it was time for us to leave. Jabari followed closely behind us with two maids. Mbaku entered the carriage after I did and we set off.
When we got to Mbaku's manor, the carriage stopped. Mbaku got off it and Jabari helped me to get down. I was welcomed into the manor by Mbaku's eunuchs, maids, and guards. There were eight huts in Mbaku's manor and a wall built from bricks and clay surrounded the huts and separated it from manors of the other princes.
"Take her to her hut and help her prepare for the family dinner" Mbaku ordered and left to his hut with Jabari following closely behind him.
When I entered my hut, Yhuri and another maid entered and helped me to change my clothes and get ready.
"Yhuri, do you who took the golden sceptre" I asked.
"It was found in Prince Diemo's hut. But he claims he has been framed" Yhuri replied and continued; "he also bribed a maid in the wine house to poison Mbaku's wine"
"What?! Are you sure?"
"He insists he knows nothing about both cases"
"Is Prince Mbaku aware of this?"
"I am not sure, my lady"
"How is Lady Shui?"
"She is in the King's harem now"
***
Suddenly, a messenger from the King arrived at Mbaku's manor and told Mbaku who was standing in front of his hut;
"Your Highness, His Majesty, the King, summons you at once".
Mbaku hurried off with Jabari following closely behind him.