Chapter 19 The Riot
T'chapa ran as fast as he could to Buka's hut and informed him about the riot in the palace. Buka told him to run to Mjoka to inform him as well and hurriedly left to the palace. When Buka got there, Mbaku and all the other princes were there. The guards in the King's manor had the situation under control. The princes and Buka were allowed to enter the King's manor. When they entered, they were to the King's garden to meet the King. The King looked worried.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" the princes and Buka greeted in a chorus.
"How is the situation out there?" the King asked looking at Buka.
"The guards are doing quite well out there" Buka replied.
The King nodded, looked at his sons and said;
"I am glad all thirteen of you are here. The situation at hand is very risky. I want you all to prove your loyalty to me by coming up with a solution to calm this situation. Diemo is my son, just like you all are. It's true, the golden sceptre was found in his room and he tried to poison Mbaku. It won't be easy to let him go, it's nearly impossible. He can't get away from the punishment that awaits him, but this land's future is dependent on how this matter is handled. Come up with a reasonable solution as soon as possible. The riot can be held in place from now till tomorrow morning. I'm afraid we won't be able to control the situation after tomorrow morning" the King said and dismissed them.
Buka watched as they left the King's manor. He knew the King was up to something but couldn't figure it out. He turned to see the King looking at him and said;
"Your majesty, can they handle this alone?" Buka asked.
"At least one can" the King replied with a smile. "You know I can handle it. I want to know if they will be able to apply whatever they have learned over the years. Do you remember our conversation the day I came to ask for Zui's hand in marriage for Mbaku?"
"Yes, Your Majesty" Buka replied as he recalled their conversation.
*****
(Buka recalling conversation)
They, the King and Buka, were playing chess.
"Buka do you why this marriage must happen?" the King asked.
"No, Your Majesty" Buka replied.
"The astronomers said Mbaku was born under the star of Kings. But you know very well that the Leali family can't help him to get the throne. I will want your family to help ascend the throne when I am no more"
"I understand you Your Highness, but you know the Queen's and Ladies' families and the families of their son's wives are equally powerful"
"Yes, for now, they are. But Mbaku will be let off the hook because he doesn't look interested in the throne besides, his mother's family has no power. They will soon start fighting themselves. Let's wait to see how they will screw themselves up. They will definitely lose their power because of the schemes and plots, then you help Mbaku rise with some much power that he can't be refused to ascend the throne. But until then, let's lay low" the King said as he crushed Buka's bishops with his knights.
"You're very good at this game, Your Majesty. Is Mbaku willing to be King? I can only help him when he is willing" Buka said as he blocked the King's knight with his knight.
"Buka, do remember how I became King?"
"Yes, I do. Your Majesty" Buka said smiling.
"It won't be easy for Mbaku because he is a threat to their success. That son of mine is very smart, I bet you. How do you think he's been surviving in the palace? All the other princes left my harem when they ten years, but he was dragged out of the harem, from his mother's side before he could turn six. He was starved and maltreated just so he would die. But did he?" the King said conquering Buka's rook.
"He is very smart; I dare not deny. I have been working for some time now and I think he's the smartest young man I have ever met"
"I will stand behind and watch my sons fight for the throne as my father did" the King exclaimed in joy as that was the first time, he had won a chess game he had played with Buka.
"It's time for us to watch them fight," the King said. "This time, the fight will be very brutal. Don't let your guards down"
"I will send more guards to handle the situation," Buka said.
"Find the one behind this riot and let me know," the King said. "How far with the search for the golden sceptre?"
"The information I have now is quite complicated. The person might have calculated this act very well before initiating it. The culprit will definitely be one of the princes. The lead we have so far points at three of them, Zima, Ndaka, and Mbigu. It will definitely be one of them but I won't be surprised if they collaborated"
"Zima?" the King asked in disbelief. "Zima and Diemo came from the same mother. Why would he do that?"
"Your Majesty, Diemo on the throne doesn't guarantee Zima's safety. We have heard from our elder how brothers from the same parents slayed each other for the throne. This case won't be an exception"
"My sons are very good at scheming. I am afraid this fight may not cost them their lives but their families as well. We have to be prepared for everything"
"Yes, Your Majesty"
"You have been dismissed"
"Thank you, Your Majesty"
I walked back and forth on the compound feeling anxious. I waited for almost an hour for Mbaku to return. Just then a voice asked;
"Waiting for me?"
I turned only to see Mbaku behind me. I had been lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice he had arrived.
"Yes. How is it?" I asked anxiously. "Is it very bad?"
He looked quietly at me for a brief moment and said;
"You look very worried. Relax, this is the affair of men".
I nodded and looked at him.
"The palace guards are controlling the situation," he said as he pulled me towards his hut.
"Sit" he ordered when we entered his hut.
I sat down and watched him as he whispered to Jabari who left immediately.
"What do the rioters need?" I asked immediately he sat down in front of me.
"Diemo dead" he replied.
"Why?"
"It's a little complicated," he said as he opened the scrolls, he had taken from the shelve in his hut.
"Break it down, I may understand"
He lifted his head up, looked at me for some time and finally said;
"He tried to poison me. He stole the King's golden sceptre. Both crimes are highly punishable. He won't be able to escape punishment. The lenient punishment he would get is, banishment"
"Hmmm" I signed. "What do you think the King would do? Because with this situation at hand, banishing him will be like sentencing him to death"
"Why do you think so?"
"I think the main aim of the rioters is to have him killed. The person behind the riot definitely wants him dead. When Diemo is banished, the person may have him killed"
"Zui, you're a woman with a political mindset. What do you think is the best way to resolve this issue in the shortest possible time?"
"Use the predator-prey-predator scheme"
"What is it about?"
"Using a harmless predator to catch a prey in order to get the actual predator"
Mbaku nodded and said;
"It would have helped if the predator was a simple person. I am afraid, the predator is not that simple. He might be wanting something else. Don't you think it can be resolved with the luring scheme?"
"As you said, the predator isn't simple"
Mbaku smiled and nodded his head.
"How about the innocent scheme?" Mbaku asked.
Suddenly I realized he already had a scheme in mind but was trying to get me to be on the same page with him. I didn't want to ask him to tell me the scheme he had in mind, I wanted to think to meet his expectation.
"What is the innocent scheme about?"
"We let a neutral party find the predator"
"We don't have so much time. What did the King say when you went there?"
"He wants us, I mean all the princes, to come up with a solution. He would be able to control the situation until tomorrow morning. We have a few hours left"
"How about a combination of all three schemes?" I asked. "We use the innocent scheme to identify the predator, use the predator-prey-predator scheme to make the predator think he has won and use the lure scheme to lure him into his own trap"
Mbaku smiled widely and said;
"You're smarter than I thought," Mbaku said and raised his head to look at Jabari who stood there smiling.
I have been focusing on the conversation that I didn't even notice Jabari enter.
"Jabari, sneak out of the palace. Make sure nobody sees or follows you. Go to Nnaka, and give this note to him" Mbaku said as he hands a note to Jabari.
"Ok, Your Highness" Jabari said and set off.