by Owen Oakley
“Why the sudden inta’est in us? We stay to oa’selves, and we don’t ave anything that e doesn’t alweady ave,” Taj said.
As a queen she took to reasoning and rationality instead of her usual attitude, she found it was more effective.
The messenger gave them all a blank stare.
Ashanti let go of the tension in her arms. It was something about threats that sent her to a dark place and a warning from King Omari was worse.
“E’ says you and yoa kingdom awe a thweat, no wespect fo’ otha kings. You’we a fwaud!”
Now that was disrespectful.
Taj cleared her throat and stopped Ashanti before she charged the messenger. Ashanti took a step back with a look of disappointment.
After a great night with Salim, she now had to deal with foolishness once again from Plipoolians.
She drew closer to the messenger and dropped her voice low for him to hear.
“Pwoposition declined so tell yoa king neva’ to thweaten my people again.”
She almost eluded him with no detection, when recognition flooded the messenger.
“Pwincess Adanya!” He called to her.
She stopped short of a couple steps and removed her mask. Ashanti watched her back with a smirk, always ready for a show.
“Looks like I’m up fo’ a pwomotion. Afta’ King Omawi eaws of this.”
Taj let out a long sigh and weighed her options.
“You know sometimes it’s best to jozt be quiet, see and don’t see things. I’ve neva’ condoned killing messengas, its such wotten luck, but you, I don’t like.”
Taj removed her sword from her hip and rammed it into the messenger’s gut. His eyes went wide and coughed up thick chunks of blood. She walked away before the body hit the ground.
The other Plipoolians men reacted too slowly, Ashanti and the soldiers were upon them with their blades. Taj heard the men yell out in pain when the swords pierced and cut through their flash.
Guilt washed over her. It was frowned upon when a messenger was killed for any message they carried. She accepted the consequences and retaliation that were sure to follow.
Chapter Twenty
“Fatha, what a pleasant sa’pwise. What bwings you to Lawk and unannounced?”
Zola escorted her father into the palace. It was the first time King Haji had been back to Lark since her induction as queen.
“Does a fatha need a weason to check in on his daughta’ and unbo’n gwandchild?” King Haji kissed Zola on both cheeks and rubbed her oversized belly.
“Of coazse,” she said. Zola looked nervous in her father’s presence.
If he had gone through the trouble to journey all the way unannounced it meant something was wrong. Her father wasn’t aware that she was the one who suggested an alliance with Plipool and felt it wasn’t necessary to inform him of Lark’s business.
“You know I twozt yoa judgment?”
Zola nodded in response.
“I can’t elp but wonda’ if you jumped into all of this too soon,” he continued.
“What do you mean?”
He gave her a knowing look when she tried to play naïve.
“I think you know what I mean.”
He fixed her with a stern look, and she listened without so much as a sound.
“Kofi is not fit to be a king ova’ anyone. This place is o’wible. You and my gwandchild awe in danga’ a’. Yoa motha and I wo’wy about yoa safety.”
Zola admired and picked at her nails. Her father had several other children that needed his attention, but he chose to focus on her affairs.
King Haji gave his daughter a warm smile when he caught onto her irritation.
“Fatha, I’m okay. Kofi has ev’ything unda’ contwol. Now that e as secu’d the alliance with Plipool things will get betta.”
Her father’s face twisted and his brows furrowed at the mention of the alliance with Plipool. He couldn’t believe of all kingdoms he sided with Plipool.
“Which bwings me to my next point. This alliance, why didn’t you tell me?”
She looked away, careful not to meet her father’s gaze.
“Muto and I wa’nt close fwiends but I wespected im as a king and as a fatha, but in some ways, I think e failed is people at both.”
Zola rolled her neck and let out a drawn-out sigh.
“What awe you saying? That what e did to Adanya was unfae’? Giving Kofi the thrwone was a mistake?”
He leaned forward in his seat and took his daughter’s hand.
“I’m saying the dead can’t speak. The only pesson who knows the twuth is Adanya, and no one as seen ha’ o’ knows ha’ wh’abouts. People awe in an upwoaw, a civil waw becaoze Muto chose to andle things poo’ly. The only viable option is to find Adanya and bwing ha’ bagk. She’s the only one who can wesolve any of this.”
Zola stared out the window at the destroyed landscape that was once beautiful. The grass had turned brown, flowers withered⸺ everything was dying before their eyes.
Her entire demeanor shifted. She faced her father who was still seated comfortably on the sofa.
“At least Muto thought is daugha was wo’thy of the thwone,” she said.
Haji’s expression was unreadable, but his daughter’s remark came as a surprise.
“It’s a new day, and women awe capable of mo’ than standing in a king’s shadow.”
“No one suggested women wa’n’t capable to wule by themselves.”
Zola cast her father a sidelong glance.
“Ultimately that is what Muto said and why e banished Adanya. She didn’t agwee to an awwanged mawwiage ova’ what was wightfully has.”
King Haji was attentive to his daughter’s words and chose not to dispute her accusations.
“Ow many elda’ ge’ls ave been bo’n to kings only to be ova’looked?” She paused to collect herself.
Her pregnancy brought about spur of the moment emotions that she couldn’t control. She looked her father in his eyes.
“I can name two who pozhed thee’s away fo’ thee’ son,” she said.
King Haji had heard enough of his daughter’s version of the truth. He swiftly got to his feet. Anger etched in his facial features.
His finger wagged inches away from her face.
“Eaw me and eaw me well. You neva’ showed an ounce of inta’st in the thwone. Adanya should ave been the Queen of Lawk, wenouncing ha’ was Muto’s gweatest faila’. She eawned it, unlike yoozself, who thought mo’ about shopping and thwowing social galas with daddy’s money.”
She cupped her stomach. She didn’t want to get overly excited for the baby’s sake. It was hard to listen to her father speak highly of another woman and scorn his own daughter.
King Haji didn’t back away from the door she had opened.
“Your place will always be in the shadow of a king becaoze you ave nothing a’⸺ he pointed to his temple⸺, and you definitely don’t ave enough a’,” he placed his hand on his chest where his heart was.
Her father’s ridicule was far too much for her to take. He saw the hurt on his daughter’s face, and he wanted to say more, but Zola held up her hand to silence him.
“I may be a lot of things, but I’m mo’ than the cwedit you give me. I’ve come up with things you couldn’t even fathom.”
King Haji was oblivious but also curious about what his daughter’s words meant.
Just as he was about to ask, the servant interrupted them with a visitor. Zola was surprised to see the man that stood before her.
King Haji walked over and greeted him with a smile.
“King Salim this is ca’eainly a tweat.”
He was relieved that someone broke up his verbal spat with Zola.
Salim gave him a genuine smile and greeted them both. Zola never spoke. Instead, she stood to the side away from the conversation.
“I’m a’ to see Kofi,” Salim said.
“Is e expecting you? E is a busy man with no time fo’ unannounced visito’s,” Zola snarle
d.
Salim was well aware of Zola’ reputation and nasty attitude. He knew how to handle women like her.
Salim kept his charm about himself, in fact, he turned it up a notch just to show her that he was unrattled by her words.
“Yes, Queen e is expecting me. I’m gwateful fo’ is time. I know e as a gweat deal on is plate. I pwomise not to take too much of is time,” he said.
It was news to her, Kofi hadn’t mentioned Salim would visit.
King Haji shot a smirk in his daughter’s direction for reasonable measures.
Salim hoped that his kindness would soften her, but Zola had her heart set on being unpleasant; after all, she mastered that area.
She wanted to make another smug remark but decided to play nice in front of her father. She mustered up a fake smile to the best of her ability.
“King Salim follow me I will show you to is chamba’s. Fatha, I’m ce’tain you can find yoa way out, it’s the way you ente’d.”
Salim’s eyes darted between the two. He sensed the tension in the room, but he was there for information, not their family affairs. She walked away with Salim by her side. They both disappeared down the hall.
As soon as Zola was out of earshot of her father she started in on Salim.
“Why awe you weally a’?”
Salim fought the urge to be ugly, as kind of a man he was, even he had his limits.
“I want to discozs the new queen that as joined us. To see if anyone as found out anything new about ha’.”
She eyed him suspiciously, though she couldn’t determine if his words were the truth or not.
“A co’wespondence would ave sufficed. All this way to be told tha’ is no new info’mation. Seems like a waste of a king’s time.”
Salim had become irritated by the petulant questioning, especially from the likes of her.
“My time, jozt like yoa ozband’s is impo’tant. To waste is time is to waste that of my own, and I don’t make it an abit of wasting my time.”
She snorted at his remark.
“You know why the kingdom of Iyego has thwived fo’ cent’ies? It’s becaoze we each play the wole given to us. We don’t ave chaos and confozion,” he said as he made a hand gesture to his surroundings.
Zola didn’t think twice of Salim’s insulting comment. They walked the rest of the way in silence.
⸞⸟⸞
“Kofi thank you fo’ seeing me today.” Salim entered Kofi’s chambers.
The guards that usually hung around at Kofi’s front door were in a position to intercept any riots.
The two shook hands with firm grips, and Salim took a seat in front of Kofi’s desk.
“I’ve meant to meet with you. I’m glad you came,” Kofi said.
“Wanted to make sa’e you wa’ okay. The annual meeting ad a little more excitement than expected.”
Kofi was annoyed by the continued mention of the meeting.
“Ave you found out any new info’mation on Queen Taj?” Salim continued.
“No, King Omawi and I ave yet to uncova’ any new info’mation. She will be dealt with soon enough,” Kofi said.
Salim remained passive and careful not to show any signs of tension or irritation.
“What do you mean?” Salim’s voice steadied at a low and even tone that didn’t raise suspicion.
Kofi smiled and wet his lips. He enjoyed his and Omari’s antics. He was so desperate to pay Taj back for the embarrassment she caused for him at the annual meeting.
“She only as two choices. Shut Waewood down and tu’n it ova’ to us o’⸺ he let the words linger ⸺we destroy everything.”
Salim gripped the armrests of his chair until his hands sweated and turned white. He had to control his emotions. He stood up and shook the pain out of his hands.
“Well, I don’t want to take up any mo’ of yoa time. I jozt wanted to make sa’e that ev’ything was okay with you. As kings will all ave to stick togetha,” Salim told him.
“Indeed. We’ll keep you info’med and if you can spa’e some of yoa men. We’d appweciate it. The mo’ the betta.”
Salim couldn’t bring himself to say anything. He turned to leave, but he stopped.
His entire plan was built around being calm. The calmer he tried to be the more he replayed Adanya’s account of that night that changed everything.
The king in him told himself to leave, to remain in control, but the man that loved Adanya, who would go through fire to protect her couldn’t let the bastard slide.
Salim stepped back on his heel and turned to Kofi.
“Yoa sista’ and I wa’ longtime fwiends.”
Kofi nodded in agreeance.
“I adn’t ad closa’ since that night.”
Kofi’s nerves were on edge.
“Maybe you can elp me out. Enlighten me on what appened that night?” Salim asked with his arms crossed over his broad chest.
Kofi shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Salim not only had height but solid muscles. Kofi had no protection if things were to get out of hand; Kofi would not survive. His mouth went dry, Salim’s eyes were locked on him.
“That night was a complete bla’. I don’t wish to talk about things of the past. We should focus on the things ahead,” he said nervously.
Spoken like a true snake, Salim thought.
Like a little boy that refused to confess the truth. Salim placed both his hands and bore his weight down on the desk until he towered over Kofi.
“I know who you weally awe; a cowawd. When we wa’ kids you wa’ quiet, sneaky, always watching and plotting against othas.”
Kofi leaned back in his chair.
“I can’t pwove it, but I know you ad something to do with Adanya going missing. So please, please give me a weason to end you.” Salim looked at Kofi as though he was a door to walk through.
“Twy it. Plipool’s and Lawk’s twoops would stowm Iyego and cweate a massagwe of the cent’y,” Kofi said boldly with a smirk.
“King Omawi as no loyalty. If you die, e’d be appy to rid imself of you. We all know that Lawk’s people as nothing fo’ you. Don’t test me, thweaten my people or come afta’ the ones I love. I will buwn what little is left of Lawk to the gwound and buwy you in the ashes.”
The men stared at each other. Kofi threw his hands over his face when Salim left. He had an alliance but had managed to make an enemy; one with a personal vendetta.
Salim looked back at the palace of Lark before he mounted his horse. The blanket bulge on the back of his horse made a loud noise. It almost tilted itself over a time or two. He uncovered the blanket, and when he stroked it a few times, it calmed down.
Salim gently reached in the cage where the hawk hopped onto his fingers. After more wanted affection, Salim sent the bird soaring into the air. The Lark soldiers were heard in the distance. Shouts and battle cries. Salim galloped back towards Iyego.
Taj hadn’t been able to send him the time she said, but it didn’t matter. Lark soldiers needed to know their queen lived.
Chapter Twenty-One
Salim warned Taj that they would have unexpected visitors. In preparation, Taj instructed that all citizens on the outside of the wall be brought in until the threats were eliminated.
The older individuals groaned and complained just because it was in their nature, but they followed directions for their safety.
Taj and Ashanti prepared their militia and citizens for every possible scenario. They knew Kofi and Omari had something big in store for them. All throughout the kingdom, everyone worked to secure the premises.
The soldiers armed themselves as well as citizens with small weapons. Taj regardless of title rolled up her sleeves and helped tirelessly to make sure her people felt safe.
Soldiers and warriors set up stations on the outer perimeter while the rest barricade the doors so no one could get in if they got past the wall.
They stocked at least a month’s worth of food supply. They had no idea when the attack would happen or if it would at
all.
Chipo suggested that it only a mere scare tactic to distract them. Taj still took the proper actions just in case it wasn’t. The only thing left to do was wait.
⸞⸟⸞
After a week the citizens had grown restless. They complained relentlessly every day about not having seen the sun or the outdoors. Some complained about the rationing of food. The older people who were forced behind the walls threaten to leave.
The soldiers not only kept watch for Plipoolians but also babysat grown individuals and their tantrums.
“I neva’ thought I’d eaw myself say this, but I wish the attagk were now watha than lata,” Ashanti whispered to Taj.
Taj chuckled, she could always count on Ashanti to diffuse tensed situations.
Although she wasn’t wrong, if the Plipoolians didn’t make their move within a day, Taj would have to release everyone back to their homes.
“It as been difficult,” Taj said with a deep sigh.
Night fell around them while they were on watch duty. She thought about the many people asleep on the floor in the palace with their blankets and pillows; the only time that saw peace.
Taj used that time to think and pray for guidance for what was next.
“Do you think they’ll show?” Ashanti asked.
Taj shrugged with uncertainty.
“I don’t know but I watha be pwepawed than not and ave innocent people slaughtered.”
The skies were clear and the stars shined bright. The rooftop of the palace offered the best vantage point for miles. Everything around them was calm.
The wind offered a gentle, cool breeze. The trees were still, insects that usually drove them crazy had taken the night off. Just stillness.
Taj welcomed the break from her loud and complaining citizens, but too much silence made her uneasy. Every so often Ashanti looked through her binoculars to check the perimeters.
“What wa’ yoa thoughts when you found out you wa’ being sent to Tigway?” Ashanti asked as she continued to look through her binoculars.
Taj drifted off into a light slumber but maintained aware of her surroundings. Her eyes were closed, and she didn’t bother to open them.