by Owen Oakley
“I loved you, and this is ow you do me? The only thing,” he said as he shook her. “The only thing that’s keeping me fwom snapping yoa neck is my child.”
He let her fall to the floor.
“Lock all of them in the dungeon,” he commanded.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Weeks passed, and the kingdom of Waewood still had a long way to go to recover. Ashanti was still in the medical wing, but Bayo was there with her every chance he got. It was a comfort to Taj to know she would be okay, and that she had Bayo with her.
Before they began the cleanup, Taj made sure everyone who died had a proper funeral, and the family took as much time as they needed to grieve.
The tunneled attack was something Taj couldn’t have foreseen, but yet she blamed herself.
Many of the elderly blamed her too, and she took it because in some ways she felt she caused it.
Citizens were hard at work to restore their kingdom. Bayo and Taj cleaned the debris side by side.
“Ow is she doing?”
Bayo stopped working to wipe the sweat from his brow.
“Betta. The heala’ wants ha’ to stay anotha day or two to see if the su’g’y was successful. He was wo’wied about the tendon pwopa’ly ma’ging bagk togetha.”
Taj face fell. “What’s the wosst possible that could appen?” She asked.
Bayo looked tired and restless. “She’ll ave a limp and exp’ience discomfo’t fo’ the west of ha’ life.”
She felt horrible she couldn’t get to her sooner. Ashanti was a strong woman and had the strength to survive.
“She’ll pull thwough, she’s a wawwio.”
He knew it was true, but he still worried.
Chipo looked displeased as she walked in and took in the scene. Her face glowed with scrutiny and anger. She spotted Bayo and Taj in the distance.
“I need a wo’d with you in pwivate,” Chipo said as she stared at Taj.
“I’m busy, we’ll ave a word a’.”
Bayo whispered in Taj’s ear. “Does this woman ave an off button?”
Taj shook her head.
Bayo was exhausted with added impatience he was ready to explode.
“The elda’s and I ave decided that it would be in yoa best inte’est to step down,” Chipo said. Bayo continued to work as he listened.
Taj was the one who was shocked. This woman sought her to lead now she wanted her to give it up.
“I can’t do that. You gave me this position, and I’m not giving it up. You’we fwee to leave but I’m not giving up on oa’ people,” Taj replied.
“We may take you up on that offa’. I’ve seen too many of my people die fo’ a cause that doesn’t concign them,” she said.
That did it.
“Chipo what did you do to elp during the attagk?” Bayo inquired.
Everyone stopped with their eyes on Chipo and awaited her answer.
“I tended to the inju’ed,” she said.
“I neva’ saw you once,” Taj said.
“Neitha did I, but you call yoozself a wawwio. Wawwios don’t ide they fight until thee’ v’y last bweath,” Bayo added.
Chipo was flustered by their comments and accusations.
“All you need to know is that we will leave this place. If you wa’ smart, you’d leave too. Ev’ywha you go you bwing death and destwuction.”
Taj and Bayo ignored her for as long as they could. She marched out with half of the citizens with her. It didn’t bother Taj because she knew they had no other place to go or resources to start over. The fewer complainers they had, the better it would be for the others.
The remainder of people stood around as they debated if they would follow.
“Get bagk to wo’k, we still ave much to do o’ you can join the rest.” Taj shrugged. “The choice is yoas’.”
Emotions ran wild, but they had no other option but to stay and rebuild. Slowly they went back to work. Taj shook her head, she was tired and felt defeated.
“You andled that well,” Bayo said as he placed a hand on her shoulder. “All of this.”
Taj patted his hand, it felt good to hear a bit of encouragement.
“Now I ave no adviso’,” she said.
Bayo hesitated for a moment. He wasn’t very good at expressing concern or how to offer assistance unless he was asked.
“I could be yoa adviso’. Temporarily of coozse until you find someone else,” he said.
Taj’s face lit up with joy, it was one less thing she had to worry about.
⸞⸟⸞
“Okay, ev’yone. Thank you fo’ yoa awd wo’k. We’ll pick bagk up in the mo’ning. Eat and get plenty of west,” Taj said.
Everyone made their way to their homes ⸺exhausted.
“Awe you going to check on Ashanti?” Taj Asked Bayo.
He nodded with a tiny smile.
“Tell her I’ll be tha’ tomo’wow to see ha’.”
Bayo gave her more encouraging words before he went to the medical wing.
She was drained from it all. She couldn’t help but think about the one decision she made set forth so many tragic events. At that moment doubt and regret clouded her mind.
She tried to fight back the tears, but they won.
She didn’t notice a person who stood in front of her. Taj looked up and blinked back more tears.
A man with beautiful flowers and a warm smile; the smile that made her world brighter.
“Ey you,” Salim said.
She didn’t respond, instead jumped into his arms, with her face buried in his chest. He stroked her hair and tightly held her in his arms.
Salim had to adjust to the new version of Adanya. The woman he once knew never showed emotions or allowed anyone to get close to her. He enjoyed her improvements, though he hated how it happened.
“That bad, huh?”
“You ave no idea,” she said.
He kissed her forehead and another tight squeeze before they pulled apart. He handed her the bouquet of flowers.
“I thought you could use a little sunshine.”
She took the flowers⸺ her favorite, light pink Gazanias. She brought them to her nose and deeply inhaled them.
Salim smiled at her and watched in admiration.
“I wasn’t expecting you bagk so soon,” she said.
“Awe you complaining? I can leave.”
He started to walk away. Taj grabbed his arm and gave him a playful shove.
“Don’t you da’e.”
He laughed.
“Come with me, I ave a suwpwise fo’ you,” Salim told her.
Salim led Taj outside with his hand over her eyes. It took them longer than planned; Taj refused to follow Salim’s directions. She hated surprises, and he knew it, and in return, she chose to be difficult, but Salim expected she would.
“Ow, much fuwtha do we ave to go?” She asked. Salim ignored her and continued to guide her along the path.
Finally, they stopped. She could smell food ⸺fruit, a hint of wine, and something sweet. Maybe surprises weren’t all bad.
Salim removed his hands from her eyes. She was stunned. There was a blanket with rose petals all around, champagne and chocolate covered strawberries.
He had all of her favorite foods; Mealie bread; the sweet bread she fell in love with after Salim insisted she tried when they were children; last but not least the best dessert in Africa, freshly fried Koeksister. She absolutely loved the fried dough soaked in syrup.
A small and thoughtful act felt like the biggest thing in the world to her.
“I figa’d you’d need yoa comfo’t food afta’ the last week you’ve ad,” he said.
He helped her find a spot on the blanket. Her stomach rumbled at the smell. Salim laughed.
“And wight on time.”
The Koeksisters and Mealie bread were very warm and fresh.
“When did you ave time to do this?” She asked.
“Some of yoa people felt you desa’ved a bweak as well and they elpe
d pwepawed ev’ything.”
She was happy to hear that some of her people still cared for her.
“What do you want fisst?” He asked.
She shrugged.
“Suwpwise me.” Salim grabbed the two flutes and poured her some champagne.
“Open,” he said.
Taj playfully rolled her eyes but complied to his request. He slowly put the deep chocolate covered, golden sugar-coated strawberry into her mouth. She bit into it; it was the sweetest strawberry she’d tasted.
“Oh, my, those awe good,” she said. The deliciousness on her taste buds sparked a familiar memory. “Awe these fwom Tina’s Lovely Creations?”
He nodded. “I ad them impo’ted,” Salim said.
She tilted her head in thought.
“Impo’ted? Wha is she?”
“She moved back to the states, ha’ ome in Mississippi. It took me a while, but I found ha’. She didn’t hesitate when I told ha’ they wa’ fo’ you.” He said.
Taj’s face fell in disappointment. The two befriended the American woman at a party she catered for a royal ball; where they fell in love with her beautifully themed creations of fruit and candy desserts.
“You ad these impo’ted jozt fo’ me? Jozt fo’ this moment?”
“I did.”
He pointed to her feet; she scooted closer to him and placed them in his lap. He began massaging her feet with his strong hands, that felt like heaven; she needed it.
Taj rolled her neck until it popped.
“I’ll take ca’ee of that a little lata,” he said with a grin. She licked her lips at the thought of his hands on her body.
He continued to massage her feet while she fished for a piece of bread.
Salim picked a hill that overlooked a nearby meadow. The sun was setting and illuminated the sky with colors.
Everything was beautiful and perfect. Salim watched her; he was happy to help her relax and enjoy herself.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Don’t even. You needed this so just welax, watch the sunset, and eat.” She didn’t argue with that command.
⸞⸟⸞
Night had fallen when they started back to the palace. They were hand in hand and admired the stars as they walked.
“Awe you tiwed?” He asked her.
“A little, but I’m fine. Why?”
He had a mischievous grin. “One mo’ suwpwise, okay?”
“You awe not cova’ing my eyes again,” she said as she pointed at him.
He held his hands up in mock surrender. “You’we the boss,” he said.
She already knew that, and so did he.
They entered her bedroom, there were no lights except for the flicker of candles throughout the room. The candles were colorful and scented.
The smell of vanilla circulated in the air. The dancing candle flames were enough to put her to sleep. Immediately she wanted to dive head first into bed, but something was already there.
It was a piece of paper with Salim’s handwriting, more rose petals, and a single stem rose. She looked at Salim who had yet to say anything.
She unfolded the note and read it out loud:
“Adanya,
I didn’t wealize jozt ow in love with you I was until I lost you. My wo’ld tu’ned upside down when you left. Tha’s, not a lot that scawes me but losing you is something I can’t beaw. Becoaze of love, ope, and the biggest of all, feaw. Allow me to guawantee that I won’t lose you again.”
After she read the last line, Salim was on one knee with a flawless princess cut diamond ring etched with black and gold trim. She wanted to speak but couldn’t.
Her father robbed her of that moment that she dreamt about, but Salim made sure it was perfect. He took her hand and looked deep in her eyes.
“Taj Adanya Muto, will you do me the ono’ of being my wife?” She was frozen in place. Salim bit back a laugh; it amused him to see the sensitive side of her.
Her tears glistened in the candlelight.
“Yes!”
Salim got to his feet and picked her up into his arms. He kissed her passionately as he moved them to the bed. Each kiss was more profound and sensual than the last.
He wanted to keep going, but he told himself that she would have to be the one to initiate things when she was ready.
She felt him pull back and she was disappointed. He brushed her hair from her face as he laid on top of her.
“Tha’s no wush,” he said. His caring and kind spirit made her love him more.
“I want to,” she said as she stroked his cheek, her diamond glistened in the light. He searched her face for certainty.
Taj didn’t waste a second. She pulled him closer to her and slowly kissed him.
After a moment her only fear was realized, her flashbacks hit her one after the other. She closed her eyes to suppress them but nothing; they were still there.
Her body trembled, even with her eyes closed she felt Salim’s stare; she thought he wanted to stop.
He took his hand and gently touched her arm, then her head, and the place where her heart was. Every part of her body that trembled he kissed with comfort.
Her body relaxed, and a warm sensation went over her.
“Ow did you do that?” She asked mesmerized by what he had done.
He lowered himself to her ear, his breath on her earlobe gave her chill bumps.
“Only yoa soulmate’s touch can wid you of yoa feaws.”
They helped each other out of their clothes. She expected, well she didn’t know what she expected. Salim took things slow, the passionate kisses she wanted to do forever.
He kissed her neck and caressed her breast. She bit the urge to release a loud moan. Her arms were tight around his neck.
He continued to kiss every inch of her body. When he made it between her legs, her back arched off the bed.
She felt intoxicated, and it was incredibly intense with every slow lick and swirl of his tongue. Taj’s body scooted to the head of the bed, but his muscular arms wrapped around her legs held her back in place.
His tongue was like a magic wand. The moan that she silenced before escaped louder than it would have been. Thank God Ashanti insisted she had the entire floor to herself.
He made sure she was comfortable with each kiss and touch of her body. He slid inside of her, kissed deep and hard that took her to a place of ecstasy. Thick, long, and smooth she was happy he was gentle with her.
His rhythmic movements made it easy for her to go into bliss. She had no idea why a single tear fell from her eye. It was just that good. He laid there still inside of her, wrapped in his arms.
“Did you ave an o’gasm too?” She asked in a low breathless voice.
He smiled and gently kissed her collarbone.
“Tonight, wasn’t about me, I wanted to please you.”
His words surged a bolt of energy and lust in her. She rolled on top of him. It was Salim’s moment to look surprised. Taj licked her lips and leaned close to his ear.
“Tonight is about us. Now let me pleasa’ you.”
Salim gave her a seductive smile that only made her moisten even more.
Taj worked her hips on top of him. Salim laid still with his hands behind his head, eyes closed and a look of pleasure on his face.
Even after her past trauma somehow Salim managed to make it feel like her first time.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The following morning, Taj laid in bed, naked wrapped in the sheets. She stared at her ring from every possible angle. She had a glow. The sun’s warmth felt good on her skin.
The door opened, Salim carried a tray with tall flutes of orange juice, Plantain pancakes, sweet plantain hash and eggs and bacon wrapped plantain. Her mouth watered when he sat the platter in the middle of the bed.
“Awe you twying to get me fat?” she asked. He smiled and shook his head. “Who do I ave to thank fo’ this?”
He looked at her with a bewildered expression.
“I’m a�
�t. I made this. I can’t believe you assumed I couldn’t cook,” he said.
“Ow did I get so lucky?” She questioned with a smile.
He kissed her forehead, “Not lucky jozt blessed.”
They ate their breakfast in bed and talked about what the day held for them.
After breakfast, the two went downstairs. Taj planned to visit Ashanti in the medical wing, but Ashanti left against the healer’s advice. They asked Taj to make sure Ashanti was never injured again because she proved to be a difficult patient.
When they reached the day room, Ashanti and Bayo were in deep conversation. They looked so natural with each, as though they’ve known each other for years. Taj almost hated to interrupt their moment.
“Good mo’ning,” Taj said to them. They greeted her back and stared. “Ow awe you feeling Ashanti?”
“Fine.” She looked at Taj from head to toe and arched her brow.
“The question is, ow awe you?” Ashanti smiled.
Salim crept behind Taj and wrapped his arms around her. Bayo grinned and let out a low chuckle.
“I’m well,” Taj said as she flipped her hair with her left hand to show them her engagement ring.
Ashanti gasped and clapped her hands together. “No way!” She said.
“Congwatulations! That’s wonda’ful news!”
Bayo gave Taj a hug and shook Salim’s hand with a pat on the back.
“Thank you,” Salim replied.
Taj moved closer so they could inspect the ring. The women were giddy with excitement. Bayo cleared his throat, back with the usual serious expression he wore.
“I ate to be the killjoy, but we weceived this today.”
Bayo held up a rolled-up parchment with a red ribbon tied around it.
“Is that what I think it is?” Taj asked them.
“Afwaid so,” Bayo said as he passed it to her.
“That bastawd!” Salim shouted.
Ashanti nodded. “Exactly what I said.”
Taj expected nothing less from her brother. Only a coward would declare war on a kingdom that was recovering from a previous attack.
“I will twavel to Lawk to twy to weason with im,” Bayo said.
“You’we going to leave me?” Ashanti asked. Bayo pinched the bridge of his nose.