Pharaoh of Fire

by Chadwick Duncan

  “Is this all Nairobi, the Demon of the North has to offer?”

  “The Demon of the North?” Nairobi replied in confusion, little lines of blood flowed down his face.

  “Yes, the Demon. That is what they call you throughout the lands. Your ruthlessness knows no bounds.”

  “I guess my reputation supersedes me,” Nairobi smiled as he licked the blood trailing down from the wound over his eyebrow unto his lips.

  Nairobi charged at Ojo, but before he swung his sword, he pulled a knife from his right hip and threw it. The incoming knife caught Ojo by surprise, but he was able to weave out the way, causing it to only graze his arm. Nairobi used this as an opening and went for Ojo’s neck. Ojo ducked and Mojo jumped up into the air from his shoulders causing the blade to miss them both. Ojo slashed at Nairobi’s torso with his knives, but Nairobi deflected the strike. He then looked up and saw Mojo diving with his knife erected. Nairobi rolled to his right, causing Mojo to strike the ground instead. Mojo bounced and sprinted towards Nairobi, he leaped and swung his knife at Nairobi’s torso. As Mojo neared, Nairobi whipped his right leg around quickly and sent Mojo flying across the room. Ojo charged towards Nairobi, but as he braced himself for the attack, two Hashish members rushed through the library door.

  The Hashish swiftly were upon Ojo. He blocked each of their blades with his knives. The Hashish slashed at his left and right things respectively. Ojo reacted just as quick and jumped backwards, causing the blades to only graze his legs. Nairobi charged behind him, attempting to plunge his sword in Ojo’s back. Mojo flew across the room, landing on Nairobi’s face. Nairobi tumbled to the ground, attempting to pry Mojo from his face as he screeched and scratched him. The two Hashish readied themselves to strike Ojo once more, but before they attacked, an arrow was driven through the back of each of their heads and protruded out of their forehead. As they fell to the ground, Ojo saw Ymir at the door, his arms still positioned after firing the arrows.

  “Come on you fool! Haroun is doing his best to distract all the guards right now!”

  Ojo whistled then proceeded to sprint for the door. Mojo ceased clawing at Nairobi’s face and scurried off behind the two men. Nairobi then slowly arose from the ground, “Damn monkey!”

  Nairobi, hearing screams, ran out the room. As he exited the library and smelled smoke. He entered the throne room and was horrified by the sight. The room was on fire, men, women and children ran screaming as they were engulfed in the flames. The Hashish and Royal Guards worked tirelessly to put out the flames and directed the civilians to safety.

  “What happened here!?” Nairobi screamed.

  A Royal Guard ran over to him, “The fire came out of nowhere, your Excellency! As we were calming the citizens, flames erupted from the crowd and quickly spread throughout the throne room!”

  “Hurry up and put this out! I shall soon return!” Nairobi commanded as he covered his face from the smoke.

  Nairobi ran to the closest window, as he peered out into the Royal Garden, he saw guards lying motionless on the ground. Some with arrows in their necks and others with stab wounds. Blood stained the flowers and the pavement. Guards laid dead throughout the western side of the garden.

  “Those mongrels killed my men. I bet they too started the fire.”

  Another Royal Guard approached Nairobi, “Your Excellency, two Hashish lay dead in your library! And your face is battered, what happened?”

  Nairobi spun around to face him, upsettingly looking him in his eyes, “I was attacked by some men. They said they were a part of The Creed. Some shit like that.”

  The Royal Guard’s eyes enlarged, “You encountered The Creed? And walked away with your life!?”

  “You seem surprised, is there something I am missing?”

  “The Creed is a brotherhood of the deadliest people in Namib. There ferocity and bloodlust is second to none! You are lucky to be alive, your Excellency!” the guard bowed.

  Nairobi had a smug look on his face, “They are the ones who are lucky, I am still getting used to fighting with one eye. Next time they will not be so fortunate.”

  Nairobi continued, “Nevertheless, go help the men tend to the flames. I shall be alright.”

  Nairomi came running down the hall, “Nairobi, Nairobi! What happened?”

  As she got closer, she continued, “And what happened to your face!? Will you be okay!?”

  Nairobi turned his left shoulder to her and continued looking into the Royal Garden, “I am fine. Now go back to your room where it is safe.”

  “Well what happened? I am not just going to sit around when something terrible is happening! I want to help,” Nairomi replied sternly.

  “There was a fire in the throne room, and some assassins came for my life. Now can you please go back to your room Nairomi!? It is not safe out here!”

  “What!? Someone attempted to take your life? And set the throne room on fire?”

  She continued, “This is unprecedented! We must get you to safety brother.”

  Nairobi replied, still avoiding eye contact with her, “I am not a child, I do not need to be watched over. I can fend for myself!”

  Nairomi was irate as she responded, “Can you look at me Nairobi!? You have not looked at me once since Father passed away. What is the matter with you?”

  Nairobi closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose, “Now is not the time for this. The Palace is ablaze, I have dead men to tend to, and I have to protect the citizens. Can you just go back to your room!?”

  “No! I am tired of you ordering me around like-like you are Father! I am your older sister and I demand you look me in my eyes when you talk to me!”

  Nairobi spun and faced her, breathing heavily, he began “I will talk to you however I feel because I am the Mansa now! I have business to tend to so, guards! Please escort her back to her room.”

  Royal Guards appeared and pleaded with the Princess to have them escort her back to her room. They sheepishly tried to touch her but she swatted their hands away and continued staring at Nairobi. Reluctantly, she eventually complied and returned back to her room with them as her escorts. Mansa Nairobi joined his men in the throne room to douse the flames and escort the citizens out. After the flames were finally quenched, the men began retrieving the burnt corpses in the Palace and the dead Royal Guardsmen from the garden. By now, the sun had begun setting and a beautiful orange and indigo hue streaked across the horizon.

  “I cannot believe those two men killed this many guards,” Nairobi proclaimed as he stood over a few dead corpses.

  A Hashish walked up to him, “Your Excellency,” he bowed.

  “Mhmm. Go on,” Nairobi answered.

  “There were thirty-six civilians burned, with eleven being fatally injured. As for the Royal Guards, a total of twelve were slain. And for the Hashish, we only lost two members, with one being severely injured in the flames.”

  “I see, I see. What is the status of the burned Hashish?”

  “He is currently undergoing medical treatment by the Palace’s doctors. As of now, he shall live with severe burns.”

  “How about those burned civilians?”

  “They have all been spread out in front of the Palace and are being looked after by various doctors from the city.”

  “Perfect. See to it that these tasks are running smoothly.”

  “Yes, your Excellency,” the Hashish bowed and exited.

  Another Hashish approached Nairobi, “Your Excellency, we have reason to believe that the flames originated from a single source within the throne room.”

  Nairobi crossed his arms and then began, “What do you mean? What brought you to this conclusion?”

  “As we examined the floor, the char seemed to envelop the room but led back to a singular point. At that point, the char was in a circular pattern as if it was radiating from a source. Possibly a bomb.”

  Nairobi, bewildered, replied, “A bomb? I did not hear an explosion. Apart from the char, there are no other signs th
at informs us it was a bomb.”

  “That is the exact conclusion we came to. Then we entertained the possibility, what if someone or thing could cast fire”

  Nairobi’s jaw dropped, his eyebrows titled in disbelief, “Someone cast…fire? What kind of sorcery is that? Do not inform me about unsupported superstition!”

  “Your Excellency, I meant do disrespect. We merely entertained the idea. We had a member notice something suspicious and decided to enter the crowd.”

  “Well, what happened to him?”

  “He is currently undergoing medical treatment for his burns, your Excellency.”

  Nairobi began rubbing his chin, “Hmm interesting. When he comes too, have him report to me.”

  “Your Excellency,” the Hashish bowed and exited.

  The sun had finally set. The winds were warm and gentle accompanied by the sounds of crickets. Ymir, Ojo and Haroun were on their way back to Crocodile Bay in the Angola territory. The men rode in the back of an old carriage being drawn by a villager. They quietly began talking amongst themselves.

  “So Ojo, what did you find out?” Haroun asked as he sat upright, running his fingers through his long, grey beard.

  Ojo was tickling Mojo under his chin as he replied, “Well, I learned that the Demon of the North doesn’t entirely live up to the rumors, but he’s fierce nonetheless. And he didn’t even realize Ida was a part of his company until she attacked them and ran off. So I doubt she would be here.”

  Ymir added, “And she hasn’t returned to Istapor either.”

  Haroun finished the thought, “So there is only one place left to search. I guess we are going to the South.”

  Ojo had a smile as vibrant as the moon, “Ahhh the South! My homeland, I haven’t been down there in years! I wonder if that soup shop is still there in Rema. Their Mannish water is to die for! Way better than in Istapor.”

  Haroun smiled and replied, “That settles it. Once we get back to the port, we sail back to Istapor and inform Mbemba on what we gathered. Then continue south to Rema.”

  Ymir leaned his head on his left arm and rolled his eyes as he began, “Can you guys just drop me off in Istapor? I’m already tired of this trip.”

  Haroun released a grizzly laugh and playfully slapped Ymir on his back, nearly shattering his spine, “Oh you are a funny one Ymir! But you know we cannot do that. Mbemba ordered that you stay with us ‘til we retrieve Ida.”

  “Ouch! Your hands are still hot!” Ymir screamed.

  Haroun began laughing and then replied, “Oh sorry, sorry. I sometimes forget how long it takes to cool off,” he began looking at his wrinkled yet muscular hands. He stared at the tattoos in the palm of each hand. The tattoos were circular and filled with strange markings.

  Chapter 14: Power

  As the darkness of night engulfed Namib, Didi finally arrived at Castle Yama, the home of Sultan Selassie. He raced through the doors to Selassie’s dining room, where he sat at a large rectangular table enjoying supper with his family.

  “Your Highness, your Highness!” Didi’s pores were overflowing with sweat, his breathing loud and his eyelids heavy.

  Selassie sat still in his chair as his eyes met Didi’s. He wore a long silken brown robe with gold rings upon his fingers. He donned a short, thick black beard with skin matching the clay pots along the room. His youngest son, Solomon, turned his head rapidly to see the intruder, his long ponytail swung behind his head in response. The eldest son, Saul, sat still and continued with his meal, with some of the food falling into his goatee. Elshaday, wearing a gold and ruby headdress and white blouse also sat still.

  “What is it Didi? Do you not see I am enjoying a meal with my family? I thought I told you all not to trouble me during this time,” The Sultan continued cutting a slice of beef and placed it in his mouth.

  Sultana Elshaday added, “Didi, you are ruining our meal,” she sipped her wine.

  Selassie’s youngest son, Solomon, added, “Yeah you swine! I am positive my father instructed you all to leave us be at this time! It better be important.”

  Didi fell to his knees, “Your Highness, my apologies! But I must warn you that we might all be in grave danger!”

  Selassie shot up from the table, “What do you mean!? Is another Sultan mobilizing against us!? Send word to my generals to commence countermeasures!”

  As Selassie’s family began hastily removing themselves from the table, Didi responded, “No-no! The Sultan’s are not attacking!”

  Selassie ceased his actions and replied, “So what is happening then!”

  “We attacked Sultan Khalil, we tried to kill him since he wouldn’t be expecting an ambush in the unclaimed territory of Death Valley…”

  Solomon shouted, “You damn fool! You might as well have started another Great War! Did you kill him!? Please tell me you killed him or I shall kill you!”

  Didi mumbled, “N-no but-”

  Solomon interrupted him, “You are a dead man then. With him returning home he is sure to attack!”

  Saul interjected, “Relax you two, there is no certainty Khalil would risk moving so many troops across these harsh terrains just to avenge him nearly losing his life. That is unnecessary. Resources would be wasted. Plus his army would be more effective defending him in his Palace.”

  Selassie added as he sat back down and wiped his forehead, “I agree Saul, Khalil is a coward. He is probably hiding in his Palace by now, he probably will not leave again any time soon.”

  He looked at Didi and continued, “Well, if that is what you wished to tell us, then it seems everything should be okay then.”

  Didi, becoming annoyed, screamed, “No! The problem is not Khalil! It is two slaves that he had with him!”

  Selassie berated Didi with his voice, “Do not dare raise your voice to me again! Guards, throw him in the dungeon. I shall deal with him come first light.”

  Saul chimed in, “Wait father, he said something about his slaves. I think we should listen.”

  Solomon added, “Slaves!? What do we have to fear about slaves!?”

  Didi began pleading at the top of his lungs, “Please, your Highness! Pardon my tone but these were no ordinary slaves! And I’m positive they are on their way here for my head!”

  Selassie asked, “What do you mean?”

  “The two slaves single handedly killed the remainder of my men. There was a woman, she was scarily quick and precise with her knife. She was dark skinned with dreadlocks. And then there was a huge brute, he crushed my men and horses with his strength! You cannot miss him!”

  Ghastly, Selassie replied, “Two slaves wreaked that much havoc!? Tell me Didi, do you think me a fool?”

  “No-no your Highness! But I’m telling you exactly what happened! This she-demon carved up my men effortlessly and her big companion broke them into pieces! I barely got away with my life!”

  Saul, looking down on Didi, “So you led them back here? You coward.”

  Solomon added, “Yeah! A real leader would have died with his men! Not helplessly lead their killers here to threaten my family!”

  Solomon looked at his father and continued, “Can I execute him father? He has been an annoyance for as long as I can remember!”

  Selassie rubbed his beard and began, “No. If they are seeking him then that is what they shall get. I will not clean up a mess you started Didi. Not another one!”

  Didi begged, “Please! Please don’t give me to them your Highness! They are savage! B-b-besides, how would it make you look if you succumbed to the will of mere slaves! They challenge your authority by even setting foot in your nation with such ill intent!”

  Saul pondered to himself and then replied, “This is true father. Imagine how we will look to the other Sultan’s if you just, essentially, bend over to the will of some slaves. Regardless if Didi caused this, we cannot sway to the will of lesser people. It would make us look weak.”

  Solomon began, “So you wish we defend, this-this coward? He burst in here during our family
dinner, yell at father, and ask of us to clean up his mistake? You must be mad.”

  Selassie finally spoke, “Boys, boys, please. You both have good reasons for either action. Let us meet with these slaves. Depending on their tone, I can just hand Didi to them and that be the end of it. But if they demand him, then I shall strike them down. No one commands me to do anything. I will instruct the guards to look out for individuals that fit that description.”

  “Sounds splendid,” Saul stated.

  “Fantastic,” Solomon replied while rolling his eyes.

  “Guards! See to it that Didi has the most comfortable cell we have to offer,” Selassie said with a smirk.

  Solomon added, “Oh yes! Put him in the cell with that rapist beast! I heard he likes ‘aged meat’!” he began laughing.

  Didi screamed as the guards pulled him away, “No please your Highness! I am sorry! I was only aiming to please you by eliminating an adversary! I did it for you! I am sorry! Please! Please!”

  The guards grabbed his arms and legs and dragged him from the room. He continued to scream and beg but his cries fell on deaf ears. The guards shut the door and the Teleki family resumed their meal as they awaited the next move from Ida and Irabor.

  “Are you sure you two want to leave this early? The sun hasn’t even broken the horizon,” Haifa stated.