5.Within the castle, at its centre was a majestic throne room, anchored by four solid rock pillars. The throne seat, also made of rock was big, and covered in hides and furs of a number of animals. The crowning glory was the feathers of a peacock. It was a sight, an artistic sight I suppose. And so was the Prince.
He turned. Of course he just had to look like the tall dark and handsome stranger I’d just met a couple of weeks back. To be fair, since this was some past time or alternate universe, I'd suppose it was Kundai who looked like the prince, except that this prince had harder features; chiselled chin and fiercer eyes. In 21st century language: he was hot.
'My Princess. I was beginning to think you had changed your mind.' And his rough raspy voice wasn’t doing any favours for this ancient body I was wearing or whatever.
'No, I have not. In fact, I've completed my training. Which means the marriage ceremony as well as the crowning ritual will take place as planned on the night of the full moon.'
'So a few days from now you shall be officially my wife, and the Rain Queen of course. Is there a problem? You don’t look well.”
I had just been thinking about what Mother Superior had said. I didn’t know what she had to say, but I had to put the warrior at my side to thought as well. He was also heir to his kingdom, getting the throne only if he married within his royal clan or a just basically a royal like me. But that was not my conundrum. The problem was we both had kingdoms to run, mine being essentially matriarchal which meant no husband of the Queen would ever rule, and his being essentially run by him. We had agreed he would stay in my kingdom and still rule his kingdom. Now that I thought of it, that sounded a bit off. Who gives up their kingdom for love? Well maybe I was just being paranoid. Because then again he had never been true heir, having gotten it only through his uncle’s death who did not have male heirs.
We were in love, I was just getting the jitters. Paranoia barely suited my gracious circumstances.
‘Well, I hate to chase you off, but there’s a lot of preparing to do..and I’d rather get on top of it myself. You don’t mind do you?'
'That's alright, I simply came to check on you,' the Prince said, ‘since the marriage ritual depended on finishing your training. I must get back as well, tell my elders that the ceremony is on at the next full moon. So go about your business and don’t let me keep you.'
I suppose that is why I loved this man, so considerate and selfless and yet getting things done.
'Well, let me get some food for you before you leave, your guards must be starving.'
We said our goodbyes and he and his guards were served food in my absence, for I trusted my kitchen servants to serve the best, and unpoisoned of course. They were escorted out while I went to find my aunt.
I found her in her quarters.
'Here you are Amai...I’ve been looking for you everywhere. You sounded distressed before. You must tell me what is bothering you.'
'My child, it is of utmost importance that I speak to you...but it is dangerous here for the walls might have ears. Let us take a walk outside.'
We walked through the gate and she instructed the guards to stay there. We moved through the trees until we got to the ruware, a place I usually went, because I had done so since childhood and also because the sunset always looked magical from that view.
'It is not easy mwana,to tell you such news, but since you are almost queen you must know these things and judge the matter accordingly.
Many years ago, before our mothers ruled, there ruled a king more powerful than all. He had powers no other kingdom could supersede, but he grew greedy and went off on a quest to find the most powerful wizard at that time. And he found him as well as the source of that wizard's power.However, the snag was as long as the wizard was alive the power would never go to another. So the king killed him and got the wizard's powers. The problem came when he came back to his kingdom, the magic was eating him from the inside out, and making him a beast in every way, because after all it was never meant to be his. His actions went against every law that Musikavanhu had given our people, the rainmakers..So his wife who happened to be the greatest healer in the land thought to save herself, her children and the kingdom from the horrible king. She poisoned him with a powerful concoction and he died. So it became that our kingdom has been ruled by our mothers ever since.
I tell you this story because as a direct descendant of the Mothers you must know that the sons of this king also have descendants who now want to claim back the throne. The elders' council is conspiring against you, and though I have been able to stall them by being in power, it is clear that they now wish to take action. I don’t know how they plan to do it, but your life is in danger. It is up to you if you want to take the risk, but we don’t know how deep this conspiracy goes.'
I was shocked. I grew up in a fairly peaceful land. There was never any talk of coups, although I suppose they had sheltered me from such. What would I do if indeed they planned to kill me?
'The throne is rightfully mine as far as I’m concerned. No one can just take that from me. The crowning will take place as planned. And if it is a battle they want, a battle they shall get.'
'I am fully behind you and your decision my child. That is how I have raised you, in preparation for this day. However, until then a few trusted guards shall protect you, and this..'
She handed me a small blade that had been neatly concealed under her cape.
“It is charmed to kill whoever meets its blade in combat.”
‘Thank You, Mother Superior. I am grateful for all you have done. But if your life is in danger I need you to leave the kingdom. I can get the Prince to find you safe haven among his allies. You are the only mother I’ve ever known, I want you alive and safe.”
“I can’t go anywhere my child. Because I also want you safe…and this land is all I’ve ever known. Therefore it’s only right that we stand together in this fight, no matter the cost.”
She was looking so grave now as if she knew the outcome. It wouldn’t be quite a surprise if she was also a psychic on top of all this rainmaking supernatural business.
We walked back and kept ourselves busy for the next few days. We prepared for the marriage ceremony. I had told the Prince every detail of the conversation I had had with Chinoera. He vowed no one would so much as be able to point a finger in my direction, and since his kingdom were the fiercest warriors in the land I supposed that just his word would do.
My aunt was tense and so was I, though we both knew how to hide it well. A sense of foreboding kept creeping on me as the day for the marriage ceremony drew closer. The elders were as pleasant as ever, snivelling snakes in the grass. But I had to wait till I was queen to be able to say that to their faces. In the meantime my blade was safely tucked under my cape, which was now my new fashion accessory as queen-to-reign. Custom demanded I wear a long cape, as regal as the one Chinoera wore. I had a handmaiden and a guard accompany me everywhere, which was a bit tedious, but knowing that the girl had been trained to throw a spear and wield a blade by Chinoera herself gave me comfort.