"Papa, we have been walking for hours now. Iam tired."Zahara said catching a breath, little perspiration foaming on her forehead.
Her father stopped walking, he wasn't close to being tired. For his age, he still had the vigor of a warrior, indeed a true king.
" We are almost there. You need to be patient.
" Can I have some of your water please? My Bottle is empty."
His water can had a velvet thread that hang on his side.
"Sure. "
" I can't believe your can is almost half." She said shaking the bottle.
The king didn't say anything, instead he looked far ahead. The wind blew among the trees, leaving a fresh breeze behind. Birds were leaving their nests, singing joyfully as they flied away, grateful for another dawn. It was the serenity of the surrounding that made Zahara to enjoy the journey. She was not used to getting enough space for solitude,always running around for meetings, food tasting, events, and friends parties. Town life was a buzz of activities, and time for solitude was only at night, when you want to drop on your bed and sleep, but here, in the far side of the country, where you are surrounded more by trees than people was refreshing,and for a moment she felt connected with nature. There's more to everything, and even trees are beautiful to human eyes, some shaped like elegant ladies, with thin leaves hanging loosely from the branches. Such was the wonder of the Mighty creator, foaming everything with it's own beauty, so specific and unique, to exist in Grace. Zahara knew this, and so many things, like the Taj Mahal,one of the seven wonders of the world. What became interesting to Zahara about the Taj Mahal was the story behind it's construction. A building whose behind inspiration was love. It was commissioned by Shah Jaha,to be built in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The building is part of deep history, now being used as a tourist spot, it's exquisite nature attracting so many people worldwide.
Beauty was everywhere, but not everyone sees it. Zahara didn't want to miss every moment of the beautiful morning, enjoying fresh air out in the forest with her father. The weight of hate in her heart departing little by little, with each step she took. It wasn't easy to harbor hate, she detested everything about her dad, even if she knew he was right. All that seemed to be leaving her and all she wanted was to be around him, to listen to him and drink from his cup of knowledge. She knew her father was a wise king and as much as she wanted to deny it, she longed to feel protected by her father, the first man who defined love for her, by loving his wife dutifully.
"Zahara my daughter, you are a special child. The chosen one. " He said breaking the silence.
"How do you mean?. " Confusion was written all over her face. Her father was not making any sense.
" Come here. Let's rest for a while. " He said pointing at a curved rock that stood proudly on the land.
" You see child, you carry the bead of luck," he continued.
" Bead of luck? Papa, are you okay? Because I don't understand anything that you are saying.
" You will. Let me tell you a story, that goes way back . A story of our ancestors,and how the kingship fell on our hands. A story that shows you can rise from nothing and become royalty. There are so many things you can't comprehend, especially when you are going through some misery, but when you don't know how to give up on life, it rewards you..." Zahara adjusted herself on the rock to get comfortable when her father paused.
"We are from the lineage of Owodu. The first man to become King, "by Luck." He didn't have Royal blood in him, but the gods chose him. Our Royal blood flows from him, we are his descendants,his children. He was said to be a cursed man, since his mother had him before she was married. In those days it was a taboo to bore a child before marriage,and any girl who committed such an offence was banished, sent away to wander the earth. During those days it was not strange to receive foreign women with a child from other kingdoms who seek refuge, as women of Zina too would flee to other kingdoms.
Owodu who was 3 then, and his mother arrived in Zina one morning, and as the custom demanded, she was presented before the king. You see, beautiful things never go unnoticed, and that was same for Zahara, Owodu's mother ."
"Her name was Zahara? " She asked shock written all over her face. Her father laughed.
" Yes. That's why your name is unique from other popular Zina names. Her beauty was that of a goddess, and even through her sorrow, one could not miss the glow that radiated from her face. She was indeed a beautiful woman,a ray of sunshine. It was her innocence that earned her favor before the King, who took her as a wife without second thoughts, saying that she was destined to be queen. It was unheard off, for a King to marry an outcast, a stranger to the land, who, to make matters worse had a male child from another man,on her toes. There was mixed reactions from everyone, there were those who were in support of the king, saying love knows no boundary, and there are those who said that the king was going against the norms of traditions. There was hatred, jealousy, competition around the palace, as the King's wives and children mistreated Owudu and his mother, making the king to love them even more.
Owodu was a classic go getter, enthusiasm, great energy, intelligence, and a strong will was all he exhibit. His passion and interest in leadership grew him close to the king, making their bond more strong with each passing day.
Years later on his death bed, the king called for the chief priest,elders of the Royal council and his family members and demanded that it was Owudu to rule after him. And to bind the covenant between him and all who were present,a wrist charm was made by the chief priest, and given to Owodu. The charm was made of cowry shells, and had a diamond stone that glittered in the middle.
Owodu, from whom we come from, was a very wise King, and to the surprise of the people, became the most powerful man in the region. His wrist band hence, became the bead of luck, passed from generation to generation. My children are the next to carry the bead, and one of you has to. "
Zahara was all the while silent, taking every detail of the story to heart. This was the first time she was listening to an old tale,she didn't know whether to believe it or not. It was the 21st century, the world was civilized to the point of such a story, would be considered a myth. However, Zina people still believed in traditions as the only way of life.
"Why have you never told me this story. Does any of my siblings know this?"
"How could I? You stopped trusting me." He said silently.
"What of my siblings?"
"They know everything."
" What about the bead?"
" It's under the custody of the chief priest."
" Can we go see it?"
First, you have to promise me that you are going to do as I tell you. " Zahara just nodded, curious to listen to whatever her father was saying.
" You are the next in line to wear the bead Zahara...
"What? Me? Papa. It' can't be.?"She said perplexed. She was a girl, and from her father's story, the bead should be given to the succesor of the king.
" The gods have spoken. "
" How?"
" My child, there are mysteries in this world that you can not fathom,even if you try. As your father, I see far than you,even if am sitting down and you climb this tall tree. " Zahara remained silent.
" Very soon, Zina will be going to war with the Kute, they are the most dangerous people among all the tribes, their warriors are well trained and very tough. They want to be in possession of our land that produce diamonds. The rare piece of Fortune our forefathers left us. Now, listen very careful to what am about to tell you. As you know, this is the only precious resource that we have, and now the enemy wants it. We have to protect it with everything we have, even if it means going to war. This kind of battles are never friendly, and if we loose, we will bury ourselves in shame and loose our land. You are a special child, a warrior at heart, and the time is now, to fulfill my grandmother's prophecy."
"What prophecy?" She had another confused look, her father seemed to be talking to her in a different language.
"That, I can not tell you now. "
"Am just confused at all this. I mean, come to think of it,all my life I have lived in fear of the unknown. When I left years ago, I thought I was running from what hated me, started a new life from the chaos of all those who knew me, but here Iam, being told that I am the one to carry the bead of luck, and lead my people to war. Papa, I don't even know how to fight. "Zahara was laughing at herself. Everything seemed to be a joke.
"Don't worry. Jamal will teach you. He is the best warrior in Zina."
" Jamal?"
" Yes. That young man is like a Lion. Brave. You two need to meet."
Zahara didn't say anything. She didn't want her father to know that they have history, now was not the time to talk about matters of the heart.
" As a warrior, make sure that you don't get distractions, especially from the young men. I Know you will be receiving suitors now that you are back."he said smiling.
" Don't worry. I'll focus on the mission at hand. So, how do we get to see the bead?"
" Curiosity, curiosity. It killed the cat child. Don't be too fast to chew,you might end up biting you tongue. You will wear the bead when the time comes. Remember, no one should know that you are the Special child. Not even your siblings. "
"Why?"
" You don't want all the attention. Do you?"
" Of course not. " She replied immediately, understanding clearly the benefit of being secretive.
"Papa, I just feel like my adventure has started," she stated with a smile.
"What adventure?"
" Of slaying the dragons. Am glad Jamal is my Trainer, the best warrior in Zina. Thanks Papa." She hugged him, taking him by surprise. Hugging her back, he couldn't help but think about the possibility of his daughter falling for Jamal, a warrior who seem to be tied to royalty, unknown to everyone but the king.
There was light in her eyes when she said his name, and that was hope enough for the king.