Chereads / Hunters of Africa / Chapter 6 - Chapter VI

Chapter 6 - Chapter VI

Malik was seated on his throne one cold morning. He was surrounded by his cabinet of human wolves, and they were discussing battle strategies on the claiming of Hutseh. Akabul, Malik's side witch walked in and talked some words into his ears. Malik gestured his hand asking her to wait for him outside the throne room. The looks of his six commanders was a suspicious one that proves the witch was not trusted, after all it was a trusted witch that killed Adesugh. So much whispers could be traced from the commanders table as they covered the movement of their lips with the back of their palms while speaking into the other's ears. The witc -Akabul, knew her place and was always careful not to upset the king or the Otetes. Akabul needs to the powerful Malik to help her take over the leadership of the Oracle's light. She has been so loyal in service to the brutal king, doing everything he asked, from simple spells and curses to spells that can endanger her health. Malik on the other hand needs her help in killing Toshin and she is jut the right person for the task, Akabul was a mistress of poisons and Tosin's medicine skill is little or no match for her poisons.

In the whispers of his commanders, Malik stood up from his throne, he stood many foot tall in his black melanin filled skin. His muscles were shaped as rock mounted on a bone sculpture and turgid like they were about to burst. His face looked like it has never smiled since birth and carried a long scar that ran from one side of his forehead and crossing his eyes to the lower part of his cheek. Rumor had it that this horrible scar was caused by Toshin's silver dagger. Malik found his way outside the room and stood with tosin. "I captured your nephew last night as planned, it was just a piece of cake. And Toshin passed away this morning; her old body couldn't survive the poison that our spy had given to her." "That is good. And where is Agashi?" Malik asked? "he has been changed in the cave where we chain werewolf on their first night of transformation." Malik for sure was happy, it was for sure the best news he ever heard since he became king twenty years ago. Immediately the witch left Malik walked into the throne room with full confidence and brought silence into the room. He knew that the Otetes where not happy that he was having a witch by his side, but their Alpha had his reasons.

"let's all rejoice, Toshin the witch is dead, Malik said to his human looking wolf pack." They were all surprised by the news, but joined and celebrated victory with their king. It's been so many years, but Malik despite his power, has feared that he would be challenged one day for his throne by the kid he failed to kill.

"My king, my spells can't locate him no matter how hard I try. His juju must be very powerful." "You must find that child! That's your major duty here. Don't let me lose my temper else your witch blood will beautify my palace walls. Without the boys head, my reign will not be a peaceful one." Malik had vibrated these words to Akabul after her several failures to locate the baby- Agashi. Time ate the whole matter up and made King Malik feel relax through a period of twenty years. His peace might have continued if not for that sturbon old blacksmith who had forcefully removed Agashi's protection charm-juju from his neck. Now Agashi is in a cave chained to pillars, unconscious and awaiting Malik's execution. Toshin is dead and malik was mobilizing an army for an attack on Hutseh. Now many lives are at stake due to one man's ignorance-the blacksmith.

"what a total failure, I will make your death slow and painful. Your father would beg from the beyond to make it a quick death for you." Malik gave a wicked laughter and raised Agashi's head by putting his index finger under his jaw. Agashi's eyes caught him and the witch by his side. "My king, you must kill him now that you have the chance. If the pack sees him, you would be forced to battle to death for the throne. You know your tradition." "Shut up Akabul, let me enjoy the pleasure of suffering him, even if he battles me, we all know he won't do better than a puppy. He is a pathetic loser like his father."

Agashi was still hanging by the help of the chains holding his hands to the pillar, barely alive and has been hearing all the threats Malik had been saying. The poison in his blood was still strong and had made him very weak. "This is the end." One mind told him. His heart was pounding in fear as if Malik was death itself speaking in his face. Malik was so terrifying and with a glance, he knew he wasn't a match in combat against Malik. "How has it come to this? Had I know I would have listened to Toshin and remained in the castle with the other witches." While Agashi was still in his own head, regretting his decisions, he heard Akabul's painful cry. Malik had just ripped out her heart before Agashi's eyes.

"She is useless to me now, her service is complete. I feel for her, but like the saying goes; you can't trust a witch." As Malik crossed over Akabul's dead body, he threw away the heart and gave a wicked smile to Agashi. "Don't worry, your death won't be that fast. I will make your death long and slow." Agashi's legs was crippled by the fear of what he had seen and heard, but he still gave a fierce look to the king that proved to Malik that the lad was not afraid of him.

The king left Agashi in the cave with at least a dozen men on watch duty over his poisoned nephew. At the time the moon just conquered the sun, the cave was lit with torches at every part of the cave. Deep later that night, Agashi could hear the howl of an alpha calling his pack to the mountain. The howl was resonating from a distance and the other wolves responded in devilish harmony in turns as they run towards their master's call.

Watching over a prisoner that looks half way dead was like stupidity to the guards, so they soon feel asleep. Slowly and quietly Dooshi emerged from darkness, she reached for Agashi, placed her hand over his chest and started speaking out some inchantations in whispers so as not to wake the sleeping guards. As soon as Dooshi finished her healing magic, Agashi started vomiting poisonous substances and he was well again.

Strength and health returned to Agashi, in a matter of instace he had broke the chains that was holding his hands and feet. The loud noise woke the guards up, but it was too late as he was now half way turned into a wolf. Agashi with great speed and agility killed twelve men in different horrible patterns while his sister watched him creating the horror. He transformed back to human form with his thick fur blending into normal skin hair and his long canine becoming short. Agashi hugged Dooshi in the most passionate way, a hug admist tears that was already telling sorry that I left so soon.

"thank you for saving me. Am so sorry for running away." She was quiet for some seconds. "my grandmother had been poisoned to death and my parents were killed by same hands. Please make their sacrifices count." She spoke to Agashi in a cold tone that made his conscience hurt him. "Am sorry that all this has happened because of my existence. I will kill Malik or I will die trying to." They were both silent for a while, staring in to each other's eyes then Agashi spoke up; "I would ask for one more favor." "What is it you want of me?" Dooshi asked. "Use your magic to move my heart to the right side of my chest." Not saying a word, Dooshi held agashi's hands and she started saying the magic words and casting the spells. After some time, Agashi could feel his heart moving through the thick muscles of his chest and changing positions to the other side of his chest. It was a surprising and painful move that was necessary, he wanted this to be done so that his dreaded foe-Malik will not easily rip out his heart. "Good luck Agashi. May the spirit of your ancestors guild you." And Dooshi left Agashi standing alone in the dark cave amongst the dead soldiers.