In one of the many cells rooms built in the royal grounds in the Ukadama kingdom. Seghete laid with a yolk on his neck, chains on his hands and legs. After loosing a lot of blood he became unconscious.
Kodawa and his guards had tortured him to an extent of making him weak enough because they knew pretty well that they couldn't take him down when he was in full strength. They had shackled him yet three strong guards were placed outside the cell to make sure he was under control.
The ukadaman heir majestically approached the guards and ordered them to transfer the hunter ( That's how Seghete presented himself when he first stepped his feet on the ukadama land.) to the dungeon.
The last thing Kodawa wanted was his father getting wind of him humiliating and spilling blood unnecessarily. Though he knew his father must now be aware of it because some few villagers had witnessed the incident. Having the lad removed from the cell will clear any evidence of him capturing the stranger. He was planning to give his further an alibi that the stranger had insulted the royal family and he was the same person who had once attacked him and his guards.
***
After what had conspired earlier during the day when she had left home to fetch water, Sheshije was totally in a bad mood. She couldn't understand what came over her on seeing what Kodawa was doing to the man who had earlier saved her. Yet she was so confused as to how the man could let the prince and his guards easily beat him like that when the other day he had kicked their asses like they were a bunch of lizards.
Her heart picked up when she recalled how the lad had wriggled and threatened the prince when he had slapped her. She couldn't find a strong reason for the man's reaction. As a matter of fact She couldn't figure out how or why she felt so attached to him yet they have barely known each other. 'Was he also feeling the same? If it is true then that could explain the reason for his reaction when the prince hit me.' Sheshije thought to herself.
She got out of her room and headed to the hut which was located on the periphery of the homestead. It was their kitchen she was a grown up girl, it was her duty to help her mother with the many house chores cooking included.
She wanted the meal to be ready fast so that she could meet her father. Sheshije couldn't wait to vividly explain to him what kind of a monster was the person he was blindly giving his daughter to as a wife.
Maybe that could have a good impact... but she doubted it would, knowing how her father was hellbent in marrying her off to the mannerless prince just to get the position he had been longing for the gods knew how long .
The long awaited moment was finally there. The family was all seated and the lady of the house as per the Tubheta tradition, served all her family members starting with the father and the next male and then the females would follow. A delicious dinner of bhughai bhwa makafi (A meal made from banana flour) and mud fish stew.
"Papa, guess what, your wonderful prince has done today to a poor stranger! He had joined hands with his guards and tortured an innocent passer by before everyone! when I tried to confront him he had mercilessly slapped me! Papa... is that the kind of husband you want me to live with?.." The last words come out as a whisper due to the emotions which were building up. She blinked several times to brush off the tears which threatened to flow down her cheeks.
Her father who seemed unfazed by what her daughter had just spoken lazily asked , " Why did you questioned his highness the prince and your future husband? Is that how your mother taught you to be? I must say you deserved it. She was showing you in actions who the head of the house was between the two of you. Learn from your mistakes dear child. "
Her mother looked conflicted about which side to take, She dearly loved her daughter but also feared her husband knowing how irrational he can be sometimes.
Sheshije stoop up and strode to her room and locked herself in. She couldn't stop her tears, she cried hard for how her once peaceful life had turned out to be just because of her father's greediness.
Amidst the tears, she remembered the poor lad who had been beaten to an unconscious state and dragged all the way to the royal grounds.
'Could that bastard creature have killed the poor man? no way! I must go and save him, at least I should return a hand for saving me that day... '
After making sure everyone had drifted to sleep she tip toed and sneaked out heading to the palace carrying a calabash of sour milk, ripe bananas and a portion of the meal they had earlier eaten. All this were carefully hidden in a sisal bag.
It was dark, crickets chirping and fire flies were glowing across the path. She walked faster with a heart full of determination.