"what do you think we will find inside?" the little cousin had questioned as they journeyed on the dark path set for them.
"I don't know," Lwazi had answered, glancing at the little boy below his waist. Squeezing his hand as reassurance that they'd face everything together, he carried on to say, "but whatever it is, we will face it together."
*****
Azania had been drinking tea with the current Dowager who's dreadlocks had already been showing a little bit of white hair. Her warm face was round and chubby, as her dreadlocks rested along her back. They had been cut off when the previous King died. To show devotion, mourning, and lastly an end of a life, and a start of a new beginning without her loved one.
The old woman's eyes had blue orbs, not because she was born that way, however, only because of old age, her eyes had already had caught a disease. She could no longer see too far, or too near, only a mere feet away was just right.
"Come dear, let me see your face clearly," her voice that carried wisdom had not only seemed super excited and sweet to see her, but loving tones also travelled to Azania's ears.
Azania hurried to kneel before her, "ayy, quickly stand and forgo formalities. Come, sit next to your grandmother," she had sweetly said.
"I hope the day has not been too cold to you Dowager," the little princess had held the Queen mother's hands with all her might as she showed her devotion and care.
"I've only been used to these harsh winds. But our cold weather is not as cold as your cold heart. Did I not tell you to call me grandmother when no one is around?" she pulled the girls ear only a tiny bit, as a way to show her frustration with how much she kept importance with formalities.
Azania half laughed with a cute whine. "Azania won't repeat her mistakes anymore," she pipped her head to the side as she kept notice of the Dowager's glowing face.
"You.. you already know how you're the only granddaughter in this family, those children of mine, they only bore me grandsons," she whined, as she showed dislike to be missing company of a younger miss next to her.
"Well, since I am already a part of your life from now grandmother. This granddaughter in law of yours shall keep you company until you get bored of me," Azania brushed the old lady's hands as she felt warmth, and a little less home sick. The woman was as kind as people usually said. She felt grateful to be so close and be able to hold her hands that way.
"And have your husband angry at me for taking most of your time? I'd rather not," They both laughed.
"That husband of mine would not even notice if I were gone for a month. He has been busy with overlooking the tobacco and gold trade. I am afraid he will have worked himself to death before he notices my absence." Azania rumbled as she kept rubbing on her grandmother in law's hands.
"it has not even been two weeks since you have been married here, and you already sound like a bitter wife," they both laughed to this.
"I am bitter," Azania mocked as she felt quite free as the conversation went on.
"yes, that's my child, be bitter and pull him by his ear if he refuses to pay attention to you," she laughed as she pat the little child's thighs.
"It's never been so lively at the Queen mother's kraal you know? In no time, I hope I'll have a few princes and princesses running around in this palace of mine," she beamed with hope, her eyes getting wider, and her grin spreading more.
Ania's cheeks held a tint of red, and her eyes nearly popped out of her eye sockets. "Grandmother," She hid her face with her palms holding in a giggle. The Dowager chuckled in amusement as she watched the little princess squirm with embarrassment.
"Crowned Princess, Crowned Princess, the crowned prince..." Azania's maidservant bit her tongue when she noticed that the Queen Dowager was around.
"Your majesty," she kneeled a few metres away and went on to greet Azania, "Your highness,"
"Come on now child speak, Azania must be anxious to know about her husband," The Dowager teased.
Azania's stomach flattered and she suddenly felt as anxious as her cheeks seemed to hit up. She did not like the feeling, not that it was bad either, only, she did not understand why she felt this way.
"His highness is a few metres away from the gates. He was spotted along with his army emerging from the seas," the maidservant said with excitement as she carried on to kneel.
"That is strange." Azania mumbled, because according to her husband, he would be taking the long route home, in order to avoid any spies that would be planted along the way. In which the long route would not be from the coastal.
A few seconds later, a strong looking soldier walked in panting and out of breath.
"Your majesty, we thought the soldiers coming from the sea was the crowned prince, only to find out the soldiers are led with range by General Ayana," out of fear, he seemed to tremble a little.
The Queen Dowager suddenly stood abruptly. Which caused her to be a little dizzy. "Grandmother," out of worry, Azania found herself crying for the old lady who seemed to have her knees weakened.
"Is General Ayana rebelling?" The princess questioned, sensing there was more to this than meets the eye.
"If it was just General Ayana rebelling, we would have solved it long ago, but, General Ayana, she has been dead for the past twenty years."
Azania could feel her breathing quicken. "Dead?" she whispered in great fear and confusion. "Retribution, retribution," she whispered in panic as everything seemed to make sense and still manage to confuse her as much.
******
"why have you not made any move to kill me?" Moti had found himself asking.
"what will killing you bring?"
"as much as I should be pleased to know you have no interest in killing me," he faked a broken heart as he held another hand that was free from his cousins grasp to his chest, "I feel insulted by how little you view my life. Do I not pose as any threat to you?" Moti asked after realising how seriously offended he was.
"You should be happy I don't want you dead, why do you bother with-" Lwazi was cut mid sentence by Moti who brought forth his worldly views as to why Lwazi should yearn to kill him.
"We are competing for the same power," he had said lastly after rumbling about how they might even be tie if they were raised by the same people.
"I of course am better than you, in both looks and talents," he rumbled on about how the Crystals were always better since they had the most morals. "you? Morals?" Lwazi hummed softly to this as he wondered what Moti truly considered as morals, because his vulgar reputation was all he was known for.
"I feel pity for your people, to think you're next in line and their lives depend on you," Lwazi shook his head in amusement wondering if maybe Moti and him could have been the same if they were raised under the same circumstances.
"if I become the heavenly general our people's lives won't have to depend to him," the little boy chipped in as he looked at Lwazi with admiration.
"What kind of love portion did you feed him? Why..?" Moti questioned, struggling to find the words to place out his Frustrations. Jealousy lacing his voice as he noticed how his little cousin didn't look up to him as much anymore.
"Whatever it was, it sure was delicious," the little boy shouted in excitement as he giggled at Moti's purple face.
A few minutes after they kept walking through the darkness, along with Moti's remarks from being tired, or questions if they were going to the underworld to face judgement.
"Because if we do have to face judgement, I'm afraid the Lady of the underworld might force crimes on me only to keep me hostage," he carried on to say in faked fear.
"You really do hold yourself highly," Lwazi bemused.
"Wait," Alarick Lwazi suddenly ordered, sensing a change in air.
"What's wrong?" The little boy questioned.
"I think-" before Alarick Lwazi could answer there were already three separate doors infront of them. It already seemed quite easy for the three of them to guess that each door was for each of them.
"I'm afraid." The little cousin said honestly. "Don't be scared little cousin, or else how do you plan to be the heavenly general?" Moti nudged him slightly as he gave the child a sympathetic smile.
Moti confidently surpassed them as he carried on to open his door. The little cousin hesitantly stood by the door and suddenly walked in without second thought.
"Dump head," Moti suddenly turned to his big brother automatically, when he realised he answered to such an insult from Alarick Lwazi.
"Is this your way of stalling time just so you can avoid the test?" Moti questioned as he rolled his eyes.
Lwazi, instead walked into his door and opened it, seeing a light blind his eyes, he hesitantly looked at Moti sincerely. "Don't die," he commanded before he walked in and closed the door.