The king looked at the door but nothing happened. He placed his eyes on the sleeping Queen and began debating on whether he should wake her up or not. The events of the day had exhausted her and she was in a deep sleep.
Besides, the king new that she slept with her ears closed. He then decided to check the sound on his own instead of waking the Queen. As he stood up, smoke mingled with a strong smell started to fill the room.
He tried to move but his muscles became numb. The world around him began spinning and he fell with his face on the ground with the spear in his hand.
The king started hearing things around him but he couldn't open his eyes. He heard his door open and for some time he could tell that someone was moving in his hut. He then felt a pair of cold hands grabbing him by the chest as they dragged him and positioned his body against the walls of the hut.
He then felt cold splash of water on his face and slowly his muscles began to loosen up. When he opened his eyes, he noticed that he was sitting next to his sleeping beloved Queen.
When he raised his head, his eyes landed on a man sitting by the fire warming his hands. His eyes moved to the man's side and landed on a male lion. Changamire Zama shifted in fear when he saw the lion.
Mutapa laughed and ran his hands across the lion's head. "Who knew man can tame this beast? Calm down your Majesty. He won't bite you...yet."
The king took deep breaths before saying, "Mutapa..."
Mutapa chuckled as he placed a log into the fire. He then said, "You know the name. It's amazing how one man can become so famous to his strangers."
"What do you want?" The king questioned as he scanned the room for his spear. He saw the iron metal shining next to Mutapa.
"You boast about your power, your glory and strength. Your people believe that they are safe because of you. I wonder what they will say when they find out that I was here," Mutapa said.
"What do you want?" Changamire Zama questioned again.
"This kingdom is glorified for its warriors and the king who unites the people. You parade as a peace loving man when all you are is a bloodthirst man-a wolf disguised as sheep," Mutapa said.
"Says the man who sucks the blood out of innocent man-a coward who hides behind the shadows," Changamire Zama said.
Mutapa chuckled and said, "I am the wolf that I am. Unlike you, I did not build my power by the foundation of people's blood."
"Yet your roof is filled with blood of innocent Manyika, Zezuru and Karanga people," Changamire Zama countered.
"They were not so innocent, were they? They are all under the wings of the mighty Changamire Zama. When he commits a sin they follow suit," Mutapa said.
"And what sins did they commit?" The king questioned.
"They are stubborn just like their leader...you. They had to be disciplined first so that they will not do anything when I discipline their father," Mutapa responded.
"Our kingdoms are united. There's no leader or ruler of them," the king said.
Mutapa raised his hand and said, "Save the speech for your guests who are sleeping in that big hut. I am sitting in front of their leader and they know it. They are just afraid to admit it."
Changamire Zama tried to stand up when Mutapa mentioned the guests but the lion stood up and barricaded him from reaching Mutapa. He stood frozen and Mutapa laughed. "What have you done?"
"Careful. He's not so friendly to those who attack me," Mutapa said and whistled.
The lion sat down at the sound of the whistle. He then continued by saying, "Your guests are safe. You are so blinded by your ego that you can't even protect your own."
Mutapa shook his head and began laughing at the king who was still trying to figure out what Mutapa meant. When he understood the statement, his eyes widenened. Anger and rage filled his heart even though he was powerless to express these feelings.
"Leave my daughter out of this! You are a coward. Children have no business in man's fights," the king said.
"Have you ever witnessed two bull elephants fighting? Hence, the elders say 'when two elephants fight, the grass suffers.' Do you remember the old saying?" Mutapa said as he picked the king's spear.
"What have you done with my daughter? I promise you, I will kill you for this. I will make you bleed countless times as you beg to die because the pain will be unbearable," the king threatened.
Mutapa scanned the cold metal in his hand and said, "As a child I desired to become a warrior...a Bantu warrior. I imagined myself going to war and returning as the brave warrior. But things change."
Mutapa rose to his feet and pointed at Changamire Zama. "The urge of killing you right now is so strong I am hardly managing to control it. But I want you to suffer like I did. I want to you to experience the pain of losing a loved one. I would kill your Queen right now but I know it won't hurt as much as it does when you lose the Princess."
Changamire Zama chuckled and said, "You don't kill. The innocent beasts do it for you. You are just a coward who..."
The king couldn't finish his sentence when Mutapa's fist came flying and landed perfectly on his mouth. He dropped to the ground as blood began oozing from his cracked lip. Before the king could rise again, Mutapa thrust the spear into the king's thigh.
Changamire Zama groaned loudly in pain and almost screamed when Mutapa removed the spear but he was too proud to scream before a man. The king chuckled in his pain and said, "You didn't kill. You can't do it."
"Watch as I conquer kingdom by kingdom. I will put your kingdom to the ground and when I am done, I will execute you and your puppet kings in front of your subjects. I am going to enjoy watching you fall from glory. And you are going to enjoy the process," Mutapa said as he began walking away.
"You can't touch my daughter! Leave my daughter out of this. Hey, Mutapa! I will skin you alive for this," the king spat as he tried to rise to his feet with his injured leg.
The lion stood in his way and Mutapa turned back to face him. "Send my regards to your guests," Mutapa said and whistled.
The lion began following him out of the hut. The king leaped towards the door but it got shut before he could reach it. The smoke filled the room again and the king began fighting the numbness of his muscles but in vain.
He dropped to the ground and tried to crawl towards the door but his muscles gave up on him. Tears filled his eyes as he realized he couldn't do anything to save his daughter.
His eyes were still open and he moved them towards the Queen who looked peaceful in her sleep. A foul smell began infiltrating the room and as soon as it reached the king's nose, his eyes began giving up on him as well.
A deep sleep covered the king. All he could see in that sleep were memories he shared with his daughter when she was young up to the moment she danced before the guests.
The memories changed into a nightmare of his daughter screaming for help. Even in the dream, the king couldn't save his daughter. Tears escaped his eyes even when he was sleeping.