Mhare walked with Mukono in the forest. They were cautious because they knew that they had entered Mutapa's territory. They had been walking around hoping to find his den but they couldn't.
As they walked, Mhare noticed a hyena walking alone. He took an arrow and stretched his bow. The arrow hit the hyena's leg and it began leaping away.
"Why did you shoot the leg?" Mukono asked.
"I want it to lead us to Mutapa," Mhare said as he began following the hyena from a distance.
They followed the hyena until it reached a certain mountain. The mountain was perched in a depression and was covered by trees. From a distance, one wouldn't notice that there was a mountain because its top was aligned to the ground level.
Trees made it look like a small hill. When Mhare saw the mountain he sighed and said, "We have arrived."
He then shot the hyena twice in the stomach and it fell. "What makes you so sure that this is the place?" Mukono asked.
"A place like this is a good hiding place for a man who associates with animals," Mhare said as he looked around to see if anyone was watching them.
"And the hyena?" Mukono asked again.
"If you had the power to control animals, wouldn't you use such a big hyena?" Mhare asked back.
Mukono just nodded and Mhare led the way into the depression. As they descended, Mhare kept looking around for wild animals. They walked quietly until they had reached the bottom of the mountain.
They looked around and saw smoke from a distance. They just looked at each other and began walking towards the smoke.
As they approached the smoke, they saw a young man sitting alone. On his right hand side was a herd of cattle. Mhare approached the young man from behind and held his mouth tightly before saying, "I am going to release you, if you shout I will kill you."
The young man quickly nodded and Mukono said, "Whose cattle is this?"
"They belong to the man who walks with the animals. We look after his cattle," the young man responded.
"Where is he?" Mhare asked.
"I don't know. He left with a lion this morning," the young man said.
"Where does he stay?" Mhare asked again.
"In the caves of this mountain," the young man responded.
Mhare nodded and Mukono thrust his spear into the young man's heart. "What have you done? He maybe one of us," Mhare said.
"He works for the man and can't be trusted," Mukono said as he wiped the end of his spear on the young man's body.
"Do something with the body," Mhare said as he looked around. Mukono began cutting a few branches which he used to cover the young man's body whilst Mhare stood with his back facing Mukono.
When Mukono was done, he looked at Mhare who seemed to be looking for a way to go to the cave. He held his spear and walked slowly towards Mhare who suddenly turned and dodged the spear which was aimed at his back.
Mukono tried to throw the spear but Mhare ducked and ran towards Mukono. He threw a punch which landed perfectly on Mukono's cheek and he stumbled backwards.
Mhare used this opportunity to throw another punch which brought Mukono to the ground. Mukono took the sand in his sand and threw it in Mhare's face. Mhare covered his face as Mukono rose and threw him to the ground.
He threw a few punches on Mhare's face who overpowered him and came on top. Mhare threw some punches on Mukono as well. They rolled on the ground as they exchanged punches.
Mukono finally managed to place his large hands tightly on Mhare's neck.
He pressed hard on the neck and Mhare looked around to find something to help him escape the grip. Mhare reached for a stone and used his might to strike Mukono's head.
Mukono fell to the ground with his side as blood began oozing from his head. Mhare rose up and kicked Mukono to the stomach very hard. The man groaned in pain as Mhare looked on.
"I never trusted you. Actually, I expected you to do this," Mhare said as he picked up Mukono's spear.
Mukono coughed as blood oozed from his mouth. He tried to rise but Mhare's kick landed which landed on his stomach brought him to the ground again.
Mukono pretended to be weak and as Mhare approached he held his leg and pulled it. Mhare fell to the ground and the spear landed away from them. They began wrestling for the spear.
When Mukono tried to reach for the spear, Mhare pulled his leg. He took a big stone in his hand and struck Mukono's back with. The man groaned and Mhare pulled him closer. He used the stone to strike Mukono's head a few more times.
This time Mukono's power faded as the damage made to his head made him powerless. He just stared at Mhare who said, "The Princess was never yours in the first place."
Mhare raised the stone again and struck Mukono one more time to the head. He rose to his feet and watched as Mukono breathed his last. He collected his tools and began climbing the mountains.
As he walked, he scanned the environment for any movement. His bow was stretched all the way. He then noticed a small foot path which he followed and it lead to the eastern cave where Gora had stayed.
The cave was empty but there was burning charcoal in the fire place. Mhare lit a torch using the charcoal and followed a corridor which led him to a wing with a number of caves.
Most of these caves were empty until he reached one which had a lion sleeping. When he approached the entrance, the lion raised its head.
Mhare froze to his spot as the lion rose up to attack him. He carefully placed the torch on the ground and stretched his bow towards the lion.
Without hesitating, Mhare released the arrow and hit the lion's front leg.
The lion growled and charged towards him. Mhare side stepped it and released another arrow into its ribs.
The lion charged at him again and as it opened its mouth, Mhare released an arrow into its mouth. The lion fell to the ground and Mhare quickly dipped his spear a few times into the lion's body.
After this, he left the cave and moved around with the torch of fire. When he reached the cave in which Ruva was lying, he quickly walked forward but a snake quickly blocked his way.
Mhare froze as he thought of a plan to kill the angry snake. Ruva heard the hissing of the snake and she woke up. When she saw Mhare, joy filled her heart.
She looked around and found a log which she threw at the snake. The log hit the snake and Mhare used his spear to beat the snake's head. Mhare quickly rushed to Ruva's side and said, "Are you okay? Did he touch you?"
He questioned as he scanned her body for any injury. She shook her head and said, "I am fine. You came for me." Ruva smiled.
Mhare nodded as he looked around and he said, "Where is he?"
"They left this morning," Princess Ruva responded as she rose to her feet.
"They left?" Mhare asked.
"I will explain everything later. Let's leave this place before they come back," Ruva said as she walked.
Mhare looked around and saw all the calabashes in the cave. There were herbs and some items he didn't even know. He took the torch and lit these things.
The calabashes were filled with more of these herbs so he also destroyed them and laid everything to the ground. "What are you doing?! Let's go," Ruva said as she looked around.
Mhare took her hand and led the way out of the cave. They walked towards the eastern cave where Mhare had first approached. Inside the eastern cave, Mhare lit everything and they burnt to ashes.
The Princess was losing her patience. She took his hand and dragged him out of the cave. They escaped silently into the woods and ran for a moment until Ruva was tired.
She stopped to get some air and Mhare took her behind a rock and sat there. "You shouldn't have come," Ruva said.
"What?" Mhare looked surprised.
"Mutapa has a plan to make our kingdoms fight. I don't know how, but he's planning to make the kingdoms tear each other apart. The kingdom needs you," Ruva said.
Mhare rose to his feet and helped her to stand up. "We will find out his plan when we get back home. For now, let's leave and stay alive," Mhare said and they began running again.