In the King's garden
The King called for Buka who showed up immediately he was sent for. The King looked distressed. He looked like he had been deprived of sleep for a couple of nights. Buka noticed it.
"Buka, I'm glad you got here early!" the King greeted.
"Always at your service, My King" Buka replied. "What troubles My King?"
"T'chada sent a message yesterday. He will be returning in three days." the King replied.
"Why does Prince T'chada's return bother My King?"
"T'chada's return is a signal of the southern states hunger for power. Besides, he has never been in good terms with Mbaku. He treats Mbaku like a slave. That's the main reason why I sent him away" the King confined in Buka.
"I understand My King's distress. But His Majesty, prince Mbaku is not that young helpless boy again. He's now a grown man with a wife. Prince T'chada can't rule him like he used to" Buka replied.
"Hmmmmm" the King sighed. "T'chada's sudden return and Diemo's frame, don't you think they are related?"
"I wish I could say 'yes', but I don't have any evidence of the relationship between these two incidents"
"I called you here because I wanted to know if you have found something in relation to Diemo's case"
"I don't think Diemo is dead" Buka said.
The King turned sharply to look at him.
"What do you mean by that?" the King asked in surprise.
"Prince Mbaku would be the best person to explain it" Buka replied.
"What did he do?" the King asked.
"He saved Prince Diemo. Prince Ndaka already wanted to poison Diemo. Prince Mbaku had the poison changed to herbs that render a person unconscious for a few days. That's what I think he did"
The King laughed , turned to Buka and said;
"Mbaku never ceases to amaze me. Why would Ndaka try to eliminate Diemo?"
"That's what I am trying to find out, My King. It seems he's working with one of the ministers" Buka replied.
"Let's drag the mouse out of the sewage to find the cat!" the King said.
"Exactly, His Highness" Buka replied.
"Let's find out, who is behind it and his motives as well" the King said.
"I understand, Your Majesty" Buka replied.
"You're dismissed"
"Thank you, Your Majesty" Buka said, bowed to the King, took three steps backwards and turned to leave.
v At Mbaku's manor
The guards announced the messenger's arrival as the messenger entered the compound of the manor. Mbaku walked out his hut to meet the messenger.
down.
"Rise" Mbaku said.
"Your Highness, His Majesty the King, wants to meet with you, an hour from now" the messenger relayed the message.
"Thank you. Let His Majesty know I will be there" Mbaku replied.
"I will take my leave now, Your Highness"
"You may leave" Mbaku replied.
I went to bath, dressed and waited patiently for Lady Shui's arrival. Mbaku had already left to the King's manor. Suddenly, thoughts of Feya flashed my mind. Laya hasn't told anything yet. I asked her to find out only two nights ago. I reminded myself. She can't possibly find anything in two days.
"My Lady, Lady Shui has arrived!" Yhuri called out to me.
I hurriedly walked out of my hut to greet Lady Shui.
"Your Highness," I said while bowing, "you're welcome"
"Thank you, my daughter"
I directed her to the visitors' lounge at the Manor. Lady Shui came along with two palace maids and two palace guards, the carriage rider and another man. The man looked familiar but I couldn't tell where I had met him. Yhuri served them with some chilled water and chrysanthemum flowers tea.
"Come and sit beside me" Lady Shui said beaming with a smile.
I stood from my seat and sat in an empty seat beside her.
"How are you, Zui?" Lady Shui asked.
"I am good, mother" I replied.
"Guess what, I like it when you call me 'mother'" Lady Shui said smiling at me.
"Come closer" Lady Shui called out the man.
The man walked to close to us and knelt in front of us.
"Check her pulse, and survey her health" Lady Shui ordered.
"But mother, I …" I could barely finish the sentence, before Lady Shui began to talk.
"I just want to find out if you are healthy and fit as you used to be" Lady Shui said.
I could not say or do anything other than stretching my hand further so that the man can check my pulse. The man place two of his fingers, the index and middle ones to be precises, on my hand to check my pulse. He pleaded with me to allow him to take a closer look at my eyes. Of course! I allowed him. There was an awkward silence. After what seemed like an endless silence to me the man began to talk.
"Your Highness, My Lady is very healthy. She's very fit" the man said with a smile.
"Thank you. Your work is done here." Lady Shui said to the man.
The man stood up, took a few steps backwards, bowed to us and left.
"Zui according to the man physician, you are healthy and very fit. That's good to hear. A month in the palace and a lot has happened already" Lady Shui said and paused. After realizing I was not going to say anything she continued.
"How is life in this manor?"
"Very good, mother!" I replied with a very broad smile.
"I'm glad you're happy here!"
We continued with our chitchats for more than an hour. The conversations were intriguing and interesting. As we continued to talk, I remembered the first time Mbaku got drunk. I remembered clearly everything he said in as he talked in his sleep.
"Zui, is there anything bothering you?" Lady Shui asked.
"Not really, mother" I replied.
"You can't fool me, Zui. What's wrong?"
I took a deep breathe and asked, "Has Mbaku lost anyone dear to him before?"
Lady Shui smiled and asked," Why do you ask?"
"On our wedding night, he was talking in his sleep after consuming alcohol." I replied.
"Hmmmm, it's a long story" Lady Shui. "Have you ever wondered why there is no 10th prince even though the King has 13 sons?"
"Yes. I was wondering why they were 12 yet the last number is 13"
"The 10th prince, Prince Sylla, was very dear to Mbaku. Even though he was the son of the seventh wife of the King, Mbaku treated him like they were from the same mother. Because of their friendship, the seventh wife and I became friends too. On Sylla's birthday Mbaku went hunting and captured a live doe for him. Sylla was very pleased and decided to do same for Mbaku on his birthday.Sylla knew Mbaku liked cubs. He decided to get one for Mbaku. Mbaku didn't have any idea of what Sylla was planning to do. Sylla went into the forest with a palace guard at dawn. Unfortunately, they were both killed by a lioness when they tried to take one of its cubs. In the course of the day, we organized search parties to look for them since they were no where to be found. I comforted Sylla's mother reassuring her, her son was safe but I was afraid of the outcome myself. In the afternoon, their defaced bodies were taken straight to the burial ground and were buried. Mbaku felt very guilty and developed his attitude of coldness after he heard Sylla has gone into the forest to get him a cub. Mbaku prevented anyone from getting close to him and built an unfriendly appearance for himself."
"I see" I said nodding. "He's afraid he might lose people he love"
"It's getting late. I have to leave now. I stayed longer with the hope that Mbaku would return but it looks like I would have to keep waiting if I want to meet him. I better leave. I really enjoyed your company today, Zui. I would pass by another day" Lady Shui and rose to her feet.
"You're always welcomed, mother" I replied as we walked to the entrance of the manor.
"Do well to pass by when you are less busy" Lady Shui said winking at me.
"I will, mother" I replied and giggled.
I watched Lady Shui leave in her carriage. Just when her carriage left, Mbaku arrived.
At the King's manor
Mbaku stood at the left gate at the entrance of the King's hall and listened to his meeting with the ministers of state. The meeting ended an hour after Mbaku got to the King's manor. The King accompanied by his guards walked out. The ministers of state left the hall a few minutes after the King left. Mbaku followed closely behind the King as they walked to the King's garden.
"Mbaku, I'm sorry I kept you waiting. I thought the meeting was going to end early but unfortunately it didn't" the King apologized.
"Never mind, Papa" Mbaku replied.
"How is Zui?" the King asked.
"She's very good. Thank you for asking" Mbaku replied trying to hide his smile but his dimple sold him out. The King saw him smile and kept his doubt to himself.
"Mbaku" the King called.
"Papa"
"How can I ever repay you?"
"Papa, I don't understand you"
"Thank you for saving my son, even though he tried to hurt you several time"
"Don't mention, papa. Honestly, I did it for Eyeki"
"I knew it! How were you two coping after she married Diemo? You must have been brokenhearted when she married another man"
"Papa, I never had any romantic feeling for her. She's Sylla's cousin…."
Mbaku stopped talking. There was a moment of awkward silence.
"Mbaku, you still can't get over Sylla's death. It's been fifteen years now." the King said.
"I have gotten over it, just that sometimes I feel guilty. Why did you summon me, papa?"
"T'chada sent me a letter yesterday. He told me, he would be returning in three days hopefully" the King replied.
"Why is he returning suddenly?" Mbaku probed.
"I can't tell. In the letter he sent, he stated that he was coming back with no intentions of going back"
"Ok, papa. Are you scared his presence may affect me?"
The King nodded and sighed heavily.
"Papa, you don't have to worry so much about me. I would know how to live around him when he returns"
"Mbaku, have you ever considered being a King?" the King asked.
Mbaku was stunned. He couldn't believe what he just heard. The King never talks to anyone about the throne. The looked at Mbaku and realized he hasn't thought of it.
"Mbaku, you can make a great King. I know you can. I believe you can. Start thinking about it and let me know your final decision"
"Papa, why this all of a sudden?" Mbaku managed to ask.
The King sighed and said; "The future is not known. Anything can happen at any point in time"
"Papa, what exactly is going on?"
After a long pause, the King said; "I have been poisoned. I was poisoned slowly that I couldn't see it coming. The poison has been used on me for quite a long time, per my physicians' remarks"
The King turned to face Mbaku. He saw the tears in Mbaku's eyes and placed his hands on Mbaku's shoulders to comfort him.
"Mbaku, you have to be strong. I don't want you to end up like me. That's why I am giving you the chance to choose. Be strong. I have to rest. You can go back to your manor now"
"Ok, papa" Mbaku replied and turned to leave. Mbaku turned suddenly, walked to his father and hugged him. The King fought his tears, hugged his son and whispered into his ears;
"You have to be strong for yourself, your wife and your mother"
Mbaku nodded, released the King from his grip, wiped his tears and walked away.