As he thought about Safiya's words about protecting her sister, he couldn't help but wonder how Meka was doing. On her wedding day, she had been so full of life and happiness, but now she seemed like a different person - quieter and more subdued. Despite this, she still managed to smile.
"Oh, Meka, come sit with me," the princess said, waving to her and pointing at the empty stool next to her.
Meka gave her a faint smile and then greeted the king, the queens, and, of course, her dear husband, with a smile. He smiled back, and then she noticed Malik, who gave her a faint smile as well. "How are you doing, Meka?" he asked kindly.
"All is well," Meka replied with a gentle smile, choosing to sit close to her husband despite the princess's invitation to join her. The princess pouted her lips momentarily but stayed silent.
The king smile warmly, and spoke with a tone of reverence, "May the ancestors bless this family, bless the food, and, of course, bless our newlywed couple, my dear son Jelani and his beautiful wife, Meka."
Everyone bowed in respect, showing their gratitude for the blessings. Jelani's hand found its way around Meka's shoulder, a gesture that spoke of both affection and pride. He added, "It is indeed an honor, dear father, for acknowledging my wife and me."
The second queen smiled and said, "Bless your union." They bowed in respect, while the first queen only nodded and gave a faint smile. Malik wondered why she remained so quiet.
Breakfast began, and Malik ate slowly as he observed the family. The second queen was now feeding her son, while Jelani engaged in conversation with his mother, his hand still draped around Meka's shoulder.
The king laughed at something his daughter said. Despite the laughter that filled the room, Malik couldn't help but feel a lack of love in the atmosphere. It seemed as if everyone was simply minding their own business.
This was far from how he would have breakfast with his mother or even with the warriors, where the love could be felt in the air.
He noticed Meka staring off into space, her untouched food in front of her. Malik leaned closer to her, whispering, "Are you okay?" His voice was meant only for her ears, as he sat nearest to her alongside Jelani.
Meka turned towards him slightly, her expression guarded before quickly diverting her attention back to her plate and starting to eat. "I'm fine," she responded hastily, her voice lacking conviction.
Malik didn't press further, realizing that perhaps she was truly fine but just dealing with some stress. It wasn't his business to pry, and he questioned why he even cared.
As someone who had been to countless battles, his heart had grown numb to the weight of killing. He often wondered how other warriors were able to fall in love and build homes amidst the chaos.
Malik noticed something strange between Jelani and Meka. Although Jelani had his hand on her shoulder, he wasn't paying her any attention.
Instead, he was engrossed in a conversation with his mother, who appeared to dote on him. Meka, on the other hand, seemed quiet and overlooked by everyone.
She quietly ate her meal while nobody bothered to engage with her, except for the second queen, who offered a gentle smile while attending to her own child. Meanwhile, Princess Ife was deep in conversation with the king. This left Malik confused and concerned, wondering if there was something wrong.
After breakfast, Malik and the king are seated in a dimly lit room. The walls were adorned with faded tapestries depicting ancient battles and kings of old. Two ornate chairs faced each other, their plush cushions showing signs of age, while a sturdy table stood between them, holding a small lamp that emitted a soft, warm glow.
The king's voice was laced with nervousness as he said, "What now, Malik? What is actually going on?"
"I'm afraid I can't answer that," Malik said sternly. "There are things beyond human capacity, and this is one of them."
"How do you know? Are you sure of what you are saying?" the king questioned.
"Certainly, the deaths of the three bodies I found in the woods are not the doings of humans," Malik replied confidently.
The king shifted in his seat, deep in thought. "Or animals?"
Malik let out a silent laugh. "I would have known if it was an animal. I live and breathe in this realm of life. I know the claws of an animal, I recognize the marks and prints they would leave behind, and that includes humans. But what I saw..." His jaw clenched as he contemplated the mysterious occurrence. "I've never seen anything like that."
It was one of those days when he returned from war and decided to take a stroll in the woods. The rest of the warriors were by the river, quenching their thirst with drinks when he stumbled upon it.
Three bodies, completely unrecognizable, lay dead before him. Their skin was charred black, as if they had been burnt, but Malik knew that this was not an ordinary occurrence. He witnessed black smoke hovering above them, as if it was devouring the remaining flesh left on the burning bodies.
Without informing anyone yet, Malik had quickly alerted the king.
"Is the kingdom in danger?" the king asked frantically.
Malik's jaw clenched as he too didn't know what was happening, and he couldn't promise the king anything just yet. "I will look into it, my king. You don't need to worry. But for now, it would be better not to tell anyone," he responded cautiously.
Malik didn't fully understand why he said that, but his gut told him it was the right course of action. It was his gut that made him inform the king in the first place, and his gut told him that this situation was far from ordinary.
"Will this affect the forthcoming coronation?" the king inquired with concern. Malik paused for a moment, contemplating his response.
He wanted to reassure the king, to ensure that nothing would hinder the coronation of the upcoming king. "No, I will make sure nothing stops the coronation. I won't let danger lurk in," he firmly assured the king.
"What will you do?" the king pressed on. Malik took a deep breath, formulating a plan in his mind.
"I will visit the other kingdoms to see if they are faced with this strange death. For those kingdoms where I have no alignment, I will hide my identity to gather information discreetly," he explained, determined to uncover the truth behind these mysterious deaths.