CHAPTER TWO
As suspense engulfed the kingdom of Azurethra where Amanirenas rules over, another yet but surprising secrets yet to unfold itself, as the conversation continues.
Emissary: Your Highness, they'll not bend their knees. They have refused to take the seats offered from our hospitality.
Akinidad: But why?
Emissary: Perhaps they fear when they sit the message, they have for her majesty will… No…I mean…I don't know why. (Long pause)
Amanirenas: All right, go and bring into my presence the leader of the delegation.
Emissary: Your orders shall be done. (Exits the Emissary)
Akinidad: Could it be about the death of a…
Amanirenas: No, No, No, I don't want to jump into the dancing ring before the big drum. Let's wait for the chief linguist. (Knocking at the door) Yes, come in. (Enters the Emissary with the chief messenger from Ptolemaic)
Emissary Soun: (Just as he steps in) The charcoal smiled at the piece of mahogany and said "We may look alike, but I have been through red hot fire and smoke"
Amanirenas: And the piece of mahogany kept mute?
Emissary Soun: No, it replied thus "I have been through nothing, yet I am as black as you".
Amanirenas: To every mountain…
Emissary Soun: There is a valley. (He replies)
Amanirenas: Now let me have a look at your symbol of office. (She takes the linguist staff, examines it critically for a hidden mark. Having satisfied, she gives it back to him) I see, you are on a peace mission. Now tell me, what does my brother, the great King say?
Emissary Soun: Your highness, the great King specifically commanded me to speak to you, and you alone, and no to no other pair of ears.
As the Emissary Soun said that, all ears of every living organism rose to the listening of the rare message of the great King.
Amanirenas: This man here is my Emissary.
Emissary Soun: That I know and understand, but… (He looks at the corner of the room where Akinidad is seated, and signed her Royals Highness)
Amanirenas: I see…my son, (She calls out to Akinidad) can I have a word with you. (Akinidad approaches her, who then whispered something into his lone ears after which he reluctantly exits) Now, Emissary, are you there?
It is believed in that early centuries of the great African Kingdoms, that the kings and queens do not speak directly to their subjects nor strangers except through their designated emissaries, as that is indicated in here.
Emissary: I am on my feet, your highness.
Amanirenas: Get it across to the Great Kings Chief Messenger that I am ready for his message.
Emissary: Her Highness says, if the message one has to deliver is as huge as a canoe, one does not require a repair of ears as large as a river to row it on. For her ears, small though may seem, are capable of hearing anything, so unfold your tongue.
Emissary Soun: Thank you, Emissary. Hear and let it reach Her Highness, that as she was able to decipher from my staff, my colleagues and I are on a peace mission. Our great King, Masinissa Linnette Duah II, has asked us to tell her Highness that the time has come for her to send to his court Akinidad Linnette, the heir-apparent, to be trained in the art of kingship. He says further that old age is fast catching up with him and his eyes are failing to see what it used to see. He therefore feels the earlier the heir is trained the better. I am done.
Emissary: Well, your Highness, the Chief Messengers' lips have come together, so, he says.
Amanirenas: So, when am I supposed to send my son to his court?
Emissary Soun: Your Highness, we have orders to bring him along with us on our return journey to the kingdom.
Amanirenas: Tomorrow? (Asked in surprise)
Emissary Soun: Today your highness. This very day. (Answered with urgency)
Amanirenas: The sun has almost gone down, and shadows have lengthened; why don't you spend the night and leave tomorrow at sunrise?
Emissary Soun: Emissary, let it reach her Highness thus, we have orders to spend the night at Ptolemaic.
Emissary: Your Highness, so he says, that their bodies, though weak and wary from travel, must not be found respite under Ptolemaic skies.
Amanirenas: So, you insist on leaving tonight?
Emissary Soun: I insist on obeying the orders of the great King Masinissa, my Lord and master…the great king of…
Amanirenas: Very well, your message is well noted. I shall call my son and brief him.
Emissary Soun: Thank you. (Responded)
Amanirenas: Emissary
Emissary: Your Highness
Amanirenas: Take the chief messenger and his colleagues from Ptolemaic, to the guest quarters, and ask the women to take care of them.
Emissary: It is understood Your Highness, and I can assure you, that they shall not find us wanting in hospitality. (To chief messenger) This way please!
Amanirenas: And Okyeame, ask Akinidad, my son, to see me immediately.
Emissary: Yes, your highness. (Exit Okyeame and chief messenger)
Amanirenas: I'm trapped!... I am cornered… invisible sharp-pointed spikes of bamboos aimed at my head everywhere I turned; my skull is crushing in my mind, but time! You swore to be by me, and for you, fate, my efforts you promised to crown with success to the very end. This is not the hour you promised to show up. (Pause and explodes) there is a conspiracy in the air! Help! There is treachery among the elements! O ye gods and spirits of our mothers, see how time and fate have joined heads to conspire against thy children innocence. Forcing me against my will, to loosen my tongue and let out the unspeakable secret to my son. The secret I have guarded all these years. But ye spirits, this is not the hour we agreed upon. At my old age, or when my brother has passed on. That is what I said…(Pause) or has old age caught up with me in this unguarded moment of trials and tribulations? Time, Time! O Time, I wish you could postpone yourself to save me the unbearable agony of thinking of what to tell my daughter… No!... I mean my son. (She lamented)
I need time, I need time…(Pause) No! Not Time… I mean just a brief period of respite to set my thoughts in order. O, ye spirit of the yonder world, (Holds her head in her hands) my mind is rebelling against the rest of my body. Save me…save me…! Same me! (She goes into a spin and falls into a heap. Slowly, she lifts herself from the floor as if waking up from a deep trance) I can hear voices… voices screaming out, warnings and threats… threats of losing my female head if I do not let loose of the ancient secret on my tongue. (Pause) but why do you all stare at me? Will you people stop pointing those skinny, old, withered, bony fingers at me accusingly. You couldn't have taken any wiser decisions if you had seen what I saw. Perhaps you would have done worse. Worse! Worse! Worse I say (Akinidad rushes in)
Akinidad: Mother, here I am.
Amanirenas: (Turns sharply) Yes, you would have done worse! Do you hear me? I said you would have done worse! Worse! (She kept saying that while staring at her son)
Akinidad: But mother!...
Amanirenas: Mother? Who calls me mother? Who are you
Akinidad: (Frightened) What is happening to you, mother?
Amanirenas: I said who are you? Answer me
Akinidad: I am your son…mother.
Amanirenas: Son? Son, did you say? I have no son.
Akinidad: Mother, I am Akinidad Linette, your only…
Amanirenas: (Sharply) I know no son under the sun. I gave birth to a girl and not a boy. Born on a Wednesday evening. Kandake is her name. Kandake I know alright. But you, who are you? Clear off my sight! And let me face my accusers… or perhaps, you are one of them. One of those good for nothing, idle… no…but you look quite innocent… your face… that face…I recognize some familiarity in the face… you are…you are…
Akinidad: O spirits beneath and above, save us. Tell me what I am witnessing is but a dream.
Amanirenas: My child…my child…what do you want here? No…No! No !! No! No. stop where you are. Cross not over to my side of the river. You might get drowned.
Akinidad: But you sent for me.
Amanirenas: Sent for you…? When…? (Pause) Yes I indeed, I did. I did send for you. But where have I been? What have I been saying? (Pause) Well, let's sit down. (Sits) Sit my child, sit. (Akinidad takes his seat with apprehension) Yes, I asked the Emissary to fetch you. I now remember… where do I begin?
Akinidad: Has it got anything to do with the message from the uncle, your brother? (He asked out of outmost curiosity)
Amanirenas: Well, yes… and, what is more I think my child. The time has come at last for the revealing of the mystery, that has puzzled all your young life. A thing you have always wished to know about yourself. Get not excited, relax. Well, it's a long story though.
Akinidad: Never mind, I am prepared to listen to everything.