Once Upon A Lie - Episode 5

 

MBATA KINGDOM

The King carried the mug, took a gulp of it and placed it back on the stool with a small smile of satisfaction. 

As he opened the scroll, he shouted suddenly “A natural death?! A natural death?!! A natural death, they say?!!!”
 
In his anger, he kicked the stool right next to him and the mug on it broke, spilling its contents on the floor.

“What is natural about death?!” he asked, standing from his throne as his four chiefs bowed themselves to the ground.

“My Lord,” the eldest chief said “firstly be calm” he said, looking up as he calmed the King with the motion of his hands.

 He stopped once he saw that the King was truly calm. Then he stood, alongside the other chiefs, and sat back.

“My Lord, I do not believe it also” the second chief said.
 
“I think this has been their plan from the onset” said the third chief.

“Exactly, my chiefs . The Quolans are waiting for our reply” the King said. Bending a little, he said “let’s give it to them”.

****

“Where in the world is this prince?’ Marita thought as she shivered from the cold. “I’m getting really cold now”.

 She wrapped her clothes closer to her body as she gritted her tongue and curled her knees to herself. 

“But father, before he left, said he would be here soon

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. It’s been quite a while” she kept thinking in herself.

She stood to find sticks that might be useful in making a fire. She walked and walked but couldn’t find any. Just as she thought of going back, she sighted some a few metres away. 

“I just have to walk a little further and I will be warm in a matter of minutes” she said to herself and walked further.

She got few firewood and as she walked back, she heard some shuffling. 

“Could it be the prince?” she thought “or another hunter? That would ruin the plan”. She walked further briskly as she thought to herself. 

The shuffling got more frequent and she turned to look back, only to see red eyes staring at her with clenched teeth. 

She threw away the sticks and started to run. The wolf ran after her so she kept running. She ran till she got exhausted, breathing heavily.

 As she ran in the dark forest, she lost her way and ran further away from where she had stayed. 

She missed her step as she ran, lost her balance and stumbled down to the base. The wolf watched her fall, and probably deciding not to follow, went back into the woods.

***
“Oooh finally, we’re out!” Fuole said, few minutes after they left the palace.

“Yeah, it took us the whole morning to convince His Honour to let us go.” Ahleera replied. 

”But then, you promised him never to go to the forest more than twice a week and to be back on time”. He stopped the horse and faced Fuole “I know you well. What exactly are you planning?”

“I don’t know yet. I’ll think about that later. Let’s firstly find this bracelet before it gets dark.” They both got on the horse and went off to the forest.

***
“Why did you pardon him, my King?” the Queen asked as she walked in and took her position just beside the King. 

“Well, I felt he he was sincere about losing the bracelet and he should’ve learnt his lesson” the King replied.

“You and I know he hasn’t” the Queen said “I don’t really know what has suddenly come over him. You know,” she said, looking up at her husband “Paulita is a nice girl, she respects us, understands the values of the family, knows culture and traditions...”

“In short, you think she is good enough for our son?” the King asked. 

“Yes, I strongly believe so.”

“But what about all that Nnuole said a few days back? You know more about the affairs of the home than I do. You think the claims are true?”
 
“I don’t think so.

Read " Let It Go " by the same author ( Gracious )

. Nnuole and Paulita are just being childish. All these silly fights of sisters” she shrugged “I don’t see much to it. They will grow out of it.”

“But we never raised our daughter to speak ill of people. Both Nnuole and Fuole don’t want to associate with her.”
 
Motioning with his hand “I just don’t get it. They weren’t like this before. I don’t think it’s just some show of childishness.” 

“Well,” he continued. “I have to prepare my speech for the programme tomorrow” Standing up, he said “Ensure you see to it.”

“Yes, my King” the queen replied.

***
“Where exactly are we meant to see this?” Fuole whined and kicked the horse which kicked Ahleera in return.

“What was that for?” Ahleera turned to Fuole which was on the horse. “Stop kicking the horse, man. I don’t know why he takes his frustration on me anyway”. 

He turned to the horse “Why kick me?” The horse turned its head left and right, looking sober.
 
“You know I’m your only fan here” he said and Fuole raised his brow while he burst out in laughter.

Suddenly, Ahleera shouted, pointing towards the direction of the sun “I see it, my prince. It’s shining over there”.

He went with his horse while Fuole jerked his horse into motion and followed. Ahleera bent to pick it up and frowned immediately.

Fuole got down from the horse and walked up to him. 
On seeing what he held, he asked “A necklace? It’s obviously a lady’s, but what will a lady be doing here?” 
Ahleera suddenly turned to him and asked “Do you hear that?”

“What? I can’t hear any--” Fuole was suddenly interrupted by a faint voice.
 
He turned to Ahleera and said “I hear her voice, the lady”.