PURPLE BLOSSOMS

the challenge

Our story started when Maqhawe(yes that's he's name)was summoned to the king's presence.Before this summons I wasn't really privy to him as a person-I knew him only as a legend often talked about as the household gathered around the fire soon after the evening meal.You see i am a part of the king's household..in a way I am a princess...my late mother was a sister to the king, and as a result my whole life is extremely sheltered.Unlike my fellow age-mates I'm not allowed to go gallivanting around the village for no apparent reason,mine is a very sheltered life.

So when Maqhawe stood before the king the whole household was present myself included, pushing and shoving to get a good view of the young man whom we knew so much about yet didn't know at all.

Although the courtyard was filled with hordes of people a deathly silence reigned as all present paid their respect to the reigning monarch. All eyes were trained on the portly old man who despite his old and frail frame sat erect on his throne and stared down his imperial nose at the youth who stood before him. Unlike the rest of his people, the king did not seem in awe of the young man and seemed oblivious of all his heroic pursuits.

Apparently unaware of the hundreds of eyes trained upon him, Maqhawe looked very relaxed and totally comfortable in the king's presence...looking at him one would have believed him to be a blue blood and not just the commoner that he truly was. But that doesn't matter because right at that moment I too didn't see a trace of the commoner within him, all I saw was a man so handsome and so striking in physique that he took my breath away. Not once in all my seventeen years had I laid eyes on a finer specimen of the male sex....Immediately my heart began to beat fifteen to the dozen as I took in his features. He had the most soulful coal black eyes that seemed to penetrate deep into ones soul and read the secrets written deep within and he had a firm set to his jaw...indicating that he was indeed a man of strength and valor.....and to top it all he had the graceful fit body of an athlete complete with sinewy muscles and a chiseled abdomen...in all essence he looked the picture of a man who had just stepped out of my wildest dreams....

Maqhawe began clapping his hands rhythmically and knelt before the king, respectfully lowering his gaze,as dictated by our customs.The king stretched out and gently brushed both of Maqhawe's shoulders with his royal sceptre made out of ivory and decorated with the most expensive jewels known to man. Only then did Maqhawe stand upright, facing the king.Not a word passed his lips-in our kingdom noone speaks before the king gives him permission.

"Maqhawe kaNkiwane..." the king said in his deep baritone voice which inspired fear in the bravest of warriors

"Yes, my lord,"Maqhawe answered as he bowed down once more before the king, showing his loyalty to the throne.

A pause ensued in which the king seemed to ponder his next words, "You see....the reason why i called you before me is somewhat complex...." he paused again.

Every ear in the room strained to hear his next words. In the silence that reigned one could surely hear a pin drop.

"This kingdom has been in existence for hundreds of years, guarded and served by the Lions-the royal army,yet in all those years there has never arisen such legendary tales as those told about your exploits. In all my years as a king I have never been privy to a man who can claim to have as much power as the Gods' and yet a you young man have managed to set tongues waging. The question in my mind now is- have you really done all that it is said you have done?"

There was a deathly still and a collective intake of breath as all present waited to hear Maqhawe's response.

"My lord, as you know the grapevine has a tendency to exaggerate and change facts to suit the tastes of the listeners and as a result stories heard thus should be taken with a pinch of salt?" He paused.

Over a hundred pair of eyes swivelled to look at the king and gauge his response but he remained passive, his expression neutral.

"However," Maqhawe continued, " in all humility my lord, I can defend the truth behind the humblest of these stories told about me,"

The king nodded, absent mindedly scratching his goatee, "You have managed to simplify the issues for me...Since you claim to be a warrior of a higher calibre, I want to witness ability first hand. I have a challenge for you..."

The crowd shuffled and fidgeted uneasely as they waited to hear what the challenge would be....

"For years now, our village has been under attack from an unknown predator who has taken away hundreds upon hundreds of our son's and daughters. Stealthily he creeps up on his victims like a shadow and snuffs the life out of them before they can even scream out for help. The people live in fear, working in the fields has now become a dangerous pasttime that only the brave can partake in and as a result families are starving. How can a man expect to live when he cannot till the land which is his only source of survival?"

Maqhawe listened quietly. He already knew about this predator who was so skilled that he never left a single clue as to his identity and had managed to outwit all attempts to ensnare him and bring him to justice.

"Noone knows who or what this predator is, some believe that he is a God, others think that it's a curse from the God's- noone knows, even I do not know who or what this predator is. As a king and leader of the people all I desire is for peace and tranquility in the kingdom but as long as this beast is alive that can never be! Now I want you Maqhawe kaNkiwane to solve that problem.How you are going to do that is up to you. All I want is the predator's dead body here on the next full moon"

The crowd gasped. Many had failed before him, what would make Maqhawe's attempt any different? But the king wasn't finished yet...

"If you fail to do as i command,you shall pay with your head," another gasp rang out

Maqhawe stood unflinching, chest puffed out in manly pride, as he heard his king's command. Nothing in his manner indicated that he was a man who had just been sentenced to death. He bowed down deeply and said

"As you wish my lord, you are my king and commander in chief, your every word is my command" once more the royal sceptre brushed his shoulders. My heart stirred and warmth coursed through my body at his courage in the face of death.

"If you manage to succeed in this task, you may ask anything of your king and it shall be done for you. In addition you will be given command of the royal lions,"

This was the highest praise a man could be given and Maqhawe knew this as did the whole kingdom.

"Thank you my lord," he whispered.

Without another word the king rose indicating the end of the meeting and walked out of the room followed by the rest of his entourage.

Reluctantly I followed behind the royal women, I didn't want to go away from him, who knew when I would see him again? My last glimpse of Maqhawe was of him kneeling where he was, his head bowed down respectfully. He looked so strong and so brave at that moment that it became clear to me that no amount of blueblood could make the prince's of the royal family better than him. He was more of a prince than they would ever be...Right there and then,I realised that I had fallen in love with this warrior...