Empresses of Pangaea: The Clash of Queens [ BOOK 1 ]

32

Location: The City of Middwi outside of the Royal Palace, West African Lands

It was breaking dawn, and the sun was rising over the Royal Palace of Sekhe.

The pathway to The Golden Oak temple was set in front of the entrance of the palace gates. People were already standing outside in excitement to watch her majestic journey from the palace to the temple.

Rehema was already up and ready. Her make-up, gown, and equipment were all set. She was waiting in the carriage for Esi, with Chike who was also ready. Chike wore a traditional black and gold king-length agbada. In the center of the agbada was a neatly and detailed embroidered elephant with a flat kippah.

It was a last-minute change that Chike was grateful for since it was Rehema's idea and was special to her. The night before the coronation Rehema had stopped by his house to pass down a special item.

"I know this is late notice but can you do me a favor and wear this agbada to the coronation instead," Rehema put forth.

Chike was stunned at first, "Is this your late highness Ikenna's..."

Rehema nodded with a smile. Chike didn't dare to object, "Our course my majesty, it would do me great honor to wear something of such value. I don't deserve such," Chike stared back at Rehema still in shock, who gave him a soft smile in return. She placed the Agbada on his grand bed gently.

"Yes, this belonged to the father I never knew, and my mother's first love, it's what he wore to her coronation, and since you were my first love, I thought it would wise to pass it down to you."

Chike thanked her excessively that night falling to his knees and hugging her from her waist, and luckily for him, she stayed in his house that night and slept with him. But when he woke up Rehema was gone and Chike was alone in his bed that morning.

He later bumped into her when he finished getting dressed and was heading to her study. He came across her in the hall and froze.

She looked stunning. Her gown reached her ankles, it was mainly gold and silver and had a pale pink hue. The dress was embroidered with different motifs that represented domains of the African lands that were now in her rulership.

Pyramids and desserts of the North. The free jungles, rare goods, and the waterfalls of the Central. The sea, fabrics, and gold of the West. The mountains, savannas, and lakes of the East. And the landscape and diversity of the South.

Dragon blood trees and baobab trees were printed neatly at the bottom of her gown, which shinned in green thread, and then juggles and deserts were across her waist, and printed patterns of faint gold pyramids were shaped along the gown, and lastly, on her sleeve shoulders were faint blue waterfalls.

Rehema also wore a long purple silk royal mantle, that trailed on the ground. The mantle on her back showed the animal that always represented the Eze dynasty back when it was just a small clan, the longhorn white rhino. It symbolized the clan's sacred leadership and history of tolerance, freedom, ancient wisdom, stability, and a sense of ground.

Rehema walked over to Chike in her high platform shoes that added five inches to her height. Her hair was braided into five neat jumbo cornrows decorated with gold dreadlock cuffs.

"You look stunning," Chike said kneeling quickly to properly greet her. Rehema told him to rise and helped him up. The only thing missing was her crown, which was waiting for her at the temple.

"Do you like the dress?" Rehema asked her tone slightly high with excitement. She wanted to give him a twirl but it was nearly impossible since the extra weight from the royal robe she had on her back made it hard to twirl.