SUNSET

2

✓CHAPTER 2 SUNSET

LULOLWAM
I sat on my bed trying to think about what happened after I was suffocated, nothing looked unusual on me and I didn't feel different. Maybe it was just a warning,I don't know. I had thrown out my personal maids ages ago so I had to get myself ready. There was nothing special about the day as always. I got dressed and walked out of the room. I finally reached the throne room where everyone sat eating.
Mom: You are late.
Me:I may have overslept Mother.
Mom:Are you going to sit down or what?
I sat on my chair.
Dad:Where is your tiara?
Me:I returned it to the jewellery room.
Mom: You are suppose to wear it here Lulolwam.
Me:I apologize for the negligence.
Zamani:Yeah right I bet you.
Me:Each day a dead rat comes out of your mouth Uncle Zamani.
As always everyone looked at me in shock,I always seem to ruin each morning with my not so princess remarks.
Mom: That is your elder Lulolwam.
Me:Yoh apologies to him.
Dad: Lulolwam!
Me:Can this food go to my stomach already?
Zamani:So much for a future Queen with no manners nor respect nor power to protect her own people. What is her use again?
Dad:Zamani if you have nothing better to say, keep quiet.
That stung just like every comment I heard towards me,I just chose not to let anyone see that it got to me at all. Again another argument on my behalf,I got up and walked out. I didn't have much to do anything except writing books which were criticised so harshly by the council but I never backed down.
Sivu:Hey.
Me:Hi.
Sivu:I heard,I am really sorry.
Me: It's fine.
Sivu:Uhm where are you going?
Me: For a walk.
Sivu: I wouldn't advise that Lulo,it is not safe for you out there.
Me:I have notice that.
Sivu:Then why are you going out?
Me:Maybe I want to get myself killed who knows?
Sivu: Don't talk like that Lulo.
Me:Are you going to stand in my way?
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Nakae was well developed unlike some kingdoms,I paid for some fruits on the market. Some spat by just looking at me, they stand to be unprotected if I rule considering I lack the power and authority to rule. The guards followed closely,I heard shouting I turned my guards were gone. I stood still confused until I saw the man carrying weapons heading towards my direction. I turned only to come face to face with the General.
General:The pretty princess.
Me:Ah General what now?
General:This is simple,give up your throne.
Me:I don't have one.
General:And we'll not be ruled by a rogue.
The back of his sword connected with my nose,I stumbled backwards falling on the ground.
General: It's only few months before you turn 25,give up your throne or something bad will happen to you.
He kicked me,I let out a wince and laid on the ground. They stepped on me as they walked past,I just laid there unmoving. I wasn't really that surprised since it has happened before. I finally got up with my body aching,a woman came to help me and led me to her house.
Woman: You are indeed suicidal, just last week rotten food was being thrown at you.
Me:I am a disgrace.
Woman: You come here almost everyday knowing very well that the people hate you.
Me:Tell my parents that.
Woman: They must know something that we don't know perhaps?
Me:Yeah right or they simple want me to rule so they can cover up for my brother.
Woman: Your brother committed high treason.
Me:I stole his birth right.
Woman:He tried to kill you.
Me:He had the mark not me but look at me now. He's somewhere locked away and I am here grasping at straws, trying to stay alive.
Woman: You are so full of bad energy.
Me:That is true.
___________________________________
QUEEN SWAZI
The lights flickered as I stepped in the cave,I walked deeper until I reached the hole in the centre. I jumped landing in the dark,the wall cleared showing chains rooted to the stone ground leading to the man sitting inbetween.
Me:Hello Ndalo.
He got up and the chains made noise as he walked closer to me but he couldn't walk any further.
Ndalo:Mother what a pleasure to see you here.
Me: You are coming home in few months.
Ndalo: Also that your precious little princess won't be ruling either.
Me: You don't understand,it is not your throne.
Ndalo:I have the power and mark for that throne.
Me:We know that but the throne isn't yours to take.
Ndalo:So my dear sister has a right over my throne?A right according to you?
Me:I would tell you honestly son.
Ndalo:I stopped being your son the moment you had me arrested.
Me:So after you tried to murder your future Queen?Just because you are our son,we were suppose to let it slide Ndalo?
Ndalo:It was always Lulolwam this, Lulolwam that, I trained for my rightful place and you took it and gave it to her like I didn't exist. I do not care what you think but that is my throne. I will be back and this time I won't miss.
I climbed the ladder as he shouted,I headed out of the prison.
Masithule:And?
Me:Angry as always.
Masithule:How do we tell him that he's never going to rule ever?
Me:He has Zamani feeding him lies that he's the heir because of the power and mark.
Masithule: What do we do now Swazi?We have put Lulo's life at risk, look at the assassination attempts against our daughter and what if we fail this time?
Me:The ancestors made it clear who is to rule. Guards summon Princess Lulolwam immediately.
Guard: Your Highness she left this morning.
Me:Find her.
Masithule:And your daughter isn't helping either, she's going to get herself killed.
Me:Why can't we just tell everyone the truth?
Masithule:She might as well be dead or no one would believe us instead. We just need to wait for few months, she'll be turning 25 and the truth will come out.
Voice:Truth about?
Masithule:Brother good to see you.
Zamani:We won't be ruled by a rogue because you two believe that she would make a great Queen,busy making mockery of our values and laws. That girl can't even protect her own people,the very same people you want her to lead. Ndalo sure acted right by challenging her for his throne but look where he landed. Prison! Whatever you think you are doing isn't going to work.
He walked out.
Me: Your bro-
Lulolwam walked in looking battered and bruised.
Me: Lulolwam!
My heart stopped as I pulled her to my arms. She just winced and didn't even shed one single tear. Keeping promises not to tell the truth was going to be a lot harder,I couldn't bare looking at my daughter.
Me: Masithule I am tired of this.
Lulolwam:I am the one who keeps going out there without guards knowing very well that those people hate me Mama. I don't know what I am hoping for,I mean it is pretty obvious that they hate me.
Masithule:Baby.
Lulolwam: You have told me a lot of times to stick with my guards or you for my physical safety but I always go out of my to ruin that. Now look at me.
Me:Let me take a look on your bruise. Find who did this-
Lulolwam:No, you are just going to make things worse.
I sighed,this was going to be hard.
_____________________________________
MAKAZIWE
"Akekho umhlobo onjengawe
Ongikhathalela njalo
Kanti sengabeka konke kuwe
Oh hallelujah mdumiseni,mbongeni njalo" I walked around singing, digging roots and grabbing some leaves. I walked to my usual spot and halted. A flower stood tall in the middle,half of its petals were dripping red blood while the other side dripped white blood.
Me:White blood?
I looked up and around before walking to the flower,I touched it only to let go so fast. I moved back and picked up my pace running for my life. I didn't stop until I was back to Malla,I stopped and looked behind.
Me:That was the most scariest vision ever.
I walked to my house and put everything I got in the container. I grabbed one of the books and paged it.
Me:"A flower,never seen before,will grow in the border on the day of the blood moon. Dripping red and white blood. A symbol of a unity stronger than any unities ever to be written on history. It should never die or be touched. That's the Oracle's duty to keep it that way." White blood,no kingdom has white blood.
I closed my eyes trying to recall the vision I had but somehow I couldn't recall anything at all.
Me:Now that is weird,how come I don't remember anything about the vision?
Somehow I couldn't recall one single detail about the vision,I rubbed my head repeatedly but nothing.
Me:Argh so much for being an Oracle.
A knock echoed.
Me:Come in.
The Royal guard walked in.
Guard: Oracle Makaziwe.
Me: What is it!
Guard:Uriel Red is summoning you as soon as you are available.
Me: Okay.