Gods of Zandé

Chapter 1: Dirty, filthy, terrorist

Akide opened his eyes just in time for his stomach to lurch forward, spilling its contents on his bedsheets. His heart raced as he sat up, sticky sweat cooling against his skin. His eyes were closed as he held his head and shook it back and forth. He'd had the dream for a week straight already, and there never seemed to be an end to it. He sat up and twisted at his ring, pulling the waste-soaked covers into a ball. 

His ribs hurt like he'd been screaming all night in his sleep. Akide felt restless, as if sleep hadn't come the night before. He looked up from his bed, directly at the mirror on the wall opposite to him. It was a large thing of grandeur; gold and rubies lined its edges, and its surface itself was spotless. a direct opposite of the boy looking through it. 

Akide resembled a man that'd washed ashore from a shipwreck and felt like it too, with ropes of hair atop another, with a wild, half dazed look in his eyes. He was the son of The Lukwe, the empire's second-most powerful man, yet he didn't feel the part at the moment. At his side was a bruise the size of a basketball. When did I get this? He rubbed at it and winced with instant regret.

"Good morning, young master," a smooth, velvety voice said. In the reflection with him was the person who'd spoken, a woman in a purple bobo, standing incredibly still. "Good morning," he answered, and she bowed as her gaze met his. He nodded and turned around, trying to get a better look at her. Even with the oversized dress, she looked shapeless and thin, like a child yet to reach adulthood but tall like an athlete; a girl, not a woman.

 He must have lingered too long on her chest because she huffed, and he looked up, meeting her eyes. His lips twitched at the corners, "Don't flatter yourself," he murmured. He jumped out of bed, regaining all his vigor. He stretched, groaning loudly, and finished with a huff. Turning back to the girl still at his bedside, he asked, "What's the deal for today?"

She began at a fast pace, "Bunzambe lessons this morning right after prayers, then a meeting with the sentinels for the festival," Akide grabbed a towel and yawned, "Madam and the Lukwe are out today, meaning you have free rein until noon, then meeting with the council and fitting for the coronation." Akide groaned. Free rein never meant free time, more like 'let's dump our responsibilities on our children and enjoy ourselves'. The thought of a perfectly good afternoon being taken away ruined his already bad mood.

He stepped into the bathroom, locking the door behind him. He stripped off his shirt and spoke through the closed door. "I still haven't been given a date for the coronation in question. Make sure you find out exactly when it is. "

"It is on the day of the festival," she answered. 

"That's not possible," scoffed Akide, opening the door and speaking through the crack. "He can't do that," he added, " no one will allow it. " "The Mokonzi has already argued this with the council and the temple," she interjected softly, clutching her clay pad tighter, "and it will happen with or without their blessing." Akide scoffed and stated, "He can't do that; it's a federal law. Whether he's Mokonzi or not, unless he-"

"He's chosen to enact the Right of Mokonzi." She finished quietly. Akide's frown deepened, and she looked down at her feet. He He stepped back inside the bathroom and took off his clothes. He hadn't heard of a council meeting happening, and he was vice Lukwe nonetheless. He would inherit the second-most powerful role in this kingdom. 

Wouldn't he need to be informed of such things? Plus, to invoke Mokonzi's right, Something you can only do once in your reign—for a coronation? The new Mokonzi would not last long, especially after Kuiti arrived and slaughtered him for his arrogance during his holy day. He hoped they had a replacement, for an empire without a ruler was like a naked man in a thorn bush.