The door to the dining room burst, Thato rushed in, eyes wide door handle in hand. She looked down and breathed a sigh of relief, snapping up her child, squeezing unmercifully.
"What happened?" Thato yelled.
Before she could say more there was a commotion outside. Then... the most chest smashingly thunderous boom Aphiwe had ever heard. Everyone dropped, Chuma clutched onto Aphiwe as though she were going to fall off the universe when Thato appeared to be the one left standing.
There were screams, the doors crashed, the sound suggesting it had just burst into splinters. Marking the third door destroyed. A brick wall of a woman had just run into the room only to be scooped up into the hug of Thato who'd jumped up from Aphiwe to tackle the giant.
"What's going on? I detected an attack." The wall of a woman began.
"It wasn't." Said Liyema. "I felt myself being overwhelmed, there were so many words, structures and violence, so much!"
Hlalumisa appeared, applauding.
"My, my what impressive power! This is what it is to be a wizard! So expensive to raise and so time consuming! And if you give servants too little, they work for their own upliftment because eventually all wizards without exception will ask-"
"If I'm doing it alone then why should I be doing for you?" The giant said.
"Once that happens, the doors close, they leave to live their own lives. Wizardry is the death of duty." The Prime finished.
The Prime rubbed her hands together.
"But it's a hell of a thing to attack a Great house. I haven't been living in North Sibini long but I'm sure that's... less than legal?"
"She's right, you know." Thato said, pulling her friend up and patting her down. "And she's absolutely under my command, so-"
"It's your crime?" The Prime asked.
The Prime grinned, so did Thato.
Aphiwe knew enough to not be afraid. Maybe it was in the manner her mother spoke, as though she were slapping down an ace.
"I really enjoy your company. I'm sure this won't be the last time we speak."
"I'd love nothing more." Thato said.
"And you? I never got your name?"
"Babalwa." Aunty Babalwa said.
"House? Clan? Anything below?" The Prime asked.
"Noma-Pikoli."
If the Prime had been bright before, she now became the sun.
"My word. Now that's interesting. Maybe it'd be possible to pay for those services."
"Possible, but I'm already paid for."
"Of course, the house known for their hired work will already have their best at work."
"Don't forget those who work for the family itself."
"Yes..." Hlalumisa said, that flash of deep, dark thinking washed over her before she smiled. "And all this time, I was thinking the gem was hidden."
With that she was on the move, stepping outside to what could only be called chaos. The grass was bruised, flattened in a set of circles, people knocked out their armour, none appeared dead, even Aphiwe felt their pain. Most
surprising were the circle of onlookers. None of them moved to help.
Thato whistled and the crowd moved in. Family friends worked together, becoming one. With a smile Hlalumisa walked on, a path forming on its own. She rushed and disappeared into a bowing and reverent crowd.
The Prime Matriarch of the Great Ndlovu House, queen over millions of Ufele across multiple God trees made her grand exit.
It was terrifying and beautiful.
It was slow work but the rest of her people ambled after. It was strangely regal. It was almost odd how thin the Matriarch was. The warriors all around her compensated.
Liyema was still there. She noticed her own existence for the first time before bowing and running to catching up with the others, nodding and shaking hands before looking back. He gaze focused directly at Aphiwe whose eyes wondered unable to handle the pressure.
Thato plucked her from Chuma and walked to her bed.
There were officially no doors between the outside and the room.
"Did she pick you up from the bed?" Thato asked. "One blink yes. Two means no."
One blink.
"So you can't walk?"
Aphiwe stared, not sure of what to say. She hadn't really tried, no that was a lie, but she couldn't bring herself to blink once. It was like selling a piece of herself. But her mother's eyes were compelling her to cut out any and all extra thoughts.
She blinked twice.
"That bitch. Doing whatever she wants. Thank you Babalwa, you're too good to me."
"I could never be too good for you." Babalwa said, smiling.
She hugged Aphiwe, Thato's shoulders dropped, and she sighed.
"Oh Mother's Nature!" Thato said covering her face in her palms. "I'm designed not for this."
"You're literally shaped and designed for diplomacy. Fighting, running, listening and most importantly talking." Babalwa said patting her back.
"I'm ninth removed in the family." Thato said.
"That's not far. And once they find out about this..."
"My entire family should show up." Thato breathed.
"Hell, my Grandma's going to want to visit." Babalwa said.
Chuma's mother appeared from inside the house.
"If you think it ends with Babalwa's grandma." Chuma's mother said folding her arms.
"I'm not insane, but I think we'll manage." Babalwa said.
"So... clean up?"
Aphiwe was waiting for that.
There'd been a lot of destruction. It was impossible to forget just what Lesanda's mom could do when push came to shove.
"No." Thato said. "I have retainers for a reason. We drink!"
YOU ARE READING
The Open Book
फ़ैंटसीThe Biography of a Biography. Aphiwe is sick and stuck in bed having just fought for her life. All she got out of it was a stupid book. But the book says: "Do not read this if being alive is the most important thing to you. If greatness is the more...
