Ascendancy

Chapter II

Chapter 2

T'Kia
2041

"What is Baba thinking, Umama?" I ask my mother as I get my hair done for the trip tomorrow. All I wear is braids of different styles. My hair dresser, Akhona, carefully braids my hair into two, leaving the ends unraveled. (Mother)

"It wasn't just your Baba, T'Kia. It was the entire council. It is the most logical thing we could think of." Umama answers as she watches me get pampered. Other women are doing my finger- and toe-nails.

"You voted for me to be put through hell with Khethiwe. You know she holds hate in her heart and always will because of what happened to her grandfather and father." I say. N'Jobu, my Baba's uncle, was killed by his own brother, T'Chaka. And N'Jadaka, N'Jobu's son, (also known as Erik Killmonger) was killed by his cousin, my Baba, T'Challa.

"Yes, we all know. But that doesn't make her linage of any less value than yours." Umama says as Akhona adds a gold string entwined throughout the braids and wrapped around the ends, meeting where the braids are unraveled.

"Beautiful as always, Akhona." I smile as I look at myself in the hologram mirror. I've been told that I'm a good mix of my Baba and Umama. I have my Baba's looks with a more delicate touch, my Umama's stealth, and both of their determine and good souls. It has made me proud to be compared to them in such good ways. I also have my Baba's humor and show-off tendencies.

"You'll be the talk of the United Nations. This is your first time leaving the continent," Umama looks slightly upset as she admires me and softly touches my hair. "Oh how you've grown, sithandwa sam. Your Baba is right: Pretty soon you'll be finding you a husband." (My love)

"Mama," I smile, leaning into the hand she places on my left cheek. "I will return with Baba and Khethiwe. And I won't be getting married for some time."

"You cannot decree what the ancestors have in store for you, sithandwa sam. You'll see once you've found the one," Umama kisses my forehead. "Now let us go eat dinner. Your Baba will love to see you and your hair." (My love)

I smile as my mother and I walk hand in hand to the dinning hall. Marriage? Before eighteen? It is not uncommon, but I just cannot see myself marrying anyone. No boy or man in Wakanda has ever caught my eye. No boy or man has ever made me stop and stare. Or even caught my attention. I don't know if it's me or them, but I've never wanted anyone in Wakanda.

"Yam ntombazana," Baba smiles when he sees me and Umama walk into the dining hall. "Is this how you will be presented in front of the world tomorrow?" (My baby girl)

"I can't look any kind of way, Baba. I have to look my absolute best for my first world debut." I smile as I take my seat on my Baba's left. My mother takes the seat on his right. The rest of the family seats around the table. The only seat not taken is Khethiwe's.

"I'm afraid Khethiwe won't be joining us tonight. She wished to be alone." Baba says. I hold my tongue. Khethiwe has always been my least liked cousin simply because I could tell how much she has always hated me.

"Let us thank the ancestors for this meal." Aunt Shuri says to distract us. We all bow our heads for a brief moment before reaching for food.

The conversation is easy. No one brings up the impending trials or the fact that Baba is resigning. I want to bring it up but decide not too. I instead start singing a song.

"Igqirha lendlela nguqongqothwane. Igqirha lendlela nguqongqothwane. Sel' eqabel' egpith' apha nguquongqothwane. Sel' eqabel' egpith' apha nguquongqothwane."

(Diviner of the roadways, he's the knock-knock beetle. Already he climbs up and passes by here, he's the knock-knock beetle)

Everyone smiles before joining in. Ramonda and I jump up to start dancing. Aunt Shuri and Umama join in with us. Okoye and the Dora Milaje start banging their spears on the ground. M'Baku and W'Kabi and Baba offer their tenor voices for the background.