CONQUEROR on hold

My Pride And My Princess.

*Princess Kia*

"Baba! Baba!! My King! ...."

I called out in the busy battle field where the taste of blood filled the atmosphere and sharp hot dust flew from under the mighty throdding of the powerful horses of Wandaiwe. I always loved a good fight, a good battle fight-especially if we are the ones winning.

I watched as the spears and glinted swords clothed with red colours sank into the flesh of our enemies and enjoyed the roars of victory and grunts of overcoming that I heard from the men of valour! The sun was up and sang our victory through its heat as our opposers fell in defeat! Horses declaring that this was our war and it was only a matter of time before they realise it. It's amazing how they do this like they were born for it, respecting and protecting the honour and pride of our great nation through the help of our Great Yeshua!

Blood gushing everywhere and the heavy choking dust that filled the environment took me longer to find my father, the King... No particular reason for his search, I just wanted him... Close to me. For some reason I wasn't in battle uniform, I looked pretty much unprepared. But I could still single-handedly take down hundreds of them. I remember when I first went into battle, I was sixteen then. It was not allowed although for a royal f.. F-female, I so hate that word, to be in the battle field. She was meant to be in the four walls of the palace making beads and learning crafts.

Spit! Pff!

And miss all this fun? No way.. So I took down a soldier and wore his battle array. He clearly wasn't ready for battle if a "girl" could knock him down. I'd snick into the field and make my maid act to be me going for a swim or visiting the children. They never really noticed since we can cover our faces and let just our eyes be seen.
I fought with my father side by side most of the times and he never really noticed, until one day when I helped to kill the man behind him seeking for his life and he noticed my grunt was more feminine as I scram, "Baba!" for him to move.

I was expecting that day to be the last, but instead he encouraged me and told me he couldn't be any prouder. That's one of the reasons I loved him. He sparked up the desire I tried to hide and from that day onwards we kept it to ourselves; from the Queen and other nosey heads. Three years had passed and I had grown to be more of a man than a young woman due to the private swords classes and usual visitation to the field. I remember getting my first battle injury on my right arm, my cover was almost blown that day by my mother who was surprised at the cut. I cleverly explained it was one of the thorns in the river I normally swim in that had cause it. The story was believed and my father's heart and mind was relieved. Later that evening while the native nurses and herbalists treated my wound with an awful smelling mixture that looked like mashed leaves and some other slimy thing, my father- the King came in and asked to be left alone with me. As soon as the quickly hurried out he closed the door and grabbed a chair in front of my bowed head in respect and shame.

He grabbed my arm softly and examined the mark. No princess was supposed to have any blemish on her skin which was a worry for my mother to be married. I didn't care about that, I cared about how my King would see me as, not able to handle the field or worse, as a female! It was silent for a while, all we could hear were the footsteps and whispers from outside the room and my intense breathing of pain and hurt. He didn't say a word and neither did I. He was always a quiet one.. His silence often confused any judgement on his thoughts. I decided to whisper,

"My king, if I may speak... I'm sorry.. "

He moved his hand down to my much smaller hand and squeezed it as he wiped the tears I hadn't noticed that were already falling and in low key said,

"Congratulations, you are now a Conqueror.."

I looked up at him with confusion that found its way to more confusion as I argued quietly,

"But Baba, look at my arm.. I nearly bled to death.. "

A hint of a smile played by his right as he whispered, "But you didn't.. And hence having your first deadly injury but coming out undefeated and still strong makes you my pride and my princess, a Conqueror.. "

Ecstasy was all I felt. My tears soon enough dried up and my heart started to beat in proud anthem as the words of the King calling me a conqueror echoed in between my ears. If the king declares you a Conqueror then you are liberated to ride in front with him next to the general and get a different uniform. It's too bad I was only declared one in the small light shaded room with just me myself and I as a witness to this great honour rather than outside in the sight of many hundreds of eyes. But still, that didn't stop my joy from expressing itself as a large toothy grin appeared and I bowed my head three times as custom declares when titled a Conqueror. I felt dizzy for a moment but got myself back together and then said,

"Long live the King.. "

This time his smile became full and he kissed my forehead as his beard scratched my lips and tickled my nose. He stood up to leave but hesitated and showed me an arm ring which was bronze with the sign of our land on it. With deep moulds and carvings around and a carving of two bears holding a rose in its'mouths as they stood on their hind limbs. Those types, if bronze were meant for Conquerors, if iron, normal warriors. But if gold then you must be the king or better at fighting than the best of the best which is usually the king. It was just my father who had a golden arm ring made from one of our finest Gold Smith's -Ingah.

"This would be yours if you get through this treatment quickly, the sooner the better.. "

I could already imagine putting that baby on my right hand, right on top of the scar and as tempted as I was to get up and proclaim myself well, it was too painful too. So I nodded with a full grin and widened and longing eyes on the object of honour and said,

"Yes Baba.. "

He smiled once again and put it back behind his cape, tucked in his garment as he left. Once he opened the door he found the nosey attendees at the door trying to eavesdrop who soon got in two rows trembling for their lives as their heads were bowed. He didn't even wait for their greetings, he stormed through them and went his way. He know's his people so he wasn't surprised for a moment. My father was a light walker so they couldn't hear his footsteps that quick to pretend to mind their own business. This explains one of the reasons why he whispered. They feared the punishment or worse, execution they were out to get for lack of respect, I could tell it all on their faces as they tried to sweet talk me and please me since I'm the key to his heart and I'm capable to change his mind. Short story, they were fired and new trusted maids were hired. That's the best I could do for them.

"Baba! My king where are you! " I continued yelling. It was logically and physically impossible for him to hear me in this grunts of men, screams of horses and clashing of metals. I helped out my men as my sword dashed into the opposers in my way. Moments after dropping more than fifteen men to the ground and creating a blood of pool which cling the sand and dust to their bodies while dispersing the smell and taste of iron in the air with the smell of burnt metal crushing and swiping against each other leaving sparks in the air, I soon spotted my father still on his mighty horse, killing for victory.

Hot saliva with a hint of dust particles in my mouth was spat out with relief as the sharp metal edged swords of our men still whistled in the air through the hot east wind that blew and blinded the men in the field, as the sun was setting. I hopped through the dead men that were in my way to my father. I couldn't understand why I wanted him next to me, it was like he wouldn't be any safer if I wasn't any closer, which was weird because He is a golden ring armer. An old but strong King who still loved the rush and feel of war and could stand whatever comes His way, that's were the other part of his respect came from. I was running towards him as I yelled,

"Baba! Baba! My king!! ".... I didn't really care if anyone heard me, and it wouldn't really matter since I'm not dressed in battle array and my true identity is out there. I really couldn't place my finger on why I was in this condition and wanted to be next to my father.. My heart just picked up it's race and I started running towards him. One of the men stroked a man and his beast and it came running and limping, I didn't see it coming but it collapsed right in my front. I quickly hopped on my hands that were plastered to the ground as my feet were held to the heavens and then another feeling of a replayed moment hit me or rather as we say it in our language, "Tuzaka"- reliving a moment or life, hit me as I viewed the battle in my upside down position.

Getting back on my two feet, a sudden fear came straight after as if the worse I expected just happened and then it was confirmed as I heard his scream...

I slowly turned around with my head bent low and heart beat running slow as my hands shook and began to sweat out of fear. The activities in the field soon became slow in motion as I forced my dizzy head to look up. I saw my King fall off his golden beast with a dagger at his chest and his eyes fixed at his killers direction. I couldn't move nor identity at once who the killer was. Once I got my limbs active again I quickly glanced at the direction which had my uncle- Prince Rambo who was by his side fighting with the king of Tekanya.

I ran.

I ran like the world was spinning around as I screamed "No! " in my head. I felt like it was only the dagger, my bleeding father and I in that field. I got closer to him and slid in the dust with my knees to him as I fought back my tears because warriors - especially Conquerors don't cry! But I couldn't hold it back any longer as I sobbed loudly, this was a relationship between a daughter and her king that knew no title.

He looked up at me as his head was on my laps and I wailed.

"My (cough! Cough!) pride and my princess.. "
He said as blood began to swell in his mouth and choke him.

I couldn't even stutter a word, I was too weak too. I quickly reached for my garment and was about to rip it off to bandage his wound, I learnt a thing or two from the healing classes mother always forced me to.

He smiled and said, "Don't bother, the wound is too deep.. "

That made me grow even weaker, I sobbed louder as my hands were soaked in his blood drenched chest.

"Protect your mother and control the kingdom, remember your God and who you are... "

"..Baba! (I managed to say)... Who am I? I'm nothing but a female! What could I possibly do?"

He coughed a few more times and said, "No.. You are a conqueror. Be it and stop crying. "

I tried but I couldn't, I kept whimpering even though I tried to hold it back.

Then he said, "That's an order (cough!).. "

I nodded my head as I sobbed slowly with my hand over my mouth, then quickly wiping my eyes I mutter slowly in the most crooked voice,

"Long lives the King. " at that saying he exhaled for the last time. 

Then I woke up. 

Hello there! 😃This is my first book about the genre I love the most, I know right that's odd for a girl, but then just look at Princess Kia for a hint of me..I'm still new at this and hope to improve with the descriptions to make it more real to you... If you enjoyed what you read, please do me a favor and vote and add to your library and reading list. You could do me an even huger favor and share my work! 😊😊💖💖. Updates would be every thrice a week,... Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays ! Thank you!

-Royal..