The Queen

ONE

NOTE: This book is still under editing. I am planning to publish a hard copy of it, so this is not the final draft. In case you see any grammar, punctuation or spelling errors.

Happy reading!

Here's a story never been told before. In 1845, an extraordinary King ruled the city of Zazzau. The pagans, the Christians and the Muslims all managed to coexist peacefully. Tribalism was not an option. The fulanis and the hausas have set their differences aside and it's all thanks to the King who was so proud of what he achieved. His people loved him, so does his family of two wives and two sons. Everyone was equal in terms of everything. He has been on the throne for five years now and the people are always celebrating him. The maids, the guards and the court ladies are always singing his praises for he treats him justly and fairly. The palace was always filled with laughter and happiness, even though the undoubted scheming still brewed. But the Kingdom of Zazzau was stronger than ever. Abdulmumin had made peace with every kingdom, region and race.

At one o'clock on a Tuesday during this period, a haggard-looking man came walking—almost tumbling—around the palace East walls. His name was Hamisu and in his hands, he held a big material bag. There was a hollow and scared expression on his face as he kept glancing back-to-front and side-to-side. Inside his big bag, something moved. He glanced down and clutch tighter. 

"Shh," he said. 

You might have guessed that this old man was an enemy trying to sneak something in that will disrupt the perfect ambiance of this place, and in a twisted outcome, you would come to be right. He slung the bag on his shoulder and climbed up the walls, almost toppling on the ground when he jumped down. He quickly shielded the bag with such agility that a person wouldn't have guess he had.

"Just hang in there, baby, we are almost there," he whispered.

He looked over and like he guessed, there were only two guards eight feet away from him at the entrance of the West Wing. It has always been the least strongly guarded wing in the palace and during King Abdulmumin's peaceful reign, the security only loosen further. Hamisu brought out something that looked like flute from his pocket and put it in his mouth. He blew it at one of the guards and a tiny arrow came flying out and landed on the side of his neck. His companion turned around alarmed. Hamisu used that opportunity to sneak past them and into the chambers. The rest was pretty much easy. He knew every nook and cranny in the palace, probably more than anyone, and so sneaking past the rest of the guards on his way to the North Wing where the King's chambers was located was fast. He did the same process with the 6 guards guarding the North Wing entrance, only this time he incapacitate all of them and sneaked into the chambers.

Feeling incredibly nostalgic, he made his way directly to the King's room. Abdulmumin was fast asleep on his bed... alone, which surprised Hamisu since he had not one but two wives. He didn't pay much attention to that and began to wake the man up. He felt bad for interrupting his much needed rest but he was on a race against time and he was the only one that can help him.

Abdulmumin woke up with a start. He instantly reached for something under his pillow; a knife. That surprised Hamisu too but he guessed a King should always look of himself, right?

"Who are you?" he asked, pointing the knife at him. The candlelight flickered back on.

Hamisu moved forward slowly. "Abdu, it's me."

The King furrowed his brows. "Who...," he stood up, realization hitting him. "Hamisu?"

"Yes, Abdu. It's Hamisu," said Hamisu.