THE MONARCH

CHAPTER TWO

Makiya  and Yuram moved swiftly as they inched their way through the tunnels. The narrow space between the walls meant they’d had to walk in a straight line. The Mâì had built it this way so that even if any intruders found the passageway, they’d have no way of attacking them from the rear. It was a hindrance but she could see the logic behind her father’s thinking. It also helped that they didn’t have to be groping around in the darkness.

Her lips trembled and her eyes filled with tears as she remembered her father. He was very likely dead, her mother too. In the span of one night she’d lost everything she’d ever known, her parents, her home. She’d never known such pain, such sorrow.

Death comes to all. Those were her father’s most pronounced words for he too knew the pain of loss.

You must not fear death, embrace it for it is your best friend and your worst nemesis all at once. It follows you like a shadow. Whether or not you choose to acknowledge it is left to you.

Her father’s voice rang clearly in her mind. She heard it in her ears, felt it resonate on her skin. She thought back to their last conversation together. He had left her with a series of life lessons as though he knew what was to come. As though he was bidding farewell. She tried to recall his lessons word-for-word but, she was too frazzled and only one came to mind.

We share one essential thing in common, all of us, and that is death. It comes knocking at our door in all ways and times. Rich or poor, we all shall die. Remember this child for it may never be repeated. He’d said as his eyes stared deep into hers, reaching into her soul and locking the words inside for all time.

I have been surrounded by death my entire life. It took my father through war, my sister through disease, my children through unknown illnesses. It takes many of my people, everyday someone dies, death is my foe and it is my companion.

A small sorrowful smile grew on his lips before he continued.

When you embrace it, death, you move forth without fear for you lie in wait of it. When we depart this world, we are remembered by how we lived, how we died and what we left behind. This land has known war for long. I have not added much to what I inherited and not for lack of trying but, one thing is certain. When I die, I will have left behind the best of myself.

As he spoke, his eyes did not leave hers, not even to blink. He had not elaborated and she did not ask. It was a puzzle for her to solve herself. Now, as she thought back she knew he meant her. She was meant to carry on after him but, he had died too soon. All her life, she’d heard him say death was not the enemy but, death had taken everything from her and she knew not what to do.  Her eyes stung with the tears that pooled in them. She took deep breaths and blinked rapidly to keep them at bay, this was no time for crying.

The tunnel extended before her, as far as she could see. It would lead them to the edge of the city, Biram, where they would have to climb their way down the rocks that surrounded it. She reckoned they’d gone halfway by how much time had passed. Still, she couldn’t be too sure. She turned to ask Yuram but he spoke first.

“Not much longer now. “ he said as though he’d read her mind. “There are others already waiting mâiràm. You were the only one left but I had faith you would find your way. When you still did not appear, I feared something had happened. Forgive me mâiràm, I should have come get you.” Yuram  whispered

The death of her father weighed heavily on him, the fact that he’d been able to do nothing about it made him feel more incompetent. The Mâí was not one to cower away from a fight, he had deliberately used himself as the pawn so that his daughter could escape. The gùmsú had refused to leave the side of her husband claiming by marriage rites she was bound to him, even with the knowledge of impending doom.

She’d taken a blade from one of the áskər and fought beside her husband. When Makiya was not found in her Chambers, they knew she was headed for the tunnels, as she should. Her father had moved the fighting away from her route and had succeeded too but, at the cost of his own life. Yuram, along with three others, had been left behind to wait for the mâiràm and ensure that she escaped. He had tried to dissuade the mâì but to no avail.

He blamed himself too for the way the child had found out. He knew how close she was to her father. Still, she was faring better than he’d expected. She had a duty to her people and though still quite young, looking at her now, he knew she would uphold it till death. He would make sure of it.

“There’s no need to apologise Yuram, I’m glad you put our people first. It is what I would’ve done. I can fend for myself, they cannot. “ she replied, trying to reassure him though, if anything she sounded like she needed it more.

“I understand but, my duty will always be to you first and from this moment I will uphold that duty” he stated firmly. “We are close to the exit, let us hurry, dawn will be upon us soon.”

They reached the end of the tunnel and walked to the cliff side of the Biram rock. There was still rope left from the others’ descent. Tying the ropes around themselves they attached it to the hook embedded in the walls of the cave structure and began to inch their way downward. The climb was hardly new for Makiya, she knew the route up and down the rock like the back of her hand, her father had made sure of it. When they reached the bottom, she saw that only three solders were present. Most of the escapees were mere civilians, women and children and a few men, some she recognised to be workers.

“Mâiràm, as the sole surviving member of the royal family, your will goes. We are what is left of your army here. Let us know bárgànəmnin, what are our orders? “ Yuram spoke taking a bow, the other áskər following suit.

She stood frozen staring at them, she was at a loss for words. It wasn’t until that moment that she realised the position she was in. She’d have to take over now. It didn’t matter there were only a handful of people, she still felt the dread. Everything would be on her shoulders, should they die it would be on her. That thought seemed to break her out of her reverie. Looking at the people again, she saw fear. They all needed someone to lean on, lead them, that person would be her, she had prepared for this her entire life . And so she straightened her back and turned to Yuram.

“We go south Yuram, to the capital, N’jimi. If the Bulala could come as far as Bilma, then we can only pray the stronghold has not fallen. Still, it is our best hope.”

“Your will mâiràm Makiya“ he answered, his eyes not meeting hers as per custom.

“We leave at once, while the land is still covered by darkness.”

Yuram straightened once she was done speaking, the others followed his lead. He walked and stood at her side. She would see this through and then he would have her back in her rightful place on the throne of Kanem. He would do so or die trying. He had failed with her father, the same would not be for her.

And as they crept away from the rocks, he looked back and made a vow; this child that was entrusted to him by her father, she would rise from this looming shadow and soar to the skies.

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