"Chief" Zara called.
"Hmmm" Kandake hummed
"Did you know?" Zara asked
"Know what? Njarh-yah (meaning sister-in-law)" Kandake answered
"That underworld wind—Wait how did you call me?" Zara stuttered, accidentally dispelling the wind spell she was using to fly with Kandake.
"See? I knew it." Kandake laughed as she landed on the floor.
"You made me lose focus. And by the way, that's not true" Zara continued, as she got ready to cast the spell again.
"It might not be true for the moment but I bet it won't be long."
"And why are you so sure?"
"Because of your reaction. If I was wrong, you wouldn't have lost focus so easily." Kandake smiled, pulling Zara's cheeks slightly.
"…"
"So, who did the first step?"
"I don't remember." Zara answered
"The great Zara. She who spoke to the winds at a tender age doesn't remember such trivialities. That's a feat!" Kandake praised
"Chief!" Zara stopped, glaring at her commander.
"Ok. Ok. You don't want to speak, I get it. But he will though." Kandake humoured
"When did you notice?"
"From the start. The unusual and sensual flirt – of course coming from you. The occasional disappearances. The fake bickering in public. And to crown it all, the kissing in the forest or in his room or in your room. Should I continue?" Kandake poured.
"The details are too much on point. How can that be possible?"
"I am the chief." Kandake smiled
"I was careless." Zara sighed
"On the contrary. You were too prudent." Kandake embraced Zara. "I pray you be the first to bond with him."
"Chief… You can be sometimes very emotional." Zara reciprocated.
"Of course. So, what did you want to tell me?"
"Oh, yeah. Did you know cold could burn?"
"Don't beat around the bush. What do you mean?" Kandake pondered
"The underworld wind. When I came into contact with it, it felt cold. Very cold."
"Different from the warmth you feel when manipulating the 'normal' wind."
"Exactly."
"It also means you didn't get charred right?"
"Yes…"
"Does it mean you can bring back all the villagers that were burned by the cold?"
That was a good question. But Zara couldn't answer. She couldn't put to words the cold she felt. The cold seemed to freeze her spirit. It left a disturbing taste at the back of her mind.
"I can't say…"
"Of course, you are scared of how it might affect you—since you have a special connection with that element. Don't over stretch your mind on that. Instead, let's continue our way back home."
As our two female warriors were actively flying back to the village, Yaqoob's ritual was over but not in the usual manner. The King lay in some pile of rocks. Yaqoob lay close to the tear. The King was very confused. This had never happened. The body being splintered, then coming down in a red pillar of light which shattered the ancestral cave on impact. And the icing on the cake, the body didn't come back the same. It returned with some strange patterns written on his neck, his entire back and two arms. This was very confusing. The King knew of bodies being splintered (he had heard that from his grandfather) but no one had told him about a red pillar of light or the cave being entirely shattered. Yaqoob's body didn't show any signs of life but gave off a spooky aura. The King was scared of touching his own son. Yaqoob began absorbing the divine aura of that spiritual plane. And when he seemed to have had his fill, his eyes opened. His pupil was completely black; an otherworldly black. When King Ndangah looked at those eyes, he felt drawn towards a bottomless abyss. His fear sky rocketed. Was that his son? He had never witnessed such spiritual awakening. Yaqoob seemed so different. His rather vibrant and strong aura had become ominous and crushing. Ndangah saw a monster and no more his son.
"Dad?!" Yaqoob called, with his eyes normal and a comforting air.
"Ya- Ya- Yaqoob… Is that you?" King Ndangah stuttered.
"Who else would it be? Were you expecting someone else?" Yaqoob joked.
"You got me good." King Ndangah laughed.
"What happened here?" Yaqoob asked, looking at the state of things around him.
"Your ritual happened." King Ndangah voiced.
"My? I don't get it. I don't remember anything like this."
"What do you remember?"
"Coming here with you. Touching and inhaling the tear. I saw myself living my body. Then I am at a space with several spaces. With people coming and going. People being young and old at the same time…"
"Yes. You were at the cross road of life. At that point the creator sends a guide towards you. The guide is to bring you to your spiritual origin. That guide of course tells you his/her name and paves the path for you."
"Yes. I met a lady, who directed me towards my spiritual origin." Yaqoob added.
"Who was she? Was it Ndzingah?" King Ndangah inquired hopefully.
"Unfortunately, it wasn't mom." Yaqoob answered sadly.
"I see. Then, who was it? What was her name. Guides have to give their names or their title"
"She looked my age but I felt she was way older. She called herself THE LUST." Yaqoob spoke.
"The Lust? That's a strange title. It doesn't sound appealing."
"She drew me towards what you called my spiritual origin and I was engulfed by it."
"Ok. All you have related doesn't spell any anomalies. How do you feel? Anything strange going on within you?"
"I feel ok Dad. I feel stronger. A lot stronger. I feel completely different." Yaqoob answered, clenching his fists and throwing some punches.
"That's the feeling. So, what is the name of your new found ability? Did the guide tell you?"
"Yes, she told me. She said my power is called THE GREED."
"The Greed?" King Ndangah shivered.
"Yes Dad. Is there an issue? You seem very concerned." Yaqoob worried.
"What else did she tell you."
"That I was destined for great exploits. And that she is waiting for me in the North."
'Waiting?" King Ndangah screamed. "This is way more serious than I thought."
"What is the issue?"
"I thought she was chasing after the tear we possessed. But I was gravely wrong. She was pushing us to this. Why didn't I see that?" King Ndangah voiced frustratingly. "Tell me, what happened next? What else did you see? To whom did she lead you to?"
"She didn't lead me anywhere. She kissed me and wished me safe journey." Yaqoob answered.
King Ndangah was distraught. He knew the worse was coming and he couldn't do anything. He remembered a story his dad had told him when he was still in his younger days. It was about the origin of everything that is bad in their world. About a certain creature who was drowned in his own selfish desires and decided to follow his cravings. He remembered that one of his powers was called THE GREED. And his son just inherited that power. Meaning someone was trying to bring that entity back to life and his son is caught within.
"She has interfered with the ritual. A guide is not supposed to be someone of the mortal plane. She—Oh, they are back."
"Kandake and Zara?"
"Yes. Let's go see them. We have to get ready."
"For what?" Yaqoob inquired as they hastened towards the village.
"She aims for you. She will surely come to get you forcefully." King Ndangah answered, exiting the ancestral plane.
Everyone in the village was shocked when seeing Yaqoob. His demeanour had not changed but the markings on his body made everyone uneasy. And his new aura made everyone bend the knee as he passed with the King. They knew that wasn't their usual Yaqoob. And of course, Kandake obviously picked up the change in a far bigger way than anyone. The psychic imprint she had left on Yaqoob to constantly monitor him (vitals, position, aura and you can name the rest) had vanished. She couldn't even read his mind anymore. Something actively and brutally chased her out when she tried entering Yaqoob's mind.
"The LUST?" Zara exclaimed when the King narrated everything.
"Why are you alarmed?" Kandake injected.
"Chief, we fought against her. The individual guarding the warp gate at the SUMBUH village. It was her."
"Was it when I was charring, that she gave you certain details?"
"Yes chief. So, Yaqoob is the one she called THE SAVIOUR." Zara stared at Yaqoob distantly.
"What is happening?" Yaqoob worried.
"My son." King Ndangah sighed. "You seem to be caught up in the plan of the oldest individual I know. The Prophetess, Queen of Northern ALKEBULAN."
"She said, you are the only one who can satisfy her and she waited for your arrival for so long." Zara added.
"I don't know her. I have never seen her." Yaqoob responded.
"Of course you have. During the trial. She was your guide. She gave you the title of her power and not her real name." King Ndangah argued.
"The same name she told me when we were battling each other. She asked to me remind you that—" Zara broke in.
"That she awaits me at the North." Yaqoob completed
"Indeed." Zara sighed
"I won't go. If she needs me, for I don't know what evil schemes, she should count me out." Yaqoob answered splintering from amongst the King, his sister and lover. Zara followed too, after paying her respects to the King and the chief.
"Now what?" King Ndangah sighed, sitting on his throne.
"Is she that fearsome?" Kandake asked.
"Queen HATSHEPSUT is one of a kind. I remember meeting her when I was around your age. Her beauty left me speechless." King Ndangah began
"Just that? Her curves. You are scared of her curves?" Kandake teased.
"Don't play the stupid." The King laughed. "She was the only woman during the meeting of kings. And all of them seemed enamoured by her charms, her words full of wisdom and her ability to govern."
"So, when does it get interesting?"
"During that time, we weren't at war. Things were peaceful. That was until a certain rumour began circulating within the three plains. From the North, passing through the centre and reaching the south. It was said that; she killed her husband and forcefully took the throne. Others said, she was always the true ruler even when her husband was alive. And the one that raised more suspicions was the one surrounding her age."
"And what was it?"
"That despite her young demeanour she had seen a hundred blue moons." King Ndangah spoke.
"If that is true, we can't fathom the depth of her knowledge, neither can we fathom her might. What powers does she possess?"
"The only thing we know is her ability to prophecy. But, seeing how she wiped out almost all the villages of CENTRAL ALKEBULAN, there is far more than what we can imagine."
"Are you thinking of powers at the level of the creator?"
"No. But far superior to what we have witnessed till date."
Meanwhile Kandake and the King continued their exchange, Zara followed Yaqoob. But Yaqoob kept splintering from one point to another. She tracked him through his breath but still, she couldn't catch him. In his splintering, he was visiting the neighbouring villages that had suffered from the underworld wind. He was blaming himself for their misfortune. He kept splintering till he arrived the battlefield; where Zara and Kandake crossed arms with the prophetess. He could feel her aura lingering around.
"So, it is here? That you fought her?" Yaqoob asked.
"We can't call that fighting. We resisted her. We were outmatched at all levels, but she let us go." Zara answered, gently embracing him. She felt a certain cold from his markings similar to that of the underworld wind. She instinctively skipped away from him.
"What is it?" Yaqoob wondered, trying to hold her hand.
"Nothing…" Zara answered, taking some distance away from him.
"So, you too are like them." Yaqoob sighed.
"No, no. That's not it." Zara advanced, reaching her hand towards his jaw but Yaqoob splintered again.
"If it isn't it, then what is it?" Yaqoob's voice echoed.
"Your markings make me uneasy. When I touched it, my spirit shivered. The same sensation I got from the underworld wind." Zara cried.
"So, I am that repugnant? That's hard coming from you." His voice becoming more distant.
"That's not what I meant. Please wait." Zara wailed. "Yaqoob, wait. Why are you leaving me? You haven't even told me what really happened in that cave. Yaqoob!" Zara cried. But Yaqoob was long gone. Zara kept on crying, hoping Yaqoob might be moved by her tears but her manoeuvre didn't work. Yaqoob could hear her cry but her tears weren't enough to retain him. He had splintered to the gates of NORTHERN ALKEBULAN. Infront of the gate stood the prophetess.
"What took you so long?" She voiced, circling round him.
"I had to say goodbye." Yaqoob sighed.
"And did you finally say?"
"You already know the answer."
"Indeed."
"I did as you asked. So, what's next?" Yaqoob inquired.
"You have to learn. One can't objectively move forward, if one doesn't know what happened before him.
"Let's go then." Yaqoob said, crossing the gate into Northern ALKEBULAN.
Zara continued wailing. She wasn't picking a whiff of Yaqoob's scent. He was completely gone. Kandake appeared in front of Zara, for she had felt her aura wavering.
"He's gone right?" Kandake comforted.
"Yes." Zara cried. "And I think it is my fault."
"It isn't your fault. Yaqoob has always been sensitive to his surroundings. He felt how we were scared of his new self. But I can assure you of his return." Kandake promised, lifting Zara and both returned to the village.
When the king saw them returning without Yaqoob, he understood what had transpired.
"Yaqoob wasn't totally sincere with us. The prophetess surely told him or showed him something that coerced him to be with her." King Ndangah spoke to Zara. "And don't forget that two of his soul fragments are still with us in the village…"
"Indeed, we can still get him at any time despite his new evasive skills." Kandake added.
"Soul fragments?" Zara pondered.
"Did you not know?" Kandake asked.
"Know what?" Zara questioned again
"She doesn't." King Ndangah entered. "Sit, my child and let me tell you about the soul-splitting ritual and how it shapes the destiny of all NAMBEH men and women"
When a baby is born in the NAMBEH village, his cry determines his job or occupation. Babies with loud cries were meant to be warriors for they shall announce the start and the end of a battle with their cry. Either a cry to attack or a cry of victory. Those with lesser cries were pushed to farming, schooling, medicine; activities with little to no bloody fight. And there again, the depth of the cry pinpointed precisely to how useful you would be to the community. After determining how the child will serve the village, his soul was split into three fragments. One fragment stays within him, another is fused to his day-to-day activity tool (spade, pen, pick-axe, or weapon) and the third is buried with his maternal cord awaiting the day of bonding. The day of bonding corresponds to the day where a couple of man and woman, completely surrender their whole being to one another. During the bonding, the partakers will exchange their soul's third fragments as a prove of life time commitment and loyalty. After that, they are bonded for life and the bond only breaks when one of the members die. It was so made that, one man would bond to one woman; thereby ensuring peace, harmony and birth control.
"I understand better." Zara nodded "But it still doesn't answer my preoccupation"
"When a person gets bonded to some other person, their aura changes. They become 'unhidden'." King Ndangah began.
"They give off a distinct vibration that can't be hidden or cloaked or suppressed. That is how the creator made things." Kandake completed.
"Hence, he wouldn't be able to hide anymore. But…" Zara's face turned sour.
"What is it, my child?" King Ndangah inquired, noticing her expression.
"Nothing, my King." Zara answered, paying her respects and leaving their presence. There was something and Kandake had understood that. Zara had come to the conclusion that she might not be the one to bond with Yaqoob. And if that turned out to be the case, she would have lost him for good.
"Poor Zara." Kandake whispered.
"You said?" King Ndangah wondered.
"Nothing Dad. Just thinking out loud."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, really." Kandake laughed. She then left the king and returned to her home. Returning to her partner's arms, for a long-awaited rest. A certain calm rested on the NAMBEH village in particular and Central ALKEBULAN in general. Such turn of events had of course left scars to those who survived. And as everyone marched towards a steady recovery, Yaqoob marched towards some events that would reshape his view on the entire world. Upon crossing the gates, Yaqoob was welcomed with constructions he had never even imagined. He was amazed by the tall majestic buildings and the shapes they took. The roads coursing through the village; overflooding with men, women and children. All the inhabitants eyed him curiously. Everything surrounding him made them very curious. His clothes, the markings on his body and to boot it all he was walking casually with the prophetess. They just bowed when they saw him and proceeded to gossip immediately, as he passed. Yaqoob had his eyes flying at the corners of the town with a childish expression.
"You seem to enjoy the view"
"I won't deny that. But where are we heading?"
"To that building over there." The Prophetess pointed.
"That's your palace?" Yaqoob's jaw dropped
"No. Those are my private quarters. But it is connected to the palace. We need a little privacy. The knowledge you are going to receive shouldn't be heard by anyone."
"Ok… Lead the way." Yaqoob answered and they both flew to the building. They were welcomed by some huge, sturdy guys with their faces covered by well carved wooden masks. The masks had distinct red and yellow colours, drawing the pattern of an animal. The servants in the hall ways and stairs also had masks. But theirs seemed to be knitted with leaves and had white and yellow paintings on them. After climbing several stairs, they reached an empty space with closed walls. No doors nor windows but yet had guards and maids at specific spots. She dismissed all of them and they all emptied the space by crossing through the walls. Yaqoob just kept on staring silently. The prophetess approached the wall and whispered to it. The whole structure of that space shattered and phased into a different space, which were the private quarters of the prophetess. Yaqoob was mortified by such intricacy just to reach those quarters. The first thing he thought when he looked at the feminine area was Zara. He recalled the first time he entered in her room. How things felt so awkward. And how fulfilled he felt when he left her room. The prophetess' room was spacious. The colours of the walls and floors, the type of material cloth serving as window curtains, the allure of the bed and the overall decorations were not given to anyone. Her bed wasn't made for a single person to lay in it. The length and width could contain at least five persons. The neatness of her quarters left Yaqoob in awe.
"You are indeed the ruler of Northern ALKEBULAN." Yaqoob broke his silence. The prophetess laughed at Yaqoob's sincerity.
"I understand you haven't seen such."
"Not only that. Just accessing this chamber was a trial." Yaqoob voiced and the prophetess laughed.
"When you have lived as long as me, you come to understand the need of a certain kind of privacy." The prophetess answered moving towards her window and looking at her subjects.
"Lived long? I felt you were older than your looks but you can't be that old right?"
"Why don't you guess?"
"I can't."
"Of course you can. Look at me and tell me how many blue moons I have seen." The prophetess ordered. And for a split second, Yaqoob's mind went blank and his markings glowed.
"What was that?" Yaqoob staggered. The prophetess skipped towards him and helped him stand straight.
"You seem tired. You could catch some rest before we engage our affairs."
"I am fine." Yaqoob answered, sitting on a chair. "I just need to sit for a while and I will be better."
"Sure. Make yourself as comfortable as possible" The prophetess responded.
"You look very young; my age even. But your eyes and aura tell the contrary." Yaqoob spoke
"Interesting. And what do my eyes say?" The queen asked, getting closer to Yaqoob.
"They say, your physical looks are illusory. That you are way older. That they have seen at least a hundred blue moons. In that long span, they have lost their light." Yaqoob answered looking intently into her eyes.
"Oh, really?" The queen feigned. If Yaqoob had focused more on the rest of her body, he would have noticed her twitch with each of his words.
"Yes. The light it gives off isn't as bright as that of the sun. It is dim and longing. It seems almost as that of the moon."
"That's interesting." The queen answered, shocked by Yaqoob's knowledge depth. "And what of my aura?"
"It's too calm." Yaqoob answered, sitting on the bed.
"Calm…"
"Yes. Or better still poised. No emotional disruptions. No micro-outburst. It is just like my dad's but ten times more refined. That was the proof that made me conclude that you couldn't be my age." Yaqoob explained.
"Congratulations." The queen clapped as she sat beside Yaqoob. "Because you demonstrate such astuteness, I will let you in on what happened for my body to be frozen at this age."
Queen Hatshepsut was a prodigy. Those ones favoured by the creator and destined to shake the very core of the earth. Hatshepsut's birth was as mundane and normal as that of any citizen of northern Alkebulan. She came to the world without any complications. But she was the only child ever recorded to be born with her eyes opened. As her mother pushed her out, the birth-helper noticed the eyes of the baby were opened. And the instant her whole body came out, all those who were in the birth room saw the rest of their lives till their death. Yes, her powers awakened at birth. Her parents of coursed asked everyone present there to conceal what had transpired in the birth room. They wanted to raise their child as long as possible. When she had seen her first blue moon, Hatshepsut could walk, talk, read and write. With her power she guided her parents in their daily job. With her guidance, her parents eventually became very successful and kept on thriving. With success, riches followed. With riches, more children followed. And so, Hatshepsut was blessed with siblings. With riches, gossips follow and unwanted attention from richer people crawls in. In Hatshepsut's case, the King took interest to what he had heard from his surveillance networks. When Hatshepsut had seen seven blue moons, the king took her to work at the palace as the third prince's personal instructor. But Hatshepsut knew that was all a setup for the King to personally use her powers of premonition. Hatshepsut still accepted because, being at the palace, the future of her family was bound to be brighter than ever. Did we mention that Hatshepsut was very beautiful? Of course we can't omit that. And of course, we emphasize on the 'very' attached to the beautiful. She had that kind of beauty that made all men swear. And amongst the men who got enchanted by her beauty, we had the first prince. He was a master of war tactics and politics. He was the citizen's 'sun-being'. He was the king's pride and successor. Fortunately for him, Hatshepsut admired his war prowess. She had always had an incline towards men who demonstrated a sharp mind. When she had finally seen her eighth blue moon, she was ripe for the cutting. The prince hastily harvested her to his home and officially made her, his own. All seem to go well, till Hatshepsut saw her tenth blue moon. Hatshepsut suddenly fell ill. History doesn't tell us the origin of her ailment but remembers the despair of her husband. During the four years of their wedding his fame had spiked. His success scraped the moon. His might knew no bounds. His father retired earlier because the prince showed so much insight and capability to rule. All that happened because the prince extensively used his wife's ability to see. When she fell ill, he used all means to cure her. He would give her some of his energy to replenish her fading energy. And after several nights of searching the prince came back with a rock. He ground the rock into very fine powder. Made a smoke chamber with powder and put Hatshepsut inside and sealed the doors. And after seven moons, he rushed to the chamber. When he opened the door, the chamber was empty. No fume, and no Hatshepsut. He heard her voice calling him back to his personal chambers and he dove straight away. When he entered, he couldn't believe his wife was alive and healthier than before. She stood up and embraced him, lavished him with kisses. Which escalated to them indulging in a mutual communion known only to wedded couples.
"He didn't know what he used to cure me."
"And what was it?" Yaqoob shivered.
"It was the tears of THE BANISHED ONE." The queen whispered in Yaqoob's ear, slowly lowering him on the bed.
"The banished one?" Yaqoob asked, as he observe the queen climbing on him.
"Just as the creator has tears, which are the shape of his regrets. The Banished one too has tears. The condensation of his frustration." The queen answered, taking off her dresses.
"So, you – what are you doing?" Yaqoob tried sitting up.
"You are indeed his vessel. Resisting my powers twice. That's a feat." The queen smiled. "But unfortunately for you, the third time is always the right time for me." The queen kissed Yaqoob. And the charm was complete.
Her charm was very special. You kept all your senses, thought and even your will but you worshipped her. No, you would LUST for her. You were in control of every fibre of your being but you inherently accept to satisfy her desires.
"It means that, your power reawakened when you absorbed the tear?" Yaqoob answered, kissing her back.
"Reawakening… That might be the word." The queen tore off Yaqoob's dresses. "But telling you, isn't as good as seeing. You will see it all; my rebirth and how the banished one came to be"
Yaqoob didn't understand what was happening. His body grew warmer to every touch, and every kiss of the queen. He enjoyed what was happening. The sweat, the energy, the pleasure; it was all too good. He looked at the curves of the queen and grew harder and warmer. He was painfully hard and forcefully battled to relieve the pain. He enjoyed looking at the queen's expression; who seemed to equally like the communal play. It is said that; one gets the greatest pleasures under the greatest rains of hardship. And when one rises above such rains, he reaches the clouds. At the level of the clouds, with extra effort, one could ascend to the heavens; the arena of joy, fulfilment and enlightenment.
Yaqoob, reached the heavens and at that state, his spirit left his body. The queen's spirit was in front of him, conjuring in a strange language and she opened a portal. Yaqoob's spirit was sucked into the portal and sent a thousand blue moons into the past. He was sent to witness how it all started.