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MENZI ZULU
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I don't understand how they could let Iyana escape like that. How can they be so careless. Why would she even run. This marriage is supposed to save her home and now she just disappears. They were supposed to suppress her powers. The only way she could have escaped is if she has her powers. I don't understand. Nkosinathi is not giving me the answers I need. He is failing to make understand how my daughter escaped from them.
Nobuhle: Can you please stop pacing, you are making me dizzy. They will find her and she will go back to them. She obviously had help. They need to find whoever helped her.
"She didn't have any help any woman. They questioned everyone who supposed to be watching her and no one know how she left."
Nobuhle: Ntsika need to tone down that temper of his. Beating her is not going to help. Iyana is a free spirit. They won't easily tame her.
"They were supposed to keep her powers suppressed. You know what's going to happen once she gets her powers. It will be the end of us. Remember what we were told. Iyana has been nothing but a disappointment. She was supposed to be a boy child and she is disappointing me again."
Nobuhle: You were supposed to break her, and you didn't.
"Hence we had to give her to Buthelezi's."
This woman is really starting to annoy me now. It doesn't help that I could get what I personally wanted from her but now this. I miss her though. Her soft skin, her scent, the fear in her eyes whenever she looked at me. It always shifted something in me. From when she started showing signs of being a woman, her beauty always mesmerized me just like her mother. The fire in her eyes mixed with fear, her soft voice. Thinking about her right now shifts something in me. I didn't want to give her away. I have always wanted her to say with me, stay in this kingdom and never leave. I wonder though, I wonder how I was never able to ......
Guard: My King, My Queen, you have a guest.
"Ok. We'll be right there."
Nobuhle: Who could it be?
"I don't know. Let's just go." What is he doing here? He has come here, what is he doing here.
Nobuhle: Welcome to our home.
Qophelo: Thank you. I am not going to beat around the bush or waist your time. I came here to tell you that I have your daughter and NO, I did not kidnap her, she came on her own. I'm telling you this so that you know that your daughter is safe and you can call off the search for her. She is fine. With that said, Iyana is my chosen and she won't be coming back. They only time she will come back is when she is going to prepare for the lobola negotiations.
"I don't understand. What do you mean, your chosen. Iyana already has a man that is going to marry her. You coming here and telling me all this, does not make sense."
Qophelo: It doesn't have to make sense. Just understand that, when she comes back I don't expect her to go missing. I expect to see her when my family come to pay their respects to you as her parents. I'll keep in touch and let you know when we'll be coming. Oh and whatever deal you have with Nkosinathi Buthelezi and his son, cancel it. If anyone tries to take Iyana from me, there will be hell to play. Now lets talk business. "What does he mean business. Who the hell does he think he is, coming here and giving me orders about my daughter.
Qophelo: I am the man that is going to save your Kingdom. Now, you can stop with your inner tantrums and start listening.
Nobuhle: What do mean business. We have a deal with Buthelezi.
Qophelo: Now you don't. You won't delivering Iyana to them and don't test me. Now, I have a proposal for.....
"What kind of proposal?"
Qophelo: Do you know that this land is rich in mineral stones, rare mineral stones?
"What do you mean?"
Qophelo: Exactly that. Here, read this proposal, sign it, let me know once it's signed I'll send someone to collect it. Don't try to be smart about this, if you do, I'll know. If the Edwaleni Kingdom finds out about this offer, I'll know and believe me when I tell you that you don't want me to find out. I'll take my leave now.
This walks into my palace, like he owns the place and walks out just like that. He just rendered me speechless. I have no words. I am frozen in my seat trying to figure out what just happened. So Buthelezi knew where my child was and hid it from me. How could he do that.
*
LONA (QUEEN MOTHER)
*
Sthembiso: Here is the info you wanted My Queen.
"Thank you Sthembiso. How are you today?" He slowly walks up to me and stands right in front of me just a step away. He puts his forefinger under my chin making me look up at him. I can feel the rush, my blood warming just from the way he looks at me. I can see his eyes turning to their usual warm yellow. I can feel his gaze deep in my soul and the memory of last night flashes in my mind."
Sthembiso: I am not OK, but I am OK. If you understand what I mean. "I know exactly what he means. I am just so scared. I feel like it would be too soon and the kids will not accept it. "
I can't help myself Lona. It has always been you but I respected your husband and your marriage and kept it all to myself. Now I can't hold myself. I want it all out. I want to breath freely the same air you breath but lets talk about this later not now. Now I need you to browse the documents that I just gave you. "He leaves a soft peck on my cheek and takes a few steps back allowing me space to look at the document. I decide to move and take a sit on the couch as I open the file that he gave. What I see in this file makes my stomach turn. What in seven hells is this. I look up at Sthembiso, trying to confirm if this real. He nods slightly and moves to take a sit next me. I can feel my anger trying to force its way out but I won't let it. I need to stay calm so that I can be able to look everything. I feel his hand brushing my back gently, the warmth it provides calms me.
"I never understood why they didn't like us. I could see the pretence from Busi but the question is, does she know everything? And if she does, why did she stay quiet? Bheki is stupid. He knows how tradition works. How could he do this to his own brother?"
Sthembiso: Your sons have him, that's why he hasn't been seen.
"Does Busi know where he is?"
Sthembiso: She doesn't. Zolani is on his way to get Busi. Your boys mean business.
"Tell Zolani to let her be. I am going to deal with her myself woman to woman. Now I understand why their children are always her. No child wants to deal with this kind of parent."
Sthembiso: Ok, I'll do that now. "He say getting up walking to balcony calling Zolani. What did I ever to Busi and Bheki for them to go to this extent just because they want the throne. All I did, was love my husband, genuinely love him and he love me just as much. That man loved me and he was unapologetic about. I remember how things where hard for when I couldn't conceive and yet he was there, he never wavered. So they went to forbidden forest to cast on spell on us to not have children. The spell was supposed to last forever, we were actually not meant to have children at all so that their children can sit on the throne after their father. Bheki couldn't have the throne himself and opted for this. How desperate is he. This was his brother for crying in a bucket. It took time for us to have Qophelo and he wasn't an easy pregnancy but our ancestors were watching over us. Now I understand why they were happy when Qophelo was born and then came Mxolisi and it just got worse. Two boys, if anything happens to the first prince the second prince will take over. So their plans were ruined. I can't believe this. Looking at this information everything is clear as day light. I am so lost in my thoughts and in trying in calm my anger I don't even feel Sthembiso next to me. His voice jolts me out of the trans.
Sthembiso: My Angel, you need to calm down. Calm down before you tear this place apart. You are transforming. Calm down. "He tells me busy brushing my back which helps. He tells me to breath and guides me to steady my breathing. I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths in just as calm starts to settle I see my husbands Lion. I try to open my eyes but I can't. I can still feel Stembiso's hand on my back, I can here his voice in a distance trying to calm but I am more focused on the Lion. He walks close and brushes against me purring. He stands in front me and I hear his voice. My husband's voice that I missed so much, missed the comfort it brings but somehow Sthembiso's still lingers not to far. "Be at peace my love. I am at peace, I am free from pain, I am happy. It's time to let go my love. Continue to live. A lot happened before I passed but all shall be revealed. Let him in, he is your calm. He always has been. I was your storm and he is your calm. Be happy my love. I'll always watch over you." I open my eyes and realize that I am crying in Sthembiso's arms. When I eventual stop, he picks up and takes me to my bedroom and covers me with a fleece blanket and I just allow sleep to take over.
*
BHEKI
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I've been here now for two days now. It looks like I underestimated my nephews. The room is clean with a en-suite, I am not tied up, free to move around but I can never get out of hear even if I tried. Steel re enforced windows made from bullet proof glass. I can't break this even if I wanted to. The door is a steel door, also steel re enforced frame. This room is probably sound proof. I can be here for days and no one would ever know. They haven't said anything to me. All they did was leave a bunch of files and all these files contain every bad thing I have ever done. How did they even get all this information. I must say they are good. They keep sending food and water and they also had a change of clothes sent to me. I asked to see Qophelo but he hasn't been here to see me. I wonder what is happening out there, is Busi ok, because in all this information she is also in it. I am just wondering if they also took her. Was it all worth it, well I can safely say, no it was not, because here I am and I still don't have what I wanted. The questions that remain now are: what are they going to do to me and where to from here?
The door opens and it's Mxolisi.
Mxolisi: Are you ok, are comfortable?
"Where is my wife?"
Mxolisi: Oh don't worry about her. She is home, stressing about your whereabouts but we will deal with her as well. You know for a second there, we were going to let you go but I have a problem. I have one file that I can't seem to complete and it surrounds my father's death. I was hoping you could help me with that. I have gaps that are missing something. I'm not sure what it is yet. I'll just leave it here with you and maybe you can help me. You will stay here though until I figure it out.
"What are you going to do to me?"
Mxolisi: Me? Nothing dear uncle, nothing at all but I'm not sure about my brother. He is on urge lately. We all know what happens when that man is on edge. "He says that smiling and starts whistling as he walks out, leaving me wondering what he means about missing pieces in his father's file. I take the file and browse and suddenly I feel my heart constrict, my lungs seem to not function correctly because, I seem to be losing my losing, I can't breathe. I drop on the bed and try to collect myself, I try to breathe but it's a struggle. I close my eyes and drag in one deep breath and let it out slowly. I continue doing that until I feel lungs letting in some air. I truly under estimated my nephews.