Three days have passed since I escaped from the castle. The bells have stopped ringing. Three days without food, and the further I journey into the forest; the scarcer water becomes. My body has weakened slightly, but my will to get as far away as possible has not been broken.
Every single rustle in the underbrush frightens me. It is the first time I have ever been alone. No brother to pester me, no father to comfort me when the storms of life blow me astray, no royal attendants. I lie down on the grass to rest my feet. The stars above are the only source of light and comfort I find. I cannot hold back the tears that stream from my face.
How can my family betray me like this? My own flesh and blood?
A sound – of humans – suddenly comes from among the trees behind me; without even thinking I leap up and hide behind a massive trunk.
“Yes, the poor King’s dead Musa. Good man he was,” a hoarse voice says.
“Now his dog of a boy sits on the throne. His crowning must have been one of the coldest I have ever seen,” a second voice replies, more melodic than the first.
“They say he immediately executed the guards who did not catch the killer,” says the taller man, now come into view. I watch them pass by … and I cannot leave them be. I’ve noticed them carrying a pair of rabbits. My stomach aches with hunger. I do the one thing that might ruin my escape.
“You there,” I call out, feigned confidence in my voice. “I heard you speak about the new king and how the old one was murdered.”
They stop dead in their tracks and turn to face me. The taller man has a beard that almost reaches the buckle of his belt. “Yes, that is correct, boy. Our King died three days ago,” he replies. “Didn’t even have a proper funeral before that new one was crowned. He’s a real malicious boy.”
My insides churn at the thought of Ubukili sitting on my father’s throne. A hateful man, and yet he possesses the most power. The kingdom will bleed if he is not stopped.
“So, you don’t know anything about the King’s killer?” I ask.
“No, boy. No-one knows anything about him. They say he vanished like a ghost,” the shorter man replies.
They do not recognize me from the castle. They must be peasants who live on the outskirts of the city. My luck seems to be picking up. As I am about to speak, my stomach goes into a loud growl. I clench it and the two men bellow with laughter.
“Seems like you’re starving there, boy. Want to share some meat and beer?” the tall and friendly man asks. He has a wry smile on his dark face.
I do not hesitate to say yes. Before long we are camped around a blazing fire. The heat is a welcome feeling to replace the cold I have felt over the past three days. The stew the shorter man brews smells heavenly and sends my stomach into another growling frenzy. I drain the man’s skin of water with one gulp; the taste is both refreshing and cool.
“Slow down there, boy. Save some for us,” the man says as he chuckles. “My name’s Musa, by the way, and the short one cooking over there is Sbelo.” Sbelo only grunts as he waves an acknowledgment.
It is a pleasure to meet you, Sbelo and Musa. My name is–. I almost blurt out my real name, but think better of it. “My name is Thato.”
Musa smiles at my reply and Sbelo serves us the stew. One spoonful and the taste dances on my tongue. My mouth waters as I chew and indulge every single sensation it brings with it. It does not take long for me to finish my bowl.
But now I feel groggy, as if I am slowly slipping from my log seat … The words, “Hah, fool!” and “Idiotic milkman,” are all I hear before my world is turned upside down. I see the stars shimmering in the night sky, and then, nothing …
***
Tell us: Was Umkele silly to trust these unknown men?