☆•~° If the is character, ugliness becomes beauty; if there is none beauty becomes ugliness°~•☆

Beauty was never something I bothered much about; probably because that’s the only good thing my mother gifted me with. So as I began to suffer terribly at the hands of Azile and Runako, I could do nothing but think of my vision as it constantly replayed in my mind; the ancestor’s words, the fire, the blood and the destruction.

“Ouch! Oww! Azile what is it that you are doing to my hair?” I asked as I felt the brush tangle into the bush of hair.

“Apologies my queen, it seems you haven’t been tending to your hair as I instructed you to and now these are the consequences.” Her face was grim, she was trying to be stern but her facade immediately faltered as it was replaced with her beautiful smile.

“My queen, your hair which is currently looking like a birds nest will require a bit more taming than you expect.”Runako joked as she dug her hands into my head which caused her to shake her head. “Azile, do tell me your secret how do you tame our queens thorn bush?” She questioned as she studied Azile’s hands.

“Runako your hair is much like mine, let’s not play perfect queen when your hair is far worse than mine, actually.” I laughed as the words escaped me. 

Runako’s eyes feigned hurt as she sadly placed her hand over her heart, “My queen you wound me, and to think I thought my hair was much like Azile, large and soft.”

Azile and I burst into fits of laughter after Runako’s heartfelt confession, it felt nice to be distracted from everything and enjoy the comfort of friendship. I could forget the troubles of the world whenever I was with them; they were my safe haven away from Makhosi and Vikali. They brought me peace and some form of validation – I wasn’t the evil driven monster mother called me, I was normal.

“Speaking of wounds, tell us Azile how is Vikali?” Runako asked curiosity was carved deep into her face, she seemed desperate to know and I didn’t blame her; I too wanted to hear how the star crossed lovers had progressed from their previous confrontation.

Azile focused on the goat rug that sat comfortably at the foot of my bed as a small smile crept onto her glossy lips, “Well...” she had began as her smile widened.  “I finally forgave him but we won’t take it any further than friendship because I do not want to jeopardise his family – he deserves to be happy.” Her sadness cocooned her ebony coloured eyes like a mother would smother her new born in cloth, she was trying to be a good person and she was succeeding effortlessly, she was a martyr; willing to execute her love for Vikali for the good of his family.

“Have faith Azile, you are fated to love as you are live.” My words tumbled out of my mouth and it was true. “I have seen the way Menzi looks at you –” I began before Runako’s shrieked with excitement.

“Menzi?” Her eyes widened threatening to pop out of their sockets.”My queen, is this the Menzi who gifted Azile the bundle of flowers after he returned from the war?”

“Yes, I heard he even gifted her with golden bracelets from the traders.” I whispered, pretending that Azile wasn’t there.

“My queen, Menzi is a great warrior, but – “Azile had begun before Runako interrupted her with a pillow to the face.

“But nothing. Menzi is perfection; he was crafted by the hand of God himself.” Runako had began ranting causing Azile and I to look at each other before our gaze fell on her, which caused her to question us, “What?”

“Aren’t you married Runako?”

“Yes but that doesn’t mean anything. We must still appreciate a good outfit even if we have our own. Take notes ladies, especially you my queen marriage is commitment not a restraint. Admiring another is no sin” She explained to us, which earned her nothing but the bubbling laughter from Azile and I.

Azile’s gentle fingers carefully placed the crown over my large afro hair that was cascading down in waves. I was fully dressed in the white lace outfit; it comprised of a long sleeved shirt that fell beneath my breasts and a long skirt that contained two slits on either side of my hips. I couldn’t see the logic of dressing me up in white clean clothes for a ceremony that was bloody.

“Wow!” Runako breathed out it awe

“My queen, you look stunning as always but it seems today your beauty is magnified.” Azile spoke as she brought forward the large mirror.

My large afro hair resembled a puffy cloud as it cascaded down my back in curly waves, my long thick eyelashes covered my cedar coloured eyes that were complimented by my small upturned button nose and my plump lips. I had never seen myself look this elegant; my image could have been mistaken for my deceased mother.

“My queen, you look like a goddess.” Runako complimented me causing heat to rise to my cheeks as Azile agreed with her.

“She is a goddess.” Makhosi’s deep baritone voice caused me whirl my head back. His muscular frame was drenched in blood as he carried something in his left hand and the spear in his right arm. He nodded his head which resulted in both Azile and Runako to leave us alone in the hut.

I was tempted to throw myself into his embrace but his bloodied body would ruin my outfit. A smile instantly tugged the corners of my lips, before I spoke,” My king, you have returned to me.”

He returned me a smile of his own, “My queen, I had made a promise and I never break my promises.”

My eyes carefully examined the bundle in his left hand, “And what is it that you bring to our sleeping quarters, I’d have thought any of your dead animals would’ve been getting tended to for the ceremony?” I asked curiously as I began to advance to his large frame.

“Well it is a gift, a gift to the beautiful woman who will become the mother of my child.”He explained as he put down the muddy leopard skin.

“A gift? Makhosi, is this a leopard skin?” I questioned him as my frame crouched down to the level of the small muddy ball.

“It’s a leopard cub, Nohereka.” His hearty laughter escaped his lips; amusement was twirling in his orbs like a dancing maiden.

“Is it dead? Makhosi you can’t gift me a dead leopard cub.” I had begun complaining before its wide hazel green eyes met mine. My hands immediately stretched towards its small and trembling body, beckoning it to come to me. It stumbled towards me, its fur was cold and muddy which explained why it was trembling; the poor thing was freezing.

I carefully carried it careful not to mess up my attire before I placed it into the warm bucket. My fingers gently began washing out the mud and filth that was matted into its fur, “Mama is going to make sure you’re clean.” I said as I continued cleaning the little leopard which meowed in response.

I wrapped the little cub in cloth before placing it before a bowl of fresh milk. “There you go, have dinner so Mama can put you to bed.”
I could feel Makhosi’s eyes carefully examining me.”Is there a problem my king?” I asked him as I placed the little cub onto the bed.

"You seem to have forgotten the most important thing?"

"Which is?"

Makhosi's voice caressed my eardrums as he spoke,"A name, your little leopard has no name."

Laughter bubbled from my chest as I felt the heat rise and devour my cheeks."It seems that a name had slipped my mind," I said thoughtfully as my eyes fell to the leopard cub, curled up into a small ball on the soft bed.

"Kukalela"

"You wish to name him that?" Makhosi's eyes widened in suprised before the met mine.

"He deserves to rest." I explained as I carefully began petting the little leopard. Makhosi's heated gaze fell onto me once more which cause shivers of pleasure to course through my veins."Is there something you wish to say?"

“My queen, I am awaiting a bath from you. I would be wounded if my wife was to care more for a leopard cub than for her husband.” He grumbled as he headed over to the bath, which caused me to laugh – how was the great king of the Ndebele-Shona tribe jealous of my affections towards a leopard cub.

“Jealousy is a humorous sight on you my king.” I commented, stifling laughter as I removed the white top and replaced it with a leather top; I grabbed the towel cloth and a bucket as I headed over to the bath.

My hands dipped the towel in the hot water before carefully cleaning of the dried blood that clung onto his chocolate skin. His muscles flexed beneath my gentle touch causing my mind to race, I was losing focus and his bare torso was drawing my thoughts into another daydream.

“Nohereka, did you hear me?” His voice broke me out of my thoughts, I hadn’t even realised he was speaking.

“What is it that you said, my king?” I asked him as my hands gently caressed his face

“I said how was the cleansing ceremony? And your vision, how did it go?” He questioned me; it seemed he was suspicious which mean he knew something.

“Everything went well.” I responded before continuing to clean his chest with the towel cloth.

“Your vision, what did you see?”

“May I ask why you are so concerned, my king?” My voice was gentle but you couldn’t ignore the slight irritation dripping from my words.

“Mazimele informed me of your – “He had began speaking before I interrupted him.

“Of course Mazimele informed you.” I muttered to myself as I continued washing.

“Nohereka, it’s not like that, but if fear the root of your problems stem deeper than personal revelations from Mazimele. What is it that you’re not telling me? What did you see?” Makhosi sounded genuinely concerned and that caused my heart to soften.

“Please my king, a night of celebration and peace; that’s all I ask of you.”

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