For  MaryleneBandera❤❤ thank you for the support.
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☆••°~ Do not think there are no crocodiles just because the water is calm~°••☆

I nervously fiddled with the copper bracelets that were snaked around my wrist whilst Azile pulled my braided hair into a high bun. The Karanga tribe was coming today and I couldn't ignore the uneasy feeling that gnawed at my insides. 'What if I was wrong about trusting them?' The question caused me to sigh deeply, I could only hope for the best.

"Come now, my queen." Azile's soft voice sounded, breaking me out of my nerve-wracking thoughts."Everything will be fine." She assured me as if sensing my ever growing uncertainty.

"I hope so, I really do." I mumbled, as her fingers tugged the braids round each other before she placed the golden crown onto my head.

"My queen, the Karanga tribe has arrived, the king sends for you." Vikali informed me, his eyes shifting between the floor and Azile, regret pooling into his eyes.

I nodded in response before exiting the hut, Azile and Vikali on either side of me. It was ironic how a woman stood between their love and how I had tethered them together, turning their sparks of passion into flaming desire. I could see them stealing glances at each other, Azile too stubborn to understand and forgive whilst Vikali drowned in his guilt and self-loathing. It was forbidden love, it was so wrong and yet so right, just like giving a bird wings and telling it not to fly.

From the distance I could trace Makhosi's large frame towering over the warriors, he was deeply engrossed in a conversation, probably telling them to keep a close eye on the Karanga just to be safe which caused my uneasy feeling to surface again. Makhosi's eyes fell on me pride clouding his eyes, as he laced his fingers in mine. "My queen, you look beautiful." He complimented causing heat to rise to my cheeks.

His golden crown sat comfortably on his head, his rich cocoa skin shimmering in the sun, he looked like a god, a handsomely deadly god. His rough hand gently laced his fingers in mine, as a jaw dropping smile curled onto his lips, uncertainty still flickering in his eyes.

"Are you ready?" He asked me concern seeping into his mud brown orbs.

"Yes, my king." I responded which resulted in him gently squeezing my hand as they approached us, a crowd of people heading towards us. They were here.

The King Chatunga lead them, with his crown on his head and a spear and shield in hand whilst four other women followed closely behind him. The tribe had fallen in numbers from the last time I had seen them, probably due to the outgoing conflict and battles with the Tonga tribe.

"King Makhosi and Queen Nohereka." He formally greeted as he bowed causing Makhosi and I to bow simultaneously. "We are truly grateful for your assistance and alliance with us." He continued before he motioned for the four women to join him. "These are my wives," he introduced them. Their faces were decorated with facial scars which represent healing and strength and yet it did not take away from their beauty. "This is Runako," he said proudly gesturing to youngest wife who held a sleeping child in her arms. "She is the mother of my son, the heir."

The other wives plastered fake smiles as their eyes slightly narrowed at Runako, I could tell she was an outcast from the group just by the way she stood a few steps away from them. "This is my queen, Nohereka." Makhosi introduced me, his voice causing women's eyes to examine what was mine.

King Chatunga's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "My queen, you look lovely as always." He began a smile crossing his thick lips. "May I suggest that in future we unite the tribes with a marriage from your heir to one of my daughters." His words almost made me choke on my spit, Makhosi and I had jusy recently started sleeping in the same bed, now he was talking about an heir. Heat coursed through me as I felt my face heat in embarassment.

"A suggestion that we will keep under consideration." Makhosi responded causing heat to spread through my body.
"King Chatunga we have much to discuss." Makhosi continued causing King Chatunga to nod in response before he turned to me placing a feather like kiss on my forehead and heading towards the meeting place.

"Please may you all follow me I will be leading you to your huts." I proclaimed, my voice loud and strong. They heads turned to me as the followed me towards the newly built huts. The three wives lead the group leaving Runako behind, they clearly did not like her, perhaps because they were jealous. My mind could only wonder.

The huts came into veiw, their brown colour complementing the thatched roofs perfectly. I turned towards Azile, "Please lead each family to their designated hut including the King's wives, I will rejoin you shortly." I instructed her, earning a curt nod before she began to lead the crowd towards the cluster of huts.

"My queen, is everything well?" Vikali's deep ternor voice asked me, as he remained beside me.

"All is well, Vikali ,please go and assist Azile with her task." I responded.

"But my queen..." He had began before I raised my hand in interjection, a smile tugging at my lips.

"I will be fine, Vikali, I can take care of myself." I assured him, trying my best to get him to leave me alone with Runako, who was struggling to catch up with the crowd.

"Very well, my queen." He said whilst dipping his bulky body into bow before rushing towards the front of the group.

Runako dragged her feet against the ground, struggling to keep in step with the rest of the tribe, beads of sweat trickled down her forehead tracing her heart shaped face and her high cheek bones.

A smile crossed her lips as her eyes met mine, "My queen, it is an honour to be in your presence." She beamed, her wood brown eyes flooding with joy.

I returned her a smile of my own, unlike the three wives that seemed arrogant and hateful, she was the complete opposite. She was humble, although a queen in her land she was still able to be respectful to me. Where the other wives were hateful she was joyful, choosing to smile and press on even though she'd just come from child birth.

She trudged toward me, her tired muscles struggling against her until she finally reached me, her smile never faltering from her lips. "Forgive me, my queen. I am finding it more difficult to walk with this child in my arms and not in my womb," she laughed.

"Don't worry, Runako please rest." I urged her whilst a comforting smile embraced my lips.

"Oh, don't bother." She began, "We're almost there." Her eyes focused on the small path that lead to the cluster of huts. We began to walk together, her small steps made it harder for her to catch up to my pace causing me to slow down.

"Your home is beautiful, my queen." She marvelled as her eyes combed through the scenery, from the sky scraping trees to the green carpet of grass.

"Well, its your home too now." I reminded her, as I gestured towards the beautiful scenery. The cluster of huts was closer now, it was buzzing with excitement and the sound of squealing children.

The uneasy feeling was gone now, replaced with contentment as we walked towards one of the huts. 'Maybe I wasn't wrong about them.'

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Facial scars like in the image above, are a ritual process takes place across the african continent. The Karanga tribe in Zimbabwe refer to the scars as nyora and they represent healing and strength, it is no longer as famous due to societies advancement.

Sorry for the late updates muffins, I've been busy judging books 😊 Hope you're all doing well and great.

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