Unrevised, unedited.

***

"What do you think is wrong with him?" Sadiqu asked Leek once they were seated in Leek's grandmother's chamber. The way Madaki was faring was what made the palace's doctor to say everyone should leave. Leek had to cancel the remaining tour because everyone was now worried about the health of the old man.

Leek took a sharp breath. "Sources from his maids said he always have those attacks at least twice a day. So you have nothing to worry about."

"What attack?" Sadiqu's brow went up in question.

"I don't know but it seems like he cries everyday." She shrugged.

"May Allah keep him healthy. He's such a great man." Sadiqu's feet were cold.

"Says the man who spent only few minutes with him."

"You've no idea how much we caught up. He's amazing and very knowledgeable."

"I agree. Let's see what we have here before granny comes in." She began opening the warmers.

****

Leek and Sadiqu have just finished getting ready for the day when a slave made a salaam by their door. They looked at each other before Leek answered.

The maid was a woman, petite, probably in her late forties. She was dressed in a white uniform. Leek understood that she was from his royal highness, the king's chamber. That was the colour of the uniform of the slaves there.

"The king request for your presence ranki ya dade. Together with your guest. Tuba nake nima ba'a son raina nazo da sassafen nan ba. Pardon me, it's not my wish to be here this early." She bowed waiting for order to leave.

"You may leave. We will be on our way." Leek dismissed her.

"Are they always apologetic? After every word I am sorry?" Sadiqu rested his head on a royal headrest looking at Leek whom was in thought.

"They're. They just have to be if not they will be punished. Now I'm thinking of why the king wants to see you." She fidgeted with her fingers the same way different thoughts swam in her head.

"Wants to see us not me." Sadiqu corrected her.

"Trust me it's an indirect way of saying 'hey stranger what did you came with?' If only grandma is here she would have helped us but I haven't seen her since she left this chamber at Fajr. Now let's go." She stood up, looked for her veil and tied it around her head in a lafayya style.

"I don't even know how many things you talked about at one instant. Let's go then." He rose to his feet and they walked out leaving their breakfast untouched. Sadiqu on the other hand wasn't worried at all. He was just being curious to know why the king wanted to see him this morning.

Out of the Leek's grandmother's chamber whom was formerly addressed as Gimbiya Maryama they headed directly to the king's chamber. Leek's grandmother was now the King's younger sister. So apparently, the king was Leek's granduncle.

"I thought all royalty stay within the palace. Why is your father not living in the palace?" Sadiqu asked.

"That's because he's not royalty. It's a story. I will tell you once we're back." Leek replied.

"Salaha, that's the corner right?" Leek asked the maid behind her for the direction. She was literally forgetting the way to the king's chamber.

"Yes, your Majesty." Leek nodded and they continued walking in silence. The palace was very busy today. Horses were neighing due to constant beating as a way of preparing them for the day's dubar festival. Some horses have to have some parts of them pierced to fit in with their adorning accessories. Slaves were trooping in and out of different chambers.

Standing before a giant gate, Leek finally said they have reached the place. Music instruments were blown twice before Leek was allowed in.

The big compound completely screamed royalty. Several species of horses were grazing around. White, brown, black, Burgundy and every possible colour of an animal. There were also atleast seven peacocks displaying their beautiful feathers.

"This is the most beautiful place. The king loves luxury." Leek informed Sadiqu whom was lost in staring at Paradise on earth.

"I can tell from everything around here." He gulped his wonders before they reached the final entrance to the palace.

The door was open widely by some slaves. Both Leek and Sadiqu entered. They sighted the king at the farthest end of the room with servants by his side performing different duties for him. He was leaning comfortably on his royal bedthrone. He had his royal chairthrone and the bed all in the parlour. When he was tired and feeling like he needed some rest and massage, the bed was to his rescue.

Sadiqu began checking him out because he won't be able to do so once he approached where the king was laying. The royal turban was perfectly tied around the King's face leaving only his round large eyes and the bridge of his nose visible. From his eye area, Sadiqu could tell that the king had a chubby face. He was also light skinned. The hair on his brow, which was obviously silky and full peeked from underneath his turban.

Sadiqu removed his gaze from the king's face when they reached the point where they would stop. Just five feet's before the king's throne.

Three slaves stood in front of the king, spreading a long sheet to shield people away from how the king would sit up from his incline position.

The white silky sheet was dropped on the floor whilst the king cleared his voice. A slave looked at Leek and interpreted.

"The king is welcoming you." Sadiqu bent his head low and began greeting the king in praises until when the king raised his hands and a servant said the king was grateful and was happy with the way Sadiqu gave him respect.

To the slaves' surprise, the king talked and said they should give him some space to talk with his visitor. They looked at him to make sure they heard him well lest they will face a wrath thereafter. The king was always carrying a ruthless look. He hardly smiled except at children. He doesn't talk directly to his masses because according to him, that would make them give him less regards. He loved being the king and being the boss.

Leek began her own praises too.

"Amaryar sarki. An gayshe ki." The king's bride. The king hails you. Leek laughed. It made her remembered when the king used to say that when she was a child. She used to hate the name.

"Welcome gentle man." Sadiqu just bowed. He totally lost his speech due to the charisma in the king's voice. His eyes held so much aura in them too.

"What's your name?" He asked. Leek attempted to answer but the king stopped her. He was making an analysis and he didn't want anyone to interrupt him. If Leek talked again, he would be left with no option than to dismiss her.

Sadiqu stuttered. "Sadiqu-Ismail." He finally stated. The king kept quiet analysing. The slaves that were present yesterday told him that Madaki started coughing the moment Sadiqu said his name. Now he had searched, browsed through his brain but couldn't find any meaning to the name. Perhaps it was a mere coincidence; that Madaki was about to start coughing when Sadiqu said his name and that maybe he asked him to repeat the name because he had a hearing impairment. That's just it. Final, case closed.

"May Allah bless your marriage. You will love a tour around my kingdom. Waziri will join you later to take a look at our emirate. I heard that you're from Kano. Have you ever been to the Kano palace?" Leek stared at the man. This was the longest time he had ever taken while talking. Well, to her knowledge though.

"No your royal highness. This is my first time of being to a palace. I must say your kingdom is really beautiful." The king's lip spread into a smile before he shook his head.

"I'm later going out for durbar festival. Madaki's illness almost made me forget that this is Eid. Can you ride a horse?"

"No, your royal highness."

"You will today. The king signaled for the slave by the door to come forth. The young man ran inside.

"Call Sarkin dawaki tell him to train this my grandson on how to ride a young horse. Then he should bring from the old room, alkyabba, rawani and other stuffs. He should just look something close to me." The king finished his speech and the slave left making sure he understood what the king meant.

****

"Do you love garlic?" Mimi asked, whilst chopping an onion. They had just came back from her husband's family's mansion. Just the same way they had a separate house other than the government house, General Aliyy's family too have.

"A little bit of it won't hurt." Mimi shot him a smile and continued chopping the veggies in front of her." She had learnt cooking different dishes during her stay at Kano. She felt like it's better she learn doing some things by herself than to be asking maid to do it.

"What may I help you with?" He asked, dropping from the kitchen island. He loved the way Mimi was slowly changing. She was no longer the woman he married a while ago. This one was a full grown up woman.

"My eyes!" She cried. General marched forth faster. The kitchen was big.

"What got inside?" He queried and held her hand whilst his other hand examined her eyes.

"Onion water." She replied pushing his hand away.

"Allow me to check the eyes." He blew an air in the eye. He blew it once again and asked her to open her eyes. Mimi opened her eyes and does not feel anything spicy in the eye again.

"Thank you." She whispered.

General stretched his hand up and opened a drawer. A brought out a box from it where an apron and a kitchen shade was.

"Don't forget to use this always." He put on the shades for her.

"Leave me, I will tie the apron myself." She whined.

"You love it when I tie it for you and snake my hand around you huh? Don't worry." He smiled and began putting it on her.

"I'm going to kill you!" She threatened pointing her index finger at him.

"Ohh you're going to kiss me. No worries wifey, go on." He said, making their body meet in contact before he tied the strap of the apron by Mimi's back.

"Now you're done. Leave me alone." She pushed him.

"No, not until you do what you intended." He closed his eyes waiting for her response. Mimi closer her eyes too. No matter what a person would say, she always had an answer to that person. But this man? She couldn't deal with him.

"Time is going. I want to finish cooking early." She opened her eyes to see General looking at her in the eye. He wasn't blinking at all.

"This look is ferocious man." She twisted her lips.

"Or flirtatious?" He raised an eyebrow.

"I don't get why your mouth is running like kitchen waste slurry." She mocked trying to avoid his gaze.

Mimi briefly closed her eyes thinking of how to escape from his hold. The longer she stays, the more she wanted to stay. It was better she chase him out until she's done cooking. Her eyes were still closed when she felt the brush of his lips against hers. It was a quick and gentle peck on the lips.

"I'm waiting for my food in the parlour. Scary cat." He whispered, lingering another smooch on the crook of her neck.

Mimi took a sharp breath with her eyes still closed. When she felt like he has left, she opened her eyes only to find him still looking at her by the door. Mimi smiled and slammed the door, hiding her blush.

Oh lord, this man wants her to melt before evening. She smiled like a loon and set to preparing their lunch.

*****

It was four in the evening when the palace was sparkling with colours. The king was in the most beautiful royal attire so were other people with different royal ranks.

Sadiqu had been prepared too. He was wearing a white turban with golden lines on it. His royal thobe was black with golden embroidery. His shoe was of animal skin also beautifully embroidered. Those gave him a royal look that one couldn't pass without looking at him twice.

It was time for them to go for the hawan sarki (durbar). The king has already came out of the palace on his horse motor. The slaves were carrying the king's umbrella. The grandchildren of the royal house were all chirping around in their royal attires.

"Did you see how that stranger looked? He's really handsome. More handsome than the prince himself." The slaves discussed between them.

"I will have been the happiest lady if he marries me. I'm crushing already." Another one chirped in.

"Not in your wildest dreams because he is mine." An older lady remarked.

They were amidst that conversation when Waziri's daughter, Bilkisu came to pass. They all remained quiet and bowed waiting for her to pass.

"What did I heard you talking about?" She thundered. They all knew what lying to her may cause.

"We were just admiring the stranger. He looks charismatic as the king himself." Basirah replied her.

"It's none of your business. Now leave!" They all dispersed like the way insects in colony disperse.

•

It was time to go when Madaki woke up. The king went to see him in his chamber and to bid him bye. It had been years since Madaki participated in durbar.

"Where's my friend?" He asked on sighting the king. The king became puzzled.

"He's ready for the durbar too." He replied though not knowing whom he was referring to. He only provided an answer so that he would leave on time.

"When you come back tell him I want to see him." Madaki's voice cracked in order. The king nodded, prayed for him and left.

As soon as the king left the chamber, prince Abdallah came out from his hiding spot and backed his father. His father was being negligent on matters.

From the way Madaki was concerned, Yarima Abdallah didn't trust Sadiqu. He avowed to investigate about him. He had to find out why on earth will the old man be friendly with him.

The old man doesn't like them all. Why will he like a stranger? His father also showed a liking for this stranger. Who did this stranger think he was? He was surely going to deal with him.

With that thought, he climbed on his horse and soon they were out, to the town.

****

At this point, I can't be more happier😂💃💃 because I have finally reached where I want to reach (one of the main reasons of writing this book!)

It's all possible because of you guys. Thank you all😭❤❤

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