I had found what I was looking for without going way too far into the forest. A whirlwind suddenly swept taking with it branches of tree. A very unusual thing in the forest, desert maybe but never in a forest. The scene fascinated me that I went near to see what it was about. My facination ended with me rooted to the ground, my eyes blind to everything around me and I felt surrounded by a being more powerful than anything alive. It could only be Nyambe.
A voice resounded.
" I know how much you have suffered for my sake, It's not a punishment neither is it your fault...How can I tell you that your God is inadequate and needs mere mortals to help him? humans will not respect us and will do what they wish and the world will be chaos."
" It is not my place to dictate what my god Nyambe should do but there is nothing wrong with carrying one's own burden, no man needs to work for others to exist." I wasn't bitter but I wasn't happy either.
" This god knows that much but much as there are good people, there are evil ones too, not every sickness is given by me, if so, I wouldn't need help. You talk a lot but you are a compassionate child. Compassion triumph over reason, you had a reason to not come here for herbs to help my people yet you are here for that same reason."
" It brings me peace and I am only what Nyambe wants me to be." I could hear my own voice razed with blame.
" You have found great peace, in healing and helping these people to get your husband back but you have also done it because you've accepted who you are a long time now. You owe me no apologies for the insults..." He laughed, It was quite interesting to hear them but we also understand why you thought that way".
" Is this really Nyambe?" It felt to be like he was just like a vindictive distance relative. He wasn't so scary anymore that my hate for him wasn't starting to seem unfounded and silly.
"I want to think, I am but I'll leave that to you" he chuckled. He had heard me think.
I was desperately tried to understand him but I couldn't, yet once again like my parents, I felt sorry for the things I had said and done out of anger, bitter feelings I had towards Nyambe and Kuku.
" I am but your servant"
" You have spoken like the Princess you are" he said gently. The cold breeze swept through the forest again and I was alone again.
I heard the hiss of my indrawn breath. Nyambe came to me personally. I had new found respect towards the god who I had grown to hate.
It had drawn to me that I had not spoken or mentioned Prince Sepo even once. I will do what I have to too, what comes next is not something I should put my mind to for I was unworthy.
I walked home in high spirits. The happiest I have been since coming to Kele. I met Namakau at the garden gate of Prince Sepo's premises.
" Did that woman come again".I asked her
"Not yet my lady, I don't think she'll come today."
" Ok, we just have to wait for her because we don't know her name to look for her. Is my water ready then?"
" Yes, your water is ready my lady".
" I will take a bath and go to see Thabo and little Lugi, if am in luck Lobe too" I said to her.
Prince Sepo was laying on a mat with Lobe getting massaged by two maidservants after a strenuous training. I looked at him once and walked away as if I didn't see him at all, greeting Lobe on my way, who answered gently.
" I don't understand why all of a sudden you hate your wife, it just doesn't make sense".
" It was a spell she cast on me",he said angrily.
"Just a spell would not produce such sparkling from your eyes as the one you had when you talked about her"...
" Everyone can see, she has a sparkling personality and enormous charm but it's all because of her witchery"
" Why are you getting upset then?"
" Am not"
" You are jealous because she greeted only me right?" Lonki inquired.
" What are you saying? That's just stupid of you to say" Prince Sepo went taut with anger
" Am just joking, it's witchery...She really is a witch". Lonki said laughing.
Prince Sepo's expression changed to the one he had had when he spoke about cutting his and Lonki's umbilical cord when Princess Zae came to Kele.
"How divine love is" Lonki teased " It surely gave sparkle to the monotony of repetition".
Prince Sepo was oblivious to what Lonki meant.
His thoughts a hundred miles away.
That after noon I decided to call for Thabo, Lobe and Lugi instead as I waited for the woman from a neighbouring Village.
Thabo who had gotten married to a Kele farmer didn't come but Lobe and Lugi came. Lugi at nine years now was no longer little. He had grown up calling me sister because he really did think we where family.
Lobe and Lugi where in my quarters where some maidservants had brought us lunch of Nshima, beans and dried fish. We had spent almost the whole afternoon together. I was seeing them out, when Prince Sepo saw us on his way to his chamber. His expression was grim. I was worried but I couldn't meddle by asking, so I continued walking Lobe and Lugi out of the premises.
I had seen them out and went back to my chamber. I had only being there only a yawn's time with Namakau when the door was violently opened.
Get out now" he said pointing at Namakau who fearfully staggered and run out.
" What are you doing in here?" I asked
" You mean my house?"
" Yes, your house that you brought me to after forcefully dragging me to the Oracle for a marriage ceremony".
" You should blame your witchery woman because that's what brought you here".
" Oh come on, If I knew you were this cowardly, I wouldn't be here and is witchery the only word they force feed you? you sound ludicrous."
" He was taken aback."
" force feed me?"
" Get out of here."
" Who would you rather be with, your lover then? You are so easy, I can't understand why I put up with you because Princess Mokomena is enough."
" Yet you are here, in my chamber."
His beautiful facial features distorted by a mocking smile.
A strange sense of loss filled my whole being together with a great emptiness.
" If you want me to leave your premises, pack my things yourself otherwise I can't."
Traditionally I couldn't pack and leave my husband's premises. He and only him had the powers to end our marriage.
" You want to leave here to go to your lover, don't you?"
" Why are you jealous?" words he heard from Lonki.
" Of an Oracle and a farmer, don't think too highly of your self, you are nothing to me".
Prince Sepo will probably never know how hurt I felt with his words cutting my heart piece by piece.
" Yes, I will go to him, atleast he wouldn't succumb to the wish of those around him. He would protect his wife at all costs."
I said making the already delicate conversation worse.