Chapter Thirty- four

January 4, 1987 Zimbabwe

Cherub walked in between his Dad and Baba holding their hands tightly. They were on their way to have dinner with Mudiwa's family. After celebrating Dawali with Ria's family the three of them flew to Zimbabwe. They spent two days in Harare going to the local markets and stocking up on things to sell, then a day driving to the Northwest corner of Zimbabwe to the nature preserve run by Mudiwa's family. Today they had taken a safari on the preserve. Cherub had a wonderful time. They had seen so many amazing animals, lions, elephants, gazelles, and even meerkats! Cherub was hoping to get to talk to some of the local snakes and get some venom and scales for Professor Snape.

Mudiwa's village was only a mile away from the hotel, so they walked. Cherub admired the beautiful landscape as they walked. The grass was tall and a lush green. The huge blue sky was darkening and the thin wispy clouds were tinted pink as the sun began to set. Holding tight to his Dad and Baba's hands they climbed a little hill, at the top Cherub gasped. Below them lay Mudiwa's village. Round thatched roofed houses sat within a tall wooden fence. Cherub could see a pen of cows on the far side of the village and a few children were herding the chickens into their pen for the night. Cherub looked up at Mudiwa, he stood perfectly still, eyes wide and body taut as he looked at his childhood home.

"We are here for you, and we can leave any time you want to," Vincent said simply.

Mudiwa sighed and turned to his fiancé, "My mum said my father wouldn't be here. Everything should be fine."

Cherub was worried, his Dad and Baba were never afraid. "Baba?"

Mudiwa smiled down, "My dad and I don't get along. We had a big fight when I left and he hasn't communicated with me since then. It will be fine, my amai, my mum, and I write to each other all of the time."

Slowly they walked down the hill to the gate in the fence. Cherub looked up, the fence towered over them. Mudiwa knocked, and moments later the sound of a bar being shifted was heard. When the gate opened a slim young woman opened the door. She had a small baby strapped to her back with a brightly colored piece of cloth.

"Mudiwa?" she questioned in a soft voice.

"Tendayi?" When she nodded they embraced each other fiercely. Moving into the village they talked quickly in Shona. He had missed his sister so much over the past six years. Hearing the excitement, others came over, and soon there was a large group gathered around Mudiwa. They were all laughing, crying, and hugging each other. Just as the excitement was calming down an older woman glided into the group. Cherub watched her as she approached his Baba. She wore a deep blue sarong that was tied under her arms and fell to her ankles. She moved gracefully and with an air of power and strength about her.

"Mudiwa," she called.

Quickly he turned. "Amai!" he called and swept his mum up in his arms. They held on tightly and the laughing and crying began again. Mudiwa's family began moving towards the center of the village, where they had dinner waiting. Vincent held back keeping Cherub with him and slowly followed behind. Once they reached the fire people began getting ready for dinner. Children ran and got plates and cups. The woman and older girls made sure the food was ready and began serving it, while the men sat down. Mudiwa sat next to his mother. A moment later he realized that no one sat next to him. Looking around he saw Vincent and Cherub standing off to the side calmly waiting. Smiling brightly he gestured them over.

"Amai, this is my fiancé, Vincent, and Cherub who we are going to adopt," Mudiwa introduced in English. "Vincent and Cherub this is Chipo, my mum."

Vincent held out his hand. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you; Mudiwa speaks of you often and with great fondness."

Chipo smiled at his nervousness. "And you, Vincent. Thank you for taking care of my son."

"Hello," Cherub said softly holding out his hand, "it is very nice to meet you."

Chipo smiled warmly at the lovely green-eyed boy. "It is nice to meet you too. Mudiwa has told me much about you in his letters. How are you enjoying your visit so far?"

"It has been very fun! Your preserve is beautiful, we saw a lot of animals today, and we get to go back out again tomorrow," Cherub answered enthusiastically.

"I am glad you are enjoying your time here. Now what would you three like to eat?" Both Vincent and Cherub turned to Mudiwa, as they were not familiar with the food here.

Mudiwa cleared his throat softly, "Are there options without meat?" Chipo looked unhappy, but nodded her head. "Okay, well how about a bit of everything without meat."

"And for you?" Chipo asked as she stood up.

"The same please, Amai."

A moment later Cherub had a plate full of food, which Chipo was telling him about. "There is cabbage salad, maize pudding, groundnut stew on top of steamed millet, sautéed okra, and banana chutney to help cool the spicy stew."

"Thank you," Cherub said and began to eat. Soon happy hums filled the air as Cherub tasted the new foods. Mudiwa and Vincent both smiled at him. Cherub sat happily eating and listening to Mudiwa's family catching him up on what had been going on with them. Mudiwa shared their adventures, talking about the different people and places they had seen. Once Cherub couldn't eat another bite, he set his plate down as he had seen the others do and turned to look at Vincent, who was still eating. Mudiwa however, was done, so Cherub climbed onto his Baba's lap and laid his head on the firm chest.

Chipo blinked and smiled at the picture her son made with his son curled up in his lap. Mudiwa was talking with his sister, Tendayi, and just started rubbing Cherub's back, not noticing his mother's look.

"Did you still want to trade?" Tendayi asked her older brother.

"Yes, we brought all of the items you requested in your letter." Mudiwa said pulling his backpack forward. Tendayi looked confused until Mudiwa started pulling out far more than the pack should have held.

"It's magic," she gasped.

Vincent smiled. "Yes, we brought several like this for you."

Soon all of the items were laid out: different potions, toys, jewelry, shells, clothes, food, and more; and the others went to their homes and brought out the items they had collected at Mudiwa's request. There were hand woven blankets, jewelry, some statues, and pottery, but mostly plant and animal ingredients for potions. Mudiwa had sent jars and vials ahead of them so everything could be collected properly. As the bartering began it got very loud, and Mudiwa looked down to Cherub. "Why don't you go and play with the kids, this is going to be crazy for a bit."

Cherub looked over at the kids, who were staring at a deflated old football and arguing. "Do you have my ball?"

"Vincent does."

Cherub got up and walked over to Vincent. "Dad, can I have my ball, please?"

Vincent smiled and dug into his pack, which he was removing items from. Pulling out five footballs, he finally found the one with Cherub's name on it. "Here you are, have fun."

Cherub smiled and ran over to the group of kids. They looked at him suspiciously then he smiled and held out the ball. Soon they were running all over the village playing a crazy game, which might have been an attempt at football. An hour later the bartering was done, and everyone packed away their treasures feeling as if they had gotten the best deal. The adults watched the kids play as they talked and sipped coffee.

Cherub plopped down between his Dad and Baba. Happily he accepted the cool water Vincent held out to him. He was just about to snuggle into his Dad when a loud knock sounded through the village.

"You said he wouldn't be here," Mudiwa pleaded with his mum.

"He shouldn't be," Chipo answered getting up. "The hunting party must have had good luck."

When the gate opened a cheer went up as six large, armed men walked though carrying two gazelles. Quickly the woman moved forward to take the gazelles.

Tendayi turned to her bother, tears in her eyes. "It was so good to see you, please keep writing." Mudiwa said he would and hugged her tightly.

"Vincent, Cherub, collect your things; we will need to go soon." Mudiwa said, his usually warm voice was cold and he was speaking in a monotone.

Cherub worriedly looked around and finally found his ball; quickly he ran and got it. A moment later he was standing next to Vincent. Mudiwa was staring at an older man who wore a small, black-and-white patterned cloth around his waist. His chest was bare except for an ornate necklace over his collarbones. He looked fierce and stared at Mudiwa with cold, calculating gray eyes.

"Hello, son; are you back to ask forgiveness and come home?" he asked in English so Mudiwa's guests would know what was going on.

"No, father; we are just visiting," said Mudiwa carefully. "In fact we were just about to leave, and it looks like you had a good hunt, so we won't keep you from your work."

Mudiwa's father snarled, "How dare you come here and not ask for my forgiveness. This has gone on long enough, Mudiwa! You have a responsibility here with us! You need to be here, taking my place, getting married and having babies! Not gallivanting around with some male whore!"

Mudiwa's body was tight with anger. "Father, you are the one who taught me to interpret my dreams, and they led me to Europe and to Vincent. I love him; we are going to marry. I have no intention of coming back here. My sisters and brothers are strong; they can and are helping you."

"Banga, please let them go back to the hotel. We can talk about this later," Chipo said softly trying to calm her husband's fiery temper.

Banga ignored his wife completely. "You are the strongest of all of them, and yet you waste you gift creating illusions for white men's entertainment. I am disgusted that you are my son."

"Then let me leave and you will not have to look upon me any longer," Mudiwa snapped. He just wanted to get Vincent and Cherub out of here. His father pulled out his obsidian ritual blade. Mudiwa remembered the honor he'd felt when his father had first let him use it, now he felt only dread.

Addressing his tribe Banga began, "When a child is born to us, both mother and father connect the child and their magic to the tribe, to the land and to our ancestors. Mudiwa has proven himself unworthy of such a gift." Turning to his son he said, "I disown own, you are no longer my son, and I will cut the binds between us."

Mudiwa gasped, Chipo cried out, and his sister began to weep. Cherub had been clinging to Vincent, his eyes focused on Mudiwa. Mudiwa's father was scary and Cherub wanted to leave. However, when his Baba gasped in pain and trembled for a second before a mask of coldness and determination fell over his body, Cherub got angry. Just as Banga was picking up the energetic cords, which bound them, knife poised to cut, Cherub acted.

"Leave my Baba alone!" Cherub shouted, moving between Mudiwa and Banga.

Shocked, Banga turned to look at this small boy protecting his son. Emerald green eyes flashing in anger, cheeks flushed pink, and his stance relaxed yet ready for a fight. "Who do you think you are to speak to me like that!"

"My name is Cherub, and you will stop hurting my Baba!"

Banga was furious, first his son and now this scrap of a child! Snarling, he advanced, drawing his hand back to strike; both Mudiwa and Vincent moved forward to protect Cherub. Cherub, still thinking his Baba was in trouble, growled in anger; a wind began to blow around him. He stomped his foot, thrust out his hand and shouted "No!"

Banga was thrown back crashing into one of the huts and landing in a heap on the ground. No one spoke, waiting to see what would happen next. Cherub was still angry, and turning to his Baba he grabbed the cords, which bound him to his family. Separating the cords he looked into amazed gray eyes. "I can cut it if you want, Baba. I can leave you tied to your Amai, and cut the other one."

Banga was sitting up now staring in wonder at the small boy.

"I think," Mudiwa, said calmly, "my father has expressed his wishes clearly. Could you please cut the cord that connects us?" Vincent came up behind his lover and wrapped his arms around him.

Cherub nodded and looked at the angry red cord in his left hand; carefully he pinched it between his right thumb and forefinger until the cord snapped. Two gasps could be heard. Cherub looked up still holding the cord attached to his Baba in his hand. There was a pained look on his face. Turning to Vincent he whispered, "I know he doesn't want me, but I feel so empty now."

Vincent tightened his arms and kissed Mudiwa's cheek. "You have us, and we will never leave you," he promised his hurting lover.

Cherub looked at the cord of energy in his hand, and then again at his Baba's pained face. He could fix this! Reaching out he took his Dad's hand in his and looking into his lavender eyes he pushed with his magic and his love.

Vincent gasped, he could feel the cord in Cherub's hand as their fingers intertwined, and suddenly their magic was combining, the three of them were connecting and cords of energy moved between them connecting them with love and magic, and making them a family. When it stopped they all hit the ground gasping on their knees and trying to get their bearings. Vincent recovered first and stood up on shaky legs. First he held a hand out to his husband, "Mudiwa Dragonheart," he said smiling. Mudiwa smiled brightly and took his husband's hand kissing him softly. Together they each held out a hand to their son. "Gabriel Alec Dragonheart." They said together. Cherub put his hands in theirs tears running down his cheeks. The new family embraced then grabbed their things. Mudiwa said good-bye to his mum and sister promising to write, nodded to his father, and then left with his husband and son.