Chapter 10!!!! it's the chapter you've all been waiting for. Enjoy…
Chapter 10: Death Lies and freedom
He was no longer the king of his people tonight. Tonight he was simply a masaiian man…with ordinary thoughts. His breath was slow and light. His heart beat faint. Time was all that mattered now.
He had said goodbye to the world.
To his people.
Even his wives and children.
Now as he lie in bed he had time to reminisce about the life he had been given, the life he had led. From the moment he turned seventeen…after his fathers death..he had ruled. He had led his people through war. Through hunger and sickness. They had overcome all obstacles. Kashka prevailed.
Now it was time to pass the power. Jabari would make a great king.
But Taliben would not be pleased about the news.
The small frail man was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of the curtain being pulled back. It revealed the very face he had been thinking of. And that face revealed what he had feared to be expected; anger and rage.
"Leave us, Iuzal." The trembling servant took one last look at the angry eyed warrior before bowing and retreating briskly into the shadows.
"Taliben. Come into the light. I want to look at you."
The tall broad shouldered man stood still for a moment. Then slowly..he stepped forward. The old man eyed him carefully. What he said next he spoke with honesty.
"For ten years Taliben I have watched you grow. I have learned about your attributes..your personality, your strength. You are an amazing warrior. Kashka is lucky to have you."
"Thank you Mansa." He replied. But his voice was dead. Bare of any tone. The Mansa knew it would have come to this. He had made his decision ever since that day at the palace with the captives… but he wouldn't bother Taliben with his decision on them. Khama would do well to remember his orders and no one would be notified but Jabari himself…after it was taken care of.
"Then you know my decision?" The old man asked. The warrior before him nodded calmly.
"I assume it is Jabari who is the chosen one." The Mansa nodded.
"He will be crowned tomorrow."
"Have you written a will?" Taliben asked feigning curious, his eyes searching. The old man didn't notice he simply pointed.
"It is on that tablet against the wall. It's still drying." Taliben glanced in the corner and saw the tablet of stone with red paint across its surface…etching his failure to become Mansa… into history. He breathed out slowly and lowered his head so that his King could not see him.
"Does anyone know of your wishes?" He asked carefully. The old man shifted on his bed lifting himself up by the elbows. Creases formed across his forehead, his mouth set into a deep frown.
"No Taliben they do not. But when the next sun rises the word will be spread through all of Kashka. And what would it matter if they did anyway?"
When Taliben turned around the Mansas old worn eyes were too late…his face had changed into one of simple muse.
"I was just asking my King a simple question…nothing more." He turned and came closer to the bed where the man now sat eyeing him carefully. His voice rang out softly in the room and his eyes never left Talibens face.
"I have known you for a very long time Taliben. I know…that what has been decided must be very upsetting to you..but you must understand..it's for the best of the people. It is for your own good too. You will thank my name one day son…because I have freed you of a future that has endless hardship and toil."
Taliben sighed and kneeled before the small frail body before him.
"No my king…I fear it is you who will be thanking me."
The king of Kashka stopped breathing for a moment. Had he heard him right?..
He watched the towering brute hover above him shadowing the light from the roof. All he could see now was the faint outline of a face above his own. A face he did not recognize. A face he no longer knew..
He backed away, his bony hands trembling.
"What do you mean??--" The man merely sighed again and placed a hand over both of his own. He came closer. So close that his lips barely missed the old mans cheek..
"Saving you from a terrible mistake. You will thank me someday," His grip grew hard over the old mans hands, his other hand coming up to lay over his mouth and nose.
Taliben kissed the old mans cheek and turned his head away as the struggling began.
"Sleep well my King."
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Khama watched the Gatherers wife work timidly, her hands fumbling over the five small packs fruit and nuts. He checked the sky and noticed the moon was now almost two quarters away from where it had been when he had entered the building. His frown deepened and he pushed her aside.
"Get out of my way! I'll do it. Can't you work any faster woman?" The woman threw her hands up in the air with a hiss and went to the door.
"I don't like being left in the dark about things Khama. Why would need all of this food so late in the night? You wake me from my bed to pack food and yet you won't even tell me what it's for." Khama rolled his eyes.
"Eating obviously." The woman folded her arms.
"Well you must've been damn well hungry for this much."
"I am taking a journey…that's all you need to know." With that he grabbed the sacks and hurried away from the aluk before the flustered woman could interrogate him more.
Now…for the prisoners…
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Trowa was the first to awaken..but he cursed himself for his timing. He had always had a bad habit of waking up in the middle of the night. For no reason.
He was bored out of his mind..even the vultures weren't around to keep him company. There was a song permanently etched in his brain and had been there for the last three hours. He had suffered with it long enough. It was a good song..he had no idea who sang it but he remembered hearing it once in Quatres car…The day they had all taken Relena to the beach. He had liked it. For once in his life he had been able to enjoy a sunny day without bloodshed and bullets...
With nothing else to do he gave in to the words in his head, the music started..or at least as much as he could remember. And he began to sing.
'And when I see you..
I really see you upside down.
But my brain knows better..
It picks you up and turns you around..turns you around.
If you feel discouraged..when there's a lack of color here.
So don't worry lover..it's really bursting at the seams.
Absorbing everything….spectrums A to Z…-' Trowa stopped his half hum abruptly.
"Who's there."
Sensing someone was coming Trowa lifted his head squinting hard through the night searching. Out of the shadows a black figure formed. He couldn't make out any details. All he knew was that it wasn't Raja. Nor the large brute Taliben that he had come to recognize. Before he even made an attempt to waken the others the man stepped forth carefully and held out his hands.
"Kaaysan! Kaaysan.." He said. Trowa threw back his unruly hair so that he could glare at the man with both eyes.
"What do you want?" He growled. Quatre began to stir. He knew Duo was probably already awake the moment the footsteps approached, for stealth was his expertise. Quatre began to groan.
"T-Trowa…Trowa what's the matter--"
"Someone's here." Duo said calmly. Wufei sighed from the other side of the tree and looked around the corner.
"What does he want?" He asked in an annoyed groggy voice. There was a man standing there. But he wasn't doing anything. Suddenly he moved closer.
"Wake Heero up." Trowa demanded. Quatre immediately started nudging and kicking Heero trying to get him to stir but he wouldn't budge.
"Heero. Wake up." Nothing. Quatre frowned and shoved the pilot hard in the shoulder.
"Heero?? Wake up!" But still, the Pilot slept. Quatre turned to Trowa with worry in his eyes.
"He's out cold. I don't know….-- I Don't know what's wrong with him!" He said pulling hard on the pilots messy chocolate hair trying one last time to get a reaction. Trowas eyes searched the perimeter quick and calculating. This man was either some village idiot that decided he'd have some fun.. Or this was some sort of set up. All he wanted to know was what the hell was going on..
Suddenly the man leaped forward with his knife out and struck at Heeros side of the tree. Trowa felt himself lunged but he was incredibly out of reach.
'So this is it.' He thought numbly. 'This is how we're all going to die..'
"Heero!!" Quatre cried. The others were shell shocked their eyes staring blankly at Heeros shadow. The Perfect Soldier, their best friend that had once piloted Wing Zero lay limp and still on the ground. He was dead..The man came forth and cut Wufei next. Wufei didn't move. Angry tears formed in the young blondes eyes as the man took his knife and sliced it across his wrists.
Quatre couldn't feel the blood yet but he no longer cared. His control snapped into a wild fury, his fists balled and shaking.
"You sick bastard…!!"
He launched himself at the stranger fighting for control of the knife. The first time he heard his name being called he ignored it and then slowly he recognized the accent..it was only used by one person in their group.
"Quatre!! Quatre are you deaf!? I said LET him go! He's releasing us!" Quatre let go immediately and backed away from the warrior who had his knife raised and ready to strike if need be. Quatre caught his breath and turned. He blinked in surprise. They were alive! Wufei was kneeling over Heeros body checking his pulse. The Chinese looked up at him and nodded.
"He's not dead," he declared, "Pulse is normal and steady."
"Back away from him Quatre, he doesn't trust you." Trowa ordered. The blonde was still in a frenzy over what was going on. Trying to grasp the situation completely he nodded and stumbled back to Wufei and an unconscious Heero.
The man was hesitant now but he came to Trowa and Duo after Quatre was out of his safety zone. The man kneeled and carefully cut Trowas bindings. The moment Trowa was free he stood up. His legs were wary and unstable. He hadn't used them in weeks… It was as if he was an infant learning to walk all over again. He would've smiled and rejoiced with the others but there was no time.
The man mumbled something and then pulled against the straps on his back. With slow cautious hands, his eyes never faltering from Trowas face, he lowered five small sacks against the ground. The man backed away, his knife at the ready. Trowas eyes strayed to the food and then at Duo who tilted his head.
Duo laughed rubbing his eyes. He couldn't believe it…
"They're…They're actually letting us go!"
"Or maybe it's just this one man that's letting us go," Trowa admonished. He tipped his head to Duo and the braided pilot bent down and snatched the sacs quickly from the ground. The native was beginning to shift uncomfortably. He looked caught between acting hostile and staying neutral..but Trowa didn't want to be around when he finally chose a side though.. He constantly turned to glance back at the village. Trowa followed his gaze, his breath coming a little faster.
Was someone coming…?
No..there was no time to think about that. He knew what to do.
"Duo distribute the packs. We're leaving now." Trowa ordered. Duo held the packs up in hands quizzically.
"But…where? Trowa we don't even know where the hell we are!" Trowa glared at him sharply.
"We'll figure that out later. Our only source of cover is that forest and it's the way we came."
"But--"
Trowa reached out yanking the braided pilot to him by his collar, their faces coming inches apart.
"Duo there's no time for arguing. So you either cooperate now..or get out of my way." Duos violet eyes widened a fraction in surprise but he nodded.
"O-ok..T-man. Whatever you say." Trowa grabbed his sack and threw it over his shoulders.
"Wufei, Quatre, carry Heero. Duo are you alright to walk by yourself?"
"I could run marathons all day buddy." Trowa smirked.
"Right. Then let's get the hell out of here."
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Life was pouring back into his legs as Duo pushed on, racing across the hot desert with the others close behind. Ahead he could see Trowas tall silhouette basking darkly against the moonlight that guided them to their freedom…
The Jungle.
Duo had seen many beautiful things in his life but as he raced towards his freedom he couldn't imagine anything more sweet. The rush of adrenaline that hadn't been used in weeks was racing through him flushing his body in a cold sweat against the heat. He wondered what they would do for water…When they stopped they would be in desperate need of it-- or at least he would. The harsh excitement that coursed through his veins was enough to get him by for the first night…but soon his strength would diminish again from lack of water and proper food..Duo wondered if maybe they were running away to their own death by not staying in the village as prisoners. But he wouldn't stop to think about it. It was too late. Soon…very soon someone would notice five missing shadows against a dark angular tree and it would take all he had to not be captured by the hunting party when they came looking for them.
Duo gave an involuntary shiver at the thought of being captured again. No…by God he wouldn't let that happen again. He wouldn't crawl back to that miserable tree like a smacked dog with its tail between its legs…Those stupid…savages…barbaric Neanderthals…Not one of them had acted civil to him. Racism in the colonies wasn't even that bad..not how it was in that village. Because of their differences there had been hatred.
Raja was the only one who had shown them kindness.
Duo skidded to a halt, the air in his lungs turning to stone. He saw her bronze blue eyed face flashing like a red alert in his head and his stomach took a plummet-- how could he have been so careless?? How could he have been so selfish and stupid!
The Jungle was beautiful..in all of its wild exotic trees and flowers…roots and vines. It was now that he realized… every moment that had ever mattered in his life was finally complete..finished. Unimportant. There was only him and the trees..
Now the question was….
"What are you waiting for?" Wufei snapped as he and Quatre brushed pass him dragging on their shoulders. Duo smiled faintly at the irony of it all.
'Yes…what are you waiting for?..You know why you've stopped you know what you really need to do. So go do it.'
Duo stared after them and then ahead of him where Trowa had suddenly stopped. The light of the moon was bright tonight. It was a clear and cloudless in the sky…and there was no deception in Duos eyes as he looked back at his friend who was watching him very carefully now…
Duo nodded. No words were spoken…no words were needed. Trowa knew there was nothing he could say now that would stop him.
He turned swiftly and left his companions gaping after him as he raced back towards the village. Wufei dropped Heeros arm and stared at the back of the boy head as his braid swung out of sight. Wufei squinted his eyes in shock.
"What the hell does that braided imbecile think he's doing!!-- He-he's blowing our cover!"
Quatre struggled to hold up the unconscious 01 Pilot that now leaned heavily across his chest. His face was a question mark as he glanced at Trowa for an explanation. But Trowa chose this moment to return to his ways of silence and he merely shrugged with a small secret of a smile.
"He forgot something."
Wufei looked back at through the trees again realizing immediately what he meant. How could he himself have forgotten as well.. He sighed.
A mans pride only went so far. Then came your basic instincts.
"Well he's not going back alone." And with that another one of their companions was gone. Quatre bent his knees and hauled Heero up into a better position, his crystal blue eyes following the Chinese as he sprinted back the way they'd come. He sighed.
"I hope there's still time."
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Raja stiffened a gasp as someone shook her violently from her sleep. Her eyes popped open but instantly afterwards she regretted it. Two torches had been lit--and were the only source of light in the room that had been quiet and peaceful in the darkness before..
Mikal bolted up in bed and unsheathed his knife in one fluid motion, hearing the noise too-- with a gasp he stiffened and addressed the warriors as his mother and Father were slowly roused by the light.
There in the door way stood two of the royal guard-- one Raja recognized and disliked and the other she did not know. The first guard whom she recognized was only familiar to her because she had seen him taking one of Wufeis long shiny blades from the ruble that had been scavenged earlier. He had the deadly blade tied to his waist band now and he grasped it with a sense of haughtiness. They came forth with an air of business that startled her brother into his warrior state.
"What do you come for?" He demanded glaring past the burning embers of the torch and right into their eyes, "Speak your peace and leave us- my family is resting." The first guard tried to look regretful out of social civilness but failed miserably. His harsh tone implicated he would get straight to the point. Raja stared at them gauging the disturbing glances the second royal guard kept passing in her direction.
"We meant no disturbance to you and your father Mikal." The first guard replied. His eyes lifted and passed all of their black shining faces until at last they met its target. He frowned and Raja shrunk slightly under his gaze.
"We came for the girl. She's been ordered to return with us to the palace immediately." Raja gasped her eyes clouding over with worry.
"Why is something wrong?--is the Mansa alright?" The guard advanced on her and hauled her up roughly with one arm.
"I am to speak no more then what has been stated. Come with us." Mikal jumped up from his side of the room furiously seeing red.
"Now you wait just a minute!--" The second guard came forth and blocked him from protecting his sister as she was led from the tent by the first. She looked back and saw Yatimas face brimmed with tears of worry and Akil holding his fists back in restrain.
"I love all of you. Himwinyama."
She never knew it would be the last words she would ever say to them. Scared and alone she was forced to follow the two glowering guards unaware that two pairs of eyes watched her every move..somewhere far off in the desert sand…
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The first Guard finally released his ferocious grip on her wrist but only to shove her roughly to the chamber doorway. This was the Mansas royal bedchamber. A place few were allowed… Raja was caught between her anger at the way she was being treated and her fear of what exactly was going to happen once she walked through thatdoor. She swallowed the dry lump in her throat but stood still.
"Bring her in," a voice called. Raja rooted her feet to the ground, her mouth open in horror as the guard made to comply. She knew that voice. That sick horrible voice.
"Taliben."
And there he was. Arrogant and grinning like the worst nightmare of a child's dreams- his sinister smile bearing all of his white teeth. But to Raja they were not human teeth…they were the sharp deadly fangs of a lion that had just spotted its next pray and was preparing to pounce. She was thrown into the room to face him and her role as the recoiling antelope… began…
"Leave us and guard the door. Make sure no one comes in." Taliben ordered.
He tilted his head adamantly at the minion- the dark fur that crowned his head shone in the firelight. Torches lit the room and a bed was made. The guard left as he was told. Raja dared to look upon him as he circled slowly around her.
Her body shook with half fury and half fear but she rose her chin with courage and spoke.
"Why are you here? Where is the Mansa?" She demanded. He lifted his arms with a smile that irked her.
"You are looking at him." His smile faded.
"Now, bow down to me. Show the proper respect that is owed to your King." Raja gaped at him in disbelief.
No…How could it be…how could the King have died so quickly!?…How could he have claim such a monster his rightful heir…Raja felt dizzy-- suddenly the air in the room felt hot and suffocating. She closed her eyes and opened them grasping her temples. Her knees felt weak and her world began to spin.
"The Mansa--….i-s…is dead?.." She whispered. He must've nodded because there came no reply. Only a dark little chuckle.
"Ahh…I have waited for this day to come for years Raja. The day I would make you bow. Make you succumb." She chose this moment to make eye contact as he continued. " To… make you mine. And now..here you are." Raja felt her self stumbling backwards. The air was unbearable…now. It was too hard to breathe. Her eyes became wild and panicked flickering about the room as if her old wise friend that had been king was just somehow being hidden away..
"I don't believe you--…I know he is here. I know you're lying--" She fell to the floor her right cheek burning in pain. Taliben towered over her with his fist clenched.
"I don't care what you believe in. What you believe and what you think no longer matters." He suddenly laughed and turned towards the bed.
"He died here if you want to know… Right here on this very spot.." Raja gawked at him terrorized as he swayed his giant hand across the pillow of fur that once rested against the old mans head.
Deep in her heart it dawned on her…and she knew. Tears formed in her eyes and a rage that she had never felt before coursed through her like wildfire.
"You killed him. Y-you…. you bastard!…You killed him!…" He shrugged.
"So what if I did? So what if i did...strangle him until his last breath- wipe the tablet free of his will and rewrite it in my name?.. I wouldn't look at it as murder dear Raja," He rose from the bed and prowled towards her slowly, his face simple but false..He folded his arms thoughtfully and she hated him more with every mocking move..
"I would look at it as doing an old friend a favor…helping him go right on his way- don't you think?" Rajas body trebled violently and with one last breath she screamed and flung herself at him preparing to attack him to death in any way she could.
"Murderer!"
But she would need more then a burst of anger to kill him. That not so much as a simple shove he pushed her past him and down onto the bed. Before she could stand he jumped across her latching his legs against hers, pulling her wrists above her head with one hand and pinning her down firmly. Rajas tears burst out in fresh streams down her red flushed cheeks as she stared into the eyes of her future husband. A murderer. A monster. Her body was weak after struggling desperately against his rock hard strength. She was overpowered by a milestone and she knew it. The horror that awaited her made her cry even harder.
"I hate you! You have no dignity! No honor. I hate you- I hate you!"
"See that is what I love so much about you Raja…" He whispered trailing a finger down her nose with a sickening façade of sweetness. She groaned and whipped her head away but he gripped her jaw and returned it to face him.
"I love that passion..." His tongue slithered across her cheek in lust.
"That fire.." His finger traced her lip. She opened her eyes.
A chance.
And she took it. With all her might she opened her mouth against his rough callised finger and with fury in her eyes clamped her teeth down hard on the flesh. Taliben gave a muffled cry and out of surprise made the involuntary movement to release her. Raja saw her victory shine for a bright few moments as she slipped out from underneath him and raced to the door. There was that guard with Wufeis long battle knife but she didn't care. She would find a way. She was Raja…She was a Mas--
Raja crashed down against the floor, landing hard on her stomach. She turned and gasped as a black hand gripped her entire ankle in its grasp, one finger gushing out crimson.
"You little BITCH!" He roared. Raja clawed at the dirt kicking his hand hard with her other leg but in a fleeting second he had righted himself-- threw aside his pain and flipped her over on her back by grabbing her arm. She lay on the floor breathing hard, her ideas had run out. He stood above her and Raja noticed something in his hand. She dragged her body back into the shadows, fear consuming her like a plague.
"Please no.." He shook his head panting.
"I told you it would be the last time you walk away from me Raja.." He hissed lifting the stone tablet with smeared red paint over his head. Raja lifted her arm shielding her face.
"I told you.."
Raja screamed out in pain. For a movement she though he had thrown the tablet at her head but as she opened her tear stricken eyes and followed the pain with her eyes they landed on her ankles. Both were gashed in like a bloody mess.
She sobbed trying to reach for them but failed.
This will be the last time you walk away..
Her eyes became blurry obscured with water as cries of pain racked her body. She rolled over to her side in a heap, and didn't fight him when he lifted her and tossed her back onto the bed. As she lay there broken..she recalled everything he had ever said…And it killed her inside to know that once and for all..he was finally right..
One way or another…they will die Raja.. How would she live with herself when they were gone…when they were killed before her eyes. She would never get to see sweet Quatres smile, watched Trowa and Heero in all of their mysterious silence, bug Wufei when he was feeling down and sad and laugh at all of Duos silly tricks…
This will be the last time you walk away.. It had been the last time. She was captured. Like a fish he had netted in from the river after so much work…so much desperate wanting and effort…he had caught her. And now he would gut her alive…and claim his prize.
Raja became numb to the world as he lifted his loiying cloth and climbed over her. She closed her eyes releasing more unshed tears.
So this was her new life as Queen.
There was a crash and a loud cry of pain before she felt a heavy weight fall upon her. Rajas eyes bolted open and she gasped at what she saw. Duo and Wufei stared down at her with shock and alarm in their eyes.
Was it true…were her eyes fooling her…
"Raja!" The weight was lifted and she stiffled a cry of joy. Wufei threw the unconscious body to the floor. Raja saw blood leaking from the top of Talibens head and on his side and she shuddered. Wufei held his long knife in one hand and the stone tablet stained red with paint and her blood in the other. He glanced at her ankles and back at the tablet fitting the two together. He tossed it to the floor next to Taliben and spit on it muurmuring something in disgust. Duo cautiously lowered himself onto the bed next to her.
"Hey..babe." He said softly. Raja nodded to him weakly, her chest shaking from the aftermath of the sobs as she wiped away the rest of her tears. But they only seemed to be coming back harder and harder. It had been dangerously close…if Duo and Wufei hadn't come at that exact moment…she would've been…Taliben would've been…
Duo used the back of his hand and gently guided her hand aside and rubbed the tears that stained her face.
"Shhhh…iitsoookRaja…ssshh evoorythings guunah beeook."
She couldn't understand him but as he did this he used soft words and cooing to soothe her and eventually when she relaxed he came closer and pulled her into a hug. Raja sniffled suppressing the urge to cry again for now she was mostly overcome with exhaustion and pain.
She heard Wufei say something to him and he let go of her. Raja feared letting go of him…feared them leaving the room as if it were all a dream and Taliben getting right back off of that floor and continuing his assault on her..She reached for Duo again but it was Wufei who caught her.
Tears of gratefulness formed in her swollen eyes.
"Woof woof." He smiled down at her, his eyes were not bold and cold as she usually knew them to be but gentle and tender as they rested on her face.
"Imm heere onna."
Before she passed into the world of darkness he lifted her under the knees and back up into his arms and carried her away…
The bloody stone tablet next to the new King was the last thing she saw before her world went black.
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This chapter was trippy for me. I read through it when I was done and I was creeped out. Shocked then really happy. I hope that's how you guys felt! And you know who the pilot is!!! Bet you never guessed it was him hmm? hehehehe
YES. The turning point!!!! Oh yayayayayay if this wasn't intense enough you just wait till the next Chapter!!! I think this one calls for some good long reviewing time too. That way I have time to outline for my upcoming plans. SO PLEASE, in return for my hard work drop in and give a simple review- advice, ideas anything! I'd really appreciate it!!