The flames burned bright through the dark of night with thick white smoke rising to the clouds. From the next hill, it seemed like the royal hill was shining like the sun. The stench of burning flesh was spread far and wide by the wind. To the ignorant nose, it seemed like a continuation of the day's feast. The ones who knew were aware that it was an ungodly affair, polarly opposite to the ignorant imagination. A bit of sadness was evoked even where it ordinarily never would have. There was fear throughout the kingdom, of the unknown.
Mulokozi and Zabu had escaped after Nafesi fell at their door. They had reached the next hill but safety was not assured just yet. Had they deluded themselves into believing that they were safe, the sounds of the screams would have brought them back to reality. Mulinzi was somehow still asleep, a great testament to Mulokozi's motherly warmth. They walked fast, off the main roads that were crawling with invading soldiers. Zabu occasionally turned and looked back to see if the fire had ceased. And to make sure he was not imagining things. Each time, the reality was the same. He had lots of questions which he kept completely to himself to spare his mother who was quite obviously not in the right state of mind. She had not told him where they were going-or why-when they set off. Half of it was quite obvious but the rest was still a mystery. It was a cold night that felt colder each time he looked at the burning hill. In his heart, he wondered if wherever they were headed would be much more homely and warmer.
They had walked for longer than he had ever walked before. Zabu could not see the burning hill anymore when he looked back. The sun was beginning to grow out of the hills ahead and there wasn't a single invading soldier in sight or anyone else. He was very tired and sleepy but his mother was not slowing down.
'Mother, where are we going?' he asked. Mulokozi sensed the exhaustion in his voice.
'Somewhere safe.' She answered as reassuringly as possible.
'Where is that?' Zabu asked.
'East.' Mulokozi responded that time showing-intentionally or not-that she was as uncertain of their destination as he was. Being an intelligent child, Zabu endured for a while longer.
The sun arose from the hills lighting the long way they still had to go, pushing their shadows to the places they left behind. Mulinzi awoke from the bliss of ignorance. He immediately realised that though the arms which held him were very comfortable, they were not his mother's. The change was instant. The noise unbearable.
'Where is my mother?' screamed the boy as he cried out loud, 'I want my mother!!'
Mulokozi's efforts to calm him down were all futile as he didn't want to hear anything except his mother's location. Zabu could not have been angrier with him.
'Your mother went ahead,' Mulokozi said, 'We're headed where she is.'
'Where is my mother?' Mulinzi asked having halted the screams. Zabu had never known his mother to lie but he felt like she had just done so.
'East.' Mulokozi answered. Zabu knew she had just lied again and yet he noticed that Mulinzi seemed better-happier.
'Will we see her soon?' Mulinzi asked anxiously.
'If you're a good child, we might.' Mulokozi assured him.
'A good child?' Mulinzi asked in confusion.
'Yes.' Mulokozi affirmed, 'Good children don't cry.'
'Alright.' Mulinzi agreed, 'But mother says I am not a child. I am a kingling.'
'And, do good kinglings cry?' Mulokozi asked him.
'I suppose not.' Mulinzi responded after giving it some thought. Zabu watched with interest. He was left amazed at how gullible some children could be. Without realising it, he found himself laughing out loud.
'Zabu don't laugh unnecessarily!' his mother scolded him, 'Do you want to be eaten by the red-eyed mud monster?'
'No, mother.' Zabu responded as he promptly shut up. The thought of being devoured by such a creature was frightening indeed.
'What is a red-eyed mud monster?' Mulinzi asked curiously.
'It is nothing, dear.' Mulokozi answered, 'Don't worry about it.'
Zabu could not understand why his mother could not stop lying that day.
Initially, Mulokozi had ignored Zabu's complaints of hunger and tiredness. Mulinzi complained just once before she promised to get him something soon. At first, Zabu thought that perhaps it could be another of her growing pile of lies to the gullible Mulinzi. But then, there she was branching off into the next village returning with some fruits. Zabu wanted to be angry but he was too hungry and the fruits looked delicious. As he took a bite of the mango his mother had just handed him, he wasn't sure if he was hungrier or angrier. What he was sure of was that his dislike for Mulinzi had grown. The sentiment wasn't helped by the mocking facial gestures Melinda kept making at him from Mulokozi's lap. He considered telling him that they were not going to see his mother. Ultimately, he decided against it. He remembered the sight of Nafesi falling in their doorway with arrows deep in her back and the royal hill burning. Mulinzi was still making mocking faces at him when he looked in his direction. Zabu wondered if anyone else had managed to get away from the palace like they had or if no one else had.
'Zabu, eat faster.' Mulokozi bid him, 'We have to keep moving.'
He was still lost in thought imagining how Welaba must have saved everyone. With Welaba around, he reasoned, the Invaders never stood a chance. Their journey was likely pointless but they would likely find a better existence in the east. They would probably be more respected where nobody knew them. Mulinzi would also have to live minus his privileges. Zabu smiled at the idea.
'Zabu! Eat faster, we have to go!' Mulokozi repeated.
'Yes mother.' Zabu finally responded, awakening from his daydream. A fantasy is all it was. Welaba, the king and everyone else were dead. The palace had been reduced to ashes. The three journey people were all that was left of the royal household.
'Zabu, let's go!' Mulokozi shouted and off they were with Mulinzi carried like a baby as Zabu walked. The fantasy was already fading right before his very eyes.
At the site of the completely burnt down royal court, the new king had summoned his subjects to introduce himself and tell them what he would demand of them all. Every single resident of the capital had assembled mainly out of fear but also curiosity. The old people were very suspicious of their new ruler and yet the young were somewhat excited. A number of huts had been built for the king and his soldiers where the royal quarters had once been. He emerged from his hut to the horror of his subjects. They had never seen anyone so tall.
'Your gods have passed judgement on your old king and his kin.' spoke the tall man, 'By fire, this kingdom's sin against the western kingdom has been cleansed.'
'This is the king's order to you; find the three who escaped from this court or three thousand will burn before the third dawn.'