*
Qophelo
*
"You don't have to worry about anything. Everything is going to be fine son."
That's my mother, the Queen Mother, Queen Lona. Trying to convince me that the council meeting will go well.
"I know Ma, but I just can't help but feel anxious. You know what the council wanst from me, you know they want me to marry before I can I sit on the throne."
"That has never been a condition for a new King to crowned and it will not start with you. Your father and his father and his father before him made it that a new King may be crowned even if he is not married." Mom
"I know mama, but you know how those old men of the council. Each and every time a King passes, they always want to change something to make it difficult for the new King to be crowned and at this moment it doesn't make it an easier that my uncle wants to sit on the throne, which he wanted ever since my father was crowned and I wasn't even born yet at that time." I say.
"Your uncle can keep dreaming. Bheki is over ambitious about sitting on the throne, He was there when your father's Will and Testament was read and he know exactly what your father wanted and he knows that the first born son sits on the throne unless the something happens to the first born then the second son will take over, but for some your uncle is stupid an oblivious to everything." She says with a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"I just hope that council meeting goes on without any hitches."
"And it will son. Remember everything your father taught you and you'll be fine. You are one of the most powerful Kings ever to rule this Kingdom, you are more powerful than your father and his father combined. It is not just the gift you have and the powers you have that make you powerful, it is but the gift of wisdom that your father bestowed on you, my child. I miss your father a lot and I know and believe that he is watching over you, over us, over his Kingdom."
She says looking out the window showing me a white lion sitting at the edge of the forest which is not far from the palace. "Your father is watching over you." She whispers in my ear while I am having a starring contest with the Lion. It would be better if my father was alive, but then again life happened, and death took him. If there is one thing that I do not doubt in this life is the love my parents have for me and my siblings.
"He will always watch over you, over us. He will always guide you and if you listen, you will be the King this Kingdom has ever had." She say, reassuring me of me of my destiny.
"I don't know about that mom, but I will give it my best." I say more to myself than to her.
"And that is all that is expected of you."
She says hugging me and leaves the room. I watch the lion as it stands looking straight at me as it takes a few steps towards me the garden. I walked out to meet it halfway. It comes closer brushing against me and circles me after which it stands right in front of me and bows. I brush the back of it welcoming the feeling of peace. It turns around and walks out of the garden disappearing into the forest. Now it's time to get ready for the council meeting tomorrow.
*
BHEKI
*
"The council meeting is tomorrow; we need to convince the other members that Qophelo cannot be crowned King without being married."
"You know that has never been the rule in this Kingdom and arranged marriages are not a must. So how are you going to convince them to change something that has worked for this Kingdom since the beginning." Musa says questioning my motives.
"His father was my brother, and I have every right to sit on that throne as King. He is just a child that doesn't know anything about ruling a Kingdom."
"He is a child that was groomed by the best and taught by the best to be the best and more. He is a very powerful child that can snap your neck without even trying. His father taught him well and he has been doing well as the crowned Prince and I am sure he is going to be a great King with the Queen Mother by his side until he marries the one meant for him. What you seem to forget is that he cannot marry wrongly. Hence the rule that a Crowned Prince can be crowned King even before he marries." Musa is starting to annoy me with everything that he says.
"We are not going to be ruled by a child."
"Your hunger for the throne is going to get you killed, it will be your downfall. What you need to understand is that your brother was the rightful Kind and he has children, and his first-born son is the rightful King. If your brother didn't have children then you would have been next in line, but he has children. Whatever it is that you are planning, it is going to backfire. Remember we have a very powerful family of Seers that was born to protect the Kingdom and the Royal Family. Tread carefully Bheki and stop lusting over the Queen. You are married and if you think you are going to take her as your second wife to gain power, think again.
He walks out leaving me stunned by his remarks. How the hell did he know about me wanting the Queen. This is going to be difficult. If I can't convince him about this then I am doomed. He is the one that can sway the other council members to listen to my idea. He is the one they listen to the most. He is the Royal Advisor after all. I need to think of something fast. If this man is not going to be on my side, then I need another solid plan to take over the Kingdom. I should be King. I deserve it more than that spoil brat of a nephew. My children deserve to be crowned as well. My thoughts are disturbed by wife walking in.
"What did Musa say?" She asks anxious about my response.
"He is not about that, instead he warned me."
"Warned you, what do mean Bheki?" You can sense the impatience in her voice.
"He told me that everything that I am planning will backfire."
"Bheki, you have to make sure you get crowned as Kind or your son does. Remember this is not just about you, remember the promises you made otherwise we are in shit." She is annoyed and I can sense fear in her voice if all fails.
"Don't you think I know that Busisiwe huh? Just let me think ok."