The two men, despite their different outlook towards life shared an uncanny relationship ever since they were kids. While Makani was heavily influenced by his mother's cunning ways, Zuko was an upright gentleman who never missed the opportunity to tell Makani the truth even though he never listened to him.
The warriors stood arm in arm as they chanted their war mantras. Their pulp chests vibrating to the sound of the drums. They lay their arrows and spears before them. Their skin oozed of coal with red circled eyes. Sweat dripped from each one forming a straight line. They were ready to unleash doom upon anything in their way.
“We move east” Zuko ordered and they all growled in unison. A sound that made the birds of the trees take flight. This group of warriors was dauntless and obeyed orders without question. They knew not what lay in the east but they were ready to fight. Being ready was the only option. No one wanted to be cast away like General Maila or meet with any kind of Makani’s wrath.
Over the years, the king had cast out more people to the cursed wilderness than he had in his army. Their numbers would have built twice his army. Many were men but most were women. He punished anyone who had an opinion other than his. He and his mother didn’t want anyone in their way, especially not an heir. Makani wanted the throne but the crown had mysteriously disappeared after his father's death. The gods had said that only the true ruler would wear the crown.
Makani’s father, before his death was only going to relinquish his throne to his grandchild and not his son. Having heard that, Makani threw his pregnant wife, Nnennu into the cursed wilderness and assumed the throne after his father’s death. He became a king without a crown. Nnennu, helpless and broken laid a curse on Makani. Weeping profusely Nnennu rubbed her bulging belly and pronounced, “That which you have punished me for will rightly belong to my seed”. She spat on the soil as she was led away to the forest.
The seer appeared from nowhere in particular. The sound of his staff vibrating on the earth announced his arrival. “It isn't wise to go looking for trouble. But if you must, it is my duty as the seer of the land to guide your path”. He waved his staff at Makani. It shone a silver luster. “ it will lead the way”.
Soon they were at the outskirts of the village. On their way to the east. The seer led the way with his staff still shining bright. He halted for a minute then yelled, “this way”.
“But my king, isn't this is the way to the cursed wilderness? We cannot and should not go in there. It is cursed by the gods for a reason. It is not a place for mere mortals like us”. One of the soldiers muttered fearfully.
“I am not a mere mortal. I am of the gods. You are my soldiers and you will do as I say”. Makani fumed and growled like a seething lion.
In the land of Shura, Freya sat in the council of her general as they both watched the women train. Shura was mainly populated by women and children with only a few men. This town was run by matriarchy and unlike the regular kingdoms across the clan, it was a combination of people from different tribes and backgrounds.
“I cannot wait to take my revenge, my birthright. What do the gods say again? I am ready. I can feel it”. Freya spoke to her general. She paced unsettled up and down the arena. “His face haunts my dreams every night. The gods have shown me who he is”.
“I knew this day would come. It is time. The gods have spoken”. The tall silhouette with grey draping hair whispered into the air as she stood overlooking the town of Shura. “ indeed, it is blood for blood”.
“Ready the women for battle. I can feel it in my bones. I am going to get ready” Freya moved briskly. She was the most courageous young woman in shura. She was as fierce as could be. Her mother died while giving birth to her and she never met her father. Shura was her home and everything she knew. Soon the earth beneath their feet started to vibrate. They could hear loud chants from a distance.
Makani and his soldiers at the gate of shura were stunned to see the city before their eyes. Never in the entire kingdoms did they know of its existence. It was an unbelievable kind of civilization. Their structures were beyond their architecture. Everywhere looked sophisticated and orderly. “Have we transitioned into the afterlife?” another soldier blurted out gaping.
The path to the city was coated with a sort of luminance and it smelled like burning sage. Soon, a little girl of about four approached them. She was covered in white from neck to ankles. “ you do not come through this path. This city is of queens and expresses and I am the voice of all the women who left those glittering tracks. The women whom you banished to their deaths” she pointed at the luster radiating from the path. “Go back now! Go back” she turned around three times and walked away while chanting - “go back”.
The Shurans, ready for battle created a formation the Zoriarcks couldn't penetrate. They were surrounded. “What is this place and how did they know we were coming? Look! They are mostly women”. Makani whispered to his general and for the first time, Zuko traced a hint of intimidation in his voice.
“I am as bewildered as you are. But if you ask me, I think the soldiers are right. We should not do this. This is a strange place”. Zuko once again spoke his mind to Makani.
“I fear no man. Let alone a bunch of women. We advance”. Makani and Zuko stepped twenty paces forward. On the other end, Freya and her general also moved twenty paces to meet them in the middle ground. Freya set eyes on Zuko. She had masked her face to reveal only her eyes. Makani felt her stares like daggers piercing every corner of his soul.
This is my second entry to the scholarandscribe/dreemport challenge.
Part 2 of 3.
Read part one here.
And to my bingo card. I'm not very proud of those empty spaces.
