THE LEGEND OF KIWAKAAZI

It was day seven since Zakaru left his body. His body had been bathed in some special herbs. Many women cried around his body for days. Many of his men were suffering from insomnia. The city of Zaagai was engulfed in sorrow and silence. When is the Supreme Ruler coming back? Was he not immortal? Come back to us they all cried. Come back for without you, your subjects will suffer from the pain of separation.

Seven days ago, the immortal Zakaru woke up and went about his daily rounds. He inspected fields grown with food and was briefed on his armies progress. There were a few conflicts here and there about land, marriage, and property that required his attention as king. He tried his very best to resolve these conflicts. But being once tagged a weak man; he always favored the weak. It was not easy but with the help of his brother, generals, elders, and wife, a fair decision was arrived at in each case. Yes, his wife was part of those making the decision. Princess Ayofemi daughter of King Ayigbeni and one time sweetheart of Lord Zeiba was his wife.

After their introduction, Zakaru could not stop thinking about the girl. She had enchanted him with her beauty. She had stolen his heart with her smile. “What about his goal ridding the world of the strong?” he questioned. “A wife is not a hindrance to your goals and aspirations in life; on the contrary, a good wife supports you and helps you achieve those goals with much ease,” was his wise brother Zeiba’s answer. Zakaru was now convinced. The wedding preparations begun and once he returns from his visit to his wise uncle, Zimfatu. He would wed Princess Ayofemi. Zaagai was bustling with excitement. Everywhere preparations were being made for the great wedding.

Zakaru travelled from Zaagai to Gondwa with half a dozen of his trusted men and left his dear brother Zeiba in charge of Zaagai and the wedding preparations. He was lucky and happy to have someone he could trust; his brother. He knew Zeiba will do a good job. For now he was concentrating on reuniting with the man who was like a father to him, Zimfatu the eternally bright. He had received message from Gondwa that his uncle wanted to see him. It was very urgent according to the messenger. Unfortunately, Zakaru had been so busy with work that, he kept on postponing his visit. Now, with his wedding coming up, he could take a few days off to visit his uncle. He would find out just exactly what the great sage wanted to discuss with him.

In Nomposuro, Deila produced the Kaki-lala (the cry of death). A few of the bees retreated and surrounded Kuntu. The remaining bees numbering close to five hundred attacked Kiwakaazi and Deila. Kiwakaazi primarily defended himself using his golden swords. Deila stopped crying and attacked the bees one after another by using her sharp claws and cone-like tail. The killer bees attacked with their stings. One attacked Kiwakaazi from above and almost stung him. Kiwakaazi immediately disappeared. The bees were gigantic but attacked with speed that surprised both Kiwakaazi and Deila. The attacks were incessant. The couple was on the ropes in their fight against Kuntu, the second dwarf.

“I see, many people have ventured into Nomposuro and have failed miserably; men with greater powers than yours. Do you want to know why you have survived in Nomposuro thus far, young traveller? It is because of her (Kuntu pointed at Deila). She is the insider who helped you awaken your innate powers; she probably helped you to defeat those stinky shinkos and without her, I am sure you would have lost to that pompous Aran Shinko and his wife Safihutu. This insider is your savior,” said Kuntu when his bees gave him some breathing space.

This was no news to Kiwakaazi. Not even a single second of a single day has passed by without him knowing how easily he would have perished without Deila. He came to Nomposuro to retrieve the guanvibushi but sometimes when he is fighting, he is sure he is fighting to protect and save her. He forgets all about the guanvibushi and fights for her. Kuntu pointed at another square. It seems the second dwarf was going for the jugular.

Zakaru felt sad at the state in which he found his uncle. He was very ill. He remembered a conversation they had before he was completely cured by his uncle. “Curing you is very easy. But it will come with a hefty price; a price I am more than willing to pay; a sacrifice I was born to make.” “Is this the price you were talking about?” asked Zakaru. “Nice to see you too,” answered the old dying man. “I knew you would eventually come,” added Zimfatu. Zakaru was sad and angry at his uncle at the same time. Why did he not let him know about his condition? The messenger only mentioned an urgent matter; nothing about him being sick and dying.

He did not know what to say. He wanted to apologize. He wanted to cry. His mood changed and he appeared gloomy. “Do not worry about me. You should know by now that everything is ready for my departure. This is just my last work on earth here,” explained Zimfatu. Zimfatu who was very sick and bed ridden but he got up from his bed and looked well for just that instant. He sat next to his nephew and asked about his health. He added, “Tell me, how is your great work coming along?”

Zakaru took some time to answer this question. He knew his uncle was a non-violent man. He was not a man who would support what he was doing. But he never questions Zakaru’s choices and decisions. He supports him no matter what. ‘How should he answer this question?’ he wondered.

“It is coming along just fine. I came here with every intention of inviting you to my impending wedding,” answered Zakaru. Zimfatu smiled and said he was happy for his nephew. He added that now he was sure his nephew will soon find his way in life. He lay back on his bed and closed his eyes. Zakaru was depressed. The great Gondanwura shed a few tears. He knew his uncle would leave very soon. He remembered he had a dream about dying and asked his uncle to tell him something before he died. Zimfatu opened his eyes and said, “Seven days after you marry her, you shall die.”

Kiwakaazi immediately directed all his golden swords to protect Deila while he fought off killer bees with only his slayer. The next square revealed another large number of red ants; large ants with huge mandibles. Deila looked down and realized Kiwakaazi was in some real trouble. She opened her mouth and cried loudly. Her cry does not work as fast as she would have wanted. The red ants and bees exploded one after the other but she would have loved it if all the insects surrounding Kiwakaazi would simply disappear.

Zakaru returned to Zaagai very troubled. What did his uncle mean by ‘he will die seven days after his marriage?’ Should he call off his marriage? What should he do? He was deep in thought. Zeiba had spent a long time around Zakaru and knew when he was troubled. In the past, he would do everything to ease his troubled mind. But he quickly guessed that Zakaru’s travel to Gondwa had something to do with it. He foretold that his crazy uncle Zimfatu must have told him something that is making him have second thoughts about going through with the marriage. So instead of helping Zakaru, he will let him experience firsthand just how helpful a good wife is. He sent Ayofemi to talk to his brother; to use all her feminine charms to calm him down and convince him that marrying her was his greatest decision ever.

She entered the Supreme Ruler’s quarters. She smiled; she moved seductively and asked what troubled him. Initially he was reluctant to answer. Zakaru was sitting on his lion skin with his legs crossed. He closed his eyes when she entered. She sat behind him and while hugging him said, “You know we will very soon be husband and wife. A wife has a divine duty to keep her husband happy always.” She did not know Zakaru very well but she knew he was troubled and that broke her heart. He felt her warm breast pressed against his skin; her soft and delicate body already massaging his body. His mind softened and his heart melted. He opened up to her and told her everything from his strange dream and about being killed told by his uncle, the great Sage’s warning.

She told Zakaru that, “Marriage was very difficult. Some people say that marriage is death itself.” Maybe his uncle did not mean he will die literally but death inside. But she Ayofemi will not allow her husband to die metaphorically or literally. She will protect him no matter what. Zakaru’s mind was finally at ease. So this is what it means to have a good wife. She must be accurate. His wise uncle was known for speaking in parables and in riddles. He could not understand him but his beautiful bride has. He will be the biggest fool in the world not to marry this woman and so he did.

Seven days after their marriage, Zakaru after taking care of business for the day decided to retire for the night. He was very happy to see his beautiful wife waiting for him. She was wearing a see through long dress with thin sleeves. He started having naughty thoughts. So naughty were his thoughts that he felt thirsty. On a table in their bed room was a small jar made and designed with some special ceramic material. This jar contained water. He reached for a cup made from calabash that sat next to this jar. He poured himself some water but before he could drink it, his wife came close and gently took the drink from him. He was focused on her face. She lifted the cup to his lips and he emptied the cup completely. She led him straight to bed. Zakaru fell on his bed and never woke up again.