CHAPTER 16

ACT 76

In the evening...

At the Blue Empire...

Prince Tefon was holding his stomach and groaning in pains. He had been feeling a slight stomach pain for the past hour but it was getting worse. He came out of his chambers and screamed in pain. Two maids rushed to his side.

Maid 3 - My Prince. What is the matter?

Prince Tefon - Arrgh my stomach. Ah my stomach. It's paining me. Arrgh. Grandmother! Kydin!

Maid 3 looked at maid 4.

Maid 3 - Quick go and get the Grand Queen immediately.

The maid quickly ran to fetch the Grand Queen. The maid helped the Prince to lie down on a mat.

Prince Tefon - Ahh. My stomach.

Maid 3 - It's alright my Prince I've sent for your Grandmother.

The Grand Queen was having a discussion with Prince Kydin when a maid ran to them. She knelt down.

Grand Queen Zanlynne - What is it?

Maid 4 - My Queen it's Prince Tefon. He is in terrible pains. He asked me to call you.

Grand Queen Zanlynne - What? Take me to him immediately.

Maid 4 - Yes my Queen.

The maid led Prince Kydin and The Grand Queen to Tefon. He was squirming and groaning on a mat with 4 maids next to him. She sat down next to him.

Grand Queen Zanlynne - My child what is going on? Tefon Talk to me!

Prince Tefon - My stomach hurts. Arrgh. Yeh!

Prince Kydin - What did you eat?

Prince Tefon - My Maid gave me my dinner to eat and I ate it. I didn't eat anything else after that.

Prince Kydin - Is it that same Yabiny? I told you to get rid of her. You guards look for that girl and bring her to me.

Guards - Yes my Prince.

Grand Queen Zanlynne - You 2 go now and summon the Chief Priest and the healers immediately.

Maids - Yes my Queen.

Prince Kydin - I knew that girl was strange. Don't worry brother you'll be fine. I promise.

Prince Tefon - Argh. Please make it stop... Argh...

Grand Queen Zanlynne - Don't worry my child by the goddess will you won't die.

ACT 77

The next day...

Meanwhile at Khana village...

It had not rained at all but everywhere was very cold. A lot of people were indoors. Reolita sat in her room. She looked out the window. She was thinking about her life so far and everything that's happened. She thought about her Mama and the war.

Reolita - What even caused the war anyway. I'll ask Papa. Everywhere was cool and peaceful. The Moment is perfect.

An hour later...

The rain had not fallen but the clouds cleared up. She went to her Fathers room. He was sharpening his cutlass. She greeted him.

Reolita - Papa. Why are the Reds and Blues at war?

Ricktin - Sit down, I'll tell you.

Reolita - OK.

She sat down on the mat next to her father.

Ricktin - In ancient times... There was peace for many years. One day quarrels of who was more superior between the Blue people and the Red people started. Soon it turned into a war between the two Empires. During the whole chaos the Darks and Whites got wiped out of existence. The Yellows tried to negotiate peace but had to resort to isolating themselves and building walls around their kingdoms to protect themselves. And it's been that way ever since. War is never a good thing.

Reolita - Wow. Papa. It's all so sad.

Ricktin - I know dear what we can do is just pray that someday somehow this war will end. Come now looks like the rain isn't going to fall. But the rain was supposed to have started for some time now. Anyway let's get ready for the day.

ACT 78

Reolita had finished all her chores. She bumped into Pepin on her way out.

Reolita - Good Morning Pepin I was just going to your place.

Pepin - Me too. So what do you want to do?

Reolita - Let's go and play by the Village square.

Pepin - Yeah. I have some other friends there. I'll introduce you to them.

Reolita and Pepin arrived at the Village square. A lot of children were playing with sticks, sand, stones, and leaves. Some where playing clapping games too. They saw 3 girls playing with some beads.

Pepin - Follow me.

They went to meet the girls.

Pepin - Lonu, Mupe, Dyne meet my new friend Reolita. Reolita this are my friends.

Lonu - Hi Reolita.

Dyne - Hi. I like your bracelet. Where did you get it?

Reolita - Thank you. It's from a friend from my former Village.

Mupe waved.

Reolita - Hi...

Mupe - ...

Pepin - Mupe can't talk.

Reolita - Oh I'm sorry. I didn't know.

Mupe smiled.

Pepin - It's okay. We are all learning bead making as our apprenticeship.

Reolita - That's nice.

Lonu - So Reolita, what is your apprenticeship?

Reolita - I'm learning medicine and herbs.

Dyne - It's okay. That means you will be a healer.

Reolita - Yeah. I like to help people. So I chose that.

Dyne - OK.

Pepin - So what are you guys doing here.

Dyne - We are practicing our bead making.

Pepin - OK. But why don't we play chinko. (clapping games).

Lonu, Dyne - OK.

Girl - No way.

Everyone heard a girl's voice and turned around to see Yuveta. Reolita glared at her.

Yuveta - I will not allow that good for nothing thing to play with us.

Lonu - What did she do?

Yuveta - She's the fool who challenged me a few weeks ago.

Pepin - Look Yuveta nobody here has time for your tantrums today, please.

Yuveta - Poor Pepin. Don't you know it's a dog you've become friends with. I mean she bites like one she might as well be one.

Reolita - Your Mother is a dog!

Yuveta - How dare you. Well I didn't expect anything better from an unfortunate person such as you.

Reolita was ready to beat up Yuveta. But Pepin held her back.

Reolita - Leave me alone let me teach her to shut up that hole she calls a mouth.

Pepin - Just leave her she isn't worth it.

Reolita - Ohhh Pepin leave me alone.

Reolita managed to get free and was about to pounce on Yuveta when Yuveta carried sand and threw it at Reolita face. She quickly covered her eyes.

Yuveta - The rest of you girls follow me if you know you are my friends and don't want to be on my bad side. Look at her! Filthy. The dog has sand on her head.

Pepin - Go away Yuveta. May the goddess have mercy on your wicked soul.

Yuveta - It's not my fault the goddess made me rich and beautiful. I'm special unlike some people. Well I have some new beads my father got for me from his last travel and I intend to share some with my friends. Pepin feel free to come with us and make sure you leave that thing called Reolita behind. My friends let's go. The other girls followed her. Mupe waved an apology and also left.

Reolita watched her go. She felt so angry and so sad.

Reolita - The goddess will punish you for this.

Pepin - Just leave her. Come let's go to the stream and wash your face.

ACT 79

Soon Reolita and Pepin arrived at the stream. Pepin helped Reolita to loose her hair and wash out the sand from it.

Pepin - Don't mind Yuveta she's just a spoilt girl. She's even rude to adults.

Reolita - Please don't mention that stupid girl's name here.

Pepin - Did you see the way she was walking. Like someone with bow leg.

Reolita - And she'll be thinking she is fine.

They both giggled.

Pepin - Let's quickly go to my house I have some nice beads for your hair.

Reolita - You don't have to...

Pepin - I have. Ahh abeg. Let me make your hair. Come let's go.

They ran to Pepin's house. Reolita sat on the mat outside. Pepin came back and did Reolita hair with a few beads.

Reolita - How do I look?

Pepin - Like a Princess.

Reolita - Thank you.

They laughed. Reolita stood up and started mimicking Yuveta.

Reolita - I'm Yuveta and I'm so proud peacock are humble compared to me.

Pepin - Ha ha ha.

They soon heard a voice from behind Pepin's house.

Pepin's Mama - Pepin. My child. Is that you?

Reolita - Yes Mama. It's me.

Pepin's Mama - Who is that with you?

Reolita - It's my friend. Come let's go and greet my Mama.

The both ran to the backyard. They saw an elderly woman around her fifties seating on a stool. She was around 6 months pregnant. Her name is Flaxa. They both knelt down and greeted her.

Pepin - This is my friend Reolita. The one I told you about.

Flaxa - How are you my dear?

Reolita - I'm fine.

Flaxa - Good. The goddess bless you.

Reolita - By her will Ma. Thank you.

Flaxa - My dear please can you pick up some baskets and help me get some snails from the forest banana trees. I feel like eating some but the ones at the market place are too costly. You should be able to find some near the banana trees.

Pepin - OK Mama. Reolita let's go.

They both picked up a basket and ran towards the forest.

Flaxa - Both of you be careful oh.

On the way...

Reolita - Wow your Mama is nice. But she's a little...

Pepin - Older. I know. My parents were married for 25 years before I was born. They were helped by the local Priest and a lot of prayers to have me. And now I get to have a Brother or a Sister. But I want a Sister.

Reolita - Who doesn't. Baby girls are more cute.

Pepin - Yeah. I need someone to be able to practice new hairstyles with.

They both giggled.

ACT 80

They soon reached a vast banana plantation. There were few snails around.

Reolita - The rain hasn't started yet so they may not be many.

Pepin - It's true but I can see some snails here. Let's pick these ones first.

They ran back and forth picking up the snails they could find. They climbed trees and after about 30 minutes they managed to get their baskets half full.

Pepin - They are not the giant ones but they are still big enough to eat.

Reolita - Yeah. Look at those ripe yummy bananas.

Pepin - Oh. I love bananas.

Reolita - Hold my basket let me get some. She tried to climb the tree but it was too steep. She picked up a big stick and managed to wack some bananas off the tree.

Pepin - Oh. This bananas look delicious. OK. I think we've picked enough. Let's go.

Their baskets were full and heavy with bananas and snails. They went back to the Village side.

On their way back they saw a White eagle flying high in the sky.

Pepin - See that eagle.

Reolita - You know. My Father says if an eagle flies over you, your future is safe and secured.

Pepin - Yeah. Our future is safe and secured.

Reolita - By the goddess' wish.