Kaayo wakuba

Following the lead of Kaayo Wakuba to a distance opened way to a beautiful tiny house made out of carved mountain rock. A staircase of cut rocks was the only means of entrance.

The whole house was fragrant. A delicate, sweet floral odour which is woody at the same time similar to the fresh blooms of lavender.

"Calm, soothing. Oh! Stupid of me. I just walked like dumb driven cattle behind stranger. May be he will kill me here, steal my things and escape on horseback. Well planned".

[Author: Foolish way of connecting the hints, Orzala has mastered this art.]

Luckily it was interrupted by Wakuba. He handed over a wooden stick wrapped with oil dipped cloth at the tip to Orzala. Setting it with fire they moved inside.

Rock walls were painted with unknown art that narrates a story. Examining the art willing to decode the hidden meaning Orzala paused her steps at a familiar art.

Past faded memories rushing back to her mind creating a painful scenario she never witnessed. Her face turned pale. For a second she lost her balance. Wakuba rushing back to her,

"What happened?"

Her pointing towards the art she felt connected to made Wakuba recognise her. His eyes tearing up as if awarded with the fruit of hardship endured for centuries.

Taking her quickly to his small room to be seated, offering a glass of water, speaking with care,

"Are you fine, girl?"

"I am fine. Shall I know who that paining belongs to?"

"Don't rush the things. You will know. The symbol you just noticed what you know about it?"

"It was a symbol carved on the wooden charm carried by my father. More like an ancestral charm passed on to the generation", Orzala gave a brief.

"Are you related to Adara?"

"It was the name carried by my father"

Happy tears flowing down his cheeks, Wakuba was speechless. He took a proper glance of Orzala and spoke,

"You have a glimpse of him. Your eyes are identical. I can never forget him. A deep wound of guilt on my heart that burns with the memories of past"

Confused Orzala was about to question but shut by displayed portrait on the wall.

"Confused aren't you?"

"Yes. How do you have this picture? My father showed me once saying it was a uncle and his sister who were close to his heart but.."

"But..?"

"They were lost in a battle for life"

"No wonder. After all the things that I have done to your grandfather it was inevitable"

"What does that mean?"

"Let me speak my heart out today after hundred fifty years of silence."

"Hundred fifty years! Are you a demon? God? What are you?"

"You will understand after the completion of my story"

Flabbergasted Orzala was holding her breath. Wakuba began his story.

"I do not know the time or the day I was born. An orphan abandoned near the village of Trikuta. A lady adopted me providing food for hunger, house for shelter and cloth for cover. But soon these things were snatched out of my hand.

I lost all the hopes of my life. The shelter and the one providing shelter both were burned to ashes by the so called noble people of the society. I watched them being helpless, hiding myself in the crowd.

Many days passed by I was struggling for a meal a day. Hunger and empty pockets teach you the best lessons but in my case I learnt the wrong part of the lesson.

I initiated stealing food from the people, then cloths, slowly these basic necessities of life were accomplished and my desire for luxury grew.

By the time I was well known with the name 'Kaayo Wakuba'. This was when I met him. The best dream converted to a worst nightmare.

Only his name is enough to scare the world. The worst decision of my life. I lost everything. He took everything away. He took her away. The mask of innocence covered the most dreadful, cruel soul on the planet."

Weeping Wakuba broke into pieces.

"Who did you meet?!"

Wiping his tears with hand he continued

"The one who changed the path of the world. Who destroyed life of the millions. Unfortunately, your father and me have contributed a lot to this destruction."

"How my father has a role in this?! This was an event of hundred fifty years. My father is a mere human. A thief by work. All he ever did was stealing. He never killed" Orzala spoke in disbelief.

"He never killed. Yes, that is true. But he was the reason behind many getting killed. Learning from your words he never disclosed his identity to you. Did he?"

"What kind of identity?!"

"Look at the sword that you carry. Do you know who that belongs to?"

"Yes. It was gifted to my great grandfather by a king."

"King! you are right and wrong at the same time. It does belong to king and was presented your father. Do you want to know who the king was?"

"Who?"

"Your grandfather, The great King of Alaka, a dragon warrior"

"So my father?!"

"He is the prince of Alaka and you are not a thief"

Orzala was in this journey out of greed but it turns out be her written fate.