Chapter 3

Kumah woke up in canoe with two men and a young boy who was too close for comfort. Out of shock from seeing his wide eyes and his unusual large nose, Kumah tried to move away from him but only to be greeted by a sharp pain in his chest. He screamed. His scream drew the attention of the two men who were paddling the canoe.

‘’You shouldn’t be moving.’’ Advised Sipho ‘’You’ll open up the wound. Sipho handed over the oak bottle to Kumah who hesitated. He looked at the strangers with suspicion.

‘’Don’t worry.’’ Sipho said. ‘’It’s just water.’’

Kumah took a good look around. A net full of fish and some basic supplies. They looked like harmless. If they wanted him dead, he’d be dead already. But that’s not a reason to trust them.

‘’I’m not thirsty.’’ He said. He laid down quietly in the boat. He didn’t know who these people were but at least they weren’t wearing black robes with guns. And what’s with that boy and his nose. His bald head really makes his nose stand out. Mental note, don’t shave bald when you have a big nose.

They roll back to a small village located on the bank of the river. Sipho help Kumah get on his feet. Some children spotted them from afar and started to race toward the river bank with empty baskets. Of course, their mothers screamed at them to be careful. Sipho waved at the children with a smile. The village was quite small. Kumah noticed the Zulu crest carved carefully into one of the outposts on the other end of the village. He wondered why these people would part from the main clan. The main clan was too powerful and safer. Finally, they settled and Sarh tied the boat to a poorly made wooden tier which was on the verge of collapse. The children quickly helped carry the fish and headed towards the village. Sarh ordered Sipho to take Kumah to the infirmary. To be honest Kumah didn't expect a village this small to have an infirmary. As they walked to the infirmary, the people looked at him with curious eyes, some with fear and some with the usual hostility Kumah was used to.

‘’I’m Sipho by the way.’’ He introduced.

‘’Kumah.’’ Kumah said after a long pause.

They approached a small hut and just as they were about to enter a lady came out of the hut and Kumah's eyes met hers. For a moment there was a light in Kumah’s eyes. She was really beautiful and he almost lost his composure. She had white hair and stunning blue eyes with a perfectly proportional figure. She looked familiar.

"I've never seen you here before," she said.

"We found him floating on the river. He’s lost a lot of blood and he needs help."  Sipho explained.

Her eyes opened with what Kumah could read as a mixture of fear and surprise.

"Father is not going to like this. He doesn’t entertain strangers. " She said.

 "But we couldn’t just leave him to die."

 Their voices echoed in Kumah’s head and dizziness begun to set in. Sipho felt Kumah getting heavier and struggled to hold him. He then fell to the ground. The urgent screams from Sipho and the lady faded slowly.

Flashback continued…. The Ashanti Clan 6 years ago.

The man aimed the blade at Kumah’s neck and before he could strike sharp roots broke the soil underneath him, pierced his chest and tore it wide open. Blood spilled on Kumah’s face and the sight of his organs made him fall back. Nhyira signaled Kumah to get his head in the game. She killed the man, was she always capable of that? He thought to himself. She was clearly scared too. It was a long way to the castle. The walked carefully through the once recognizable marketplace which was littered with bodies and burnt buildings. The sky was littered with smoke. A little girl cried next to her mothers’ body. Kumah stared at her, his eyes flickering in the moon light. Nhyira tugged him forward, dragging him by his left arm into a dark corner.

‘’Kumah, I know you are scared but you have to keep it together.’’ She snapped

‘’You killed that man.’’ Kumah said, tears running down his cheeks.

‘’As your older sister it’s my duty to protect you. When you grow up, you’ll understand.’’ She said wiping his tears off his cheeks with her thumb.

‘’Look at his Kumah’’ she said holding up five fingers in her right hand.

‘’Five...’’ Kumah nodded.

‘’Good now look at this.’’ She continued holding up her index finger.

‘’One.’’ He agreed.

‘’Good boy.’’

 Kumah hugged her tight and they continued their walk through the chaos staying out of sight. At least that’s what they tried to do. Six fingers, Kumah knew that code. Nhyira had spotted a threat behind them. A lady in a black robe stood on the roof of a building, watching them. They made their way through the market towards the fountain that decorated the entrance of the castle. A fierce battle unfolded inside the castle. Bodies were being tossed around like rugs. Something that the great King Osei Tutu was good at. A roar echoed through the castle gates followed by an eerie moment of silence. A body broke through castle gates, shattering the gate and landed violently unforgiving ground with a loud thud.

A well-built man walked through where the gates used to be. King Osei Tutu. Possessor of the great Beast Vessel. He dropped the head of the man he sent flying through the gate. His eyes glowed red and a deadly aura hovered around him. He looked around at the western soldiers and smiled revealing a sharp set of fangs. They didn’t stand a chance. Kumah had never seen his father like this. His usual cloth he wraped around himself was missing and his shorts was ripped and stained with blood. He looked like a beast.