The Chronicles of Gebia - Tsote

All rights Reserved The right of Kuteesa Frank to be identified as the original author of the "The Chronicles of Gebia: Tsote", has been asserted by him. Not a single copy or part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical or otherwise) without the prior written permission of Kuteesa Frank. ISBN 978-9913-9778-0-7 Copyright © Kuteesa Frank 2024  *** Author’s note: The Chronicles of Gebia’ is comprised of four independent parts/subtitled – Wrath of the Kurotuna (I), The Sunflower famine (II), Tsote (III), and Mystery of the Olko beads (IV) ‘The Chronicles of Gebia’ stories draw their inspiration from not less than 30 random African mythologies, legends and folklores which are often deeply rooted in the natural world and reflect the cultural, historical, and spiritual aspects of the communities that have preserved them. These works won’t only whisk you away on extraordinary adventures but will also immerse you in enchanting and diverse Afro-mythos beyond your imagination. *** (I) - Sign of the vultures. Dawn's first light crept into the hallowed halls of the Yakunko court, casting long shadows on the ancient symbols engraved into the towering doors. With a thunderous crash, the doors burst open, sending echoes through the silent imperial chamber. Five imperial elders, their faces etched with the lines of countless battles strode in with purpose. At their head, O’menshi Ndikumo’s eyes blazed with righteous fury. He thrust his staff into the ground, the sound reverberating through the stone floor. "We demand to see the Emperor!" he declared, his voice cutting through the overwrought air. Why? Murmurs of Emperor O’mondo II’s mysterious absence from Sambura city had set the council ablaze, suspicion and concern flickering in every gaze. Thalkoba’s face drained stiffened as he spotted the elders. His carefully crafted veneer of secrecy shattered, revealing the truth he had hoped to conceal. The Emperor’s instructions had been clear though: covert his departure from even his closest imperial councilors. But now, the elders’ arrival exposed the deception. Miles away from the court’s turmoil, Emperor O’mondo II perched on a moss-covered rock beside the tranquil River Yuggu. The Yulena meadow plains stretched endlessly before him, grasses whispering in the soft breeze. His caravan, veiled in the guise of Kurotuna Huntsmen, moved silently around him. Thirty-six warriors, led by the young and fierce Captain Manwi Rensoso, bore a unique mark on their foreheads, their presence an unambiguous dissimilarity to the Emperor’s usual guards. With deliberate care, the Emperor reached into his robe and withdrew a small bundle. He unwrapped it, revealing an Olko bead that glowed softly, its light unwavering despite the journey. Carved from a rare and magical stone, it was his sole defence against the illness that gripped him. As he watched its steady glow, a flicker of hope warmed his heart. *** The Emperor’s voice echoed in his memory as he peered into the darkness. "Can the Kobewa wizard or any of his kin track the beads as well?" He had asked his Eunuch the night they departed from Sambura. They had been gliding across the still waters of Lake Nyasa, the boat slicing through the velvet night. N’dwoku, seated across from him, had stared intently at the calm, obsidian waves that mirrored the starless sky. "I am not sure, you’re eminence," N’dwoku’s words came back to him, murmured against the lake’s whispering ripples. The mist rolled in from the southern shores, cloaking the landscape in a ghostly shroud. "What I know is that the closer you get to the mother tree, the brighter the Olko bead will glow." *** Seated alone on the riverbank, Emperor O’mondo II cradled the Olko bead in his palm, its faint glow barely visible. He watched it dimly shimmer before slipping it back into his garment, careful to keep its light hidden from his men. Rising to his feet, he turned away from the serene River Yuggu and the southern expanse of the Shadowlands, heading back toward the camp. As he moved, the central bead’s glow faded further. A few meters from the riverbank, the Kurotuna tents stood in unambiguous distinction to their rugged exterior. Inside, the tent interiors gleamed with unexpected splendour. Around the camp, three fires crackled, casting flickering shadows as the warriors prepared for the night’s watch. This marked the Emperor’s first journey south of Sambura, the Yakunko Imperial City. His quest was to restore the Olko bead's fading magic, the only defence he had against a rare illness whose origin only he and his Hand knew. The Yakunko council of elders in Sambura was outrageous as to why they weren't officially informed about the Emperor’s departure and so demanded a proper explanation. They were told that the Emperor had ventured in search of a cure for his mysterious illness, its origin known only to him. The elders, however, pressed for more details. Thalkoba, the Emperor’s Hand, stood before them, his expression tight and guarded. He shifted uneasily under their scrutiny, unable to divulge any further information. His vow to protect the Emperor’s secrets, including the source of the illness, bound him in silence. The elders’ eyes narrowed in disdain as they exchanged sharp whispers. To them, Thalkoba’s silence was a mark of incompetence. Accusations of deceit and betrayal were murmured with increasing fervour, and they deemed him unworthy of his esteemed position as the Emperor’s Hand. *** By nightfall, the Yakunko Emperor and his entourage reached the northern face of Kobewa Hill – after a period of three weeks and three days. The moonlight cast long shadows over the open terrain, revealing its potential dangers. The Emperor’s gaze swept over the surroundings, and he decided the exposed location was too risky. With a decisive nod, he ordered his men to circle around the hill, aiming for its southern face. When they arrived at the sheltered banks of River Ulewo, they set up camp once more. The river, its waters glistening under the starlit sky, wound its way from the western mountains to the great Eastern Masian Sea. In the distance, the lights of Marakusha Town flickered along the southern horizon, marking the inner borders of the Shadowlands of Gebia. The town’s fire-lit towers stood like sentinels; their glow faintly visible through the trees.