Golden Purple

The Ulusk task master would not stop tearing the bare back of this helpless Bulchan boy with the stripe he wielded. His eyes know no pity or mercy neither would his heart palpitate for the course of an enemy tribesman it was conditioned to hate. The groanngs of weary slaves filled the air and so did the commanding voices of their fierce-looking task masters. The slaves despite the heavy chains they wore on each foot were forced to carry heavy logs to the top of the hill where the Uzibel had intended to build a tower to the reverence of his imperial majesty. 'Hey, that boy's wasted, let his body be,' said another Ulusk task master to his ferocious fellow. 'These impudents deserve no mercy, not even in their deaths.' the other grunted. 'You may want to save your strength for another round.' 'Huh.' the Ulusk sighed and stopped beating the boy. He stood watching his fellow pull his slaves forward roaring and beating them intermittently as they waddled up the hill till they were far away. Turning round, he observed how Bulchan slaves and Ulusk task masters were scattered all over the gradual slope of the hill. He reached for his bottle made of hyde hanging around his waist, raised it to his mouth and gulped a litre or two. He looked at the boy and once convinced that he cannot survive his injuries undid his chain and roared for the rest of the Bulchans to continue the arduous task. The Ulusk have always been a tribe of great warriors. Led by their king Uzibel, they have successfully conquered all the neighbouring tribes. While king Uzibel allowed some freedom to the rest of his conquered territories, he had this exceptional hatred for the Bulchans. Myth has it that the reason for his hatred of the Bulchans is because a prophecy had been foretold that 'out of the ashes of Bulcha shall arise a deliverer who will overthrow his kingdom, bring an end to his imperial dynasty, and proclaim freedom to all the neighbouring territories.' Thus this prophecy, whether true or false, inspired Uzibel to waste Bulcha till not even her ashes would fly in the wind. 'Hey, you lazy sissies, we don't have all day! A voice bellowed from a distance which set the already-exhausted labourers hurrying to finish the already outlined portions. ***** 'Will he make it?' an aged man enquired as he stooped to examine the battered body of the poor boy lying in the centre of the small hut. At the other side stood a grey haired woman, dressed in a gown of rafia that spanned from the upper part of her chest to the floor and also, an old coat of skin draped over her shoulders. She chanted some incantations and after a moment of silence spoke in a way that sounds more like whispers. 'His spirit has left his body.' The old man bowed his head. He longed for tears but they would not pour out for his eyes are already used to such sorrow. He asked the healer 'how long will this continue to be, how long?' 'Until the golden purple arrives, until the prophecy is accepted and until the liberator is born.' 'Isn't that prophecy a myth?' he interrupted. 'That was why you failed to fulfil your purpose.' the healer rebuked the man. 'What purpose?' he asked. 'The liberation of your people. You were a born liberator but you allowed unbelief to ruin the power of the prophecy in you.' The aged man clenched his fists and raised his head, looking the healer in the eye and with anguish of soul continued. 'Is there not even a glimmer of hope for Bulcha seeing that I'm so frail and feeble, I can't match in a battlefield anymore nor can I wrestle even with the weakest soldier?' The healer hummed an unfamiliar tune while gazing into a bowl of sacred water. The wizened skin of her face did little to hide her startling at the discovery of something new. Without raising her head or looking at the man who had been watching with great consternation whispers again. 'There is hope like specks of dust arising from the ashes of Bulcha. Behold, someone has accepted the prophecy.' 'Who is it?' the old man was eager to know. 'Someone who's destiny it is.' the healer answered and began walking towards the door. Strands of beads and jewels from her hair covered her face. Often, she wagged her head, sending the strands over her shoulder revealing an aged face with the most intrepid eyes. 'Let his body be. Make haste and get your family out of here for they are on their way that seek to ruin the prophecy.' her voice rang from the outside of the house. The command was clear and so was the voice but the future remains uncertain. 'where do I run to?' The aged man asked. 'Follow me. I'll be waiting.' The healer stood in front of the house with a staff in her and a sheathed sword slung around her waist. The aged man ran into a room adjacent to the one where the body of the poor Bulchan boy lay. He came out with a pregnant woman leaning on his right side. 'Wait here,' he said to her and then ran to the back of the house while she leaned on a wall. In a short time, the man hurried, pulling a white horse by the rein. Once at the front of the house he helped his pregnant wife up to the saddle on top of the horse. She also carried a few necessary belongings. With his sheathed sword on his side and his bottle filled with water, the journey began with the healer leading the way. ***** 'Your highness, the seer has asked to see you.' A servant announced while stooping and facing the palace floor. 'What message does he bring this time?' the king asked rhetorically trying to figure out what could be the possible reason for such an unexpected visit from the seer. 'Let him in.' He roared. At the command, the porter pulled the wicket open and the king guards shifted, some to the left and some to the right, making a narrow way through which the seer walked into the centre of the court. He wore a black robe with a hood that covered most parts of his head revealing only his face. The kind sat up as the seer approached. His gold ornaments tinkling at each movement his body makes. 'What brings you to my palace Adreh? The king's voice rang. The seer began, 'from the covert of my shrine I looked to the ends of the Earth. I looked down towards the valley of Bulcha and behold, I saw the clouds heavy upon that land. Soon, it began to rain heavily on Bulcha. The water became a deluge and began running up against the mountains of Ulusk. and in that vision, I saw the flood wash away the mountains of Ulusk and made it into a less valley, such that Bulcha became a mountain against it.' 'Uzibel stood up after hearing the seer's vision, proclaimed his majesty and dominion over all nations of the earth, and began descending the stairs. His ornaments tinkled with every step he made till came close to where the seer stood. 'Tell me Adreh, where can I find this cloud so that I may cut it down and disperse it and make it cease its existence?' cried the infuriated king, gesticulating at every word. 'You'll find her in the valley of dead bones where there are springs of water. Make haste, command your army at once for she's about to be born and once born, she would begin the process of bringing down your kingdom. She would not stop until she had razed it to the ground!' 'Never! Not when I still live! Casdarea!' the king screamed the name of his chief commander who hitherto, was standing beside him. 'Your highness.' Casdarea bowed before the king, in front of the seer. 'Take hundred men with you and go at once. Bring back the mother of the Purple child!' 'As you have said, it shall be done, your highness.' the commander answered and went to work immediately. Some of the guards marched with him to the outside of the king's court where he summoned his men and went about the king's business. 'I thought I've ended all about this prophecy,' King Uzibel said to the seer as soon as Casdarea left the court. 'You didn't, your highness. You tried but you didn't.' 'I am king Uzibel, the supreme ruler of all nations of the Earth. As long as I live, there shall no wind blow upon the ashes of Bulcha!' The king's voice echoed in and around the palace. **** 'Do you hear the noise of an army marching towards us?' Danes, the aged man asked the healer, halting to observe the movement in the tickets in the valley. 'They are Uzibel's army. They are coming for the mother and the child,' the healer explained. Just then, the pregnant wife screamed but with a low voice for she had grown weaker and weaker right from the day she accepted the prophecy. 'What is it?' Danes asked rushing to his wife who leaned forward on the horse, clinging to the rein of the harness with her eyes closed. 'Rhosa! Rhosa! Rhosa!' He called her name but she didn't respond. 'Let's go into one of those caves,' suggested the healer. And without answering a word or wasting any more time, Danes led the horse into one of the caves at the sides of the mountain. Once inside the cave, Danes struck a tinder and made light for the cave was dark and cold. The healer helped him bring his wife down from the horse and laid her on a piece of cloth the dreamer had spread on the stony ground. He sat and used his head as her pillow. He sprinkled some water on her face and waited until she opened her eyes. After regaining consciousness, Danes made her sit with her back leaning against a rock while she ate what was in the stock and drank water from the bottle. After speaking kindly to her, Danes proceeded to join the healer who had been standing outside of the cave, looking down to where they came from and observing how the armies of Ulusk tore down every standing bit in the house and they didn't leave until they have a great fire over it's ruin. 'Oh great healer, you are also a seer. Tell me what the future holds. Danes began. 'I've told you already. Uzibel is seeking to destroy the prophecy but do not be afraid for he will fail woefully.' ' What about my wife, the mother of the child? She has continued to grow weaker and weaker day after day. I fear that one of these days her travails may overcome her and she may die.' At that, the healer who had been looking over at the rising smoke in the distance turned, fastening her gaze at Dane's eyes. She reached her right hand into a pouch sewn to the gown she was wearing and brought out a totem. It had a string attached to it by which it can be hung on the neck. She instructed Danes to wear it on Rhosa's neck as it may protect her from Uzibel's sorcery. **** 'Your highness, we came to the house as you directed but there was no one there except the body of a Bulchan slave lying in one of the rooms.' Casdarea explained to the king who was visibly worried and agitated. 'And what did you do next?' Uzibel asked. 'We threw down every wall and every pillar and set the whole thing ablaze.' 'That's not enough!' Uzibel bellowed. 'Where is Adrea? Get him for he is a seer. He should be able to lead you to the hole where this arch enemy is hiding!' The king's voice continued to roar until a door creaked open and Adrea began walking to the centre of the court. 'Hey stop there.' the king continued as soon as he set his eyes on the seer, 'Do you only know how to see negative, terrible visions? Can't you tell us where to find this threat to my kingdom?' 'Your highness, your arch enemies are hiding in one of the caves at the spring mountains. If your army had extended their search to the mountains, they doubtless would have found the pregnant mother.' the seer answered the king in a vain attempt to pacify him. Uzibel descended the throne majestically but fiercely. He had a sceptre on his right hand and pointing it at his seer, continued vociferating 'You have been true from the beginning and have always been on my side but I cannot tell what has become of you lately. At the proclamation of your prophecy, I invaded the neighbouring nations. Based on your vision, I razed Bulcha to the ground. You promised that the threat to my reign was burnt together with the rubble of Bulcha. I made all Bulchans as slaves, their women grind and serve in my mills while their men build my cities. And till this day, you still tell me that there still remains a child that would cast me down? No, listen carefully, this is the last chance you have. If you fail to show where this woman is, I will have your head severed from your body! 'I am not better than the Raoldians that you cut their king in pieces and ravaged their land or The Arizonians or the Laodonians that you massacred for no reason. I'm not even better than Bulcha where in the meantime your heart is set to plunder. I served your father until he died, he never questioned my allegiance to him. What do you think you are doing to threaten me? I'm only a seer, I tell you hidden secrets that are true. And if you think to kill me, why not do it now?' Adrea dared the king, obviously angered by the king's questioning of his allegiance. 'How dare you answer your king in such a way? And kill you, I will.' Uzibel continued to threaten. 'Why not do it now? Do it now! Oh, the king is afraid, haahaa!' he mocked the king who although did not mean his threat but cannot allow such a trample on his glory right before his eyes. He drifted to the side where his commander stood, who among others had been observing silently, pulled out his sword, and with a quick turn of the hand, sent Adreas head spinning in the air till it hit the ground. His body stood for a while before falling backward squirting both life and blood out. 'No one dares Uzibel!' the king proclaimed as he put back the sword into the sheath to the amazement of his frozen armies. 'Go now, search all the caves of the spring mountains, don't return until you find the one you're looking for! Go now!' the king commanded with much vociferating and agitation that he began to seem more like the beast he really is. ***** Rhosa began slowly to lose consciousness, her face began to go blue and her eyes stared blankly. She had exhausted all her strength in the delivery of the girl child. She had whispered Annice as the name of the child. She placed her palm on Dane's and tried to say something but could not. Danes after futile attempts to revive her cuddled her head on his lap as she surrendered to death. The healer carried the baby wrapped in towels. It cried innocently and so did the father cry except that he did in muffled sighs of grief and sorrow. 'We have to leave now.' announced the seer who had served as the midwife and hitherto showed neither emotions of sorrow nor fear nor pity. Her thoughts and care had always been to the child alone. 'What about the child's mother, won't she be buried?' Danes asked. 'That's not important now. What's important is the safety of the child. In this child lies the hope that we desire.' 'I cannot bring myself to think of abandoning my wife in this cold and dark place.' Danes retorted adamantly. 'Listen to me, Uzibel has sent his army to comb this whole mountain and they are on their way. Leave Rhosa to be, she has played her part as a true heroine. It remains for you to play your path and be a hero.' 'How exactly? By running?' 'No, by making the safety of this child a priority.' At this point, Dames drew his sword and proclaimed 'I'll go nowhere, I'll stand by my wife. Take the child with you and go wherever your heart pleases. I'll face an army and if I die, I die! The seer then left talking to him. She picked some necessary items and headed to the mouth of the cave where the horse had been waiting. Danes ran to the seer, she halted as he came close. He looked again at the baby's eyes. 'Please, take care of my child,' he pleaded with the seer and returned to stoop beside his late wife. The healer saddled the horse and rode away. ***** Glowing torches swung from side to side, alerting Danes about the danger at hand. It wasn't long before he understood that the armies of Uzibel had compassed the mount looking for them but especially, for the baby. He drew his sword and with a mind ready to die, he made himself sure for battle. By observation, he came to discover that the armies are searching any and every cleft in the rock and they were close to where he was hiding. He closed his eyes one more time and drew a long breath and muttered to himself 'if I die, I die' he opened his eyes, drifted to the entrance of the cave and quickly swung the blade, chopping off the head of the first intruder. He stabbed another and made for another. As the fight went on, a blade cut through his arm but the wound wouldn't make him flinch. He cut down a good number of them and would have done more but an army threw a javelin which struck the right side of his chest and sent him crashing on rocky ground. He groaned, still trying to rouse himself from the ground but each attempt left him weaker and in more pain. He managed to get on his knees turning and kept staring at the men that had surrounded him. 'Who are you?' Casdarea asked Danes, careful not to come too close to him. 'I am the man that can never be your friend,' He blurted and charged himself, aiming at Casdarea's head but being a skillful man of war, He ducked and with one deadly stab to the neck, pierced life out of Danes. 'Captain!' a soldier called and Casdarea moved into the cave In the direction of the voice. 'Is not the person we're looking for?' the soldier asked, uncovering Rhosa's face. 'She's dead.' the captain heaved. 'But the seer, before he died,said the she's pregnant. 'Pull off the sheet.' the captain ordered the soldier who obeyed. 'She must have delivered the child before passing away.' another soldier suggested. 'Now, how do we find the child?' another soldier asked. The question ushered in a brief moment of silence until the captain commanded. 'Prepare the bodies, we're taking them with us!'