THE LAST DRAGON PRINCE

Chapter two

The Ochia sat at dinner with his family in a cozy little dinning room. The intricately carved dinning table had only six chairs, four of which were occupied. Iloruku sat at the head of the table with his first son by the right and Ejiofor, his younger brother, a general in the East Hendosian army by his left. His Queen, the Odoba sat opposite him by the end of the table serving out delicacies from china bowls as a servant speedily cleared off used plates. “If my first son always mirrors the emotions of his father, am I not to believe they posses troubling information I am not aware of?” The Queen said as she passed desserts around. “Even my brother in-law seems aware of this”.

   Ejiofor smiled. Even at 55, he was still very handsome. With his movie star looks and well planned dress sense, it was easy to dismiss him as being shallow but a careful observation Would reveal his absolute selflessness and caring nature. He hid it well though under a veneer of care free witticism. “What?” He asked, eyes smiling but lips solemn. “Aware that Nikku and my brother not only look alike but draw from the same emotional well?” The Odoba started to speak, she paused with a forkful of avocado half way up to her mouth but ate the avocado instead when she heard her son speaking.

   “I think Uncle, the question should be why my mother” he shot her a smile “ thinks this – classified information is troubling”.

    Rota knew the light banter was a façade. What could be the problem again? She wondered. It was no use trying to get information from the men at dinner she decided. She would find out all she needed to know from her husband later. After all, an Odoba should always know how to unlock her Ochia's heart. This decided, she relaxed and started enjoying the banter. “So what’s this ‘happy’ classified information I’m not allowed to hear?”

    “ I think what Nikku and Ejiofor are trying to say is that for once we are not hiding anything from you.” The Ochia did nothing to mask the stress in his voice, everyone on the table was aware of this and Rota wondered again just how serious the issue was. “ Well I for one have news that would cheer the sad and make joyful the happy". She paused and smiled, waiting till she had everybody’s attention. “Jaachi has just progressed to the final level of the superhuman tournament"

    ”Ah! The Fly boy,” Ejiofor said even as he felt the tension in the room thicken. He had made a mistake by not not copying the Queen's example and evading the mention of the word ‘Fly boy’. A reminder that even now, the prince of East Hendosia, third dragon in line was in a tournament for the victory of their enemies.

   Every year, each kingdom in the seven kingdoms of Kahkis brought at least one superhuman to contest in the tournament of the superhumans. Jaachi was the first dragon to ever contest, and instead of fighting for the victory of his people the East, he chose to fight on the side of the master who trained him. He was called flyboy because he was the first dragon in the tournament, but it was neither his family nor his loyal subjects who gave him this name, rather it was his training master.

   This made the people of the East Hendosia hate him even more, because he dared to take up a name given to him by their enemy.

      "No doubt a victory Jaachi has been looking forward to” Ejiofor finished uncomfortably.

     “ Yes he has, “ Rota forced a smile. “ Jaachi retires after this season, it is his utmost desire to win the tournament at least once, before he professionally steps down from the superhuman sport."

   " It's about time”. The Ochia muttered. Seeing everyone was done with desert, he stood up. “ Come my Odoba, let’s take a walk.” He offered his arm as she walked up to him. “ I trust you’ll have a lovely night Ejiofor, you would be sleeping here no?" He smiled when his brother nodded. “ Good night then.”

    “ And Enjoy your stroll my brother” Ejiofor answered as he reached for the bottle on the table

     “Goodnight Didi “ Nikku said to his father. Walking up to his mother, he kissed her cheek. “Ine”, he said simply. “ Good night Uncle.” He said finally as he walked off. He had a date with Nmaka, his betrothed and not being able to skip dinner, a family tradition, he hoped to heaven whatever Nmaka had planned had nothing to do with food.

     “ If it is not the cares of this mighty kingdom that weighs my husband down, am I to believe he no longer takes pleasure in my company.” As the words registered with Iloruku who had been staring ahead, deep in thought, he turned to face his wife. Lifting his arm, he allowed her to settle against him before he answered.

    “Even the cares of this mighty kingdom cannot keep me moody for long when I’m with you.” He watched her smile even as the corners of his mouth tugged in response to her wide childlike smile. After so many years, she hadn’t lost that smile of hers that captivated him long ago, when he was just Iloruku. It still did now. “What then is troubling my husband, for how can I rest seeing you so worried.” The King sighed releasing her as he once again stared out, this time at a deer skipping about in the game reserve that was in the palace. “ The West attacked.” He did a double take “ Off cause we are at war but this time, this attack could……” He let his voice trail off. “They harnessed the wind. There have been rumors in the past that they have the power to bend the wind, but we struck it off as just that, mere rumors . . . Now look how that has been our undoing.”

   Odoba was silent for a while before she asked. “But how? How did they harness the wind . . . or rather I mean what did they use the wind to do? How did it make this attack different?’’

   Iloruku shrugged. “They blinded all our soldiers. They sent a wind so great,vthe soldiers could neither see no hear each other, and in the trenzy, we ended up shooting ourselves instead of the real enemy.’’

   He paused, staring out at the expanse of his castle. “A full fledged war has started between this dragon kingdom, and that of the wind –”

   “But fire always wins against wind.” The Odoba cut in.

   “And what fire have we then!’’ Iloruku snapped “There’s just Nikku and I, and none of us can shapeshift anymore. All we’re good for is lighting a few fires when the lighters are out.”

   The Odoba stepped forward and hugging her husband and king from the back, she pressed her curves into him. “You are a dragon, and that’s all that matters – and also, it’s not just you and Nikku. Jaachi is a dragon too.”

   “A dragon fighting for the victory of our enemy at the tournament? The people are worried that when this war finally breaks out, their traitor prince would choose to fight for the other side.” His voice dropped a notch, and he sounded almost broken. “Jaachi is a rare type of dragon, he speaks to fire, and also to anything that has potential energy in it. He’s the best computer wizz I know. He needs to be here, fighting for his kingdom and his king, not out there playing swords and fire for the enemy.”

                                                                                             ***

Nikku uncorked the bordeux, he was sitting with his fiance, Flora in her balcony. The flower trees planted below rose up to the height of the roof, making that spot cosy, filled with the smell of flowers and –Nikku smiled, romantic.

    “ This is my favourite place in this house you know.” Flora said as if reading his mind.

    “ And this is my favourite time of the day.” He replied smiling as he poured the wine. “My favourite woman.” He said as he handed Her the glass. “Favourite?”

    “ Well, there are a lot of women in my life.” Nmaka could not hear the laughter in his voice, did not know he was baiting her.

     "But only one Would wear my ring….”

    “ And….”

    “ My crown.”

    “ And…..”

    “ And only one would own my money.’ Nmaka turned her face slightly so that he would not see her expression. He hadn’t said she had his heart. She Felt his hand on her face as he gently turned her face towards him. “Nmaka, I would never be unfaithful to you.” She felt the force of his words even as she heard the sincerity in his voice. “I love you.” He continued. "In case you don’t already know.”

    “ Then set a date.” She was surprised by the vehemence in her words. He had moved ever so stealthy to her back so that he now massaged her shoulders, slowly kneading away the tension of the day.

     “ And you think I do not want to make us permanent, make this,” he pressed a kiss on her shoulder “official?”

    “ What’s stopping you then? .... I... I'm sorry." She blinked as if trying to get control of her fears. “Of cause, this was uncalled for – “

   “ Don’t.” He stood up leaving her shoulder and she missed him already. “You need never apologize to me my Lady.”

     She studied him as he leaned on the balustrade, everything was going well between them but she couldn’t shake off the feeling that something big was about to happen that would send the course of their lives in different directions. The force of that feeling scared her. “I shouldn’t have gotten carried away like that, it’s just that there are many women out there and—‘’

     “Sssh! “ He had come in front of her, kneeling down, he put his finger in her lips. “ We would get married as soon as this war is over. My mother’s in love with you already, my father is smitten by you. The people of East Hendosia have accepted you – heck! They adore you and Jaachi, well Jaachi is Jaachi. Don’t worry it would all work out right.’’ He said earnestly willing her to believe him. “I and my father would be flying to the capital of Khakis tomorrow to plead our case before the grand king of the seven kingdoms. Once we have him on our side, the West Hendosia would be forced to end this battle. It would be alright, I promise.”

    “ Well when Prince Nikku talks like that, who is Nmaka not to believe him.” She teased and she did believe him, she finally allowed her fears to wash away as she swallowed the wine in her glass in one last swirl. She couldn’t wait for the war to end.