Chapter Five

Palace

The council of chiefs rose as soon as King Azari walked into the room.

“We apologise for disturbing you on such a night like this,” Chief Kayafi said.

“This was too horrible, we needed you to pass judgement immediately, such evil men must not be allowed to spend a few more minutes alive,” King Halaam added.

Azari stared at the accused; two men bound together. They were a nuisance and he really wasn’t in the mood to make any proclamations tonight when he was about getting to know his wife.

“So, I hear you wanted to kill someone in the royal family,” Azari said, his expression unreadable.

“We wanted to kill you,” one of them replied and spat. He was immediately slapped by one of the soldiers.

“How dare you?” Chief Goze barked at the man, but Azari didn’t give him a chance to respond.

“Why do you want me dead?” Azari asked, trying to hide the fact that the news that he was the target of assassins threw him off balance.

“Your Highness, you don’t ask questions from evil people, you only need to instruct that they should be carried to the village square and beheaded”.

Azari tried not to roll his eyes.

“Thank you Goze, however, if such was done in the days of my father, it does not mean I intend to do things the same way.”

“Are you saying you will let them go scot-free?”

“Oh, shut up! You people talk too much”, Azari said to his chiefs, then faced the killers again.

“I am sorry, Your Highness.”

“Why do you want me dead?”

The older of the two assassins looked fearless, almost happy to be dying for a worthy cause.

“Because you are a coward! A bastard is sitting on the throne of the great King Chatta, and we will not have it.”

The room went silent, you could hear a pin drop.

Azari rose, and everyone awaited his reaction.

“I will not leave my new wife in the room to listen to this rubbish. This council is hereby dismissed.”

“Your Highness, you need to pass a judgement.” Abe said to Azari quietly.

“These two men are guilty of treason and are hereby banished from Daaji Kingdom. If within the next hour, they are cited anywhere within the kingdom, they should be killed and buried in the evil forest.”

“Banishment is not enough punishment, Your Highness. They called you a coward.” Chief Halaam said.

“What they call me does not determine who I am. My name is Azari Chatta, the third ruler of Daaji and nothing any fool says will direct my rule. I will not kill these fools, they will watch Daaji thrive under my reign and not be able to experience its glory” Azari said and walked out of the palace, leaving the chiefs to stare at each other in wonder of the man their king was.

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Azari had struggled to be brave in front of his cabinet, palace staff, and the criminals, but in his mind, he was a mess.

The words of the assassin had hit him like a low blow, and he had left quickly, rushing his judgement because he didn’t want them to see how shaken he was.

He had wanted to see those fools beheaded, but they were right, maybe he was a coward after all, because he couldn’t bring himself to pronounce a death sentence.

Azari entered his room and found that Eniola was still on her knees, leaning against the wall, asleep. She was so deep into sleep that the noise of his entry into the room didn’t wake her up.

Azari stared at her for a full five minutes, wondering what he would do with a wife like this. A coward king, and a fearful queen. They would be a laughing stock, but for some reasons, being in the same room with her gave him some peace, and suddenly he began to feel like a boy who had just been given his first toy.

Azari locked his room door, then removed all his clothing till he was naked, before carrying Eniola from her kneeling position to the bed. As soon as he untied her wrapper, she opened her eyes, and gasped at the sight of a naked man beside her.

“Jesus!” Eniola exclaimed, and Azari smiled.

“There is no Jesus here, just your husband and king, needing your comfort and needing to consummate this marriage.”

Eniola realised what he was about to do and whispered ‘Jesus’ again, holding her wrapper tighter.

“Who is this Jesus? Your uncle?”

His question was so funny that Eniola couldn’t help smiling, despite her situation.

“Jesus is Lord.”

Azari pulled her wrapper away, and she reluctantly allowed him to pull it away completely. She closed her eyes as his hand feasted on her nakedness.

“Open your eyes,” Azari commanded, but his voice was tender, and he cradled her face and moved closer to her, but Eniola moved back, unwilling to let their bodies touch.

“We are naked,” Eniola said, and Azari laughed.

“We are naked.” Azari said too, echoing her.

Eniola reached for her wrapper, but Azari caught it before she did and threw it away, moving closer to her and trapping her gently with his thigh above hers, his head on her chest. Eniola stayed confused, wondering what she was expected to do.

“Put your arms around me, and touch my head.” Azari said.

“Your head, my king.”

Azari smiled.

“Yes, touch my hair, my head, massage it. I want to feel your hand on it.”

Eniola shyly touched his hair, but the feel of it on her hands encouraged her, and soon her strokes became bolder. She was curious about its softness and length.

“Your hair is very soft. It doesn’t look like it.”

“My hair is one of the wonders of the world.” Azari said proudly.

“It reminds me of Samson. He had long hair too.”

Azari frowned and raised his head from her chest to look at her face.

“You seem to know a lot of men.”

Eniola smiled.

“I don’t know Samson personally. He’s from the Bible.”

“Where is the Bible?”

“The Bible is not a place. It is the word of God.”

“So, Samson is another god of yours?”

“No, he is not a god. There is only one God. The Lord Almighty.”

“And this Lord Almighty is Jesus?”

“He is three in one – God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

Azari put his head back on her chest.

“It’s all confusing, but it doesn’t matter. Enjoy your gods. I like a woman who has gods. It will give you something to pray to.”

“I am sorry. I am not explaining it well. Let me start from the beginning.”

“Don’t tell me any story, just put your hands back in my hair.”

Eniola smiled, happy to be doing something that pleased him, and grateful that she had started her conversation about God, and could pick up again in the future.

“Nobody has ever touched my head.” Azari confessed.

“No one? How?”

“The only person that can touch the head of a king or king-to-be is his wife, and I have been an heir to the throne all my life.”

“Oh” Eniola said, wondering who created all these weird rules.

“All my life, I have wanted to have a wife, someone I can truly be myself around.”

“Why did you choose me?”

“I really don’t know. I just knew as soon as I saw you, that it had to be you.”

“Wow! I hope I can serve you well.”

“Be my friend, and you will have served me.”

“But you are my king.”

“I don’t want to be king to my wife, I want a woman to laugh with, play with and talk to.”

Eniola looked at him strangely, but he continued.

“My mother told me that if two people in a marriage can be friends, they will be unstoppable.”

 Azari rose up to face her. “Do you think we can be friends, Eniola?”

Eniola nodded.

“Everything feels like a dream,” she confessed, and Azari linked her hands with his, pulling her close.

“For me too, but I have a task ahead and I need a strong woman by myself to show all these people that I may not be my father, but I am not a coward.”

Eniola sensed pain in the way he said ‘coward’.

“Are people calling you that?”

Azari nodded, and Eniola hugged him.

“That must hurt.”

“It does, because it may be true.”

Eniola released him from her arms.

“No, it’s not, and you will prove everyone wrong. I believe in you.”

Azari smiled; her confidence contagious.

“You have so much faith.”

“I have faith in Jesus.”

Azari frowned.

“I thought you had faith in me.”

“I have faith that Jesus will give you the courage to prove yourself and create your own legendary status, surpassing your father.”

“This Jesus must be a miracle worker.”

“He is, and if you give your life to Him, He can give you a beautiful life. A life beyond now, but for eternity.”

“Eternity? This girl! You look so innocent but you have all these fantasies. That’s not even possible. All mortals die.”

“Yes, but my God is eternal, and when you give your life to Him, you become adopted as His son, and you will also have eternal life.”

“Are you saying that I will never die?”

Eniola touched him, caressing his shoulders with her two hands.

“This earthly body may die, if the Lord tarries, but your soul will never die.”

Her soft work on his shoulders was beginning to arouse him, so he pulled her closer and planted a kiss on her lips to shut her up.

“The philosophy queen” Azari said, as he began to explore her body with his hands, but it only tickled Eniola and she giggled like a baby.

“Abena said it will be painful when you play with me.” Eniola said and Azari smiled.

“How would she know? She has never played with a man before.” Azari said.

“So, it won’t be painful?” Eniola asked.

Azari was already in another world as he explored her body and lay on top of her.

“Maybe for the first time, but don’t worry, I will be gentle. Think of something fun to distract yourself. Maybe think of your Jesus.”

Eniola blushed.

“No, I don’t think that will be appropriate. I will think about you, and how you have changed my life forever by choosing me.”

This story is getting more interesting with every chapter. Do you agree? Do you think this happiness between King Azari and Queen Eniola will last forever?