Mighty Brahmuhn
Treason

‘I have been sent to congratulate you on your victory by the first and second Elder.’

‘Acknowledged.’

Shiri raised his head slightly. He saw Buhlebenkosi and flinched.

‘Is there something else, Shiri?’ Brahmuhn asked him.

He quickly turned his eyes to the ground again, ‘No, Your Greatness.’

‘Then leave. And never show yourself to me on your own without either the first or second Elder.’

‘Yes, Your Greatness.’

‘So are you with us, Shiri?’ Dombo asked him when he had come back from Brahmuhn’s hut.

‘What?’ Shiri was totally in another world. He had been pondering over what he had seen inside Brahmuhn’s hut.

‘We said we bribe one of the soldiers to kill him in his sleep!’ Gumbo told him getting impatient.

‘Kill him in his sleep?’ he almost laughed in mockery of their plan. ‘Do you even know how loyal these soldiers are to him? And this soldier you intend to bribe, what if he decides to tell Brahmuhn of this bizarre plan?’

‘It’s worth a try,’ Gumbo said.

‘Can’t we use any other method that doesn’t involve murder?’ Shiri implored them. ‘His ancestors could strike us down and besides, he is obviously protected by his mark.’

‘That medium tattoo?’ Dombo laughed mockingly, ‘what kind of spirits would protect a mbanje smoking, dreadlocked pompous child like Brahmuhn?’

‘Do you forget what that tattoo is capable of? Do you remember the rumors of a woman from Matanda Village that spread like wild fire? That woman who wiped out two Ndebele armies with the aid of demons? Do you want to awaken the power of such entities?’ Shiri tried his best to convince the two Elders.

‘Shiri, trust us. If there were a better option we would employ it,’ Dombo told him, ‘but unfortunately, there isn’t and we shall proceed with the plan to kill him.’

The two turned around to leave.

‘Maybe there is a better way.’

They halted and turned around. ‘Then let us hear it,’ Gumbo urged him on wearing a look of impatience.

He was now sweating. He cleared his throat, ‘Uh…’ he cleared it again, ‘he…he has been harboring a Ndebele girl in his hut and…and I’m confident she’s been sleeping in there with him.’

‘What?’ Dombo asked him, quite uncertain of what Shiri had just said.

‘I think he took her in after the war when they took the Ndebele captives. She was sitting in there, in front of him.’

‘Are you sure?’

He nodded slowly, a look of sorrow on his face.

Gumbo’s face lit up. ‘That means we have him right where we want him,’ he said grinning.

Dombo gave Shiri a pat on the shoulder, ‘Good work, Shiri. At least you’ve managed to save your hero from a bloody end.’

His eyes facing the ground, ‘I just want no part of this. I want no shares in your malignity.’

Gumbo laughed, ‘No, friend. This is merely an intervention on behalf of the people. If the one meant to protect the people is thrusting a dagger in their backs then we surely have to do something about it.’

‘I hereby resign from my position as the third Elder,’ Shiri said. He looked very regretful.

‘Suit yourself,’ Dombo laughed as he and Gumbo left the throne room.

That same night there were celebrations over the victory in the war. Brahmuhn was not like the other Shona chiefs who would isolate themselves from the people when celebrating but rather he preferred to mix with his people. This allowed him to get to know their grievances much better especially from the men since traditional beer, when consumed to its most fulfilling extent would bring out the true thoughts of a man.

There was laughter and dancing everywhere. Old men were sitting in groups around fireplaces and drinking masese (traditional beer). The younger men danced to the beat of the drums and the children ran around dancing and playing. Everyone was rejoicing and celebrating over the defeat of the Ndebele. Brahmuhn was sitting with Shumba, Tortoise and Cheetah by a fireplace. He was smoking mbanje whilst his comrades shared a gourd of beer.

‘I am glad the Ndebele shall no longer trouble us,’ Shumba said.

‘Don’t get too comfortable,’ Tortoise was quick to burst his bubble, ‘we still have two more villages we haven’t fought,’ he added.

Brahmuhn wheezed and laughed, choking on the smoke from the mbanje. ‘Have you not learnt anything from our battles, Tortoise? We never lose! We are gods!’

Shumba and Cheetah roared in support of Brahmuhn’s statement.

Tortoise shook his head vigorously, ‘Your Greatness, I don’t think we should relax just yet…’

‘Why do you always have to spoil the fun, Tortoise?’ Brahmuhn sounded annoyed.

‘Your Greatness, I…’

‘You what? Can you not just learn to let go a little and have fun? Here, smoke some mbanje,’ he handed some to him.

He brushed it aside politely but firmly.

Brahmuhn sighed, releasing a large amount of smoke from his mouth. ‘I know you’re a little paranoid because of Mamba and Hippo’s deaths but those deaths opened our eyes. No force in hell or earth could ever separate us.’

Shiri suddenly appeared from nowhere, rushing towards them.

Brahmuhn slapped his knee in irritation. ‘How many times do I have to tell you, Shiri that…’

He collapsed at Brahmuhn’s feet, ‘My chief, you’re in danger!’

‘What kind of an Elder are you, Shiri? You can’t even listen to your chief..!’

‘Brahmuhn, listen to me!’

Silence swept over the five. It was not exactly clear what had given birth to the silence; Shiri’s tone or his dismissal of protocol by calling the chief by his name.

‘Your life is in danger, my chief,’ he repeated the message.

Brahmuhn laughed, slapping Shumba on the shoulder as if encouraging him to share his laughter. ‘No being can compete with my power, Shiri. I am a god!’

‘My chief, listen to me!’ he was running out of patience, ‘they have always wanted you gone since the day you came to this village…’

‘Who are you even talking about?’ Brahmuhn asked him, his smile slowly vanishing. He looked up and saw Dombo and Gumbo walking fast in his direction.

‘I smell treason.’