The Oath

He nodded his head slowly. 'Are you not Brahmuhn?'

'That's "Your Greatness" when a dirty rat like you is speaking to me!'

The man did not look offended. 'All the Ndebele tribes know about you…your victories…'

'Who doesn't?' he laughed, returning his knobkerrie to his side.

'I am Bhekumuzi. I am the chief of this village. We are truly grateful for your help in chasing away the Ntokoloshi from our village. They have been terrorizing us for many years, burning our huts and abducting our children, but after seeing your mark I doubt they will ever show their faces here again.'

'Yeah, whatever. I deserve a reward for this. Or else I will be the new toko…toko…whatever nightmare upon your village.'

'Uh…sure…anything,' he stuttered, now becoming afraid of what wrath Brahmuhn might unleash upon them.

Brahmuhn looked up into the sky for a while. The entire village, now gathered into a multitude behind Bhekumuzi, looked anxious to know what he was thinking about. He finally brought his eyes back. 'Mbada.'

'Excuse me?' the man asked looking puzzled.

'Chief Mbada.'

'What about him…Your Greatness?'

'I'm sure you're familiar of his village, right?'

He nodded quickly, 'Matanda Village, but…why, Your Greatness?'

'I want to send you on a very important mission.'

As before, Brahmuhn began to wander around the forest as soon as he left the Ndebele village. They had offered him provisions for his journey but he had turned them down. Accepting food from the Ndebele was actually regarded as an insult by the Shona but ironically, Brahmuhn had fallen in love with Buhle, who happened to be Ndebele. He slightly regretted how he had treated Bhekumuzi, but then he decided to lay his emotions aside and continue onward.

His journey still seemed like it had no objective as he continued to walk aimlessly. He wondered if he would ever see the Chaponda Village again.

When he approached a small opening, he heard a crunching in the bushes behind him. He swiftly turned around with his knobkerrie clutched in his hand, ready for battle. He anxiously waited, wondering who or what could be behind the bushes. A foolish thought at the back of his head hoped it was Chief Mbada.

After a moment of silence a familiar face popped from behind the bushes.

It was Cheetah! When he stepped out it became clear and obvious who followed after him; Tortoise and Shumba.

'Your Greatness!' They all bowed before him.

Brahmuhn was greatly surprised. 'Tortoise! Shumba! Cheetah! What are you doing here?!'

'As soon as the Elders decided to banish you, we followed you moments after, Your Greatness,' Cheetah answered.

'So the Elders went ahead with their plan and are now in charge of the village?'

They all nodded meekly. 'But only two of them,' Shumba informed him, 'Shiri resigned,' he added.

Brahmuhn sighed heavily. 'Shiri tried to warn me about Dombo and Gumbo…but I was too thickskulled to heed his warning.' He sighed again and hung his knobkerrie over his shoulders before beckoning them towards them using his head.

They obediently followed him.

'I think the wisest thing you could have done would have been to stay in the village,' Brahmuhn told them. 'With you gone the Elders will surely bring the villagers to their knees.'

'Where you go, we go, Your Greatness,' Tortoise said and the others bellowed in agreement.

'I value your loyalty, Tortoise…all of you, but I swore to my father that no harm shall befall his village. The three of you would have proven to be useful in preventing the Elders from torturing the villagers. The only thing those two understand is power and treachery yet I know they cannot handle such power.'

'But, Your Greatness..,' Shumba tried to interrupt.

'If a war were to be started by the Ndebele do you think Chaponda Village would survive?' Brahmuhn asked them.

They all bowed their heads gloomily. They now realized Brahmuhn was speaking sense.

'I need you to keep my people safe. Keep Buhle safe. Do everything in your power to keep the Elders in check lest they destroy the village faster than the setting of the sun.'

'But, Your Greatness; surely we cannot leave you to wander these dangerous forests on your own?' Cheetah pleaded with him. 'At least let one of us accompany you.'

He scratched his hairless chin for a moment. 'Fine. Tortoise…you are the wisest of the team, even the wisest man I know. I need you to go back to the village. You will counter the foolishness of the Elders; the foolishness they call wisdom. Try your best to get the villagers to rally behind you. Prove to them that you can be a better leader than the Elders.' He then turned to Shumba. 'Shumba… you are the bravest one of the team, even the bravest man I know. You dive into the arms of death and you always come out with a cool head. If our enemy were to ever attack, I need you to lead the men into a glorious victory.'

'Yes, my chief,' he placed his hand on his chest in humility and bowed his head.

Lastly, Brahmuhn turned to Cheetah. 'Cheetah…'

Cheetah also placed his hand on his chest and bowed his head in modesty, 'Yes, Your Greatness?'

'In our battle with Mandebvu you proved to me how far you are willing to go for your friends. Your loyalty is impeccable and your temper is always justified. I would desire no other man on earth to spend my last days with. You shall escort me on my journey.' He turned to the other two. 'As for the two of you, I think it's best you head back to the village, lest you delay and find it in flames.'

'Go well, my chief,' Shumba bowed and turned to leave.

'May Mwari be with you,' Tortoise did the same.

Brahmuhn called Tortoise back.

'Yes, Your Greatness?'

Brahmuhn looked sincere and heartbroken. 'Take care of Buhle for me. Let no one…'