Prologue

The kingdoms of Ubanda and Zazu had been enemies for as long as Princess Azuka could remember but the reason for this enmity was long forgotten.

Zazu and Ubanda were both powerful kingdoms and were unfortunately next door neighbors as well, which was why they always fought one war or the other trying to defeat each other but to no avail.

It all came to a head when a hunter strayed far from Zazu and accidentally killed an animal on Ubanda land and he was killed for it. 

The king of Zazu heard of this and ordered for the attack on Ubanda land with his only daughter Princess Azuka who was the most feared warrior in the land to lead them but before they were set to leave, the priestess of Zazu arrived at the palace with a news that almost made the king change his mind about sending them off to war.

"Your highness, if you go to fight this war... I'm afraid that you'll lose." The priestess informed her. 

"Lose? I never lose a fight!" Azuka hissed through clenched teeth. "I've been training for this for years. I can't lose."

"I'm sorry but it has been written that the prince of Ubanda kingdom is your doom."

"Great one, I won't lose my daughter right?" Her mother, Queen Nma inquired.

"No. They'll fight but she'll lose and the prince will ask for something in exchange for the throne of Zazu." The priestess said.

"Which is?" The king demanded.

"Only he knows." 

"I will lose my throne? Impossible!" King Sanda growled. "Certainly not to that uncivilized swine! You're not going anywhere Azu."

"But father, we can't let Chiji's death go unpunished!" She protested.

"You heard what the priestess said, didn't you?" He snapped.

"Yes I did and if I'm not going to die, I don't see the reason why I shouldn't go. If we just let this slide, we're setting the precedent for them to do something like this again and even worse." She said. "They'll think of us as cowards and cowards, we're not father."

King Sanda let out a resigned sigh as he realized that his daughter was right. If they didn't retaliate then Ubanda kingdom would call them cowards and do something far worse than they could ever imagine.

"Very well my daughter, may the gods go with you." Sanda gave her his blessings. "I'm proud to have you as my daughter."

"Thank you father." She bent down and let him touch his tusk to her back before she rose. "May the queen see tomorrow."

"Because tomorrow never ends." Her mother smiled. "May the gods go with you."

"There's only one thing I can do for you, my princess." The priestess spoke up. "That is to fortify you so that his blade can't penetrate through your skin."

"Please do." Her mother pleaded.

"Let's go." The priestess said and walked out.

"Azu." A voice called as she left the priestess's hut with her maids. Azuka turned and saw Dozie who was the high chief's son and her betrothed.

"Dozie? What are you doing here?" She turned to her maids. "Leave us." They bowed and moved away to a distance.

"I went to the palace but I was told you're here." He looked at the white marks on her body. "Is it true you're going to war?"

"How did you know?" She frowned. "My father didn't make an announcement."

"I'm the high chief's son." He said and shrugged. "Please don't go."

"Why?" She asked. "I'm the head warrior so I must go."

"I don't want to lose you." Dozie said. "If I lose you... I will die."

"You're a man Dozie and not a woman." Azu chided. "I'm not scared to die and I won't die anyway so put your mind at rest."

"Can't the...."

"I'll see you when I get back Dozie." She cut him off. "Maids." She walked away and her maids scurried after her.

"May the gods go with you my princess." Dozie thought as he watched her go.

*********

Princess Azuka and her warriors met the Prince of Ubanda and his warriors on the borders of their land. The warriors all sized each other up with murderous looks in their eyes while the royals only stared at each other, communicating silently.

"There's no need for all of this." Prince Yul said and his voice carried over to where the warriors of Zazu stood. They were at least a hundred feet from each other.

"No need for this? Of course there wouldn't have been any need if you barbarians had not killed one of our own." Azuka retorted. "You had this coming, Yul."

"Do you know I've waited so long for this?" Yul asked her. "Today I'll defeat you, the most feared warrior of Zazu."

Azuka's heart raced in her chest as the words of the priestess came back to her but her face remained stoic.

"So have I." She smiled sardonically. 

"What do you propose we do? There's no need to shed more innocent blood just because of one man." Yul said.

"That man was the best hunter in Zazu and you killed him!" She spat. "But you're right, there's no need for more bloodshed. I only want to shed yours." She sent him a saccharine smile.

"Very well." Yul laughed. "Let's dance Princess." He unsheathed his sword.

Azuka did the same, looked back at her warriors then walked forward and Prince Yul did the same until they were three feet apart.

"If I win, Ubanda kingdom will become mine." Azuka said.

Yul laughed. "We'll see about that princess." 

The fight was intense and it seemed as though it was not going to end. Prince Yul was considered the best warrior in his kingdom and though he'd heard tales about Princess Azuka's bravery, he'd thought of her as no match for him but she was proving him wrong.

"Why don't you give up princess?" He taunted.

"Never!" She growled and charged at him. "Ubanda will be mine!" Her sword clashed with his.

"Not on my watch." He grunted, counter-cut her attack and hit her sword hand hard which made her lose her grip on the sword and once it slid away, he pointed his sword to her neck.

Azuka glared murderously at him as she surrendered to him and his warriors cheered behind him.

"It was a good fight princess." Yul said. "You were impressive."

"What do you want?" She asked snippily.

"Take me to your father and I'll tell you." He ordered.

"Say you want Zazu and your head will come off your neck before you finish your sentence." Azu warned him.

"Zazu means nothing to me." He smiled. "I have something greater in mind."

Azuka eyed him balefully then turned on her heels and marched back towards Zazu.

*****

Prince Yul felt the king's stare burning a hole in the side of his head as they all waited for the arrival of the priestess. He could feel the king's anger all the way from his throne to where he was sitting and if he was an ordinary man... he'd probably be very scared.

They heard the priestess's voice from a distance and all turned to watch her walk with her back towards the shade before she turned to face all of them.

"You have come with good intentions Prince Yul of Ubanda and your wish will be granted because it has been foretold." The priestess said. 

"What is this wish?" King Sanda demanded. "Certainly not my throne!"

"I do not wish for your throne, Your majesty but something greater than it." Yul informed him.

"And what can be greater than the throne of Zazu?" The elders wondered aloud, looking surprised.

Yul looked at the faces of everyone present and fixated on Azuka's. "The princess's hand in marriage." Yul replied. "I want Azuka as my wife and future Queen."

"Never!" King Sanda objected.

"It is done!" The priestess hit her staff on the ground three times.