Dream Interpretation

The following day the princess was up before sunrise due to the fact that royals don’t enter the chief priest’s hut after sunrise, one has to wait for him to come to them if they come after sunrise. She went to the bathroom and did her morning hygiene routine, when she walked out her personal maiden was making the bed and she bow her head and greeted when she saw the princess.

“Sunrise greetings my princess” the princess went to her dresser to lotion her body. “Greetings dear maiden, how are you this morning?” asked the princess while busy applying lotion on her body. “I well my princess my thanks for asking, I do hope that the princess is also doing well.” Asked the maiden looking at the princess. “Very well dear maiden.” She went to her closet to look for something to wear. “Am glad my princess, ,does the princess have anything specific she would like to wear this morning?” she asked taking over looking for her clothes.

“Just take out something appropriate to wear, am going to the meet with the chief priest.” The maiden got an idea of what to take out for her when she mentioned going to meet the chief priest. “I know just what to take out for you my princess.” She took out a sun dress and flat sandals with a cardigan since the morning breeze was unkind.

The princess wore her clothes then put conditioner on her hair to bring her  curls back to life, once done she went down the stairs, the king and queen were already on their feet waiting for her to come down so that they can leave. They shared pleasantries and made their way out to the chief priest’s hut.

They arrived and were announced by a guard and he invited them in. “Sunrise greetings your majesties.” Greeted the chief priest “Sunrise greetings eye of the gods.” They greeted back “What brings the royal family to my hut this morning?” enquired the chief priest. “ We are here because the princess seeks answers and I also require an interpretation of the message she received from the gods about me.” Answered the king “No need to say more my king” he started burning incense.

He was clapping his hands while reciting the BaKoena clan names, summoning the gods, he was groaning and chanting. He then lifted his head and looked at them. “Royals, the gods have revealed a lot of things, one of them being that the princess’s maturity ceremony must go on for 3 days, 2 of which she will spend in the river to unlock her powers.” The king and queen share a look.

“I don’t understand eye of the gods, you mean to tell us that her powers are still dormant?” asked the queen “Not all of them my queen, for now she possesses only the basics of her powers like seeing visions but they wont be clear and she can control the weather with her emotion like when she cries it will rain and when she is happy everything around her will blossom”

clarified the chief priest.

“ I understand eye of the gods, my princess do you have any questions regarding this matter?” the queen asked the princess “I just want clarity about the part of me having powers and having to go to the river for my maturity ceremony.” Said the princess “You are the rain queen my princess, the third one of the BaKoena kingdom after decades of the last one joining the ancestors. A rain queen is chosen by the gods and they always go for the one with the purest of hearts. One that doesn’t have a single evil bone in her body, other powers of the rain queen are shared with her when she meets with the fallen queens on her maturity ceremony in the river of Alligators. The totems of BaKoena.” Said the chief priest.

“Now am scared, does that mean am going to be Alligator food on my maturity ceremony?” asked the princess scared for her life “No my princess that will not happen, trust in the gods.” The princess swallowed hard not sure what will happen when the time comes but she didn’t ask any further. Once that was cleared the chief priest resumed talking.

“My king. There is a dark cloud hovering over you, plots are being made against you and your throne but the gods did not reveal who the person plotting against you is, ,just that its people close to you and from now on you have to be extra careful my king.” Thinking lines formed on the kings forehead trying to figure out who the people are but came up with nothing.

“Who could be after the throne? I believe that I have been a good king to my people and I have served them well. Why would they plot against me, against the throne?” indeed king Lerumo was a just and fair king, his subjects were happy with his ruling which is why it was difficult for him to hear that people were after his throne.

“Greed my king, greed is the cause” said the chief priest however his words were not comforting to the king, moreover he didn’t understand what the greed he was talking about was for when he shared the kingdom’s riches with his people. What more could they want, what more could he possibly give for them to be satisfied?

“Is there anything we can do to protect ourselves?” asked the queen “nothing was revealed to me as yet but be carefully who you share important information with.” Advised the chief priest. “What of the prince, is he in danger?” asked the king concerned about his prince. “That you will have to ask him my king, it is not my secret to reveal but for now he is safe that is all am allowed to say.” The king understood clearly what the chief priest was trying to say.

There was indeed something with the prince however he was not at liberty to say due to the fact that he simply did not want to betray the prince’s trust. “Very well then, good day eye of the gods, we will take our leave now.” They walked out of the hut with no one talking, they went to the dining room for their morning feast.

When they got there the princes were already there conversing among themselves, when they saw the king and queen they stood up to show respect. They took their respective seats after exchanging pleasantries, the maidens came in and served them their feast and they ate in silence with each one consumed by their thoughts.

The princess was thinking about the two days she will have to spend at the river, that secrete river has always been too scary for her and is always full of alligators surrounding it and some inside the water. The water there is green on the sides but clear in the middle, she didn’t know why that is and the fact that no one in the kingdom dared to go there and yet she was expected to spend two days there, scared the princess even more.

She thought that she will have to put her affairs in order before going there in case she doesn’t come back. She thought back to the chief priest words about her being the rain queen, she understood that part because that is what the voice called her in that dream but the part that was not explained to her, well one that she didn’t reveal was the part she was told she will be able to command animals and summon rain at will.

That made her wonder if she was even worthy of such powers , when the feast came to an end each one stood up going about their way.

The morning feast started and ended with awkward silence according to prince Tokelo. He was scared of what the chief priest might have revealed regarding him and his business. Now that the king requested his presence in the study had made his heart beat in an abnormal rate and beads of sweat formed in his palms.

The king can be scary when he wants to but can also be the nicest person one had ever met. That’s what made him a good king to his people because he wasn’t entirely soft. He made his way to the study buy wiping his sweaty hands on his jeans but it was useless because his hands kept on sweating! That is how scared he was of the conversation he was about to have with the king.

He arrived at the study and knocked. The king invited him in and he went then closed the door behind him, he also wanted to keep it open just in case, he went and stood in front of the king’s desk. He was indulging himself with a glass of whiskey not even sparing him a glance. The prince decided to break the silence. “Father you called for me.” He was keeping his eyes on the king.

“Sit” he said in a low but stern voice that was enough to make the prince quickly pull out a chair and seat. “Tokelo is there something you wish to tell me?” oh gods of BaKoena how do I answer that, do I say yes or no? am going with no and see where this is going to lead. “No father” he said and avoided meeting his gaze.

“Look at me when am talking to you” he lifted his head and looked at him, his face didn’t give anything away. “Now let us talk man to man, forget am the king and take me at your father right now, what are you keeping from me Tokelo?” asked the king looking at the prince. “Father, I hold no knowledge of what you speak of.” Right at that moment the prince thought that denying everything was best.

The king raised his eyebrow looking at him. “Tokelo what kind of king will you be, a liar or an honest king?” the prince was taken back by the question, he didn’t expect this king of question however he answered as best he could. “It will depend on the situation father, some situations need for one to omit the truth whereas some require complete honesty.” He thought that was the best answer.

“So which situation is this?” the prince didn’t think the king was going to probe further but when he asked this question he had no choice but so answer honestly. “One that requires complete honestly father, however I cannot reveal the truth as yet and I ask that the king gives me time and I give my word that I will reveal the truth when the time is right.” The king was not one to push so much.

“You are old enough to know what you are doing and I believe that I have raised you well. If it is time you need it is time you will get. But on one condition.” The prince nodded “Name it father” he said with confidence “You will not get yourself killed, the BaKoena kingdom doesn’t have another prince to take over the throne should something happen to you. I am trusting your word on this as a man and my son.” Said the king seriously looking at the prince.

“My thanks father and I give you my word that I will not let you down.” Said the prince a bit saddened by the king’s words. “That is all I need and I do hope that Lebo is doing well as your right hand and advisor.” Asked the king “His doing very well father.” Answered the prince with a smile “ Good and I hope no one knows that his your brother and chosen protector.” Stated the king in all seriousness. “No one knows father, everyone knows him as my best friend only nothing about us being related.” Said the prince, with how Lebo’s parents died the king didn’t want anyone to know that he had adopted Lebo when his parents passed, all that was to protect him until the ones responsible for his parents death were brought to justice but that is yet to happen.

“Good, you may take your leave now I have some work to do.” Said the king dismissing him. “My thanks father” the prince bowed and left the study. He went to the kitchen and drank some water. All he needed now was to sort out the mess with the prince of Romo Tsietsi and he needed to do it soon.