The night wind blew softly through the cleared bush paths. The night's insects were busying, blowing their usual whistle.
The old woman sitting in front of her hut, is enjoying the beauty of the night weather after her meal. A girl in her youthful age came out of the hut, she carried the plates she used to place food for the old woman, inside.
She came out again, and sat next to the old woman.
"Grand ma, I love the looks of this village. Its a blessed village."
"Its indeed, a blessed village." The old woman, replied.
"Grandma, please tell me a tale." The young woman, requested.
The old woman chuckled.
"You never get tired of my old tales."
"They are old, and interesting. So tell me."
"Okay." The old woman said. "I will tell you this beautiful tale, which its not just a tale. But a true tale of this village." She began. "This village is blessed with, hardworking youths. They are blessed with beautiful women, and great children. In all that, they were blessed with great dancers.
"Really?" The young woman was surprised.
"Yes. But, there was one thing they were never blessed with."
"What was that?" Curiosity, written on the young woman's face.
"They were not blessed with a good ruler. They were blessed with a very wicked ruler. His heart is as dark as the midnight darkness. He kills anyone that goes against his orders, without mercy. He is also a great warrior. He has taken down many kingdoms, and taken their women as his slaves or his wives. And their men, as his slaves and kills the rest." The old woman said.
The young woman listened with great interest, but wonders why a ruler is a wicked one. Her thoughts were cut short, when the old woman contiuned.
"He has as many wives as he wished to have. It made everyone to keep their daughters, far from his eyes."
"Why?"
"Because when the ruler sees the one he wants, he takes them against their will and makes them his queens."
"He is indeed a heartless ruler." The young woman spat out, in hate for the ruler.
"Among the whole beautiful women of, Ure. There were two daughters of the Tan's clan. His daughters are so beautiful. One goes by the name, Elna. And the other, Kaya. The older one, Kaya is a very good dancer. She dances from her heart, without getting tired of it…"
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The young girl, Kaya danced so beautifully to the beats formed in her heart. Her heart catching smile, never leaving her face in every step she took.
An older woman. A replica of Kaya, walks out from the back of the hut. She stopped, admiring the beautiful dancing steps of the young girl.
The young girl kept on dancing, till she finally stops. The older woman watching, clapped which got the attention of the young girl who was unaware of someone's presence.
"You are indeed a great dancer." The older woman spoke, coming closer to Kaya with a smile.
"Thank you, mother." Kaya said, hugging the older woman.
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"Kaya and her sister thought they were hidden well, from the eyes of the ruler.." The old woman added.
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Kaya and her younger sister, Elna are both coming back from where they went to get firewoods. Kaya carried the whole firewood on her head, knowning it will be too heavy for Elna to carry as well.
"Kaya. I love the way you dance. Your moves are so great. Please teach me how to be a great dancer like you." Elna spoke.
"I will teach you, but when you are much older like me." Kaya said, smiling.
"But, teach me small first." Elna persisted.
"Okay, i will."
"That is why I keeping saying that you will always be my sister, even in the after life." Elna spoke, smiling widely.
Kaya laughed at the statement, Elna had made. She wonders how Elna has such wise thoughts, all the time.
The ruler, Amo was in the bush farm with a gusrd. He is viewing thr farm he wish to cultivate on. Suddenly, a voice of a girl caught his attention. He loved the way the voice sounded in his ears, and how it warmed his heart.
He became restless, wishing to see the face of the person whose voice has caught his heart so quickly. His guard noticed the sudden restlessness, written on his ruler's face. Before he could utter a word, Amo rushed out of the place they were. The guard followed, immediately.
Amo stared at the retreating figures of the two girls. He regretted why he didt race out on time. He wonders which one of the girls had the voice, his heart was craving for.
"What is it, my king?" The guard asked, breaking his ruler's thoughts.
"You see those two girls. I want you to get me everything I need to know about them." Amo ordered.
"Yes, my king." The guard answered.
"I need to make her, mine." Amo thought, with a sly smile on his lips.
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"Before then.." The old woman contiuned. "...the seer of Ure, saw a future of the ruler, that placed great fear on the ruler."
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Amo takes his seat on the throne, after he was informed that the seer was here to see him. The aging seer, bowed his head before the ruler.
"Greetings to the great ruler of, Ure." The seer salutes.
"You seek me. Speak, for I listen." Amo ordered.
"The gods revealed to me, the doom and down fall of the great ruler of Ure." The seer spoke.
"What do you speak of?!" The ruler, confused and angry demanded.
"A dancer from this kingdom, shall be the one to end your reign as the ruler." The seer, added.
Amo roared into laughter, that took the seer by surprise. He stopped laughing, he glared into the eyes of the ruler.
"I have fought so many wars with great warriors, and non of those great warriors could end me. So, how can a simple woman. A simple dancer, end me?! You speak like a goat!"
"Our chi never lie, my king."
"But i can?!" Amo asked, already feeling his rage rising.
"No, my king. But I advice you take this future of yours, seriously."
"As long as a warrior could not end my reign, a mere woman can't. Your chi are liars." Amo stated in anger.
The seer became provoked by the ruler's words.
"You call our chi, liars?! You watch the way you speak of our chi! Our chi are the ones that has kept your reign till now, be wise on the words you use on the gods." The seer warned.
Amo's rage took over him.
"And you need to be wise on the way you speak to your king!" Amo spat out in anger.
Amo turns to one of his guard beside him.
"Take this liar away, and have his head in front of me right now!" Amo ordered, in complete rage.
The seer is stunned on the ruler's command.
"You can not touch the seer of this kingdom." The seer spoke, defending himself.
Amo, stood up in anger.
"I am the greatest king that has ever reigned in, Ure kingdom! I can do what I want to, to anyone! I fear no one! Take him away, and bring his head in front of me. Now!" Amo ordered.
Two guards came forward. They picked up the seer, and carried him away. Amo sat down on the throne, angry.
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For the first time in so many years of ruling, Amo was in great fear of what the seer had said to him.
"How can a mere maiden be able to end my reign?" Amo thought. "No man, born of a woman has been able to end my reign. So, how can a simple dancer be able to? The seer can not lie. I will need to do something to remove this doom on my future." Amo tries to wrap his head on the matter, but failed.
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"Out of fear, the ruler ordered the killing of all the dancers in Ure." The old woman spoke.
"Oh, the gods of our land!" The young woman exclaimed.
"He killed every dancer in Ure, and ordered that anyone seen dancing shall be killed…"
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In the early mornings in Ure kingdom. Women had gotten up to head to the stream with their water pots. The hardworking men has set out to their farms. The lazy ones stayed in their huts, doing nothing important.
Two maidens sets out to go to the stream. They talked about what goes on in their lives and that of the kingdom.
"Annika. Have you stopped to think why the ruler would kill anyone that is seen dancing?"
Annika frowned at the questions, thrown at her.
"No." Annike replied, with a shrug.
"I think I know." The other maiden said, Annike is surprised.
"Tell me." Annike requested, curious.
"There is a rumour going round the kingdom. They said that the seer of Ure revealed to the ruler, that he shall die in the hands of a dancer. That is why out of fear, the ruler made the order to kill anyone found dancing." The other maiden explained.
Annike is shocked on what her friend is saying.
"Banco! Where did you hear this from?!"
"Its on everyone's lips."
"Or just your mouth? Banco, i have told you to mind the way you speak in this kingdom. Stop carrying untrue tales round the kingdom, before you put your life in great danger." Annike warned.
"But, i am not the only one saying it." Banco tries to defend herself.
"Dont say i did not tell you this." Annike stated, speeding her pace.
"But am not the only one saying it, na!" Banco still tries to defend herself, as she tries to meet up Annike's pace.
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Elna is following the dancing steps of, Kaya. Through the pleadings from Elna to learn how to dance, Kaya decided to teach her today as they were free at that moment.
Aku, their mother was coming back from the market. She was shocked and tensed when she saw her two daughters, dancing. She rushed towards them.
"What are you two doing?" Aku inquired.
"Greetings to you, mother." Kaya greeted.
"Mother. Kaya is teaching me how to dance, am I doing it okay?" Elna asked, innocently.
"Do you two want to get yourself killed?! Have you not heard about the ruler's orders, that has been said round the kingdom?!" Aku said.
"But, mother.." Kaya tries to speak.
"Do not try say anything to come out of what you have done." Aku warned, angry. "You are the older one, here. You should know better than want to put the life of you and your younger sister in danger!"
"We are sorry, mother." Kaya said, feeling remorse of what she did.
"I dont want to see anyone dancing again, as long as that ruler is still living." Any ordered.
"Okay, mother." Kaya and Elna, chroused the reply.
"You two should come and help me to make food for to night, before your father returns." Aku said, as she made her way to the back of the hut.
Kaya and Elna, followed her.
A/N:: Please, drop your views on this first chapter, thanks for reading.
