Faces of Love

© 2011 Bertha Adjei Adiwna. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 9/27/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4634-5984-0 (e)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-4494-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-4586-7 (sc)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011914161

Printed in the United States of America

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Father, that painting makes me sad. It looks very much like you and mother, but these people were very lean, and looked troubled and sad. Who are they, and why do you always take it out and admire it whenever you are celebrating your marriage anniversary?" Hosiah Damba Namida, the little prince, asked his father who was admiring a framed picture with his wife.

Maybe those people are good friends or relatives who helped them to get married. Can’t you see that they always keep it in their bedroom? The king’s five year old daughter, Blossom Fatimisha Damba, replied his brother’s question."

You these kids are very intelligent. The king said.

And very observant too. Added his wife. You have been watching what we do during our anniversaries? My Lord, maybe we have to tell them about the picture today. They can understand everything.

You are right, my dear; and turning to the kids he said and that is going to be your story for this important day. Sit down and let’s start now because it is a very long story.

The kids sat down on the Persian rug covered floor, right in front of their father, looking at his face. Their mother sat beside her husband.

Today we are going to have a true and very important story. Eight year old Hosiah said.

Yes. This one is not a fairy tale. Father let’s start. The little princess added.

Okay, I am going to start; but please, do not ask me any question until I have finished the whole story. Just listen to me.

Yes, father. The kids responded together.

"It all started here, on this beautiful land of Armadah.

About ten decades ago, a king ascended the throne after his father’s death. His name was King Mandi Hosiah. He was a very great king. He was a warrior from his youth, and when he became the king of Armadah he conquered all the enemy states and added their land to his kingdom. He loved his people very much and helped them to live very happy lives.

King Mandi had three sons and two daughters whom he loved very much. He trained his sons to become great warriors too. His two daughters, Avella and Melvia, were very beautiful, and even before they reached the age of puberty, great princes were working hard to win them for wives. The king ruled effectively for five decades, and then he died. When he died his second son succeeded him as the king of Armadah. His name was King Hosiah Namida. According to the laws of Armadah, when the king dies, it was his first son who should succeed him as king. However, the king must not have any physical deformities. King Mandi’s first son, Prince Ziggah Mandi, was involved in an accident when he was eighteen months old, which rendered him crippled. Because of this deformity, he could not succeed his father as the king; instead, his junior brother, Hosiah Namida became the king.

Like his father, King Hosiah Namida was a great warrior. From his youth his father trained him in all aspects of warfare. He was also a great wrestler and boxer. King Hosiah was also a very wise and clever king. His wisdom in judging cases that came before him was so great that his fellow kings referred difficult cases to him to judge for them.

He was also a very kind and loving person, and like his father he loved and cared very much about his subjects. He used to say to his people, I am a king because of you. A king without subjects is not a king; therefore I will always make sure you live as satisfied people.

The people of Armadah loved their king very much.

King Hosiah was also loved by the conquered states that served him. He never ever tortured, enslaved or maltreat any people he conquered; instead, he made his requirements known to them. As long as the conquered states lived by such requirements, they lived free and peaceful live. All of them therefore loved and served him faithfully.

King Hosiah also loved his family very much. Two of his siblings were older than him, and he was also older than two. He loved and respected his senior brother very much. He treated him with great respect and involved him in many decisions involving the kingdom. He did everything to make him feel that though he could not rule the kingdom because of his deformity, he was still a great prince playing important role in the success of the kingdom.

Despite all what he did however, his senior brother secretly envied and hated him bitterly.

The great king also involved his junior brother Prince Bentsil, who was also a great soldier, in the administration. In fact, he made him the commander over the whole army of the state. He was second only to the king, who was the commander-in-chief. He trusted him and gave him all the support he needed to keep Armadah save.

The king also loved and cherished his two sisters very much. On special occasions such as durbar and festivals, he made them all dress richly and sat-in-state with him. Above all, the king loved and cherished his mother, the queen. She was called Queen Fatimisha. He took very good care of her after his father’s death. He respected and treated her good advice with great importance. The queen also loved her children very much, especially the king.

Prince Hosiah Namida was thirty-three years old when he ascended to the throne of Armadah as king. Two years later, at the age of thirty-five, he welcomed a son, the next heir to the throne of Armadah.

The whole nation rejoiced at the birth of the new king. Many people sent him many presents, among them a white horse, from his father’s friend who was also a ruler in a far away state.

The king named his son Hosiah Damba Er Simbs, which in the Gbani language of Armadah meant Hosiah Damba the Conqueror. He also named the white horse Er Simbs Idi, which meant, the conqueror’s friend. It was affectionately called Idi.

Prince Er Simbs, started his education as early as age two. His father assigned virtuous and acclaimed scholars to educate him in language, mathematics, science, economics and politics. At age three, he started military training. The prince also had a special personal attendant called Kotoh. He was a twenty-three year old smart and skilled soldier, and he was charged with the safety and well-being of the young prince. He loved the boy very much, and accompanied him everywhere he went; to play, study, swim or for military training, he was with him.

After Prince Er Simbs, the king begot a daughter who was named Princess Petra. His brother was three years old when she was born. She was as beautiful as a lily flower. The king loved his family very much.

His wife, Lady Nicolaire was greatly loved and adored by him. She was going to be the next queen after his mother, Queen Fatimisha.

Every year, the state held thanksgiving durbar, and on the day of the durbar the King invited his two brothers, sisters and mother to dine with him at the palace. A special meal selected by the royal family was prepared, and they all ate and drank together from the same table. Their children enjoyed the feast with them but, they also ate together from a separate table. This was the king’s means of bringing them together as a family. During this get-together, they also discussed any family matters they found necessary, and that was the reason why their wives and husbands did not dine with them. They had a different occasion when they dined together with their wives and husbands. The wives of the princes and the husbands of the princesses also had their own feast and meeting on that day during which they also discussed how successful the year had been with their families. Theirs was held on the evening.

One summer afternoon, on the day of the thanksgiving durbar, something terrible happened which changed the lives of the people of Armadah forever. That was the ninth year of King Namida’s reign. Prince Hosiah Damba Er Simbs was seven years old and his sister Petra was four. At age seven, the prince’s wisdom and overall performance could be compared to that of a normal fifteen year old boy. The prince and princess were the most adorable children in the whole state. Lady Nicolaire was four months pregnant with their third child.

It was about a month to the year’s annual thanksgiving durbar and Prince Ziggah, the king’s senior brother paid him a surprise visit at the palace. It was in the evening just before sunset, and the king was relaxing under a shed in the middle of the palace after returning from a visit to his mother at her house. The king never ended the day without going to see his mother who lived on the other side of the palace.

Hello Big Brother, I’m surprised to see you here at this time. Please, come and sit here with me; unless you of course think inside will be better for discussing whatever brought you here. It’s very breezy over here. King Hosiah said with a beautiful smile when he saw his senior brother.

Thank you very much, Great One, I think that is a good place to enjoy the cool breeze after the hot afternoon.

He ordered his attendant to take him to where the king was relaxing; and then he asked him to leave and come back after an hour.

Brother Ziggah, the king started immediately the attendant had left. I have told you many times to stop addressing me by formal titles. I feel very uncomfortable when you do that. I am your junior brother, please, and I was your brother before I became the king.

Prince Ziggah laughed aloud, and then said I’m sorry Hossie, please, I’m sorry. But I also feel very uncomfortable when I address you by informal name or without a formal title; especially in the presence of people.

You don’t have to be uncomfortable. Everybody knows that you are my big brother, I am a king in your stead for a reason.

They both laughed.

Anyway, what brings you here this evening? This is not your usual time of visiting. You are even lucky you did not miss me. I returned from mother’s house less than half an hour ago.

Oh good, how is she doing? I haven’t seen her in about three days. Prince Ziggah said.

Yes, she said so. The king said. She asked me how you are doing. She said she was at your house yesterday before the rains, but your wife said you were enjoying a nap. She did not want to wake you up so she left.

Is that so? Then nobody informed me about it. Prince Ziggah lied. His wife informed him of his mother’s visit immediately he woke up. He did not like his mother very much, because of the way she loved, cherished and admired the king.

Anyway what has driven you out of your comfortable abode this evening?

Thank you, Hosiah my brother. I have come to ask for a favor, if possible. If not, please, don’t hesitate to let me know.

Ask my brother, and as you have rightly said, if it is possible, you will have it.

Okay my brother, as you know, every year at the thanksgiving durbar day you invite us, your brothers, sisters and mother, to dine with you here at the palace.

Yes, and this year is not going to be an exception. The king replied.

Now, that is where I need the favor. I would be very grateful if you could give me the privilege to host the dinner this year. Actually I was thinking of asking permission to do so next year, but I remembered that next year will be your tenth year on the throne, and we will be celebrating it big. I don’t think it will be appropriate for me to host it then. So if you don’t mind, let me host it this year. This is my request.

Oh okay. I don’t think this should be a problem. You are our senior brother, and in the absence of our father we see you as our highest authority; and that’s why I don’t like that ‘Your Majesty’ and ‘Great One’ thing. They both laughed.

I will discuss it with the others, and I think they’re all going to like the idea. Will you like the palace chefs to prepare the meals or your wife will do it?

Yes please, the palace chefs will do it. So find out what we will eat this year.

Okay, I will do that. But what will you like us to enjoy? You are going to be the host.

I don’t know, actually. Prince Ziggah said, laughing. Let me think of it.

The brothers talked happily until the attendant came and Prince Ziggah left.

The day for the dinner finally arrived, and the princes, princesses and their children arrived at Prince Ziggah’s house at about mid-day. Their mother was already there when they arrived.

Prince Ziggah lived in a beautiful white mansion, about a quarter of a mile from the palace. Hey mother, you were early. I sent somebody to your house to find out if we could come together, but he was told you’d already left. The king said when he saw his mother.

Yes, and I’m sorry I did not come to call you. I forgot that you are not coming with your wife. The queen said laughing.

A table had been set for the young princes and the princesses, and Prince Er Simbs had been made the head of that table. The king was also seated at the head of the big table. When all was set for the dinner to begin, Prince Er Simbs was asked to take his seat at the head of the table, but he refused to do so. Kotoh tried to convince him to sit there, but he refused. He started to cry, and then he ran out of the house to go to the palace. Kotoh told the other children to start eating, and he promised to bring the prince back.

The king was surprised at his son’s behavior but he said nothing. About a week before the day of the dinner, his wife, Lady Nicolaire, told him that she had a dream that Prince Ziggah’s house had a lot blood splashed all around it, and people were fleeing everywhere from it. The people were shouting that the blood was the King’s. She warned the king to be careful, but the king out-rightly dismissed any possibility of danger at Ziggah’s house. He advised his wife not to entertain any such fear.

Do you remember that this is not the first time you have warned me about my brother? I understand your concern for my safety, but I am sure that no harm can come to me from my family. I love them very much, and I believe that my mother and my siblings love me too.

"I would like to believe so too, but I have seen Prince Ziggah giving you very evil looks on three occasions. I must be frank with you, Your Highness, that I do not trust him. Please be careful.’

It’s okay my dear, I think you are misunderstanding him. Stop thinking evil about him. That is what is making you have those nightmares. I love him, and I know he does love me too.

Okay, if you say so. The lady said, and turned her face to the other side of the bed. The king could see clearly that she was worried about his safety.

Sweetheart, you are hurting for nothing; please relax. He told his wife, rubbing the back of her shoulder.

As a result of this conversation, the king thought his wife had told the prince something, which prompted his behavior that afternoon, his refusal to sit at the head of the table and running away. He was however, not angry with his wife.

Her feminine heart will make her do anything He said in his mind.

After Kotoh had left to bring back the prince, the king and all those who were at the table stood up to pray and give thanks to the Almighty for another successful year, and for bringing them together again. From where the king sat as the head of the table, he faced directly, one of the big rooms in Prince Ziggah’s house. When they bowed their heads to pray, some strange men came out of the room and threw a spear through the king’s chest. Another shot him on the head. The king cried out, staggered back and fell on his chair. Then he said, "Brother Ziggah,