Mighty Brahmuhn
The Ndebele

Brahmuhn had gathered the Elders in his throne room once again.

‘Your Greatness, you summoned us?’ Dombo asked.

‘I have decided that it is best to attack the Ndebele.’

The three Elders looked surprised. ‘Really, Your Greatness?’

‘Yes, Dombo, and I’m sure it’s best we all put our grief aside and focus on the enemy at hand.’

Gumbo cleared his throat, ‘But why have you decided to accept our advice, Your Greatness because with all due respect- you’ve never “needed” it in the past?’

He sighed sharply, ‘Well…that’s because in all these years you have been advising me this is the only good advice you have ever come up with.’

The three all looked insulted but had to disguise their feelings.

‘The rest of the advice you have ever given me was just folklore and donkey dung.’ He grabbed his knobkerrie, got up and left.

‘That’s it!’ Dombo raved as soon as Brahmuhn was out of sight.

‘What is it?’ Gumbo asked him.

‘I can no longer tolerate any more disrespect from this infant! We have to put a stop to him!’

Shiri waved his hands in disapproval, ‘Killing His Greatness won’t solve anything, and besides, more suspicion will shroud us, the ones closest to the throne.’

‘So what do you think, third Elder? Not that your opinion is relevant,’ Dombo folded his arms and squinted at Shiri.

‘Despite your opinion about him I think the chief has proven himself on the field by slaying a lot of our enemies. He has also proven his loyalty to this people and his love for them despite his refusal to accept our advice…’

‘Why is it that you defend someone who looks down upon you like that?’ Gumbo asked him looking tremendously surprised.

‘His Greatness is still young. He needs more time to…to mature mentally.’

‘That is impossible!’ Dombo almost shouted. ‘But I’m starting to think you’re right about the downside of killing him. We don’t want to draw attention to ourselves.’

‘So what do we do, first Elder?’ Gumbo asked him.

‘Let us wait until after the war,’ Dombo suggested. ‘We should be critically analytic of the way this war will happen and his impulsive behavior and wait for him to slip up, then we’ll use that against him.’

Gumbo stroked his beard in thought and nodded in agreement. They looked at Shiri. ‘What do you think, Shiri?’ Gumbo asked him.

‘I want no part in your schemes, Elders.’

They both spat at his feet as they walked out. ‘We just hope you’re on our side, traitor,’ Gumbo said.

‘Yes. It would be a shame what would happen to you if Brahmuhn ever found out about what we discussed in here.’

Shiri was left frozen, dumbfounded and fearful of the ominous threat the two had issued him.

Brahmuhn was leaning against the kraal with his chest when Nyasha, Chief Kindi’s former fruit gatherer, walked up to him. He sighed, ‘What is it now, Nyasha?’

He shrugged, ‘His Greatness seems upset.’

He shrugged too, ‘I have agreed with the elders that in two days we shall attack the Ndebele.’

‘And what does His Greatness fear? Did His Greatness not subdue The Great Legendary Serpent, the Nyame Nyame? Did His Greatness not strangle the haughty mermaids of the Save River? Did His Greatness not wrestle with countless enemies of our village? Did His Greatness…’

‘Those are just stories, Nyasha. Stories people now consider as folktales.’

‘But are they not real, Your Greatness?’

He sighed then shrugged, ‘They are only as real as you want them to be. But I promise you this; this war will ascertain my power. This war will strike fear into our enemies’ hearts and prove to those foolish Elders how great the Great Brahmuhn is!’

‘Perhaps His Greatness is being a little too hasty?’

‘There’s a huge difference between haste and courage, Nyasha.’

‘And a thin line between courageousness and foolishness.’

He stared at him sternly. ‘What are you trying to say?’

Boldly and cautiously, ‘Although the wise man is full of knowledge, he always makes room for reproach.’

‘Your statement makes a lot of sense. It’s a shame it doesn’t apply to me. Get to the Vadhindi and summon them to my throne room,’ he ordered him.

Although Brahmuhn could feel his comrades’ pain he could only see faces of perseverance and bravery. Their bodies were oily and shiny with sweat, evidence that they had been training brutally and severely. Cheetah was the only one panting though. His eyes were on the floor. His skinny body was ripped with divisions and veins of hard work. Tortoise was sitting cross-legged, his hands placed on his kneecaps. His eyes were also on the floor. Shumba was grasping his chin with his thumb and forefinger, also sitting cross-legged. His large biceps and triceps were ripped with veins.

‘Do you know why I summoned you here, brothers?’ Brahmuhn asked them.

‘No, Your Greatness,’ they all answered at the same time.

‘I know you are still grieving over our fallen brothers…and my father. That loss hurts me just as much as it hurts you. But, brothers, I’m sure you are aware of the Ndebele threat before us.’

‘Yes, Your Greatness,’ they responded.

‘When they first attacked, they were in hundreds, then thousands, and the numbers keep on rising. Six times we have fought them and not once did we fall…’

‘Forgive me, Your Greatness…’ Tortoise, the wisest of the three interrupted, ‘…before, we were a complete team; Five men of distributed skill but now that Mamba and Hippo are…’

‘Mamba and Hippo were two men. Vadhindi is a team.’

‘An incomplete team,’ Cheetah whispered.

Brahmuhn, not much annoyed by this act of disrespect, ‘This team is a team of gods. Even one of us could lead the entire army to victory. Hippo and Mamba were vital but the Vadhindi is immortal. We have fought every battle in the frontline but not for once did any of us fall by the cursed spear of the Ndebele or their wicked arrows.’

‘But Mandebvu…’

‘Was a demon!’ Brahmuhn interrupted Tortoise. ‘A crazy beast sent forth from the flames of hell to torment us, to separate the Vadhindi and send this village into confusion and fear. Now will you let our comrades’ death be for nothing?’

‘No, Your Greatness,’ they spoke simultaneously.

‘Will you allow our enemies to rip our courage in pieces and ululate over the remains?’

‘No, Your Greatness.’

‘Will you let the death of Chief Kindi, my father and our noble chief be for nothing? Were Hippo and Mamba’s lives worth nothing to you?!’

‘No, Your Greatness!’ They stood at attention and beat their chests. Their postures were that of infallible war heroes, ready for another suicidal mission.

‘Then let the Ndebele fall at our feet!’