《The Adventures of Mikumbi》 The Return of the Modjajis - A snippet from a short story ¡° ¡° ¡°Come on, Mlungisi. I just want to be where the action is. Out on the frontline. Fighting the Zamutapans.¡± Mlungisi and most of the other soldiers roared with laughter. One of the soldiers looked northwest to see a gathering of dark grey clouds in the sunset sky. ¡°Okay fellows, that''s enough laughing at omusha/newcomer, he''s still young and na?ve,¡± said Mlungisi. ¡°That''s enough out of all of you,¡± said a commanding voice. The man attached to the voice wasn''t particularly imposing physically yet his demeanour screamed battle-hardened soldier. Multiple battle scars marked the commander''s face and one of his arms. He was also dressed slightly differently from the rest of his men. He wore the typical attire of a Senguni soldier ¨C The leather loincloth, a headdress, a small Basotho blanket wrapped around the neck and shoulder like a shawl, with the pattern and colour designating rank and regiment and a regimental cowhide shield. The commander wore a Bornu styled steel cuirass while his men were bare-chested. Immediately all the soldiers stood to attention. ¡°Yes, Mlawuli/Commander Sibusiso,¡± the men shouted in unison. The mlawuli walked along side each soldier, running his eagle brown eyes across each of them. He stopped at the young sentry. ¡°What''s your name, young''un?¡± ¡°Thabiso, mlawuli,¡± the young sentry replied with some bass in his voice. ¡°How long have you been conscripted?¡± ¡°Not long mlawuli, about four small moons.¡± Sibusiso gave a small nod. ¡°Only been in his imperial majesty''s service for a little while and already looking for death.¡± The young soldier resisted retorting. He knew the price of insubordination and it wasn''t very pleasant. Sibusiso''s demeanour softened slightly. ¡°Listen to me, youngster. I know that livestock guard duty is boring as hell and you think you want to be where the action is. But trust me, you don''t want to be on the frontline. I hope that you never have to fight for your life against a foe that is fighting for his life. My sword and ilkwa have tasted the blood of many Zamutapans. I''ve raided and set villages ablaze. Sure, it brought honour to me and my family. However, honour doesn''t bring back my dead comrades. Honour doesn''t get rid of the faces of the men I''ve killed and still see in my sleep every night. Honour doesn''t silence the screams of the death cries.¡± The older soldiers nodded their heads in agreement. ¡°Take it from me, boy. After you''ve been to the frontline, you''ll wish that you could guard the livestock for the rest of your days.¡± The Mlawuli looked at the gathering grey clouds getting closer. ¡°Okay men, let''s round up the livestock before it gets dark and starts to rain.¡± ¡°Yes, Mlawuli,¡± the soldiers acknowledged in unison. While the soldiers started to round up the livestock, one of them looked at the oncoming storm clouds on the horizon. ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Asked one of the guards. ¡°I don''t like the look of those clouds,¡± he replied without taking his eyes away from the storm clouds. ¡°A storm at this time of year?¡± ¡°So? Just help us with the rounding up or we''ll all get caught in that storm.¡± Yet the soldier couldn''t look away. It wasn''t just the storm clouds that were getting closer there was also something else moving with the storm. Something headed directly towards the soldiers with blistering speed. The soldier only had a few minutes to warn the rest of his cohorts about that ''something else''. ¡°What are you doing standing there like some gormless idiot?¡± Shouted the mlawuli. ¡°Help us out.¡± ¡°Mlawuli, there appear to be persons unknown headed towards us with the coming storm clouds.¡± The commander gave his subordinate a puzzled look. ¡°Who would be foolish enough to travel within the storm?¡± ¡°Maybe bandit raiders, sir? Using the storm in an attempt to cover themselves.¡± ¡°How many of them are headin'' this way?¡± ¡°Three, sir¡± ¡°Only three of them?¡± Sibusiso exclaimed, ¡°By Qamata (Xhosa head deity), they must be crazy.¡± ¡°They''re also moving very fast.¡± The commander began to bark out orders to his men. They ran to their weapons and cowhide shields, grasped them, then stood in formation. Protocol dictated that any living creatures that approached the livestock of the Senguni Empire must be treated as a threat until properly assessed. Man or beast. Child or adult. Friend or foe. What had finally approached them was something... different. The Senguni soldier''s mouths were agape, a mix of shock, fear and arousal showed across their faces as all they could do was look up at the gigantic feminine forms that approached them. The three entities stood over three meters tall, with milk chocolate coloured skin and very much humanoid in appearance. The faces of each one could only be described as beautiful feminine men... or handsome masculine women. Large, almond-shaped brown eyes were set under extremely heavy brow ridges and thick, full jet black afro-textured hairstyles. A small mouth with full button lips placed on a heavy robust jaw with a feminine pointy chin. A small dainty nose between small but sharp projecting cheekbones. Their bodies also reflected both masculine and mostly feminine. Broad shoulders, long muscular arms and ripped abs were softened by their large breasts and buttocks, wide hips, narrow waist, long legs and wearing very little clothing that barely covered the nether regions. Sibusiso walked a couple of steps towards them with his sword and shield ready. ¡°Who are you? State your business.¡± No answer came from their mouths, one of the giantesses looked at the soldiers like excrement while the other two looked around, surveying their surroundings. ¡°Didn''t you hear what I asked? I said who are you and state yo-¡± ¡°Silence, bug,¡± commanded one giantess who wore her hair in a large fluffy afro and wielded a spear slightly longer than her height. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. One of the soldiers jumped from the intensity of the giantess'' voice. ¡°Sister,¡± said the second giantess who wore her hair in cornrows and carried a large sword. ¡°I can sense we''re getting closer.¡± ¡°How far are we?¡± asked the third giantess who wore her hair in long flowing dreadlocks and carried a large heavy axe. ¡°Not too far.¡± ¡°Good. Then we should get going.¡± The soldiers looked puzzled at the giantesses. ¡°You aren''t going anywhere,¡± said the commander. ¡°I will ask one more time. Who are you and state your business?¡± The spear-wielding giantess made a sound of a mix of derisive snort and laughter. ¡°Look at that, sisters. This walking sperm sack demands to know about us and our intentions. Demands of us queens?¡± The other giantess snickered a little while the spear wielder bent down and leaned into the face of Sibusiso, seductively. She continued. ¡°Fine, ''seed squirters'', I''ll tell you about us and our intentions. We are the true rulers of this land and as for our intentions... Let''s just say that most of you men are no longer needed.¡± ¡°And you think we''ll let you go any further?¡± Said the mlawuli. One of the giantesses rolled their eyes, while another tittered with a surprisingly cute giggle. ¡°Silly little man,¡± replied the lead giantess. The storm clouds gathered above everybody''s heads. Bursts of thunder rumbled over their heads, through the soldiers'' bodies and throughout the grassland. ¡°You think you can slay the coming storms?¡± If their size wasn''t a clear indicator that these women weren''t human then their eyes flashing with tendrils of lightning in unison would certainly settle it. A menacing grin sprung upon their faces, revealing large, jagged teeth as the lead giantess pointed at one of the soldiers with one hand on her hips. Lightning shot forth from the cloudy heavens and pierced one of the soldiers through the throat. The poor soldier didn''t even make a death cry as the lightning burned and tore through his voice box. The rest of the soldiers could only look on in dread as their cohort lay dead, the smell of burning flesh rushing up their nostrils. ¡°Monsters,¡± shouted the commander, rage contorted on his face. ¡°Attack.¡± ¡°For the emperor,¡± the soldiers shouted in unison. Sibusiso''s sword met the lead giantess'' spear with a wood-chopping thud. The other three soldiers were left with the sword and axe wielding giantesses. Sibusiso blocked the oncoming spear thrust with his shield. The giantess'' blows rang through the length of his shield arm. In all his years of fighting numerous battles, Sibusiso had never felt an attack as powerful as that. The sword-wielding giantess seemed to toy with her soldier opponent, effortlessly evading his ilkwa thrusts. ¡°Come on little man,¡± she teased. ¡°Is that all you and your little weapon can do?¡± The time had come to end this charade. With one mighty swing of her powerful sword, she cut through not only the soldier''s shield but also cut his thigh, straight through to the bone. The soldier gave a short sharp scream as he fell to his knees. Blood trickled from his ghastly wound. The giantess followed with a front kick to the soldier''s face which knocked him onto his back. The soldier struggled as he was pinned to the ground with the giantess'' foot on his face. ¡°This is where vermin like you belong. Under a queen''s heel,¡± said the cornrowed giantess. Her eyes flashed with lightning once again then with one swift stomp, the soldier''s head was nothing more than a bloody, pulpy goo. Chunks of what was a human head splattered over the dry grass. The giantess'' face contorted into disgust as she wiped the remains from her foot on the grass. The axe-wielding giantess faced off with the remaining two soldiers, Thabiso and Mlungisi. If the omusha/newcomer wanted a taste of battle, then it certainly came to him. The sound of the soldiers'' spears and swords clashing with the giantess'' large axe echoed throughout the plains. The giantess moved with a certain grace, agility and flexibility that didn''t match her large yet feminine frame as she weaved, flipped and spun as a form of attack and defence. Mlungisi''s and the giantess'' weapons clashed and caught in a bind (a prolonged weapon clash). ¡°You''re very strong... for a bug,¡± teased the warrior ''queen''. The soldier felt like he was pushing against a bull elephant. It took all of his strength just to make sure he wasn''t overwhelmed by that mean-looking axe. Thabiso was fired up from seeing his cohort struggling and ran to their aid. Rather than his spear tasting giantess blood, Thabiso''s head met with her foot, as she whipped out a back kick so fast that the young soldier had no time to react. Thabiso hit the ground, hard. Sprawled out and out of the battle. ¡°Wait your turn, filth,¡± shouted the giantess. ¡°Now, where was I?¡± Slowly, the giantess overwhelmed Mlungisi''s valiant display of strength. A blank expression stayed on her face as her axe carved into her opponent''s body from collar bone to belly, going through the rib cage as easy as a tailor threading cloth. Blood poured like a waterfall onto the dried grass. Mlungisi fell to his knees, clutching his hideous wound. His body burned with pain, his mind barely remaining conscious. The warrior that had spent most of his adult life battling against the Zamutapans for the Emperor and country, now awaited death and to be with his ancestors. ¡°Vermin. At least you die by a queen''s hand.¡± The giantess delivered the finishing blow. A swift upward kick under the chin... that sent the soldier''s head flying into the air then landing several meters away from his body. Sibusiso fought hard against the lead giantess, his years of fighting experience serving him well. Yet the more he fought, the more the fight was taking its toll on his body. Sweat covered his body, while fatigue and lactic acid coursed through his muscles. The lead giantess, on the other hand, showed no sign of strenuous effort. It was as if this was just a practice match for her. Boredom displayed on her face. Sibusiso knew that the longer the fight went on, the less likely he''d come out of this fight, alive. The giantess lunged her spear through Sibusiso''s shield, glancing and shearing off part of his metal cuirass. That moment was all he needed to counter. He ran her through with his sword, from belly to back. No scream came from the giantess'' mouth, only a face painted with shock as she looked down to see her blood escaping from her wound. Finally, she reacted... with laughter. ¡°Well done, warrior,¡± she praised. ¡°There does seem to be a few capable men in this land.¡± She pulled out the sword and flung it aside. The lightning glint in her eyes crackled. With near blinding speed the giantess wrapped her surprisingly soft hand around the commander''s throat then lifted him high off of the ground. ¡°If you attack a queen, make sure you kill her.¡± Her sisters gathered around their leader looking at Sibusiso struggling to get free. Thabiso slowly regained consciousness, his head felt like a zebra kicked him. He could only watch and listen with blurred vision and distorted hearing of what the giantesses had in store for Sibusiso. ¡°It''s so cute when then they struggle and squirm,¡± giggled the spear wielder. ¡°Can we keep him? After all, he does have some potential,¡± asked the sword giantess. ¡°Keep him? No way. He tried to kill a queen and for that, he must pay the price,¡± said the axe wielder. ¡°I suppose you''re right,¡± sighed the leader, ¡°besides, the younger one is much cuter.¡± The lead queen placed her other hand on Sibusiso''s ''bulge'', rubbing and feeling it. She clamped on his ''never regions'' then with a swift pull, tore his organ from his groin. His scream echoed throughout the savannah. His screaming stopped abruptly as she shoved his own ''contents'' in his mouth and down his throat. He struggled and struggled until he struggled no longer. ¡°Unkulunkulu,¡± Thabiso thought while partially praying to the Zulu chief deity, ¡°I''m fucking next. Unkulunkulu, if I survive this, I will never complain about livestock duty.¡± ¡°Stay where you are, boy. And don''t do anything stupid like attacking us,¡± ordered one of the giantesses. They walked over to him, with a predator''s look in their eyes. He dare not move as they stood over him like ebony goddess statues. ¡°You belong to us now, pet,¡± said the leader in a weirdly seductive tone. ¡°You''ve seen what we can do. Go tell your false leaders about what happened here. Tell them the time of men is over in this land. Tell them the Modjadjis, the rightful rulers of this land are back to reclaim what''s ours. Got it?¡± Thabiso flinched as all three giantesses leaned into him...with each one planting a kiss on both his cheeks and lips. ¡°Now, run along.¡± The young soldier didn''t need to be told twice as the Modjadjis waved him off. Lord of the Adze/wo - A snippet from one of my short stories They materialised in a yellowy-green flash about ten feet above the ground. Below the sorcerers were a crowd of people walking on a dirt road next to the city gates. Some of the crowd looked up at the bright flash above, only to continue looking as a short man wearing a shuka and rucksack and a taller woman wearing a long, kanzu shoal and rucksack fell from the flash point. Mikumbi landed with a clumping sound on his arse. Msolumsi crash landed on top of a middle-aged man. The middle-aged man''s collection of pottery he was carrying in a wheelbarrow fell and broke into pieces all around him and the apprentice witch. Mikumbi slowly got up, clutching his lower back and arse. ¡°I really need to stop neglecting my teleporting practice,¡± he thought. Mikumbi walked over to his apprentice, who had gotten up from her landing. He could feel the stares of the crowd all around him. The potter let the profanities fly from his broad mouth as he looked at his livelihood in pieces. Mikumbi reached the spectacle just in time. ¡°I''m sorry sir,¡± said Msolumsi, with remorse. ¡°You''re ''Sorry'',¡± the man shouted. ¡°Look at what you''ve done. I''m ruined. How am I going to feed my family.¡± ¡°I can fix this, I''m a--.¡± The potter finally stood up, looming and towering over Msolumsi''s slim yet curvaceous frame. ¡°The only way this can be fixed is you paying for all the damages. So pay up, woman.¡± Msolumsi put her guard up with her long staff. ¡°How dare you threaten me, you uncouth savage. Maybe a day as a grasscutter (Greater Cane Rat) will humble and civilise you.¡± Msolumsi breathed deeply through her nose, opening herself to the energies of the universe. Her eyes and hands glowed with bright lilac energy. The potter could feel the apprentice''s intense power yet he didn''t back down. However, before the situation could escalate any further, Mikumbi stepped in to calm it down. ¡°Both of you, stand down,¡± ordered Mikumbi getting between the pair of them. Mikumbi gave a look of disappointment to his apprentice. He turned to face the rightfully angry potter. ¡°I''m sorry for all your trouble, sir,¡± said Mikumbi in a calming tone. ¡°I also apologise for my apprentice''s outburst.¡± ¡°I don''t care for apologies,¡± the potter said, he calmed down ever so slightly. ¡°I''m owed a lot of money and somebody best pay up.¡± ¡°No need to worry my good man. I''ll sort this out.¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Mikumbi''s eyes and hands glowed neon yellowy-green. ¡°Repair the pottery,¡± the wizard boomed then gestured with his hand. The shards of pottery flashed yellowy-green then started to vibrate. The potter stood dumbfounded with widened eyes as the broken pieces started to come together fixing themselves in place. The crowd of onlookers muttered among themselves, some of them used their gods'' names in vain. Once every last shard had found its place, the fissures slowly disappeared. A bright yellowy-green flash signalled the end of the spell. ¡°There you go. Good as new,¡± said Mikumbi. The potter went to pick up his pottery, inspecting every single one of them. Sure enough, they were as good as new. The potter placed all his work back in the wheelbarrow. ¡°Thank you,¡± said the potter. ¡°No problem. Before you go,¡± Mikumbi rummaged through his coin sack then handed the potter a few silver coins. ¡°For your troubles and family.¡± A large smile and bright eyes fixed on the potter''s face. ¡°Wow. Thanks again.¡± The potter headed off about his business. Msolumsi''s scowl followed the potter. Mikumbi looked up at his apprentice with a frown fixed on his face. ¡°You lost your cool,¡± said Mikumbi. ¡°Threatening to turn the man into a grasscutter. What were you thinking?¡± ¡°That savage threatened me. I have every right to defend myself,¡± Msolumsi replied. ¡°He was a simple man that got angry because you broke his pottery.¡± ¡°No. You did that with the spell.¡± Mikumbi shook his head. ¡°True but that''s beside the point,¡± said the wizard. ¡°We''re here to help these people. If we go around using magic on everybody that slights or made petty threats to us, we''d have no customers because they''d be afraid of us.¡± ¡°So what, we let everybody think that they can threaten us? What happens if they attack us?¡± She asked. ¡°We defend ourselves. Without magic. With our hands and feet, if the attacker is unarmed. With our weapons, when they have weapons. That''s why I teach you how to fight. You could''ve easily beaten that man if it escalated.¡± Msolumsi scoffed at the wizard. ¡°Are telling me you that you''ve never used magic on belligerent fool?¡± She queried with a sceptical frown on her face. ¡°You of all people know the things that I''ve done during my life,¡± Mikumbi replied with a calm tone. ¡°Yes, I''ve used magic in anger against everyday people. It was foolish of me to do so. I speak from a couple of centuries of experience. Just because you have the power, doesn''t mean you should use it.¡± Msolumsi lowered her head. She knew of her teacher''s bloody past. Hypocrite or not, she knew that nothing beats wisdom gained from experience. Deep down she knew that Mikumbi was protecting her. ¡°You''re right, Mwalimu. I''m sorry,¡± the trainee witch replied in a humble tone. ¡°Come on, let''s get going. We''ve wasted enough time here,¡± said Mikumbi. She nodded then walked with him within the crowd entering the city. ¡°I''m still blaming you for that fiasco,¡± said Msolumsi. ¡°I really need to work on my teleporting spells,¡± said Mikumbi. Anansi/es Joke - a snippet from a short story Msolumsi on the other hand couldn''t shake off the unease about this part of the forest. With each step she took, she felt her limbs grow heavier. Her head felt like it was trapped in a vice while giant hornets were buzzing and stinging inside her head. More and more her breaths were laboured. The strain on her body, mind and soul became too much that she collapsed on the ground. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡°Lord Anansi/e,¡± replied Mikumbi with a slight bow of the head, ¡°what brings you to walk among us mere mortals?¡± ¡°Nothing really. Just wanted to have a little fun.¡± Mikumbi looked worried. Whenever a deity roams Irun''uwa, it always means some form of trouble for mortals and especially sorcerers. ¡°Well we best be on our way,¡± said Mikumbi respectfully. He walked back to his weakened apprentice. ¡°She''s in no condition to move or be of any use to you,¡± said the deity, while following and jumping around him like an excitable kid. ¡°She will be once she''s away from your presence.¡± ¡°It''s not my fault that you mortals are so weak.¡± Mikumbi''s tolerance of Anansi/e started to drop. While he could easily protect himself from the deity''s concentrated essence. Anansi/e''s personality was a different story. ¡°Soooooooooooo, where ya going?¡± Asked Anansi/e with a child-like smile, ¡°anywhere exciting?¡± ¡°Just seeking a village,¡± said Mikumbi, straight to the point. ¡°I guess you''re seeking the village of Chief Tackie?¡± Mikumbi eyes widened and his ears perked up. ¡°How did you know abo-?¡± ¡°I''m a god of knowledge, remember,¡± Anansi/e said playfully, ¡°it''s my job to know.¡± Mikumbi wrapped one of his apprentice''s arms around his shoulder and lifted her up. ¡°I hope you make it on time,¡± said Anansi/e, ¡°Those Asanbosam are vicious killers.¡± Mikumbi shot a concerned look at the deity. Anansi/e just smiled. ¡°Asanbosam are attacking the village?¡± ¡°Not yet. But they will soon,¡± said the deity with glee, hopping about like an excited child. Mikumbi cradled Msolumsi in his arms then started to walk as fast as possible. Very strong for such a little fellow. Anansi/e disappeared then re-appeared in front of Mikumbi, hanging upside down on his spider webbing. ¡°Wait a minute. I have to tell you the best part of the situation,¡± said Anansi/e with a cheeky smile. ¡°Lord Anansi/e, I don''t have time for this shit,¡± said Mikumbi with an annoyed look on his face. The sorcerer''s patience was at its limit with deity. Anansi/e acted completely oblivious to the sorcerer''s anger then leaned into the sorcerer''s face with a slight tilt of his head like a child. ¡°I''m the one that summoned the monsters,¡± Anansi/e said with a chuckle. Those words sent the sorcerer over the edge. He could no longer contain his rage. A surge of mystical energy erupted from within him, making his eyes and hands glow with his signature yellowy-green aura. ¡°Why the fuck did you do that?¡± shouted the wizard. ¡°For fun. Shits and giggles.¡± ¡°People are going to be torn limb from limb by the Asanbosam. How is that ''fun''?¡± ¡°I never said it would be fun for mortals,¡± said the deity nonchalantly, ¡°just for me.¡± Mikumbi''s anger boiled his blood, his scowling, glowing yellowy-green eyes stared death at the smiling deity. Oh, how Mikumbi wanted to kill Anansi/e... Or at least to teach him a lesson. There was one problem. Msolumsi. In her state, she''d never survive the battle. He needed to get her away from Anansi/e''s presence immediately. ¡°I''ll deal with you later,¡± Mikumbi threatened Anansi in a deep and dismissive tone. He took a deep breath and channelled his energy into his short legs. ¡°Quick time,¡± boomed the wizard. With the spell cast, he ran causing powerful gusts of air, leaving behind the sociopathic deity. Tanits Sanctuary - A snippet from a short story An area of the mountain range''s Hautes Plaines/High Plains, a large mountain plateau that was dotted with Mediterranean-type forests, woodlands and shrubs. Streams of clear, freshwater meandered throughout like large boas. The men looked dumbfounded as animals long thought to be extinct or elusive like the herd of Adra Elephants plodded along the plateau or a small pride of Adra Lions rested among the dry grass. The adventurers were met with an intense, semi-humid warmth from the sanctuary. It came as a welcoming shock to the explorers. The warmth was so welcoming that they all responded by taking off their woollen djellabas and putting them away in their rucksacks. ¡°Here we are,¡± Badr said proudly with a large smug placed upon his face. ¡°Told you guys we''d make it.¡± ¡°Well done O'' great leader,¡± said one of the explorers sarcastically, he was around the same height and skin tone as Badr, slightly stockier in build, bald with a large square jaw and a patchy beard. ¡°Now where is this thing that we''re meant to find?¡± Badr checked his raggedy map to get their bearings. ¡°It shouldn''t be too far, about another couple of day''s trek,¡± said Badr confidently. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. He put away the map, then gestured to continue the trek. All of them started to move and follow Badr. All except one. He was the shortest of the explorers and the second darkest in skin tone, with a slim build, wavy to curly hair and major stubble. He felt uneasy. Constantly turning his head. Badr looked back to see him, nervous and barely moving. ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Badr asked. ¡°This place,¡± the short one replied. ¡°Can''t you guys feel it?¡± ¡°Feel what?¡± ¡°Like we''re being watched.¡± ¡°Yes, I feel it too... It''s the animals, they''ve already sensed our presence and they are weary of us.¡± The short explorer shook his head. ¡°Guys, I''m serious. Something powerful is watching us. Nay, stalking us.¡± Badr was beginning to lose his patience. They''d come this far and the last thing he or the other explorers needed was to doubt themselves or be spooked. ¡°Listen up. We''ve come this far and now you''re afraid of what''s in this place? Whatever is in here ''stalking'' us we needn''t worry. We''ve got spears, swords and these talismans/fetishes that we possess will aid us against the witch that lives here.¡± The small explorer shuddered. ¡°Don''t remind me of these... things,¡± he looked down at his macabre fetish. ¡°They give me the creeps. It''s like they want to devour my very soul.¡± ¡°If you wanna turn back, then go. We''ll find the item and get rich. All you''ll have is regrets.¡± The little explorer weighed his options for a moment. He was certain that something ominous was watching them. ¡°Fine. I''ll stay,¡± the small explorer sighed. ¡°But if I get killed, I''ll come back to haunt you fuckers.¡± He ran to catch up with his fellow adventurers. Escape from the Twisted Fortress - A snippet from a short story This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Sumanguru Mikumbi Awakened - A snippet from a short story Matumwe looked down on the corpse of his dead nephew. So many emotions ran through his body and mind, all of them masked behind a face of disgust as he lightly kicked Mikumbi''s dead body, just to make sure he was dead. At last, the irritating thorn in his arse was gone. Never again shall his nephew ruin his plans. Matumwe contemplated turning Mikumbi into a ghoul. A wizard warrior with such skills and experience would be a great asset to him and the ''Twisted Ones''. Matumwe rocked back and forth, chanting in a strange language. He held up his hand, blazing in a spiral of dark energy. Then he stopped. He dissipated the energy from his gnarled hand. ¡°You''re not worth it, nephew,¡± he said looking down at Mikumbi''s corpse. ¡°This place has once again become your tomb. It''s time for me to leave.¡± He spat on his nephew for his final gesture then turned away to exit the tomb. The entrance to the cave tomb violently shook. Rocks around the entrance collapsed and blocked the way out, just as Matumwe was about to leave. Matumwe snorted. A minor annoyance. He summoned his twisted energy into his hand then splayed it towards the rocks. His left eye widened with shock. His body seized like he was frozen. A powerful mystical force filled the tomb. A sensation that was familiar to the dark sorcerer. That rising power swept through Matumwe''s whole being. ¡°No. This is not possible. You''re dead,¡± thought Matumwe. He dared not turn around to witness what was happening. Instead, with the dark, twisted energy that he''d gathered in his hand, he shot a powerful energy bolt at the pile of rocks. The rubble blew apart into tiny pieces. Dust filled the air and covered the exit. However, before the twisted sorcerer could leave the tomb, the dust and debris glowed with a yellowy-green shimmer then reformed into the previous rubble blockage piece by piece. With that exit closed off, Matumwe had to find a different way. He tried to lock on to his fortress mystically but something was blocking his connection. The same ''something'' that reformed debris. ¡°If I can''t connect to my home. I''ll just teleport to a random place.¡± His twisted aura swirled and enveloped his whole body. With a click of his fingers, Matumwe disappeared from the tomb... then reappeared in the tomb. He snapped his fingers and tried again... The same result. He repeated it. Over and over. Still stuck in the tomb. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. While Matumwe was trying to escape, Mikumbi''s corpse started to stir. The wizard warrior floated and dangled in the air like a puppet on strings. His heart started to beat. The neurons and cells in his brain tingled with energy. His aura outlined his whole body. The gaping stab wound stitched itself up, same with the damaged internal organs. His lungs took their first new breath of stale air. Mikumbi''s eyes opened as he floated back to the ground. Matumwe finally gave up his futile attempts to escape. He now had to acknowledge and confront the intense power that was blocking his escape, his nephew. Back from the dead. Both sorcerers locked eyes on each other. Mikumbi''s signature boyish smile lined his face. Matumwe always hated that smile. ¡°Leaving so soon, Uncle!?¡± Said Mikumbi. ¡°Stay. I have so much to tell you. I insist.¡± ¡°YOU! YOU!¡± roared Matumwe. ¡°I saw you die.¡± ¡°I did die and now your favourite lovable nephew is alive again,¡± Mikumbi looked at his shuka and felt the disgusting wet patch of his uncle''s spit. ¡°Spitting, uncle. Really? I thought such a habit was beneath a juyanwansi sorcerer.¡± Matumwe watched Mikumbi stretch and warm up. The twisted sorcerer still couldn''t believe that his nephew was back from the dead. ¡°This day has been full of irony for both of us. Wouldn''t you agree?¡± Asked Mikumbi. ¡°I swear the gods have cursed me with you,¡± Matumwe replied. His dark aura swirled around him. ¡°The same gods you rejected. Not even the power of the ''Twisted Ones'' can break this cute little curse. And I thought the ''Twisted Ones'' were the ultimate power.¡± With a flash of yellowy-green energy from his hand, he called out to his weapon. His halberd glowed, disappeared from the rocky floor then reappeared in Mikumbi''s hand. He pointed his weapon at his uncle. There was no way around it. Matumwe knew that he had to get his hands dirty. The dark sorcerer hated dealing with ''petty'' matters and affairs. He''d let his ghouls or other fools sort that out. However, a small part of him relished the opportunity. The thought of extinguishing his nephew''s life personally, with his own two hands would bring so much joy to his corrupted heart. Matumwe thought about all the times Mikumbi thwarted him. All the missed opportunities to kill him when Mikumbi first arrived in the Ituri rainforest. The pain of losing his right eye. This fight had to happen sooner or later. So be it. Most of Matumwe''s plans for Mikumbi fail. If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. ¡°You should''ve let me leave, nephew,¡± warned Matumwe while taking off his big cat pelts and his long black grand boubou. He revealed his naked upper half. A lean and cut torso with no ounce of fat. His long arms were the same as his torso. ¡°I''m not in here with you...¡± ¡°You''re in here with me,¡± said Mikumbi, finishing the sentence. Mami is Angry - A snippet from a short story The young man lay on the bed, exhausted, sweating and breathing heavily from his canoodling with probably the most beautiful woman he will ever encounter. Usually, after the passionate event, he would fall asleep but he couldn''t. It wasn''t because he was a trick and the akw?na/a??w¨®/karuwa had other clients to see. While a factor, something else in the small hut made the man very uneasy. Inside the building apart from a basic bed, a small chest of drawers and a few lamps to keep the place lit was something very much alive. A snake. A large snake. A python to be exact. It obviously belonged to Wunmi as after the act of coitus she started to pet it and give it affection and attention. Normally pythons didn''t bother the john as they were very common across the Nok province but this one was different. It was 2 to 3 times longer than the average man and had yellow and black semi rings for its skin colour with a completely yellow underbelly. It clearly was not your typical species of python. However, it wasn''t the python''s colour but its eyes that unnerved Chukwuemeka. It constantly stared at him. Ever since Wunmi and the trick first entered the building, the snake constantly stared at him, never taking its eyes off him. Even during sex, Chukwuemeka could feel the intense stare of the snake with Wunmi having to constantly reassure him that the python was no threat to him between her orgasms. Wunmi let her snake sliver on her body, coiling around her arms and neck, sliding on her beautiful unblemished skin like a hot knife skimming and shaping chocolate. Chukwuemeka started to put on his clothes. ¡°What do you think?¡± Wunmi asked the trick. She stood with her python wrapped around her, exuding grace and elegance like an Ikwubaran queen. She should be a queen, not slumming it in seedy places for money. Chukwuemeka got one last eyeful, admiring her sculpted face and body. Both snakes in the hut were very happy at her presence. ¡°Well, I better get going,¡± said Chukwuemeka. ¡°You can''t leave just yet,¡± said Wunmi. ¡°So you wanna go another round huh? I''m sorry as much as I would love to ''explore'' your body again I have to get going. I''ve got a busy day ahead of me.¡± ¡°Just sit,¡± said with a slightly commanding tone, ¡°I just want to ask you a couple of questions. If you answer them to my satisfaction, you''ll get a reward.¡± ¡°What''s that?¡± He asked with a puzzled look on his face, ¡°Another night with you, on the house?¡± ¡°Even better,¡± she started to laugh then stopped abruptly, her eyes narrowed, ¡°your worthless life.¡± Her voice changed drastically. It was still feminine but it no longer sounded human. ¡°You dare threaten me you bitch?¡± He snarled. ¡°Tell me where she is?¡± ¡°What the fuck are you talking about, woman? Now step aside.¡± Chukwuemeka attempted to brush the as he headed out the door. Before the man could even blink, had one of her delicate-looking hands wrapped around the man''s throat and effortlessly lifted him up from the ground. The trick gasped for air and tried to pry himself away from her vice-like grip. No way was this woman human. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Why do you humans insist on making life more difficult for yourselves?¡± she asked rhetorically in that inhuman tone. The akw?na tossed him into the wall with little effort. He hit the wall with a loud crunch. The impact broke a few ribs. The room started to go blurry as he felt dizzy. Getting back onto his feet would be a painful endeavour but with a lot of grunting through gritted teeth, Chukwuemeka managed to do it. It did him little good, as she sweep kicked his legs from under him. He howled in pain once again as landed on his back, his broken ribs the source of the pain. Wunmi stood over him with one of her feet caressing his seed bag area. No emotion showed on her beautifully sculpted face. ¡°Wunmi, I will answer any question you ask of me just let me li-.¡± ¡°Did I give you permission to speak, worm/she snapped in that inhuman voice. Her eyes filled with fire and stared daggers. ¡°Now that I have your attention, I will proceed to ask you again. You and some other thugs raided my lair and took something precious from me, and don''t bother lying about it, my pet, is psychic, he can read people''s minds and auras. Now answer my questions truthfully. Any hint of deception will result in losing your ability to multiply, understand?¡± She placed her high heel gently on one of his balls. He gulped hard and weakly nodded in agreement. ¡°First question, how did you find my lair?¡± she asked. ¡°Personally I don''t know. I just simply followed the captain who had some strange fish scale that he wore around his neck,¡± replied Chukwuemeka. Her eyes widened, ¡°We found your place, searched through it, then took what we came for.¡± Wunmi and Majele looked at each other with an intense stare. Silently communicating with their thoughts. After sharing their thoughts, they both turned their attention to their captive. ¡°Where is she?¡± the akw?na demanded. ¡°No idea,¡± he said while grimacing in pain from his busted ribs. The scream that came from Chukwuemeka''s mouth after that reply was bloodcurdling. Like a drowning cat singing. Wunmi crushed and popped one of his testicles underneath her high heels. The new sense of pain completely overrode his previous pain in his ribs and it was so intense that he was beginning to pass out. Her face remained blank and unreadable like she was crushing an annoying bug. ¡°Wrong answer, No answer. She repeated the question, pressing harder on his nether regions. Still no answer. She went to pop his remaining testicle but stopped midway. Through the pain from his damaged testicle and busted ribs, he started to laugh. Was the pain and the ordeal turning him mad? ¡°Do whatever you want to me, beat me, cut me, pop my last ball. I''ll never tell you where we''ve taken ''her''. My family are taken care of and spending a night fucking you silly has made me content. I can die a happy man, do your worst!¡± said Chukwuemeka with a defiant smile on his face. ¡°Then you are of no further use to me,¡± retorted the With a quick stomping thrust with her pointed heel, she pierced his throat and severed his vein and artery. A sly smile crept on her beautiful face as blood spurted out of the wound and began to fill her victim''s throat. Majele just stared. Chukwuemeka gurgled on his blood, writhed, spasmed, then he stopped. Still. He was with his ancestors. Wunmi walked out of the house with Majele wrapped around her, with not even a back glance at her victim''s corpse. She meandered along the road then turned off to walk along the beach, paying no attention to the lonely, drunken old man that stared at her. She stood by the shore looking at the sea tide rhythmically flowing in and out on the beach and took in a deep breath of the salty air. The ocean called out to Wunmi. She longed for the sea''s embrace. ¡°I will find her, even if I have to slaughter every land breathing piece of shit that gets in my way. Are you ready, Majele?¡± she asked her pet telepathically. The python acknowledged her. She walked towards the sea, breathing a sigh of pleasure that bordered orgasmic as the water touched her feet. She kept walking, the water kept rising till she was fully submerged. Wunmi felt alive in this environment. Her long, toned legs started to fuse together and the skin on her legs gradually became scaly and changed colour. Her feet became the end part of the tail. Her upper body and face stayed the same except she gained a little bit of visible muscle mass. She started to cut loose, swimming with unnatural power, speed and grace. She twisted, looped, darted with nothing more than her tail to guide and control. Majele matched her pace and grace, copying the movements and orbiting Wunmi. The lonely drunk followed the woman and saw her disappear into the ocean. One thing puzzled him. It wasn''t that a beautiful young woman decided to go for a swim late at night. Nor that she had a strange looking python wrapped around her. What bothered him was had she drowned. She hadn''t come up for air. Maybe she wanted to commit suicide he thought. Such a shame. A woman that young and beautiful could''ve done many things with her life. What a waste. He took another swig of palm wine from his small calabash. A creature, half beautiful woman, half fish, launched herself from the sea into the air. She must have been about ten feet above the surface of the ocean. While in the air, she somersaulted multiple times then dived back into the sea with a splash. The man spat out his palm wine in shock. It was the woman that he followed. ¡°Mami Wata,¡± said the drunk. Wrath Of The Rirundi - A snippet from a short story As Mikumbi reached the tavern, he stopped outside the entrance to take a look at the surroundings. The buildings weren''t in good shape, the roads had potholes, there also seemed to be a lot of women standing around, some young, some old, some pretty ones and some not so pretty. The women''s trade seemed to be of a more personal and carnal nature. ¡°Hmmm, this looks like a nice place to settle down and raise a family,¡± Mikumbi thought sarcastically. He entered the tavern majestically with his head held high. The tavern was deceptively large on the inside. It had all the typical things that taverns have, wooden tables and stools, a bar stand, pretty serving wenches. The tavern attracted a lot of ne''er do wells like thieves, cutthroats, the odd pirate. Still what was overwhelming was the number of foreign warriors that had gathered in the place, no doubt looking to be hired as mercenaries to fight in the ongoing war. "All these fighting men and vagabonds... And not a drop of blood or a dead body on the floor of this place... Impressive," thought the sorcerer. When Mikumbi reached the bar stand, he was met by the tavern owner, a tall, chocolate skinned, well-built man with a stern-looking face that had a few scars and one eye. ¡°What will it be?¡± said the barkeep in a surprisingly pleasant tone. ¡°What have you got?¡± ¡°Let''s see, I''ve got some locally brewed Pombe, Tembo and M¨¢w¨¢. Some Nilote Maziwa Pombe, I''ve also got some recently teleported rum from the Carawak Empire.¡± Mikumbi shook his head. ¡°None of the teleported stuff. It messes with my connection to the universe. Just bring me a calabash of pombe.¡± ¡°As you wish, have a seat and one of my barmaids will bring it to you shortly,¡± said the barkeep. Mikumbi dashed a couple of silver coins on the stand then walked to his table and sat down. He waited for his drink and the two bodyguards... and waited... and waited some more. ¡°There you go, bwana,¡± said the pretty tavern wench as she handed him the large jug of pombe and a cup. ¡°Thanks and here''s something for your troubles,¡± said Mikumbi as he handed her a silver coin. Still no sign of the bodyguards. Mikumbi poured some alcohol into his cup. ¡°I know you!¡± said a voice as Mikumbi was about to take his first swig. ¡°You''re that Mikumbi wizard guy aren''t ya?¡± Mikumbi put down his cup and his eyes locked on to a tall, young athletically built man wearing strange shiny gemstones around his wrist and neck. ¡°It''s true, you are rather tall for a pygmy aren''t you?¡± said the young man. Mikumbi rolled his eyes and started to drink his well-deserved beverage. The young man didn''t read the gesture at all. He kept on talking and asking random questions about Mikumbi''s exploits. It was like looking at a mix of a screaming fan and an over-excitable puppy. This was to be expected of course. The deeds and exploits of the wizard warrior were well known throughout the continent of Ikwubara. That''s why many people would hire his services, whether rich or poor (mainly rich), whether monarch, noble or commoner (mostly nobles). Most times the wizard didn''t mind his fan base asking him questions about himself, at times he would enjoy it. There were also a few times that his exploits would attract negative attention as well. Usually from other young buck fighters wanting to prove themselves. Big mistake. Or wannabe ''sorcerers'' wanting to see if his magic was real. An even bigger mistake. Right now though, he only wanted to be by himself and his pombe... and the pretty serving wench. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°I also dabble in magic,¡± said the young man with a devilish grin. ¡°Arcaenetics isn''t magic, boy¡± replied Mikumbi. ¡°Now bugger off, I''m tired, hungry, thirsty and I''ve got business to attend to.¡± The young man was shocked not only by the sorcerer''s words and tone but also by the statement ''Arcaenetics isn''t magic.'' ¡°Not magic,¡± the young man scoffed. ¡°I''ll show you.¡± The gemstones on the young man''s wrists started to glow. The energy within the crystals mixed with the wielder''s life force and partially altered his genetic structure. Both of his hands quickly gathered energy then there was a sudden eruption of ''magic''. One of his hands blazed with the element of fire, the other hand was enveloped in small icicles and cold mist. This was the power of arcaenetics ¨C Tiny, oval-shaped crystals that allowed ordinary humans to wield powerful magical abilities like controlling the elements, teleporting, healing, shapeshifting, scanning a person''s genetic make up and a whole myriad of wonders by altering the user''s genetic code. The possibilities of arcaenetics were huge for both good and ill. The onlookers watched on, excited. Finally, it looked like there was going to be a brawl they thought. Some of the ne''er do wells were even placing bets. ¡°NO FIGHTING IN THIS BAR,¡± shouted the barkeep. ¡°Relax. I''m just showing Mikumbi my magic power,¡± said the young man in a cocky tone. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°I think somebody''s going to get hurt,¡± replied the sorcerer. ¡°Of course not. I''ve got complete con--¡± the wannabe tripped and fell. As he fell, he accidentally shot out two powerful blasts of magic, one from each hand. One of the paths of the projectiles was the barkeep and the other projectile''s path was the tavern wench that served Mikumbi. ¡°ENOUGH!¡± Mikumbi shouted as he waved and twirled his hand around his head. The magic blasts, the pyro inches away from the barmaid''s face and the cryo inches away from the barkeep stopped and were drawn away from them and into the glowing right hand of Mikumbi. Everyone in the tavern looked at the spectacle in shock and awe, then stared at the short ''demon'' with glowing yellowy-green eyes, holding elemental bolts in his hand like they were toys. The wizard warrior picked up his spear and said something in a strange language. His spear tip glowed with neon yellowy-green energy. He placed his right hand that was still holding the elemental blasts on the spear blade. ¡°Store,¡± Mikumbi said in a calm, authoritative tone. The ''magicks'' drained from his hand and into his spear until there was no trace. The wannabe looked at the wizard with a mix of awe and frightened eyes. ¡°Please forgive me, bwana Mikumbi. I didn''t mean to use those blasts. I didn''t m---¡± the young man was knocked on his arse by a powerful punch. Looming over the wannabe was the large, solidly built and very angry barkeep. ¡°Forgive? You should be so fucking lucky,¡± said the barkeep. ¡°You''re lucky that I don''t beat the black off your skin.¡± The cheers and roars of laughter from the crowd of ne''er do wells and warriors filled the tavern as the barkeep kicked the downed opponent''s chest. Nothing like a good brawl to break the monotony of waiting and get the blood pumping. The tavern door opened revealing two large, well built, dark-skinned men wearing a mix of Swahili garb, chainmail and other pieces of armour while armed with spears and scimitars. They kinda looked like Nilotes only beefier... Most likely Nilotic admixed Bantus or vice versa. Both armoured men scanned the tavern then their eyes locked on Mikumbi. ¡°I think I see my escorts,¡± said Mikumbi then sipped his drink. The escorts walked up to Mikumbi. ¡°The Sultan will see you now. Come,¡± said one of the bodyguards. ¡°Finally. I was getting bored,¡± said Mikumbi. Mikumbi picked up his stuff and went with the bodyguards. As he was about to leave he turned to the barkeep and said. ¡°Don''t be too rough with the boy. He''s young as we all were once upon a time.¡± Then left the premises. ¡°Don''t worry bwana wizard. I won''t be too rough on the boy... Much!¡± The barkeep said while cracking his knuckles with a sinister grin. Fear flooded the young wannabe''s face. ¡°Father please, I''m sorry, I didn''t mean it, Father. Father NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!¡± No animals were hurt as Mikumbi left the tavern. The same can''t be said for a certain clumsy wannabe. Benga and The Chiefs Daughter - A snippet of a short story The nearest inn beckoned him. The only thing he wanted right now was something hot and filling and a comfy bed for the night. The wanderer was about to enter the building until he saw something in his periphery. Two men with a young woman. The woman whose hands were tied with course rope, resisted heavily as she was being dragged by her arms by both men. Other onlookers on the street gave the trio a wide berth, some turning their heads away acting like nothing was happening. ¡°Stop defying us, woman,¡± said one of the men in a thick Bugandan accent. A stocky man of average height with milk to dark chocolate-coloured skin. His facial features were a mix of Nilotic and Bantu and he had a buzzcut hairstyle. ¡°You belong to the master now.¡± The other man nodded. Compared to his companion, he was slightly taller but had a slightly slimmer physique. His skin tone and facial features were similar to his companions but he had short dreadlocks. ¡°Don''t make it harder for yourself and have us carry you over one of our shoulders. Have some damn dignity.¡± Like the onlookers, the Bambuti wanted nothing to do with the trio. It wasn''t his problem. The only thing he needed to tend to was his hunger and fatigue. Besides, a man of his talents and position never gets involved in petty local and political disputes. Yet, why couldn''t he take his eyes off the young woman? Was it because of her beautiful ovally, heart-shaped face, high rounded forehead, large dark brown almond-shaped eyes, small nose with flared nostrils, full lips with a medium-sized mouth and large healthy teeth, high yet soft and fleshy cheekbones? Was it her cornrowed afro hair? Was it because she was just under six feet tall and had legs that didn''t seem to end? Was it her elegant frame of narrow shoulders, waist and hips? Was it her young ripe body equipped with pert breasts and a perfect peach of a bubble butt that begged to be admired and eaten, figuratively of course? Was it that her deep dark skin, free of any blemishes, shined in the sun and looked almost edible to anybody with a sweet tooth? Who could say? ¡°This isn''t your problem. Don''t get involved. Let it go.¡± The thoughts repeated within the Bambuti''s head. Seeing the young woman grimace and being defiant only accentuated her beautiful face. The brain is rational but many times the heart will override it. Maybe a healthy compromise between the two parts. Just ask the trio what''s going on between the three of them. No harm in asking. What''s the worst that could happen? The wanderer made his way to the trio. ¡°Hello there,¡± asked the Bambuti. ¡°What''s with this situation?¡± ¡°Stay away, little one,¡± said the young woman, her voice sweet, soft-spoken and almost childlike. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡°You heard her, get lost,¡± said the average height man. The drifter went ahead of them then blocked their path. ¡°Surely you can answer my simple question,¡± said the Bambuti. ¡°Why am I prodding the leopard?¡± ¡°Please, little one, just go. You don''t want any part of this,¡± pleaded the woman. Her grimacing face had turned to one of concern. ¡°Piss off, boy or I''ll kick you up the arse. This doesn''t concern you. Now run home,¡± warned the taller thug. ¡°Boy? I''m no boy. I''m a man. And one far older than you realise, young''un,¡± replied the Bambuti. The woman shook her head. The wanderer shouldn''t have said he was a man. The thugs'' eyes narrowed. Their hands reached for their weapons. Many wide-eyed onlookers on the street gasped. Whispers and murmurs of concern flooded the streets. ¡°That was the biggest mistake of your entire life,¡± said the tall brute. ¡°Any man that interferes with Bwana Siwatu''s business will have to pay the price.¡± ¡°I''m sorry but who is Siwatu?¡± Asked the wanderer, feigning interest. ¡°Forget it. He clearly doesn''t have any idea who you guys are. Just leave him al--,¡± pleaded the woman. ¡°Shut up, woman,¡± interrupted the tall hoodlum. He pulled out his rungu from his belt and unsheathed his mean looking curved dagger. ¡°It''s too late for ignorance. This little bug has to be taught a lesson on who runs this town.¡± The crowd grew larger and gathered around the fiasco. ¡°Why did I have to get involved in this shit?¡± The Bambuti thought. There was no use in talking it out any longer. The foolish ruffian wanted a fight and assert himself on the little man... Big mistake. It was time to put on a show for the crowd and show who the Bambuti truly was. Mikumbi and the War God Incarnate - A snippet from a short story I walk down the spiralling wooden steps that connect the ground to my treehouse. Heshima trails behind me. It¡¯s not every day that somebody comes to visit little old me. As I confront the man, it soon came apparent that he wasn¡¯t a man but a boy. At a little over six feet tall with shoulders and torso thick with muscle and broader than the gates of any city wall, this ¡®boy¡¯ is already larger and more developed than most men. His face is all too familiar to me. Chiseled, large mouth and teeth, oval/oblong shaped head, medium sized brown eyes and the Mandingo frohawk. Definitely of West Ikwubaran stock, more specifically, The Neo-Wagadu Imperial family. He wears nothing on his near shredded upper half apart from a single chainmail sleeve attached to colourful kapok/quilted pauldrons and a pair of bazubands ¨C vambraces made from a mix of quilted padded cotton, chainmail and strips of steel. On his lower half, he wears a simple pair of dark blue trousers and a pair of boots. ¡°Ah, finally, the great Mikumbi decides to show himself,¡± says the boy then he looks at me with a level of intrigue. ¡°I thought you''d be taller. I suppose that you''re tall for Mbuti... and short for a Nilote.¡± This is the moment where I would roll my eyes (I don''t). If I had a gold coin for every time somebody made a so called clever remark about my height and heritage, I''d be richer than many monarchs. ¡°May I ask, are you related to Anokye ¡°Of course,¡± boasts the young man, his face beams with pride. ¡°He''s my father.¡± ¡°A good man. A great warrior. He fought with me against the earth demon king and his army of lava demons, many years ago.¡± ¡°I know the story.¡± The young man stands impatiently, looking ''through'' me. You heard me. It was like I was just another obstacle in his way. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°How did you manage to find this place?¡± I ask. ¡°You weren''t hard to find,¡± he scoffs. I have to give the boy credit, he''s intelligent. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°Ain''t it obvious. I''ve come to challenge you. I want to see if you truly are this ''great hero'' of Ikwubara.¡± Oh boy. Another cocky challenger wants to see if my skills are the real deal. That my exploits were more than just embellishments. I swear you save the continent multiple times and every warrior wants to make a name for themselves and nearly every woman wants to sleep with you... Not that I mind the second part. ¡°I really don''t have time for this,¡± I say. ¡°Then make time,¡± he snarls, baring his large, pearly white teeth. ¡°Cos I''m not leaving without fighting you and with your blood on my spear.¡± He points his impressive weapon at me. A steel double tipped spear that''s slightly longer than the boy''s height. Hmm, I might make me one of those. Heshima is having none of it, he roars so loud that it echoes throughout the forest, scaring all the birds from the surrounding treetops. Heshima jumps in front of me, standing on his legs, beating on his powerful chest and bearing his large canines in a threatening display. Typical silverback behaviour. Typical Heshima. Khonvoum help anybody that catches Heshima on a bad day. He doesn''t take kindly to threats against him or his loved ones. The man laughs a little, while still pointing his spear. ¡°Awww! How cute. Are you going to let your pet monkey fight for you?¡± Heshima''s heavy brows furrows. He hates being compared to monkeys. ¡°Drop the spear, so Heshima can show you what a ''monkey'' can do.¡± (Sorry Heshima). ¡°Better yet, why don''t you call off your pet, otherwise he''ll end up as a stuffed trophy.¡± Without warning Heshima charges at the spearsman. Two hundred kilograms of bulk become an agile and surprisingly graceful killing machine of large canines and superhuman strength. It still shocks me and only a fool wouldn''t be afraid of such a force of nature. Yet... The boy just stands there. Damn near perfectly still. With no visible signs of fear on his face. Except for his eyes. They don''t display any fear. No, they display something even more shocking. Bloodlust and predatory instinct. It''s not Heshima going to attack him. It''s prey willingly jumping into the jaws of a predator. ¡°Halt, Heshima,¡± I yell at the near top of my lungs. ¡°Get back here.¡± Heshima returns to my side but not without giving a scowl to the intruder. ¡°Enough talk and chest-beating,¡± he says impatiently. ¡°Let''s get the fight started.¡± The Return of the Modjajis - Another snippet from a short story Heshima stood outside on the large open balcony of the Mikumbi''s tree house looking out at the surrounding montane rainforest. It would seem odd that a two hundred kilogram, eastern lowland and mountain cross breed, silverback gorilla would not be roaming the surrounding forests. However, Heshima was no ordinary gorilla. He was Mikumbi''s familiar. A pair bond between sorcerer and familiar that was far more powerful and meaningful than some ordinary family pet relationship. Heshima looked up with furrowed heavy brows to see a gathering of yellowy-green energy particles in a single point in space. More and more of these particles coalesced into a flash of yellowy-green light. From that flash, a piece of paper had formed then floated down in the humid air. Heshima followed the floating paper''s path with his deep-set eyes, watching it land a few feet away from where he was standing. The gorilla walked to the fallen piece of paper then picked it up with its large hairy hand. Heshima smiled a toothy grin, knowing exactly what the piece of paper was about. He wasted no time in heading into the tree house to deliver the piece of paper. Mikumbi sat on his couch, reading a book. The wizard rolled his eyes as the foundation of the tree house shook. It meant only one of two things: Heshima has spotted an intruder. Or Heshima has got a letter of request for help. As Heshima ran into the house, Mikumbi stood up with folded arms and a pissed-off look on his boyish face. ¡°Heshima. I''ve told you Khonvoum how many times to never run in the house.¡± The silverback hung his head low. It could feel the glare of Mikumbi on his skin and fur. ¡°Hand over the letter,¡± ordered Mikumbi. The gorilla did what he was told. ¡°Good. Now go to your corner.¡± Mikumbi shook his head like a loving father as Heshima went to his corner like a scolded child. The wizard opened and read the letter. Dear Mikumbi, If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. My Empire and I are in need of your assistance. A grave threat has returned to my realm. Signed Umbusi/Emperor Mgwazeni Mbuyiselo Thaba Philippus Inkwenyezi ¡°Hmm. I haven''t been to the south of the continent in a long while,¡± said Mikumbi. Mikumbi went to gather and pack the things he needed for the trip. Potions, food, water, He walked out of his room fully packed with his wizard spear in his hand and a sheathed panga and six kpinga and osele attached to his belt. ¡°What do you think?¡± said the wizard looking at Heshima. ¡°I look cute huh?¡± Heshima flashed a large toothy grin. ¡°Okay, time to head off.¡± Heshima once again jumped up and down, shaking the tree house while making distinct vocalisations with his mouth. Mikumbi looked at his familiar with a stern face. ¡°Stop it. You''re not coming with me.¡± Heshima hung his head low. With Heshima out of the way, Mikumbi could start his spell. A small yet scheming smile crept on the gorilla''s face as the wizard began his spell. Heshima observed the sorcerer drawing energy from the universe and chanting. Next came Mikumbi''s glowing eyes, hands and spear tip. The gorilla knew he''d have to be quick to execute his plan. ¡°To ''Senlekwa''.¡± boomed the wizard. As he was about to slam the butt of his spear on the ground to complete the spell, Heshima hurtled towards him with a speed that didn''t match his incredible bulk. ¡°Oh shit,¡± thought the wizard as the silverback was in range of his teleportation spell. It was too late to spell now. The spear butt slammed on the floor and both wizard warrior and familiar disappeared in a bright yellowy-green flash. Mikumbi and the War God Incarnate - Another snippet from a short story The visitor readies himself in a fighting stance, pointing his weapon at me. Impressive. Very impressive. His stance is practically perfect. Feet the right width apart. Legs bent perfectly. Eyes intense and focused. You can usually tell a lot about a fighter by their fighting stance. And the young man looks very formidable... for now. ¡°One question. As unlikely that it''ll happen but I must ask. What if you kill me? Who would defend Ikwubara from the supernatural?¡± I ask. ¡°I don''t...¡± The stranger thinks about his response for a few seconds. ¡°Care. If you can''t beat someone like me then your exploits are nothing more than bluster. Ikwubara will go on without you.¡± Ouch. Those words cut deep. He sure knows how to hurt a fellow. ¡°Fine, warrior. At least tell me your name.¡± ¡°I''ll tell you my name after the end of our fight.¡± Rain clouds gather above us, turning the once sunny sky, murky grey. A sign of the gods ordaining this fight? Or just part of living in the rainforest? Either way, so clich¨¦. He rushes at me to make the first move. For somebody with his bulky frame, he moves like a panther, powerful yet with a certain grace. His every movement is calculated and executed to near perfection. He leaps in the air for a ''superman'' thrust with his spear. A simple parry from me was enough to thwart his attack. With him wide open my retort will be swift... What the fu-? I fell on my arse and back. Hard. He caught me with a spinning sweep kick that took out my legs. I didn''t have time to feel the pain as he goes for the kill with a lunge, straight at my hairy chest. I parry the death blow and return the favour as I sweep kick his legs from under him while getting back on my feet like a gymnast. I step away quickly from the downed opponent, lest he decides to sweep kick me for a second time. ¡°Not bad,¡± says the stranger, as he rises to his feet. ¡°But, I expected more from the ''great'' warrior wizard.¡± ¡°And I expected more from the highly touted warriors of House Wagadu,¡± I ready myself in battle stance. Feet bent and bit more than shoulder-width apart. ¡°I suppose that the Wagadu blood is thinning out.¡± That''s when he shows that he really is a Wagadu. Those eyes. Those glowing, blood-red eyes. The eyes that gave the men of House Wagadu the name of the ''Golden Demons''. A trait passed on the male line that came from the first mansa/emperor of Neo-Wagadu. Whenever they feel an extremely negative emotion like anger, fear or whatever... I''d seen it before with the stranger''s father... And now I see why the ''Golden Demon'' moniker stuck with them. The stranger resumes his attack. Our spears meet each other making heavy clunking sounds as we battle for ''dominance''. Even though I deflect his blows, it''s not easy and they start to take their toll very quickly. I''ve never felt anything like it, from a human. Every blow that I deflect from him, shakes my body to the core. Such power. More importantly, great technique. His attacks leave no opening for me to retort. I just can''t attack with my spear... unarmed however might be a different story. There are a few (and I do mean only a few) openings for me to wrestle him. As his blow from his shaft narrowly misses my head, I grab one of his arms, twist my body into position and give him a hip throw that even my former wrestling instructor would be proud of. Yet, even with the throw, the bastard still manages to punch me square in the cheek. Hard. How the fuck did he manage to do that? You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. My arse hit the grass (again), only now it feels like my face is on fire from that punch. At least he slammed on the ground. That thud sounded brutal, like a fallen tree. Fight over. There''s no way he''s getting up from that move anytime soon. I just hope he didn''t damage my adorable face. I turn and walk away and not a moment too soon as the heavens let loose its contents. When it rains in the montane rainforest, it fucking rains... And I don''t want to ruin my shuka. ¡°Where do you think you''re going?¡± the stranger says. I turn around to see the stranger standing grim-faced, with his eyes glowing that demonic, neon red colour. My throw didn''t even faze him. ¡°It''s gonna take a lot more than that to stop me.¡± From out of practically nowhere, the stranger flings some throwing knives at me. Deflecting the knives isn''t a problem. I have to admit his knife throwing technique is as good as mine. As I deflect what I thought was his last blade, a second blade that was disguised by the previous finds its mark in my right shoulder. The pain bit me like a hungry animal as blood seeps out of the wound and mixes with the rainfall. Khonvoum, how could I not see this trick? No time to wonder or feel pain. Like a predator catching sight of weakened prey, he pounces in for the kill. His attacks are even more ferocious. I barely block and deflect. Yet somehow, I keep up with him, despite my injured shoulder. ¡°Is that all you got?¡± he asks mockingly while still attacking. ¡°The ''great'' Mikumbi is struggling with a teenager. How pathetic.¡± Damn. He''s right. I can barely keep up. This is no ordinary teenage boy. It''s like fighting his father all over again. What''s worse, he''s enjoying the fight. That grimace on his face, a mix of joy and controlled rage. His spear slices my left thigh and this time I let the profanities fly out my mouth as I fall to one knee. I look up as the rain came down hard like Khonvoum needed a desperate piss. The stranger stands still like an obsidian statue of a war god with his spear tips inches away from my neck. His face shows no emotion... actually, there''s a little bit of emotion. Disappointment. ¡°I would say that you fought well, sorcerer... but that would be lying. I can''t believe my father gave you all that praise. That earth demon and his lava minions must be an absolute joke if he lost to you.¡± I take it back... this kid is better than Anokye. He''s one in a million and he''s not even fully grown or at his peak. How is it possible? ¡°You should''ve used your sorcery. Then you might have had a chance,¡± the stranger boasts. My eyes lock on to his. ¡°Trust me. You don''t want me to use magic.¡± The laugh that came from his mouth was hearty yet threatening. ¡°Really?¡± he says with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Fine... I''ll send you to your ancestors.¡± His killing thrust was precise... but I manage to hold back his spear by grabbing the shaft in the nick of time. He keeps pushing his spear while maintaining that twisted grimace on his face. I can''t keep holding back his spear forever. Injured. Losing blood. Why doesn''t he just kill me? He knows that I''m weak and can barely fight back. Hands wet and slippery. This fool really wants me to use magic. ¡°Do it.¡± I can''t hold him back much longer. ¡°No. I mustn''t.¡± This rain isn''t making things any easier. ¡°I''ll die if I don''t.¡± I breathe deeply through my nose. ¡°There has to be another way.¡± Let the energies of the universe fill my very being. ¡°There is no other way. Show this upstart why I''m the real deal. Wipe that smile off his face.¡± My turn to smile now. A blast of energy erupts from my body in a bright yellowy-green flash, knocking the stranger on his arse. I stand up looking down at him with glowing eyes and hands. ¡° ¡° Lord of the Adze/wo - Another snippet from one of my short stories Mikumbi and his apprentice, Msolumsi lay in bed in a lover''s embrace after a night of love making. Msolumsi''s rested on her teacher''s hairy chest, while one of Mikumbi''s arms wrapped around his apprentice''s slender body. The sun''s golden rays lit the lavish room of Mikumbi''s beautifully constructed tree house. A sense of bliss came over him as he looked down at the woman of his dreams lying on him. His Ikwubaran queen. She made the life of a wizard warrior much more bearable. If only they could stay in bed for the whole day, just making love and snuggling. Unfortunately, a sorcerer''s work is never over. Potions to be made, books to be written, workouts to be done and apprentices to be trained. Speaking of apprentices. ¡°Wake up, sleepy head,¡± said Mikumbi while prodding Msolumsi. She continued to sleep. Her torso moved up and down with every breath. ¡°Come on, time to get up,¡± he said a little louder and prodded a little harder. Message finally received. She yawned and stretched her arms. ¡°Habari za asubuhi, mwalimu,¡± she said while rubbing her semi-tired eyes. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Morning, apprentice, I hope you slept well. We''ve got a lot of stuff to do.¡± Disappointment lined her beautiful face. ¡°Can''t we just stay in bed for the whole day?¡± She asked while kissing his chest and working her way up to his neck. ¡°No... we can''t...,¡± he replied, trying to maintain his focus and not succumb to her manipulative ways. It was hard... in more ways than one and she noticed. ¡°Really. I think ''he'' wants to stay in bed with me,¡± the apprentice said playfully, grabbing her teacher''s hard ''wand'' underneath the sheets. Passion ran through his body. So many impure thoughts swam in his head. He felt like he was about to lose control and bang his apprentice''s brains out all day... but he was a master of self control. He would be a terrible teacher if he gave in so easily. ¡°Not today, Msolumsi,¡± the sorcerer commanded, ¡°We have work and training to do. Make us some breakfast while I work out.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± she sighed, knowing that he wasn''t going to change his mind. Was she losing her charm? Still, it would be wrong for her to leave her teacher so ''stiff''. ¡°I''ll make you breakfast, teacher. But first I''m going to get my ''breakfast'',¡± she said seductively while wiggling her eyebrows. She dived her head under the sheet and worked her way to Mikumbi''s ''wand''. ¡°Msolumsi, not now... Stop it... We ha-... Oh KHON...VOUM.¡± Mikumbi''s eyes rolled into the back of his head. Anansi/es Joke - Another snippet from a short story The hunters were well hidden and placed to begin to make their move. With subtle eye and head movements and small hand gestures, they communicated without so much as a peep. The other two hunters clutched their spears. With a final hand gesture, the hunt began. The archers let loose their arrows. The twang of the bow echoed through that part of the forest, making the birds take flight. . The hog''s squeal rang through the forest. One arrow shaft jutted from its back leg, the two arrows found their place in the side of its belly. The beast tried to scamper away but with the arrow, in its back leg, it wasn''t really going anywhere. Next came the other two warriors with their spears. One of them took aim, lining his arm and spear, then flung his spear. The spear darted through the air then hit the side of the porcine and it fell onto his side. The hunters made their way to their dying prey then stood over it. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. ¡° Still, the old man was adamant about something following them and that something had predatory intentions. ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° ¡° Tears welled up in the young hunter''s eyes, he wanted to protest but knew deep down the old man was right. He bid the other hunters farewell, asked the ancestors to watch and protect them then ran back to the village as fast as he could. ¡° Tanits Sanctuary - Another snippet from a short story Mikumbi shuddered. The hairs on his body stuck up like static electricity going through his body. He felt the presence of magic partially tearing and warping reality. The source of the disturbance came from the living room and whatever or whoever was giving off the energy was powerful. Strong enough to break through the one-kilometre diameter magic barrier that Mikumbi erected to ward against supernatural threats. Yet, despite the warning, he could sense a couple of things about this presence. It was familiar. And it was tainted with something foul. He ran to the hub of the house to confront it, with his trusty, six foot long, ornately decorated, broad-leafed, steel-tipped, sorcerer''s spear in hand. While running, the tree house began to shake. Was the magic powerful enough to shake the house? As he made it to his living room, Mikumbi found the cause of the shaking. eastern lowland silverback gorilla. ¡°Yes, Heshima, I can feel it too,¡± said the sorcerer. ¡°Stop getting excited and shaking the house.¡± The room shone as bright yellowy-orange energy particles gathered in the middle of the room. The wizard warrior''s eyes, hands and spear tip flashed neon yellowy-green as he stood ready in his fighting stance, legs bent, spear hand low and pointing at the gathering energy particles and his empty hand open and close to his face. Heshima stood ready, baring his large teeth and fangs. Within a bright yellowy-orange flash of light that filled the room, two figures emerged: a large leopard and a beautiful yet injured Tamazghan woman. ¡°Dihya,¡± said Mikumbi with a mix of elation and shock. He became a little embarrassed that he didn''t recognise his friend''s signature energy. ¡°Mik... um... bi,¡± Dihya replied with heavy panted breaths. She could barely stand and was propping herself up with her spear. Something hit Mikumbi. It was like a pungent smell and a giant boa constrictor wrapping around him, slowly crushing him physically, mentally and spiritually. An assault on his very being. There was only one thing that made him feel that way. It was the distinct foul presence that he sensed along with Dihya''s energy. ¡°KHONVOUM, YOU REEK OF ''JUYANWANSI'',¡± the sorcerer roared. He ran to help her but was stopped by Zinedine as he jumped between them, growling and baring his powerful fangs. Heshima responded in kind, standing upright, growling and beating his chest. The two familiars looked at each other with protective intent. However, there was a far deeper and primal tension between the two. Heshima doesn''t like leopards. In the wilds of the rainforest, leopards prey on gorillas. Even silverbacks aren''t safe from these deadly predators. Yet even Zinedine knew that the large silverback would be a match for him in an upfront one-on-one fight. ¡°Zin... edine..., it''s... OK. Mik... umbi... will... help... me,¡± Dihya told her familiar. ¡°Stand... down.¡± ¡°You too, Heshima. Get back in the corner,¡± Mikumbi pointed. Heshima made his way to the corner while Zinedine stood aside. Both familiars never took their eyes off each other. He examined Dihya with a sorcerer''s eyes. Around her midsection was the source of the ''Juyanwansi'' ¨C ''Twisted Magic''. A spiralling, jet-black aura a eating away, burning, corrupting her body, mind and life force. Time was of the essence. If he didn''t purify her quickly, she''d suffer a fate worse than death. Her body would shrivel. Her mind would become corrupted and controlled by the Juyanwansi. Her soul/lifeforce would belong to the Juyanwansi. Not to mention that the twisted magic would grow and attract more dark twisted magic. Mikumbi guided her to his sofa, making sure not to touch her so that the corrupt magic didn''t spread to him. Dihya groaned in pain as she lay on the sofa, her body slick with sweat. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I''m going to purify the twisted magic now. This will hurt. A lot,¡± he warned. ¡°Just... do... it,¡± Dihya said, each word causing a lance of pain. Mikumbi took in a deep breath through his nose, chanting strange whisperings in an unknown language then began to focus. His eyes and hands started to glow with his signature energy. ¡°Draw away Juyanwansi,¡± boomed the wizard while making hand strange hand gestures. The dark, twisted aura started to snake away from Dihya and make its way to Mikumbi''s chest. Dihya let loose an eardrum-bursting scream that could be heard from the surrounding forest. Never had she felt such intense pain. Even the near torturous training she endured alongside Mikumbi to become sorcerers couldn''t compare or prepare her for what she was enduring. Like her mind, body and soul were being ripped apart. It partially was. ¡°I hate to put you through this, Dihya,¡± Mikumbi thought. ¡°Be strong, we''ll get through this.¡± The sorcerer concentrated on gathering the Juyanwansi into a ball of dark energy floating between his hands and chest, making sure that energy didn''t touch him, lest he gets infected. He could feel the twisted magical energy fighting to be contained in its own sphere. It wanted to be free. To infect. To burn. To drain. To consume. ¡°So much Juyanwansi. The fact you managed to fight it for so long is truly amazing.¡± With the last of twisted magic cleared from Dihya''s being and gathered, Mikumbi could now focus on getting rid of it. ¡°Opening to limbo,¡± the wizard commanded. His spear flashed with his signature energy then began to spin by itself in mid-air. Sparks of mystic energy shot from the rapidly spinning spear, cutting and tearing into the fabric of reality itself. An elliptical portal flashed a couple of metres from the spear. ¡°Time for you to be purified,¡± he said to the ball of darkness. The limbo portal started siphoning the twisted energy, vacuuming it into that realm where it would be purified. Slowly, the twisted ball became smaller and smaller till there was nothing left. ¡°Close portal,¡± he said in a calm tone then clapped his hands. His spear stopped spinning and with that, the portal closed and disappeared. He examined his friend once again with a sorcerer''s eye and felt her with a sorcerer''s hand now that she was safe to touch. Her breathing was still heavy, every part of her body was in agony and she was barely conscious. However, with the worst of it over, she''d recover. Mikumbi walked over to his potion cabinet, looking for a healing potion. Once found, he returned to Dihya''s side, gently propping up her head and upper body, being careful not to cause more pain. He opened the vial, gently opened her mouth then tipped the contents of the vial into her mouth. Once she swallowed it all, he lay her down. ¡°Numb,¡± said the warrior in a soft yet assertive tone as he rested his yellowy-green aura hand on her forehead. The energy of his hand seeped into her forehead, washing away most of her aches and pains. ¡°I''ve done what I can. The rest is up to you now, Dihya.¡± He turned on his feet and walked to his room. As he was about to enter, he stopped then headed to Zinedine. ¡°Get out. You can''t stay inside. I won''t risk you and Heshima fighting inside the house,¡± ordered the wizard, pointing his finger outside. The leopard let loose a defiant roar and bared its fangs at the wizard. Heshima ran to once again protect his companion but was halted. Mikumbi''s eyes and hands blazed with his signature aura as he focused mystical energy into his voice box. He let loose a booming roar that sounded like a mix of every big cat directed at the overprotective leopard. The tree house shook and rumbled from the energy of the roar. ¡°I''m not telling you again, kitten,¡± Mikumbi said. The leopard held its head down. Zinedine realised that there was only one apex predator in the area and it had best do what the apex predator says. As the leopard slinked away, Mikumbi clicked his fingers to magically open his front door. ¡°If you get hungry, there''s plenty of prey around in the surrounding woods.¡± Mikumbi was about to go to his room when he noticed concern in Heshima''s eyes. ¡°Oh, right.¡± The wizard quickly ran out the front door onto the massive wooden balcony. He just about caught sight of Zinedine about to enter the jungle. ¡°No preying on humans,¡± shouted the wizard. ¡°... Or gorillas.¡±