The White Shield Part 22

"Is it for good or for ill she has come among us, Untuswa?" he said.

"For good, Great Great One."

"Ha! So thou ever sayest. Yet her prophecy as regarded the little one was strange."

"Strange it was, Black Elephant, but it was not lightly spoken."

"She is a greater magician than this white man, for no such saying, light or dark, did he ever utter concerning us."

"That is true, Father. Yet he is a good man."

"And the sayings of that witch who was thy chief wife, Untuswa. They, too, were strange."

"_Whau_! They were the ravings of a jealous and evil-tongued woman, Calf of a Black Bull. But now I am without a chief wife, give me, I pray thee, this sorceress, Father, for there is that about her which I love, O Stabber of the Sun."

"So, so!" said Umzilikazi, laughing softly, and there was a look on his face which brought back the days when I, being a boy, desired leave to _tunga_. "So, so, Untuswa? She would make a n.o.ble subst.i.tute for thy dead witch? Ha! Yet be content, thou holder of the royal spear and the royal shield."

There was that in the words--in the look--as the King dismissed me which left an uncomfortable load upon my mind; and, indeed, I felt as though I had acted like a fool.

Now, as I returned to the huts I occupied when at Kwa'zingwenya upon the King's business, my two younger wives came about me with words of love and thankfulness, because my voice had been raised on their behalf when they were adjudged to die the death which had overtaken Nangeza. Yet for these I had no ears and but little patience, for my mind was filled with the Bakoni sorceress. Moreover, I now foresaw strife between these two; for, Nangeza being gone, these would not rest until one or other of them had taken her place, nor would they suffer me to rest--for so it is with women: each must always be the greater. So I answered them but shortly, bidding them gather up their possessions and start back at once to my kraal--happy that they could go back well and strong in the flesh, and not as weeping ghosts whose bodies were dead moaning over the ashes of their former home. But for my part I chose to remain at Kwa'zingwenya for a s.p.a.ce, for I feared lest Lalusini should escape me again. Yet was I as powerless with regard to her as the lowest of our Amaholi; for was not her life the property of the King, even as the lives of all of us? Truly within the nation I was great. Yet did my will cross that of the King and--_Au_! where is the smoke of yesterday's fire?

Thinking such thoughts, I was wandering at eventide between the great kraal and the river when I came upon old Masuka gathering herbs.

"Greeting, thou holder of the royal spear and the royal shield," said the old man, looking at me sideways, like a bird, out of his bright eyes. Again I felt uneasy, for his words were exactly those which the King had uttered--his tone mocking and ill-omened.

"Greeting, my father," I answered, trying to seem unconcerned. "Now we have yet another magician among us--this time a female one."

"That is so, Untuswa. Ah, ah! what was my 'word' to thee? 'The she-eagle will return and--the alligators shall be fed.' Did I lie in that?"

"Not so, my father. Truth was there in the word, for it has been shown this day."

"Your black cow has given good milk, my son. _Whau_, Untuswa! You should be an _isa.n.u.si_ yourself, who did so readily read the way of the Bakoni witch-song. But now great things are to come upon us--upon you: yes--strange things."

"What is the strangest thing which is to come upon me, my father?" I said, again seeking to pry into the future.

"Ha! The place of the Three Rifts," he answered, darkly.

"But I know not such a place, my father."

"Thou wilt know it, Untuswa; thou wilt know it--one day."

No more would the old man tell, and so I left him, pondering greatly over these things as I went. And it seemed to me that the air was dark with sorcery and magic, and that snares lay spread all around, lurking for the steps of him who should tread unwarily; and, indeed, this was so, for the old Mosutu's foresight was no mere empty frothing, but of portentous weight, as, indeed, were all his utterances.

While these things were in progress, _Nkose_, the white priest was absent from Kwa'zingwenya; for since the day of his interference at the Pool of the Alligators, the King chose, when possible, to find some pretext for removing him to a distance what time evil-doers were to die the death. For if the stranger were again to interfere, he, too, must die, for it would be impossible to overlook such rebellion a second time, even from a white man. Now, Umzilikazi did not desire his death, wherefore he would direct that some should lure the stranger to a distant kraal, on the pretence that certain people there were eager to listen to his teaching, all in accordance with the crafty scheme which had kept him from pursuing his journey to the south, and rendered him content to remain among us. And, no matter what the weather, no matter how great his own fatigue, upon receiving such a call, the white priest would start immediately, through heat or cold or storm, though the rivers were in flood or sickness lurked in the low-lying swamps. So it had been in this instance; and not until several days had gone by since the death of Nangeza did he return, weary with travel, and sad that his teachings should be of so small avail.

But very much more sad was he on learning of the disappearance of Kwelanga, and he wept, that white _isa.n.u.si_; for he loved the little one, who, after all, was of his own colour, the only one of such among us. And he, like ourselves, doubted not but that she had been slain and devoured by wild beasts. Yet, loudly did he give thanks to the King who had permitted him to perform the water-rite over her; since by this, he said, though her body were dead, her spirit should live in happiness forever. And we, hearing these words, glanced at one another with meaning. Did they not accord with Lalusini's saying, that again should Kwelanga's voice be heard, though with a warning, forasmuch that not for ill had we saved her alive when all others were slain?

Now, although this white priest had declared in a friendly manner towards old Masuka, and, indeed, showed no enmity towards our own _iza.n.u.si_, his mind seemed evil towards Lalusini. Her he could never be brought to regard with over-great friendliness, but yet was guarded in his utterances; and, while he looked upon her coldly, said naught against her. But she, for her part, in nowise seemed to return his manner, for she ever spake softly and kindly to him--even as she did to all--but in a way as though she herself were too great to feel enmity or ill-will to such small things as those around her. And this, indeed, was partly true.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

DREAMS--NEW AND GREAT.

Now, time went by, and of Lalusini I saw nothing, nor could I find opportunity of speaking with her alone. I was greatly troubled in mind, too; for I thought the King desired her--he who cared not usually about women--and my days were heavy and my dreams dark.

We were seated alone, the King and I. We had been talking over many things, as our way was; for Umzilikazi seemed to trust me more and more, till it was whispered that I had become the most powerful man in the nation, young as I was--more powerful than Mc.u.mbete, the chief _induna_, or even than Kalipe, the commander of the army. As we sat thus, the King said--

"It seems to me, son of Ntelani, that we have sorcerers enough and to spare. Now this one which came last among us is one too many.

Wherefore, as she is young and well-favoured, I will take her to wife, so shall she practise sorcery no more."

Here was a dark curtain for my eyes--I, who loved Lalusini. But I only answered that it was good--that the small wishes of the King were the great ones of his children.

"That is well said, Untuswa! Go now, and bring hither this sorceress, that she may learn to what great end she was born."

I saluted, and, going forth, proceeded straight to Lalusini's hut, sending in women to tell her the Great Great One desired speech with her. Then I returned to the King, fearing to be alone with Lalusini, lest I should by word or look betray myself--betray us both. And as I went I remembered her words, spoken first in the hiding-place up yonder, on the mountain of death: "There is that by which even Umzilikazi dare not wed me." What was behind this saying? For a matter which should come between the King and his will must indeed be weighty--nothing less than one of life or death.

Lalusini stood before the King, royal in the stately splendour of her beauty; her large eyes smiling down upon him as she uttered the _Bayete_ in a voice like the murmuring of trees, yet not bending over much.

"_Whau_! It shall be so!" I heard him mutter, after gazing at her for a short s.p.a.ce in silence and admiration.

"Hearken, my sister!" he said aloud. "Among this people there are sorcerers and diviners enough already. And now thou art another of them--yet thy _muti_ is great."

"Would the King sit here to-day, but for that _muti_?" she answered.

"Here or on a darker seat? Yet it matters not that I should wander again if I am to find no resting-place among this people. Still, there are others."

"That is not my mind, thou who art from nowhere," said Umzilikazi.

"Thou art indeed fair and goodly enough for a queen--and a queen thou shalt be. Thou shalt be at the head of the _isiG.o.dhlo_, and the delight of a King."

Now my eyes were fixed upon the face of Lalusini; but over it came no change.

"That cannot be, Great Great One!" she answered.

"Cannot be? Ha!" cried Umzilikazi, gazing at her in displeasure and amazement. "Are, then, the wishes of a King to be uttered twice?"

"Thou art all-powerful, O Black Elephant," she said. "The elephant may rend down forest-trees and loosen rocks with his might. Yet even he cannot walk against a broad river in flood. There is a law which is greater than even the wishes of the mightiest of kings."

"What meanest thou, my sister?" said Umzilikazi, in a low but terrible voice.

"Thou doest well to call me thus, son of Matyobane; for within me runs the blood of Matyobane."

"Ha!"

So great was his astonishment that for a s.p.a.ce, save that one amazed gasp, no word could the King utter. Now stood revealed the meaning of that saying of hers; for, _Nkose_, so strict is this custom among us Amazulu, that no man may take to wife any girl within whose veins runs a drop of his own blood, or, indeed, as to whom exists the barest suspicion that such may be the case. Wherefore, in declaring herself to be of the blood of Umzilikazi's father, Lalusini knew that even the King himself dare not take her to wife; nor, indeed, would he desire to, once convinced of the truth of her words.

"Is this indeed so?" he said at last, frowning suspiciously, for a king likes not to be balked in the desire of his heart, be the reason never so good.

"Say, then, who was thy father?"