Adventure of kadura episode 16 – 17
ADVENTURE OF KADURA
(The Chosen Bride)
Episode 16 & 17😲🤔
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Written by Author Nath
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Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all is a form of planning. Yes, many of our dreams come as a result of our plans while some plans triggers many dreams. The question is; do you have a plan? Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four hours sharpening the axe. Now you can imagine the eminence of planning which Julius didn’t have, but the king had. Well, the young boy is never to blame because he was blinded by love.
Love that doesn’t turn you stupid, is no love. But until the heart can see the future of the person you fall in love with, love will always be blind. It is difficult to love someone who loves you, but easy to hate someone who loves you, and love someone who hates you. You might want to read that again to really understand the critical, delicate and difficult love triangle between Albat, the princess and Julius.
Nevertheless, Ukra kingdom became free from the unknown deadly disease caused by the first plague after the king verbally battled with the lion and idiomatically translated the plague. All rejoiced and gathered at the coliseum for the dancing competition to continue. Of course Avera won the trophy and the king commended her.
Furthermore, before all despised to their homes, king Corbatt stood and said in the quiet coliseum, “A few days back I ordered Kadura to make himself known but he never did.” Julius took a deep breath beside the king when he heard his first statement. Notwithstanding, the king continued. “Let me ask you Kadura wherever you are; does it please you to see my people battle for a plague? Or do you want me to die in the lion’s den? Why can’t you show yourself and make the kingdom a better place?” he paused while the audience remained quiet and sad. King Corbatt, after hesitating to speak again, angrily walked out from his seat to the palace, followed by the counsel. On their way, music and drums from the coliseum faintly quivered their eardrums.
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As Bruce was cleaning up his chamber amid the first plague, the rusty sound of his door came to his ears. He looked at the door. First, he saw a basket that was covered with a white fabric before fully seeing the face of the hand that carried it. It was Albat’s. Her black hair dandled round her face while her joy could be detected from her smiling face. Oh, she was not just a good girl, she was a girl with a pure heart. The journey to a thousand stars is not too far a journey in the quest to have true love abiding in a pure heart. There is nothing more pure and beautiful than a person who always speaks truthfully with a childlike heart, and that was Albat.
“Good evening, sir” she greeted, stepping closer to a table.
“Albat” Bruce began to dry his hands, looking at her. “Julius is not here.” he added.
“I didn’t come for him. I came for you, to give you these” she placed the basket on the table closer to the old man. Bruce uncovered the fabric to see different fruits in it. “It’s much in the palace that’s why I brought some to you.” she added with a smile and hands clutched down her thighs.
“Thank you, Albat” Bruce appreciated.
“Welcome. I’ll be on my way now.” she turned to leave.
“Albat!” Bruce called her back. Just at the door, she turned. “I don’t want you to misunderstand me. I know why you’re doing all this, but I’m sorry to say that my son has a different future.” he said.
“I don’t understand, sir.” Albat paid more attention.
“Believe me, my child, I mean no harm. You’re a good girl, beautiful and smart. You’ll be the best thing that will happen to any man except Julius, my son, because his future is greater than what he sees in you. He can’t get to that stage if he still hovers around you. You need to let him go”
Not only did Albat’s mood change, her heart broke too as she hastily breathed, feelings tears circulating her eyes. “I… I… understand, sir.” she clutched the doorknob to go, yet she couldn’t. She stayed that way for some moments then turned back to Bruce. The tears started dropping as she said bitterly, “But sir…” she swallowed hærd to catch her breath. “I may not know what you talk about, but I know what I have for your son. I love him, with my heart I do.” she placed a hand on her chest to express herself, yet the tears never stopped. “He’s the first man I’ve ever loved and I know he loves me too. Why this? Why?”
Bruce didn’t say a thing as he moped at her, feeling her pains. The poor girl sniffed in tears and angrily walked out from the chamber.
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On the other hand, the king and his cup bearer could be found in the palace. It was just both of them at a dinning table. Julius arranged a plate of food and began to fill a cup with water as the silence between them lingered. The king carried the cup of water while Julius stood beside him with a jug.
“My lord, sorry for disturbing.” Julius began. “First, I commend your cleverness which you used to save the kingdom from the plague. My question is; what was the idiomatic expression of the plague?”
The king swallowed the water, dropped the cup and said, “The translation was very simple. First I heard the bell and the disease caused by the plague was unknown. Therefore the idiom suitable for it is ‘It does not ring a bell’.”
“What does the idiom mean?”
“Don’t be dumb, Julius son of Bruce. It means the disease is unheard of ” he stretched the cup for him to fill more water in it. The cup bearer did as he gestured, so the sound of the water running into the cup was the only thing echoing in the palace. He filled it while the king began to drink it. The silence enabled Julius to hear the water rush down his oesophagus like a flood rushing through a drainage channel.
“You must be clever to beat the lion. I don’t think i can translate an event to idioms.” Julius broke the silence again.
“You are right that I’m clever. You are also right that you cannot be clever enough to translate an event to idiom. A stupid man’s report of what a clever man says can never be accurate, because he unconsciously translates what he hears into something he can understand. You’re a stupid man, Julius.” King Corbatt hit the cup on the table.
Julius bent his head, smiling. “Yes, I guess I’m stupid and too small for such cleverness. Someone as small as I am cannot rule the kingdom, I guess” he said.
“No matter how tiny you look, you can lead huge men if you have what the huge men don’t have. And that must be wisdom. Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, just know that it is time to reform or pause and reflect because fools are the majority. Any fool can know, but not all understand. If you do not only know, but also understand, you become the wise among the fools.”
“Thanks my lord for the knowledge.” Julius bowed.
At that moment, Nero walked in. Julius understood they needed some privacy then left the palace. Nero didn’t need to sit down. Immediately they heard the door closed, the king said, “Prepare Damon. It’s time.”
“Yes, my lord” Nero bowed.
Meanwhile, on a long passage, Julius sighted Albat coming from the opposite end, he smiled. “Hi, Albat.” he gestured at her when she drew nearer. The young girl neither smiled nor looked at him. She just passed without a word. Julius became surprised “Albat! Albat!” he yelled her name but the girl showed no concern. It weighed him down. Quickly, he rushed to his father’s chamber. The force in which he pushed the door was alarming. It even startled the old man.
“Julius, are you out of your mind?” Bruce face him.
“Did you tell Albat anything?” the boy furiously asked .
Bruce didn’t reply rather he resumed organizating small bottles of medicine in a shelf.
“How could you, father? How could you poison her mind? She’s innocent to all this. She doesn’t deserve to be treated this way. For crying out loud, Albat is the woman I love!”
“She isn’t the woman meant for you to love!” Bruce glared. “How many times do we have to tell you this before you learn?!”
Julius gradually began, walking towards his father, hitting his chest with eyes engulfed in tears as he said bitterly, “I choose who I develop feeling for? I choose who I fall in love with. I choose my own life and you should not get on my way.”
“I forbid you talk to me that way! Did you see what happened today?! Stronger plague will come if you keep being stupid!” Bruce shunned him. They glared for some times, breathing deeply. Bruce lowered his voice in an appealing manner. “I know is an impromptu task for you, my son. Come..” he embraced him. He could feel the young boy shedding tears on his chest as both gum in the warmth of their body.
“I do not know what to do, father. I do not know. I love her so much.” Julius cried.
“I understand, son. All you need to do now is to be like the sun. If you do so, all darkness will be dispelled. No matter what happens, live confidently with the conviction that you, yourself are the ‘sun.’ Of course, in life there are sunny days and cloudy days. But even on cloudy days, the sun is still there. Even when you are suffering, it is vital that you strive to keep the sun shining brightly in your heart” Bruce patted.
Julius disengaged from his father and dried his tears. “What must I do, father?” he asked.
“Good question.” Cyrus’ voice came from Bruce’s room. Julius turned to see him coming out in his white garment, white long beards and a staff. At the tip of the staff is the structure of a book. Cyrus had been in,side the chamber listening to them.
“I should have known.” Julius wasn’t pleased, but he waited for the book wizard’s response to his question.
“Listen, lad” Cyrus began. “For you to hear never-heard sounds, to see never-seen colors and shapes, for you to try to understand the imperceptible power pervading the world; to fly and find pure ethereal substances that are not of matter but of that invisible soul pervading reality, for you to hear another soul and to whisper to another soul; to be a lantern in the darkness or an umbrella in a stormy day; to feel much more than know to be the eyes of an eagle, slope of a mountain; to be a wave understanding the influence of the moon; to be a tree and read the memory of the leaves; to be a significant pedestrian on the streets to crazy cities watching, watching, and watching, for you to be a smile on the face of a woman and shine in her memory, you need planning.” he explained.
“I guess you have one.” Julius spread his hands..
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The chirping of crickets in the forest was a sign that darkness had taken its position in the kingdom and Albat never hesitated to utilize it. She briskly arrived to their house as usual, kept her mother’s food on a table and began to lit more candles. Uncharacteristically, she never alarted the mother to make her presence known. Obviously, the poor girl was in a combat with her emotions and feelings for Julius. She sat down after lighting the candles, staring at the food silently, but her mind was far gone from the sanctum. Suddenly, she realized herself and called, “Mother!”
Mrs Bharat walked out, sat opposite her daughter. Before she began to eat, she glanced at her and asked, “What’s the matter?”
Albat shook her head. “Nothing, mother.” she said.
The woman ignored her. She shoved a cake into her mouth and carried a drink to sip it down her throat. “The heart is like a bag of treasure. You alone know how to handle it, you alone know what’s in,side and how to bend it to your happiness. The moment you give your heart out to someone in the name of love, be ready to have it broken.” Mrs Bharat shoved another cake into her mouth.
“Then I have to take my heart back.” Albat said.
The mother glanced at her with a smile. “The question is; can you take it back? It’s easy to fall in love but very hærd to come out of it. You can easily give out your heart but hærdly get it back.”
Albat remained quiet. She confirmed it to be true.
“Tell me, what has son of Bruce done?” Bharat asked after which she drank another water, waiting for the daughter to reply.
“It’s not him, it’s his father” she replied and continued. “It seems he doesn’t like me for his son. He made mention of his future… like Julius is destined for something. I didn’t get it. The whole thing sounded confusing.”
Bharat stopped eating for some moment then began. “True love doesn’t happen right away; it’s an ever-growing process. It develops after you’ve gone through many ups and downs when you’ve suffered together, cried together, laughed together. Love is not how you forget but how you forgive. Not how you listen but how you understand. Not what you see but how you feel. And not how you let go but how you hold on. Relationsh¡ps last long not because they’re destined to last long. Relationsh¡ps last long because two brave people made a choice. To keep it, fight for it and to work for it. Do not let it bother you, my daughter.”
Albat smiled. She felt an overwhelming relieve. “Thank you, mother. I have to return to my quarters now. Good night” she stood up.
“Good night.” the mother replied. She also stood up to the window where she watched her daughter departing from the neighborhood. Suddenly, she saw someone who grabbed her hand. She narrowed her sight to see that it was Julius, so she listened and watched both of them.
“Julius?” Albat called, staring into his eyes.
“I’m sorry for whatever my father must have told you.” Julius began. “I have something to tell you, Albat, which is related to the reason my father reacted the way he did.” he paused, breathing hastily because he was about to reveal his true identity to her which was their first plan so that Albat will totally take her mind off him. But the more Julius looked into her eyes, the more he wish never to lose her.
“What do you want to tell me, Julius?” Albat’s voice wasn’t helping matters. It was so soft, charming and r-mantic.
Julius swallowed hærd. “I want to.. want to… tell you that… that… my father was drunk. He didn’t know when he said all that. He even said I should apologise to you on his behalf.” he lied.
Albat smiled. “I know you’re lying. I want you to understand that whatever the reasons maybe, it doesn’t change the fact that I love you.”
“Albat, I’ll be lying if I say I do not love you back.” Julius replied.
Both k×ssed and headed to the royal castle.
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Four loud trumpets woke the king up the next morning and every living soul in the kingdom. The sound came at the kingdom-square. A white horse could be found in the middle of the four trumpeters. On the horse was Damon, wearing a white garment, glowing like the morning sun. People gathered around, the king came out with Nero beside him. Adriana, from her window watched to know what was happening. Albat joined her too. Both glanced at each other then concentrated on the window.
On the same hand, Julius had run to his father’s to see Cyrus and Bruce watching from a window too while the rest citizens gathered at the kingdom-square. The trumpeters stopped trumpeting thereby bringing tranquility to the kingdom. Damon jumped down from the horse, facing the king who stood a meter away from him.
“Who are you, young man? Why do you disturb my kingdom?” King Corbatt asked him.
“I heard the cry of my people! Their tears flow across my world like a flowing river. I am sent by the gods to save the kingdom. I am Kadura!” Damon’s voice was loud and clear. People began to murmure. Just then, Maximus ran out from the crowd to Damon. He laid flat on his feet.
“My lord, I am more pleased to have you in our kingdom! Please, grant me one wish; make the woman I love to realize that I love her. I have tried my possible best to win her heart. I have crossed seven revers of Ukra, climbed the highest mountain and swam the deepest ocean for her sake. It’s just remaining to cross her heart or better still cross her thighs and dig a hole.” he lamented hilariously.
People chuckled. Guards rushed him and began to carry him away.
Julius shook his head from the window. “I wish I can tell him that I am the real Kadura.” he said.
Cyrus didn’t look at him as he smoked his marijuana, staring at the king while Bruce looked at his son saying, “How did the ‘telling’ with Albat go last night?”
“I couldn’t tell her.”
Bruce w¡dened his eyes.
“I’m sorry. I just couldn’t. It will be a sad news to her and it will break her heart. Moreover, I still love her and don’t want to lose her.” Julius explained.
“What did you tell her then?” Bruce was till looking at him.
“I… I… I told her that… you know… that you were drunk.”
“What?!” Bruce exclaimed. That drew Cyrus’ attention to them, so the two old men glared at the young boy.
Meanwhile, before the king could say something to the disguise Kadura, the Cadiwans arrived. When Cyrus saw them, he said, “Now, here is the real deal.”
“They are the Cadiwans!” Julius shrieked.
“Yes, and they will carry out an enchantment to see if truly our Kadura is Kadura.” Cyrus’ blew out a large smoke of marijuana.
“This is h-rder than I thought.” Julius concluded.
Just then, the door opened. All turned to it to see Bharat, Albat’s mother. She covered her body from head to toe, looking innocent but deadly.
“Mrs Bharat!” Bruce surprisingly called her.
The woman never smiled as she said unabashedly, “I came here for a warning. I do not care about the king neither do I care about the Kadura at the kingdom-square nor any of you here. I do not also care if you, Julius, is the real Kadura. All I care for is my daughter’s feelings. Did you not know you’re Kadura before stealing her heart away? Heed to this warning; if she ever comes back home again with a broken heart, trust me, you do not want to know what I will do.” she left immediately, leaving the men speechless.
“How did she know my true identity?” Julius looked at Cyrus who never said a word.
Nevertheless, seeing the Cadiwans, Nero whispered to the king saying, “I think we are going to have a little problem here, my lord.”
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TO BE CONTINUED