Chapter Eleven – The One Who Returned
The chamber fell silent.
Adwoa couldn't breathe.
The armored figure stood beyond the broken gate.
Golden armor covered its entire body.
Ancient symbols moved across its chest like living flames.
Kwaku stepped in front of Adwoa.
"Stay behind me."
The figure laughed softly.
"You still protect her."
Kwaku froze.
"What do you mean?"
The figure stepped forward.
"You protected her the first time."
Kwesi raised his sword.
"Stop speaking in riddles."
The figure looked at him.
"You have your father's temper."
Kwesi's eyes narrowed.
"You know our father?"
"I knew him before you were born."
Their father stepped forward.
"Enough."
The armored figure turned toward him.
For the first time, its smile disappeared.
"You."
Their father tightened his grip on his broken sword.
"You were supposed to remain behind the gate."
The figure laughed.
"And you were supposed to keep the girl away from Bonoman."
Adwoa stared at their father.
"The girl?"
Their father didn't answer.
Adwoa's voice trembled.
"He's talking about me."
Kwaku looked at his father.
"What aren't you telling us?"
Their father lowered his sword.
"Adwoa was born with the mark."
Kwesi frowned.
"What mark?"
"The mark of the Third Bloodline."
The chamber seemed to grow colder.
Kwaku looked at Adwoa.
"But there are only two bloodlines."
Their father shook his head.
"That is what I wanted everyone to believe."
The armored figure slowly removed its helmet.
An old face appeared beneath it.
But there was something strange about the man.
His skin looked almost untouched by age.
Adwoa stared at him.
"I know you."
The man smiled.
"You should."
A sharp pain struck Adwoa's head.
She fell to her knees.
Images flooded her mind.
A palace.
A burning village.
A young Kwaku and Kwesi.
And herself standing beside them.
But they were children.
Then she saw their father carrying her through a forest.
Behind him, soldiers in golden armor chased them.
Adwoa gasped.
"You took me."
Their father closed his eyes.
"I saved you."
"No!"
Adwoa stood.
"You took me from my people."
The armored man laughed.
"Now you remember."
Kwaku moved toward Adwoa.
"What people?"
Adwoa shook her head.
"I don't know."
The man answered for her.
"The people of the First Kingdom."
Kwesi's sword lowered slightly.
"The kingdom that was buried?"
"Yes."
Kwesi looked toward the gate.
"Then how are you still alive?"
The man smiled.
"Because we were never truly buried."
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the passage behind them.
Their father turned.
"Someone is coming."
Kwaku raised his crimson hand.
A red glow filled the chamber.
Several figures appeared in the darkness.
Warriors.
They wore black and gold clothing and carried long spears.
At their center stood a woman.
She was dressed in deep red cloth.
Gold beads covered her neck and wrists.
She looked at the twins.
Then at Adwoa.
"The children."
Their father stepped in front of them.
"You will not take them."
The woman smiled.
"We don't need to take them."
She pointed toward Kwaku and Kwesi.
"They will come willingly."
Kwesi stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
The woman looked directly into his eyes.
"I am Queen Nyamewaa."
Kwaku frowned.
"Queen?"
She nodded.
"Queen of the kingdom beneath Bonoman."
Their father whispered:
"Impossible."
Nyamewaa smiled.
"That is what your ancestors wanted you to believe."
The ground suddenly shook.
A crack opened beneath Kwesi's feet.
Kwesi jumped backward.
From inside the crack came a golden light.
His mark began burning.
He dropped his sword.
"Ah!"
Kwaku grabbed him.
"Kwesi!"
Golden energy exploded from Kwesi's body.
The warriors stepped backward.
Nyamewaa smiled.
"The second child has awakened."
Their father looked terrified.
"No."
Kwaku stared at him.
"What?"
Their father looked at both twins.
"The gate wasn't opened to release the First Blood."
He pointed toward the darkness.
"It was opened to awaken the blood inside you."
Kwaku's crimson mark burned brighter.
"Then what happens now?"
The armored man answered.
"The two Suns must choose."
"Choose what?"
"Which kingdom will survive."
Silence.
Adwoa looked at the three circles glowing across her hand.
"And me?"
Nyamewaa turned toward her.
"You are not one of the Suns."
Adwoa's expression hardened.
"Then what am I?"
Nyamewaa smiled.
"You are the key."
The chamber shook violently.
A deafening roar came from beyond the gate.
The ancient soldiers dropped to one knee.
Even Nyamewaa lowered her head.
Kwaku looked into the darkness.
A massive shadow began moving toward them.
Their father grabbed Kwaku's arm.
"We have to leave."
Kwaku pulled away.
"No."
His father stared at him.
"Kwaku."
"We've been running from this our entire lives."
Kwaku looked at Kwesi.
Then at Adwoa.
"I'm done running."
Kwesi slowly picked up his sword.
"So am I."
Adwoa stepped beside them.
Their father stared at the three young people.
For a moment, he looked like he was seeing the children they had once been.
Then his expression changed.
"Then you need to know the final truth."
Kwaku turned.
"What truth?"
Their father looked toward the First Blood.
"The kingdom beneath Bonoman isn't your enemy."
Everyone became silent.
"The real enemy…"
He swallowed.
"…is the one who created the First Blood."
A deep voice echoed from beyond the gate.
"Finally."
The shadow stepped into the light.
Its eyes opened.
Two burning suns appeared inside them.
The creature beside the gate bowed its head.
"My king."
The figure looked at Kwaku.
Then Kwesi.
Then Adwoa.
"You have all returned."
Kwaku felt his heart pound.
"Returned?"
The figure smiled.
"Yes."
It raised one hand.
"You were not born into this war."
The darkness behind it began spreading across the chamber.
"You were born from it."
To be continued…