Every subject stepped aside as General Botha's impi and drummers made their way through the grand city. Mikumbi looked around at the mix of Senguni Buntu and Cape Dutch architecture.
The long, usually single but sometimes double storied horizontal structures often with dormer windows, whitewashed walls, thatched roofing with gables, large wooden sash cottage panes and external wooden shutters of the Cape Dutch architecture stood in contrast to the more 'simple', smaller yet at times more colourful and diverse architecture of the Senguni Buntu. Some of the Senguni buildings were round. Some were in the shape of a domed beehive. Some were made of a mix of stone, mud and adobe. Some of them were rectangular with the outer walls painted in bright and beautiful colours. Many of the buildings in the city combined both Senguni Buntu and Cape Dutch architectural styles. The city folk going about their business were just as diverse as the architecture. Mostly Senguni Buntus with plenty of QuaSaaroa, Janbeecks and a distinct people that were a mix of the three main peoples and more.
A short walk later, Mikumbi, Heshima and their escort had made it to the Emperor's palace.
The outer wall was nothing more than a palisade of tall, thick wooden stakes. Soldiers patrolled and stood guard around and on the ledges of the walls. The palace itself was a different entity.
A grand and beautiful structure that mixed the Cape Dutch and Senguni Buntu architectural styles.
An incredibly long two-story building built in the Cape Dutch style on all four sides formed a near-perfect square. Unlike the typical whitewashed walls of the Cape Dutch, the outer walls were styled in the traditional Ndebele fashion of bright multi-coloured patterns and shapes. Reds. Yellows. Blues. Greens. Triangles. Squares. Oblongs. Pentagons. On the four corners of the palace stood a large, beehive dome-shaped attachment made from the same material as the Cape Dutch architecture.
The building was truly fit for an emperor. No expense was spared for the palace.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
A line of soldiers guarded the entrance to the courtyard between the palisade and the palace. The general stated his name, rank and business to them and saluted. The soldiers acknowledged the general with a slight bow and a salute then parted way to let the party through the entrance.
Inside the courtyard between the palace and palisade, the emperor's power and prestige were on display. Livestock.
For what was a Senguni without livestock?
Many people tended to the emperor's prized Nguni cattle, goats and southern mhofu. Small rounded huts dotted the courtyard. Was this the palace of a powerful emperor or a big kraal/isibaya?
Memories awakened within Mikumbi as he walked through. The place and people partially reminded him of his Ilenic kinfolk. Men that would kill for their livestock. The women would milk the animals. The smell of dung wafting through the air. Herding will always be a part of him.
General Botha stopped by the huge wooden door of the palace then turned around to dismiss the soldiers accompanying him, Mikumbi and Heshima. With the soldiers gone, General Botha looked at the guests.
“We're finally at the palace. Soon, sorcerer, you'll know why his majesty has summoned you,” said Christiaan.
“Good. Shall we enter,” said Mikumbi.
“Yes, you may. But I'm afraid the gorilla stays out here. No animals may enter the palace.”
A frown appeared on Mikumbi's boyishly cute face. “He stays with me.”
“Emperor's orders. Nothing will happen to your gorilla. He'll be taken care of, I assure you.”
“I know nothing will happen to Heshima because he's staying with me.”
The general let loose an annoyed sigh. “I take that if the gorilla doesn't come with you, then you're going to leave?”
“Exactly,” the sorcerer nodded with a cute smile.
The general looked at Mikumbi with a narrowed-eyed look of defeat. “Fine. The gorilla can come in with us.”
The large wooden door opened then they entered the palace.
